Geomechanics
Duration
- One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- 56 hours plus blended
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning.
2024 teaching periods
| Hawthorn Higher Ed. Semester 2 |
||
|---|---|---|
Dates: Results: Last self enrolment: Census: Last withdraw without fail: |
Aims and objectives
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
1. Interpret the geological rock cycle and be able to identify common rock forming minerals, basic types of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks (K1, K3, S1).
2. Determine physical engineering properties of sediments (soils) and apply these quantities to phase relationships and the soil model (K1, K2, K3, S1, S2).
3. Perform a mechanical (sieve) analysis and a series of soil index tests on a soil in order to determine its particle size distribution plot and Atterberg limits according to Australian Standard AS1289. Thus, enabling classification of the soil via Australian Standard AS1726 (K1, K2, K3, K6, S1, S2, S3, A2, A7).
4. Appreciate the basic concepts of water flow through soil in order to construct simple flow nets and estimate relevant discharge calculations for various ground structures (K1, K2, K3, S2, A2).
5. Clearly understand the effective stress concept in soils by calculating total stresses, effective stresses and pore pressures for various ground conditions (K1, K2, K3, S1, S2).
6. Determine changes in soil stresses due to external point loads, line loads, loaded areas, uniform and non-uniform strip loads using elastic theory, and soil strength parameters from a range of physical field and/or laboratory test (K1, K2, K3, K6, S1, S2, S3, A2, A7).
7. Estimate immediate and consolidation settlements from various external loading combinations (K1, K2, K3, S1, S2).
Swinburne Engineering Competencies (A1-7, K1-6, S1-4): find out more about Engineering Skills and Competencies including the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies.Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment and content.
Teaching methods
Type | Hours per week | Number of Weeks | Total |
Live Online Lecture | 3 | 12 | 36 |
| On Campus Tutorial | 1 | 12 | 12 |
| On Campus Class in Specialist Lab Space | 1 | 12 | 12 |
Unspecified Learning Activities Independent Learning | 7.5 | 12 | 90 |
TOTAL | 150 hours |
Assessment
|
Types | Individual or Group task |
Weighting | Assesses attainment of these ULOs |
| Geology Mapping Assignment | Individual | 5 % | 1 |
| Laboratory Practicals | Individual | 25 % | 2,3,4,5,6,7 |
| Online Unit Quizzes (Open Book) | Individual | 10 % | 1,2,3,4,5,6 |
| Examination | Individual | 60 % | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 |
Content
- Introduction to Geology, Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering and their role in Civil Engineering projects
- The Rock Cycle – the role of magma, the formation and identification of igneous rocks, the weathering process, formation of sediments, formation and identification of sedimentary rocks, and the formation and identification of metamorphic rocks
- Basic Structural Geological Formations and Basic Geological Mapping
- Brief Geological Overview of Victoria and Melbourne areas
- Definition of Soil (Clay, Silt, Sand, Gravel, Cobbles and Boulders) as per Australian Standard
- Structure of Soil by Phase Relationships, including Weight – Volume Relationships, Water Content, Void Ratio, Porosity, Degree of Saturation, and Specific Gravity
- Mechanical Analysis of Soil (particle size determination) and classification of coarse-grained soils
- Consistency of fine grained soils by index tests and classification of fine grained soils
- Overall Soil Classification in accordance with Australian Standard: AS1726-1993
- Water flow through soils, including the Bernoulli's principle and the determination of soil permeability coefficients from field and laboratory methods
- Basic flow net analysis
- Effective Stress Law (Total Stress, Effective Stress and Pore Pressures)
- Stresses in a Soil Mass – caused by point loads and loaded areas
- Normal and Shear Stress on a Plane: Pole Method and Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criteria. Laboratory and Field Tests to Determine Shear Strength of Soils: Direct Shear Test, Unconsolidated Undrained Triaxial Test, Consolidated Drained Triaxial Test
- Consolidated Undrained Triaxial Test, Unconfined Compression Test, Vane Shear Test and Penetrometer Tests
- Immediate Settlement based on Elastic Theory
- Consolidation Theory and One-Dimensional Consolidation Test
- Consolidation Settlement, Time Rate of Consolidation and Coefficient of Consolidation
Study resources
- Reading materials.