Availabilities:
2020 unit offering information will be available in September 2019
Unit aim
Introduces students to fundamentals of soil mechanics and geology, soils and their behaviour along with investigating soils response to applied loads. This unit presents and discusses the methods of interpreting physical and mechanical properties of soils that are encountered by civil engineers.
Unit content
- Composition and particle sizes of the soil
- Phase relationship, physical states and soil classification
- Determination of liquid limit, plastic limit and linear shrinkage
- Flow of water in the soil and soil hydraulic conductivity
- Soil compaction
- Surface load stresses and principle of effective stress
- Soil settlement
- Soil strength
Learning outcomes
Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.
Learning outcomes and graduate attributes
| On completion of this unit, students should be able to: | GA1 | GA2 | GA3 | GA4 | GA5 | GA6 | GA7 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | demonstrate an understanding of the geological and engineering properties of soils | Knowledge of a discipline | ||||||
| 2 | perform laboratory tests on soil samples to the Australian Standards to determine properties required in analysis and understand the need for accreditation of soil laboratories | Knowledge of a discipline | Communication and social skills | |||||
| 3 | demonstrate proficiency in applying analytical methods to determine stresses and strains in soils under load | Knowledge of a discipline | ||||||
| 4 | demonstrate understanding of the movement of water in soils | Knowledge of a discipline | ||||||
Prescribed texts
Session 1
- Main Textbook: Budhu, M, 2015, Soil Mechanics Fundamentals, Metric edition, John Wiley & Sons, USA. ISBN: 0470577959, 9780470577950.
Teaching and assessment
Lismore
| Teaching method |
| Lecture on-site 3 hours (12 weeks) |
| Tutorial on-site 1 hour (12 weeks) |
| Assessment | |
| Exam: closed book | 60% |
| Calculations | 15% |
| Laboratory skills | 25% |
Fee information
Domestic
Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.
Commencing 2020 Commonwealth Supported only. Student contribution band: 2
Fee paying courses
For POSTGRADUATE or UNDERGRADUATE full fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees
International
Please check the international course and fee list to determine the relevant fees.