University of Technology SydneyHandbook 2007

48330 Soil Behaviour

6cp

Requisite(s): 48331c Mechanics of Solids
Fields of practice: Civil Engineering program
Undergraduate
Subject coordinator: Dr Hossein Taiebat

The objective of this subject is to give a broad-based introduction to the geosciences and a more rigorous introduction to soil as an engineering material. The subject concludes with a detailed study of the problems of soil settlement and soil shear strength. At the completion of the subject students should: be familiar with the natural processes occurring on the surface of the earth; be able to communicate with geologists, earth scientists and others involved in studying the ground; understand the fundamentals of the behaviour of soil as an engineering material; be aware of those aspects of soil behaviour which have a significant environmental impact; be able to solve a range of soil-related problems, especially those involving water flow and soil settlement; and have a solid basis for further formal study and self-study in the geotechnical area.

Topics include: introduction to soil engineering – typical problems, the engineer's role; geological fundamentals – classification, composition and structure of rock, engineering properties; geomorphology – soil formation, landforms; nature of soil – particulate nature, classification, clay mineralogy; introduction to soil mechanics – overview, state of vertical stress, effective stress; water in soil – groundwater, seepage and permeability; soil environmental impacts – problems, environmental behavioural aspects and properties; settlement of soils – settlement theory, consolidation testing, 1D settlement estimation, elastic deformations, rate of settlement; and soil shear strength – Mohr Coulomb failure law, strength testing, drained and undrained strength.

Assessment: Typically assessment for this subject will involve library assignments, geology practicals, assignments, class quizzes and final examination.

Typical availability

Autumn semester, City campus
Spring semester, City campus

Fee information

2007 contribution for post-2004 Commonwealth-supported students: $889.75
2007 amount for undergraduate domestic fee-paying students: $2,250.00
Subject EFTSL: 0.125
Note: The above fees are applicable in 2007 for Commonwealth-supported students who commenced after 2004 and domestic fee-paying undergraduate students only. Pre-2005 Commonwealth-supported students should consult the Student contribution charges for Commonwealth supported students webpage.
Not all students are eligible for Commonwealth supported places, and not all subjects are available to Commonwealth supported students. Domestic fee-paying students and international students should refer to the Fees webpage.

Access conditions

Note: The requisite information presented in this subject description covers only academic requisites. Full details of all enforced rules, covering both academic and admission requisites, are available at Access conditions and My Student Admin.