48360 Geotechnical Engineering

6cp

Requisite(s): 48330 Soil Behaviour
Fields of practice: Civil Engineering program
Undergraduate
Subject coordinator: Dr Hossein Taiebat

The aim of this subject is to develop students' technical competence in the analysis of soil masses and of structures associated with the soil. The analysis of footings, retaining walls and soil slopes are examples. By completing this subject, students should be able to: understand the concept of failure in soil and apply it to the analysis of soil masses; critically appraise a problem in order to decide which particular analysis should be used; identify the limitations of their analyses and carry out appropriate solution validation; be responsible for the analysis component of a design team; study the relevant literature and learn to apply new or more complex methods of analysis; and carry out fieldwork in association with subsurface investigations.

Topics include introduction to geotechnical design – criteria, codes, engineering judgment; site investigation – planning, fieldwork, techniques; shallow foundations – types, bearing capacity theories, retaining structures; earth pressure theories – Rankine and Coulomb, analysis of gravity walls, cantilever walls, braced excavations; deep foundations – types, load-carrying capacity, settlement, group behaviour, lateral loading; slope stability – failure mechanisms, infinite slopes, rotational failure, remedial measures; and soil improvement – compaction, soil stabilisation, dewatering, preloading.

Assessment: Typically assessment in this subject will involve assignments, self-study modules, a major project, a mid-semester examination and a final examination.

Typical availability

Autumn semester, City campus
Autumn semester, Hong Kong
Spring semester, Hong Kong
Summer session, Hong Kong
Winter session, Hong Kong

Fee information

2007 contribution for post-2004 Commonwealth-supported students: $889.75
2007 amount for undergraduate domestic fee-paying students: $2,460.00
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.