48330 Soil Behaviour

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