48330 Soil Behaviour
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Undergraduate
Result type: Grade and marksRequisite(s): 48331c Mechanics of Solids
The lower case 'c' after the subject code indicates that the subject is a corequisite. See definitions for details.
Description
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. Geology practicals and soil laboratory sessions allow students to gain deeper insight into the soil behaviour through hands-on civil/geotechnical engineering interpretation and experience.
At the completion of this 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.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Determine and interpret the natural processes occurring on the surface of the earth for civil engineering design and construction applications. (D.1) |
|---|---|
| 2. | Apply fundamental knowledge of the behaviour of soil as an engineering material in Civil Engineering Projects. (D.1) |
| 3. | Identify and evaluate those aspects of soil behaviour which have a significant environmental impact on civil engineer projects. (D.1) |
| 4. | Analyse and solve a range of soil-related problems, especially those involving water flow and soil settlement. (D.1) |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):
- Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply abstraction, mathematics and discipline fundamentals, software, tools and techniques to evaluate, implement and operate systems. (D.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies
This subject contributes to the development of the following Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies:
- 1.1. Comprehensive, theory based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline.
- 1.4. Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline.
- 2.2. Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources.
- 3.4. Professional use and management of information.
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject consists of two components: soil mechanics and geology. Workshops are supported by workshop summaries and readings provided on Canvas. Students will gain the most from workshops if they read each week's material in advance. Teaching staff will discuss the online pre-workshop/tutorial materials and activities in class and further develop the concepts covered through practical examples and case studies.
A research-inspired learning strategy is adopted for the activities in this subject, including geology practicals and the research project. In the geology practical sessions, students will form small groups and collect coded rock and mineral samples from an available bank of rocks and minerals, then attempt to identify the samples. This activity is designed to provide an active learning experience that synthesises the concepts learned from workshop/tutorial content and in-class/online discussions.
Learning material will be posted on Canvas in the form of past tutorial examples, quizzes and exercises. Students are required to attempt the specified questions and read the indicated material before attending class and prepare questions for in-class discussion. Students should utilise the learning resources provided for the geology practical and soil laboratory sessions in the preparation of their corresponding practical and laboratory reports, which are parts of overall assessment in this subject.
Learning can be optimised through collaboration with peers and teaching staff. Students are encouraged to access the weekly feed forward suggestions which will inform their ongoing learning and assessment tasks.
Content (topics)
- Introduction to soil engineering: typical problems, the engineer's role, the role of other professions in the study of the ground.
- Geological fundamentals: classification, composition and structure of rock, engineering properties of rock, introduction to rock mechanics.
- Geomorphology: rock weathering and soil formation, landform relationships.
- Nature of soil: particulate nature, classification, clay minerals.
- Introduction to soil mechanics: overview, phase relationships, soil compaction.
- Water in soil: groundwater flow, seepage, permeability, flow net.
- Stress analysis of soil: the effective stress principle, in-situ stresses, stresses due to loading.
- Settlement of soils: settlement and consolidation theories, 1D settlement estimation, rate of settlement.
- Shear strength of soil: Mohr Coulomb failure law, strength testing, drained and undrained failure.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Soil Mechanics Assignments (Summative)
| Intent: | To give students the opportunity to practice problem solving. Various approaches related to soil mechanics and evaluate them. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): D.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
Assessment task 2: Practicals and Laboratory Reports (Summative)
| Intent: | To identify sources of uncertainty and errors in soil testing and site investigations, to strengthen statistical analysis and writing skills; to organise teams to conduct laboratory tests, and geological mapping; to providing the students with hands-on experience and to familiarise them with real life problems. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): D.1 |
| Type: | Laboratory/practical |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
Assessment task 3: Research Project (Summative)
| Intent: | To engage with research and to encourage students to be research oriented and life long learners. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): D.1 |
| Type: | Case study |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Criteria: | Critical review of the literature, finding possible solutions for the problem, and the recommendation for practicing engineers |
Minimum requirements
In order to pass the subject, a student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more.
Recommended texts
Craig, R.F. "Craig's Soil Mechanics", Seventh edition., Spon Press, 2004
Budhu, M., “Soil Mechanics and Foundations”, Wiley & Sons, 2007
References
Learning guide
A soft copy of Soil Mechanics supplementary notes (PDF) will be available on Canvas.
The following books contain useful reference material for students requiring additional reading:
Craig, R.F. "Soil Mechanics", Van-Nostrand, 1998
Das, B. M., “Principles of Geotechnical Engineering”, PWS publishing, 1998-2006
Bell, F.G., “Engineering Geology” 2nd Edition, Elsevier, 2007
Budhu, M., “Soil Mechanics and Foundations”, Wiley & Sons, 2007
Holtz, R.D. and Kovacs, W.D. “An Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering”, Prentice Hall, 1981
Kehew, A.E. “Geology for Engineers and Environmental Scientists”, Prentice Hall, 1995
Lambe and Whitman, "Soil Mechanics", Wiley, 1975
Liu, C. and Evett J.B., “Soils and Foundations”, 7th Edition, Pearson, Prentice Hall, 2008
McCarthy D.F. “Essentials of Soil Mechanics and Foundations, Basic Geotechnics” 7th edition, 2008
Scott, C., "An Introduction to Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering", AS Publisher, 1980
Smith, I. “Smith’s Elements of Soil Mechanics”, Blackwell Science, 8th Edition, 2006
Waltham, A.C., “Foundations of Engineering Geology”, Blackei Academic & Professional, 1994
Internet Sites
Students may find the following Soil Mechanics Book in PDF (5.5MB) from the following web site:
http://geo.verruijt.net/
It can be found as “SoilMechBook.zip” in a table under the “software” section.
Other useful websites are:
Geology Glossary: http://www2.nature.nps.gov/geology/usgsnps/misc/glossaryAtoC.html#A
This Dynamic Earth, the story of plate tectonics: http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/dynamic.html
Geological processes & structures: http://earthsci.org/processes/pro.html
Australian Geomechanics Society: http://www.australiangeomechanics.org/
Geotechnical photo album: http://cgpr.cee.vt.edu/Photo_album_for_geotech/index.html
Other resources
A copy of Soil Mechanics supplementary notes and Introduction to Engineering Geology will be available on Canvas in PDF format. A copy of lecture slides (in PDF and PPT) will also be available on Canvas together with a copy of assignments, laboratory hand out and tutorials questions.
All important announcements will be posted on Canvas.
In response to student feedback, lecture sessions aim to be more interactive. All subject content materials are provided in week 1 in colour PDF or PPT. Further, additional video material has been curated and included in UTS Online.