Geotechnical Engineering

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• The importance of pore water pressure.
• The theoretical scientific basis of traditional limit-based design calculations.
• Geotechnical structures and how they are constructed.
• The difference between total and effective stress analysis.

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Apply factors of safety and standard empirical modifications to the basic limit-state calculations to meet the demands of real situations.
• Calculate lateral and shear stresses on retaining walls and foundations.
• Investigate quantitatively the stability of unreinforced and piled slopes; gravity, embedded and reinforced soil retaining walls; and simple foundations using total or effective stress analysis as appropriate.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Effective communication through written reports
• Time management
• Creativity and innovation in problem solving
• Engineering approach to solution of problems

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Use engineering IT tools to aid in the analysis and design of embedded retaining structures.

Lectures 1-7. Gravity retaining walls:

• limit equilibrium calculations to determine active and passive forces by analysing the static equilibrium of an assumed sliding wedge failure mechanism
• assessment of wall stability against sliding, overturning and base bearing failure
• short and long term conditions (total and effective stress analyses)
• application of factors of safety for use in design.

Lectures 8-9. Reinforced soil walls:

• limit equilibrium calculations to determine reinforcement length and spacing
• assessment of reinforced wall stability.

Lectures 10-15. Embedded retaining walls:

• pore pressure distributions
• equilibrium analysis based on limiting (active and passive) lateral stresses
• short and long term calculations (total and effective stress analyses)
• calculation of propping forces
• application of factors of safety for use in design
• construction techniques for embedded walls.

Lectures 16-18. Slope stability analysis:

• the infinite slope
• slip circle analysis in terms of both total and effective stresses
• hazard and risk in relation to slopes
• slope stabilisation using discrete piles.

Lectures 19-27. Slope stability and stabilisation coursework exercise (tutorial sessions held in the computer suite).

Lectures 28-33. Shallow foundations:

• revision of bearing capacity
• effects of foundation shape and depth
• shallow foundations subjected to combined vertical, horizontal and moment loading
• short and long term calculations (total and effective stress analyses)
• application of factors of safety for use in design.

Lectures 34-36. Deep (pile) foundations:

• skin friction and end bearing
• pile groups
• lateral loads on piles
• short and long term calculations (total and effective stress analyses)
• application of factors of safety for use in design.

Lectures 37-39. Revision.

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, supported by example problems, and a coursework assignment supported by computer laboratory tutorials.

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

Oasys Slope. Oasys FREW: Used for the summative coursework exercise. This is available on iSolutions machines and a licenced student version is provided for home use.

Assessment strategy

Repeat year method - External repeat as per referral method.

Formative

Formative assessment description

Summative

Summative assessment description

Referral

Referral assessment description

Repeat

Repeat assessment description

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External