Introductory description

Geology and Soil Mechanics

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Soil & rock description and classification Geological structures and maps Introduction on origin and types of soil Soil as a 3-phase material (phase relationships) Basic water in the soil and permeability Basic soil mechanics Shear stress and strength of soils Frictional model Principle of Effective Stress Soil compressibility and compaction

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Construct and interpret geological maps, extending their skills of graphical and spatial interpretation. [M1(M), M2(M), M3(M)]
• Compare a range of soil and rock types, adopting professionally recognised systems for categorisation and description. [M1(M), M2(M)]
• Apply soil shear strength concept in determination of its behaviour and predict soil response under different loading condition. [M1(M), M2(M), M3(M)]
• Apply the Principle of Effective Stress to a range of typical geotechnical problems in order to predict the ground response under different conditions of loading, soil type and groundwater states. [M1(M), M2(M), M3(M), C7-M7(D)]
• Analyse problems of soil compaction and apply laboratory compaction results to predict the level of ground compaction at field. [M1(M), M2(M), M3(M), M9(D), M12(M)]
• Communicate in a professional and scientific manner. [M17(D)]

Indicative reading list

Recommended · Barnes, GE. 2010. Soil Mechanics: Principles and Practice. 3rd edition, Macmillan. · Knappett, JA and Craig, RF. 2012. Craig’s soil mechanics. 8th edition, Spon Press. · Smith I. 2014. Smith's Elements of Soil Mechanics. 9th edition, Wiley.

Additional · Das, BM and Sobhan, K. 2013. Principles of geotechnical engineering. 8th edition, CL Press. · Murthy VNS. 2002. Geotechnical Engineering: Principles and Practices of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering. CRC Press. · Azizi, F. 1999. Applied Analyses in Geotechnics. CRC Press. · Muir Wood, D. Soil Mechanics: A One-Dimensional Introduction, 1st edition, Cambridge University Press, 2009.

Subject specific skills

Ability to apply relevant practical and laboratory skills
Ability to conceive, make and realise a component, product, system or process
Ability to analyse economically viable and ethically sound sustainable solutions
Ability to be pragmatic, taking a systematic approach and the logical and practical steps necessary for, often complex, concepts to become reality
Ability to seek to achieve sustainable solutions to problems and have strategies for being creative and innovative
Ability to be risk, cost and value-conscious, and aware of their ethical, social, cultural, environmental, health and safety, and wider professional engineering responsibilities

Transferable skills

Numeracy: apply mathematical and computational methods to communicate parameters, model and optimize solutions
Apply problem solving skills, information retrieval, and the effective use of general IT facilities
Communicate (written and oral; to technical and non-technical audiences) and work with others
Plan self-learning and improve performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD
Awareness of the nature of business and enterprise in the creation of economic and social value
Overcome difficulties by employing skills, knowledge and understanding in a flexible manner