Note: This unit version is currently being edited and is subject to change!
CIVL6455: Engineering Behaviour of Soils (2020 - Semester 2)
Unit: | CIVL6455: Engineering Behaviour of Soils (6 CP) |
Mode: | Normal-Day |
On Offer: | Yes |
Level: | Postgraduate |
Faculty/School: | Civil Engineering |
Unit Coordinator/s: |
Dr Gan, Yixiang
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Session options: | Semester 2 |
Versions for this Unit: |
Campus: | Camperdown/Darlington |
Pre-Requisites: | None. |
Prohibitions: | CIVL5455. |
Brief Handbook Description: | This is an advanced soil mechanics course. It is concerned with the mechanical stress, strain, strength behaviour and the application of this knowledge in geotechnical engineering. The course includes an introduction to critical state soil mechanics, which is used to assist with the interpretation of soil data, and to enable prediction of ground behaviour. The course uses the critical state framework to provide a firm basis for an understanding of the stress, strain, strength behaviour of all soils, and to enable a rational approach to the selection of parameters for use in geotechnical design. |
Assumed Knowledge: | CIVL2410 AND CIVL3411. A knowledge of basic concepts and terminology of soil mechanics is assumed. Experience with geotechnical practice in estimating parameters from field and laboratory data would be useful but not essential. |
Lecturer/s: |
Dr Gan, Yixiang
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Timetable: | CIVL6455 Timetable | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Time Commitment: |
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T&L Activities: | Laboratory: Demonstration of soil testing equipment, and carrying out a variety of soil tests. Tutorial: Tutorial exercises will be worked through in class. Independent Study: Independent study is required to master the course concepts, complete tutorial exercises, and prepare for quizzes. |
Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.
Unassigned OutcomesAssessment Methods: |
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Assessment Description: | Assessment in this unit is based on a combination of two quizzes and three assignments. The quizzes are 2 hours each and test understanding of key concepts and ability to apply them in working with unfamiliar sets of soil data. The three assignments require students to work through soil modelling exercises of progressively increasing levels of challenge. Students aiming for higher grades should note the ability to evaluate and interpret complex data, to weigh up alternative explanations and to recognise limitations of conclusions reached (represented by Learning Outcomes 4-7) are important for high achievement in this unit. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Grading: |
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Policies & Procedures: | See the policies page of the faculty website at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/student-policies/ for information regarding university policies and local provisions and procedures within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies. |
Recommended Reference/s: |
Note: References are provided for guidance purposes only. Students are advised to consult these books in the university library. Purchase is not required.
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Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp
Week | Description |
Week 1 | Principle of Effective Stress |
Friction | |
Week 2 | Selection of stress and strain parameters |
Week 3 | Introduction to Laboratory testing of soils |
Week 4 | Soil Compression |
Assessment Due: Assignment 1 | |
Week 5 | - Importance of dilation |
Critical State Soil Mechanics | |
- Historical development | |
- Critical States | |
Week 6 | - Cam Clay models |
Critical State Soil Mechanics | |
- Essential elasticity and plasticity | |
Week 7 | Critical State Soil Mechanics |
- Using the model | |
Assessment Due: Quiz 1 (2 hrs) | |
Week 8 | Soil Strength - Undrained |
Week 9 | Soil strength - Drained |
Assessment Due: Assignment 2 | |
Week 10 | Index tests |
Week 11 | Soil stiffness |
Week 12 | - Loess |
Problematic soils | |
- Effects of structure and cementation | |
- Soils with porous/friable particles | |
Week 13 | Advanced soil models |
- Cyclic loading | |
Assessment Due: Assignment 3 | |
STUVAC (Week 14) | Assignments |
Exam Period | Final quiz |
Assessment Due: Quiz 2 (2 hours) |
Course Relations
The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.
Course Goals
This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:
Attribute | Practiced | Assessed |
(5) Interdisciplinary, Inclusiveness, Influence (Level 4) | No | 0% |
(4) Design (Level 4) | No | 0% |
(3) Problem Solving and Inventiveness (Level 4) | No | 0% |
(2) Engineering/ IT Specialisation (Level 4) | No | 0% |
(1) Maths/ Science Methods and Tools (Level 4) | No | 0% |
These goals are selected from Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table 2018 which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table 2018 for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.