Program Overview

Geomechanics

Overview

Students will learn about the range of exploration and testing techniques available to geotechnical engineers. They will also perform standard laboratory tests in soil and rock description and classification.

• Be introduced to the range of earth materials and structures that may be encountered in engineering geology and geotechnical engineering
• Enhance their knowledge and understanding of the behaviour and properties of these materials
• Study these materials and their impact on geotechnical structures and their design

As part of this module, students will be introduced to ground investigation and objectives, including:

• Desk study
• Exploration techniques
• Laboratory testing and fundamental principles
• Application
• Critical state theory and soil behaviour
• Soil dynamics

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, students will be able to:

1. Understand the basic engineering properties of soils and rocks, and describe the procedures for standard testing of soils to determine the stiffness, strength, and compressibility.
2. Perform calculations involving the physical descriptors of soils (e.g. density, water content, void ratio, degree of saturation, etc).
3. Understand the principles of effective stress and calculate in-situ stresses for soil profiles.
4. Perform calculations involving one and two-dimensional steady-state flow, including drawing of flow nets and estimation of rate of flow, pore water pressures.
5. Predict the settlements, and rates of settlement of a structure.
6. Understand the shear strength of soils.
7. Describe the deformation of rock in response to applied stress.
8. Explain the terminology relating to partially saturated soils.

On completion of this module, students will have had opportunities to develop skills in:

1. The selection and use of design parameters for engineering soils.
2. Carrying out simple geotechnical design calculations.
3. Understanding of the basic concepts and principles of critical state soil mechanics and partially saturated soil behaviour.

Course Agenda

Students will learn through a combination of:

• Lectures
• Small group teaching
• Practical sessions
• Reading materials