Soil and rock form the foundation for all civil engineering structures. Being natural materials, their composition and properties vary significantly depending on the location leading to highly-unpredictable engineering behaviours. Abstract and practical understanding of the concepts of soil mechanics is therefore the cornerstone for the design of foundations. This unit will provide students with practical knowledge and hands-on experience in advanced soil mechanics that are essential for civil engineers.
The main topics covered under this unit include Soil classification, Groundwater and seepage, Shear strength of soil, Slope stability, Shallow and deep foundation design, Foundations on reactive soils, Site investigation and reporting, Design of subsurface excavations and Ground improvement techniques. The students will gain first-hand experience with laboratory testing (e.g. Consolidation test, Shrink-swell index test, Direct shear test, etc.), field demonstrations (e.g. site investigation) and numerical simulations (e.g. use of Rocscience software package) relevant to above topics. The relevant up-to-date Australian Standards will be followed during this unit where applicable. Overall, this unit will equip students with the necessary knowledge and skill to face 21st -century civil engineering challenges.
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
Required readings will be made available on VU Collaborate.
This unit is not compulsory for any specific course. Depending on the course you study, this unit may be taken as an elective.