• Offered for Year: 2022/23

• Module Leader(s): Dr Sadegh Nadimi
• Lecturer: Dr Bruna Lopes, Dr Ross Stirling, Dr Mohamed Rouainia

• Owning School: Engineering
• Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus

Semesters

Aims

The aim of this module is to introduce the basic skills and knowledge required by an engineering geologist or geotechnical engineer.

Students should be able to understand the key concepts and principles in mechanics of soils and rocks that will allow them to proceed at a later stage to geotechnical design.

Students will be introduced to critical state theory and advanced soil testing in geotechnical engineering and partially saturated soil mechanics.

Summary:

This module will provide an introduction to the engineering properties of soils and rocks. Students will learn about the range of exploration and testing techniques available to geotechnical engineers. Students will perform standard laboratory tests in soil and rock description and classification.

Students will 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 engineering behaviour and properties of these materials; and their impact on geotechnical structures and their design.

Outline Of Syllabus

*Introduction to ground investigation and objectives

*Desk Study: Site reconnaissance, requirements, and legislation including contaminated land; Design of a ground investigation;

*Exploration techniques: Shallow and deep exploration techniques; Sampling techniques: In Situ tests, field permeability tests, geophysical tests, and pressure meter test

*Laboratory Testing and fundamental principles: Basic characteristics of soils and rocks, laboratory sampling, particle size and shape distribution; Permeability, consolidation and shear strength; Students will undertake standard soil testing procedures, including determination of Atterberg Limits, PSD, permeability, shear strength parameters, compaction and consolidation properties.

*Application: Effective stress; Seepage of water and flow nets; Calculation of settlement; Introduction to critical state theory; Introduction to physical and numerical modelling; introduction to basic rock constitutive laws.

Understanding of the concepts and principles underlying critical state theory and partially saturated behaviour. Introduction to characteristics of soil behaviour and critical state-based framework, surface tension, capillarity, effective stress in partially saturates soil, suction, and water retention.

Soil Dynamics: evaluate the effects of cyclic loading on soil stiffness and strength behaviour, quantifying small-strain stiffness using advanced laboratory techniques.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Mechanical and mathematical knowledge is delivered through formal lecture classes supported by practical exercises. Practical skills such as soil description are developed through practical classes. Students are expected to acquire knowledge and understanding through reflection on taught material and through undertaking independent learning. Students acquire practical skills through active participation in the practical class exercises and field work.

Alternatives will be offered to students unable to be present-in-person due to the prevailing C-19 circumstances. Students should consult their individual timetable for up-to-date delivery information.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams

Other Assessment

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Each student will submit an electronic report summarising the results of laboratory tests. The data will be interpreted to produce a discussion on site condition.

Students’ acquisition of knowledge and understanding of fundamentals are assessed through a written examination.

Reading Lists

• CEG8210's Reading List

Timetable

• Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
• CEG8210's Timetable