CEG3201 : Geotechnical Design
- Offered for Year: 2020/21
- Module Leader(s): Dr Agostino Bruno
- Owning School: Engineering
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
Aims
This module aims:
1. To demonstrate through examples, the applications of concepts, principles and theories of the design of geotechnical structures.
2. To develop the design skills of a geotechnical engineer.
3. To introduce examples of geotechnical construction techniques.
This module will build upon basic soil mechanics principles and demonstrate how they are used for the design and analysis of slopes, retaining walls and foundations. Reference will be made to codes of practice currently used in industry.
Outline Of Syllabus
This module will provide an introduction to detailed design of key geotechnical structures. It will introduce numerical software and its role in the design process. Students will perform detailed design exercises. Including principles of design of foundations, slopes and retaining walls: failure mechanisms, forces, partial factors. Shallow foundations: methods of construction design based on presumed values, theory, and in situ tests. Structural walls: actual and theoretical behaviour, groundwater and earth pressure on rigid structures, design of gravity and sheet pile walls.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 11 | 0:30 | 5:30 | Revision for exam |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 3:00 | 3:00 | Exam |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 11 | 2:00 | 22:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 2 | 1:30 | 3:00 | Online Blackboard Questionnaire Assessment |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Lab Exercise |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | Tutorials |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Industrial Speaker |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 53:30 | 53:30 | Includes background reading and reading lecture notes for a full understanding of material |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The principles of design and analysis are taught in lectures with several problem-solving small group teaching activities in order to gain an understanding of the design procedures. These principles will be put to use in the design exercises set as the assessment for the module.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 180 | 1 | A | 80 | Unseen, written examination. |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer assessment | 1 | M | 20 | 2 x Blackboard Questionnaire, both with an equal 10% weighting |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The examination will allow students to demonstrate their knowledge of the geotechnical design process and the engineering theory it is based upon.
Semester 1 Study Abroad students would be assessed with a 3 hours unseen written exam. The examination will allow students to demonstrate their knowledge of the geotechnical design process and the engineering theory it is based upon. The exam will consist of 3 parts: one on foundation design, one on retaining structures and one on slope stability. The use of Eurocode 7 concepts in the design of geotechnical structures will be tested.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CEG3201's Timetable