Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Civil Engineering School
This course expands introductory studies of soil mechanics with topics such as constitutive modeling, continuum mechanics, tensor calculus, elasticity, plasticity, problematic soils, unsaturated soils, soft soils, and the use of geophysics. This course is useful for structural and geotechnical engineers designing civil works. This course is beneficial for advanced computer simulations and analyses in geotechnics.
Generally, soil and geo-material comprise solid, water, and air phases. Consequently, this multi-phase mixture shows complex mechanical and hydraulic behaviour, which depends on water content, density, and degree of saturation. A deep understanding of soil and ground materials is required for the efficient and economical design of structures. This course extends students' introductory knowledge of soil mechanics and adds current subjects within geotechnical engineering. Advanced topics include contemporary new constitutive laws for material behaviour, problematic soils, such as unsaturated and soft soils,ﾠand the use of geophysics. This course is essential for structural and geotechnical engineers who analyse and design structures built with or in the ground. Finally, this course provides base knowledge for advanced geotechnical computer applications and data analyses.
Course requirements
Assumed background
It is assumed that students have a good understanding of soil mechanics and concepts in geotechnical engineering along with statics andﾠmechanics. In particular, the concepts of stress and strain, pore water pressure, effective stress, consolidation, Mohr Columb failure criterion, andﾠearth pressure are critical to this course.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
CIVL2210
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Partha Narayan Mishra
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
For up to date timetable information please check mySI-net.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to present tensor calculus, continuum mechanics, material modelling, unsaturated soils, and geophysics for advanced soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering analyses.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Define the common challenges with soils, including mechanics, hydraulics, and environmental issues.
LO2.
Explain the typical features of the stress-strain behaviour of clays and sands
LO3.
Select the appropriate laboratory and field experiments to calibrate material models.
LO4.
Explain the critical assumptions for the continuum representation of the mechanical behaviour of materials.
LO5.
Define the issues with soft and expansive soils.
LO6.
Explain the hydraulic principles of unsaturated soils.
LO7.
Analyse the impact of unsaturated soil mechanics in geotechnical engineering.
LO8.
Understand electrical resistivity tomography for soil characterisation.
LO9.
Explain the main concepts of geophysics and its benefit to soil mechanics.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Materials Modelling | 20% |
16/09/2024 4:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Unsaturated Soils | 20% |
21/10/2024 4:00 pm |
| Examination |
Final Exam
|
60% |
End of Semester Exam Period 2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024 |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Materials Modelling
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
16/09/2024 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04
Task description
Solution of a project-like calculation problem involving, but not limited to, the following topics: (a) Constitutive relationships parameterization and analysis, (b) Laboratory testing, and (c) Critical state soil mechanics.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
via Blackboard
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Unsaturated Soils
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
21/10/2024 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L05, L06, L07
Task description
Solution of a project-like calculation problem involving, but not limited to, the following topics: (a) Common challenges with soils, (b) Analysis of unsaturated and problematic soils, (c) Soft and problematic soils, and (d) Physical principles and hydraulics.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
via Blackboard
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Final Exam
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 60%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09
Task description
The final exam will include short answer, short essay and problem solving questions about materials modelling, unsaturated soils, and geophysics.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
To receive an overall grade of 4 or more, a student must achieve at least 45% on the final exam.Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Calculator options | Any calculator permitted |
| Open/closed book | Open Book examination |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 19.99 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Negligible knowledge and application ability of the core material. |
| 2 (Fail) | 20 - 44.99 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Insufficient knowledge and application skills in the core material. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Falls short of satisfying all basic requirements for a Pass. Superficial knowledge and insufficient application ability of the core material. |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Sound knowledge of the core material and the ability to apply it in standard contexts. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Comprehensive knowledge and application ability with respect to the core material. Achieves an aggregated overall grade greater than or equal to 5. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Comprehensive understanding and some ability to apply the theory to new problems. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Comprehensive knowledge and in-depth understanding are demonstrated together with a strong ability to apply the theory to new types of problems. |
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Online course material and other information will be made available on Blackboard. Important announcements and other information regarding this course will be posted on Blackboard as well. It will be assumed that students access the Blackboard site frequently. Summary course notes, other reference materials, tutorial feedback, and solutions will be posted there also.
Other reference sources will be advised during classes.
There are no compulsory additional costs.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Tutorial |
Tutorials A set of tutorials will be defined in three parts covering: (1) materials modelling, (2) unsaturated soils, and (3) geophysics. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09 |
Week 1 (22 Jul - 28 Jul) |
Lecture |
Introduction Introduction to Advanced Soil Mechanics Learning outcomes: L01 |
Multiple weeks From Week 2 To Week 4 |
Lecture |
Continuum mechanics and materials modelling Fundamentals of materials modelling and testing. Introduction to continuum mechanics, elasticity, and plasticity. Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
Multiple weeks From Week 5 To Week 8 |
Lecture |
Unsaturated soils Introduction to unsaturated, soft, and expansive soils. Physical principles, hydraulics, and case studies. Learning outcomes: L05, L06, L07 |
Multiple weeks From Week 9 To Week 12 |
Lecture |
Geophysics Introduction to geophysics, electrical resistivity tomography for soil characterisation, induced polarization, and complex conductivity. Learning outcomes: L08, L09 |
Week 13 (21 Oct - 27 Oct) |
Lecture |
Review Review and discussion about the final exam. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course:
- Laboratory Occupational Health and Safety
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: