Study information

Geotechnics - 2020 entry

MODULE TITLEGeotechnics CREDIT VALUE15
MODULE CODECSM2185 MODULE CONVENERDr Lewis Meyer (Coordinator)
DURATION: TERM 1 2 3
DURATION: WEEKS 9 0 0
Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) 48
DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content
In this module you will study the engineering behaviour of rock and soil used for the purposes of man’s utilisation. It is suitable for students who wish to build upon their geological and/or other technical knowledge gained in first year courses to enable you to learn about the design of structures constructed of, or within rocks and soils. It is suitable for non specialised students with a good level of numeracy.
 
There will be two assignments during the academic year which are: 1) A Rock mass classification and support design assignment and 2) a soils or permeability assignment.
 
A prerequisite is a completion of CSM first year modules or possible direct entry second year candidates.
This course is recommended as a gateway to various disciplines such as the civil engineering, mining and minerals engineering, surface and underground construction and environmental fields with, for example, structures such as the channel tunnel, large scale dams and open pit mines requiring geotechnical expertise to enable safe design.
 
By the end of this module you should understand the different rock and soil models commonly used in geotechnical engineering and have acquired the analytical and mathematical skills required for geotechnical modeling and design.
 
AIMS - intentions of the module

The module provides an introduction to the engineering description of rock, rock mass classification and applied rock engineering and includes the engineering description of soil, soil classification and a basic knowledge of site investigation practice and principles. The module develops problem solving skills, and provides simulated industrial design experience, providing an opportunity for students to design the reinforcement requirements for an underground excavation based on field mapping data.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:
 
Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:
1 appreciate both rock and soil behaviour in the context of the geotechnical and related industries;
2 describe and classify an engineering soil or rock;
3 design a basic site investigation programme and understand the standard site investigation tests and their uses;
4 recognise the influence of factors controlling the engineering behaviour of a rock or soil;
5 understand rock engineering in the context of the geotechnical and related industries;
6 visualise discontinuity data using stereograms;
7 perform rock mass mapping and apply empirical design methodology;
8 comprehend the influence of factors controlling the engineering behaviour of rock masses;
 
Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:
9 use relevant information and understand its influence on engineering behaviour of rock or soil;
10 evaluate and apply knowledge of a range of different concepts relating to material behaviour;
11 apply this knowledge to a variety of design applications;
 
Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and Knowledge:
12 manage learning using resources for the discipline; an ability to develop working relationships of a professional nature within the discipline;
13 interact effectively within a team/learning group, giving and receiving information and ideas and modifying responses where appropriate;
14 select appropriate data from a range of sources and develop research strategies;
15 identify key areas of problems and choose appropriate tools/methods for their resolution in a considered manner.
 
SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module

- introduction and review of applications of rock engineering applied to the geotechnical, civil and mining/minerals industry; 

- engineering description of rock; 

- factors affecting the strength behaviour of rock; 

- rock failure criteria; 

- design methodology (analytical, observational and empirical);

- rock mass classification, geotechnical mapping and application to support design of underground excavations; 

- visualisation of geological data using stereograms; 

- rock mass-support interaction and empirical support design; 

- observational design methodology and associated instrumentation applied to underground excavation design; 

- development of Hoek and Brown strength parameters for rock masses using the GSI approach;

- application of geosynthetics to the geotechnical engineering industry;

- aspects of foundation engineering are covered including simple bearing capacity determination for shallow foundations, aspects influencing founding depth and the detrimental aspects of groundwater;

- the module provides a general review of engineering soil description, soil classification and associated laboratory tests, including tri-axial testing; 

- the concept of effective stress: effect of groundwater, pore water pressure, engineering material behaviour;  

- shear strength behaviour of different soil types;  

- short and long-term behaviour;

- site investigation: principles, objectives and rationale; 

- stages of a site investigation programme, design and implementation; 

- test methods used in site investigation, laboratory and field-based; 

- drilling and sampling techniques; 

- reporting of results, preparation of site investigation report; 

- guidance on design and inspection of tips and related structures.

LEARNING AND TEACHING
LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities 62 Guided Independent Study 88 Placement / Study Abroad 0
DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Category Hours of study time Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities 54 Lectures
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities 4 Lab sessions
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities 4 Field mapping
Guided Independent Study 88 Private study

 

ASSESSMENT
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)
Coursework 30 Written Exams 70 Practical Exams 0
DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Form of Assessment % of Credit Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Examination 70 2 hours 1-6, 8, 9-11,15 Exam mark
Assignment 1 15 1,200 words 1-4, 9,10,15

Report returned with feedback
Assignment 2 15 1,200 words 3-8, 10-15 Report returned with feedback

 

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)
Original Form of Assessment Form of Re-assessment ILOs Re-assessed Time Scale for Re-reassessment
Summative assessment Additional Assessment As Above August Ref/Def Period
Examination Additional Examination As Above August Ref/Def Period

 

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES

As above, one piece of Coursework (30%), and/or one Exam (70%).

RESOURCES
INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener

Basic Reading:

ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

 

Web based and Electronic Resources:

https://www.rocscience.com/learning/hoeks-corner

 

Other Resources:

BS 5930. 1999. Code of Practice for Site Investigations. BSI

Reading list for this module:

Type Author Title Edition Publisher Year ISBN
Set Barnes, G.E. Soil Mechanics: Principles and Practice Macmillan Press Ltd. 2010
Set Brady, B. and Brown, E.T. Rock Mechanics for Underground Mining Chapman & Hall 2004
Set Hoek, E., Kaiser, P.K. and Bawden W.F. Support for Underground Excavations in Hard Rock A.A. Balkema 1995
Set Hudson J.A. and Harrison J.P. Engineering Rock Mechanics, An Introduction to the Principles Permagon 2005
Set Smith, G.N. Elements of Soil Mechanics for Civil and Mining Engineers 6th BSP London 1990
Set Waltham, A.C. Foundations of Engineering Geology Blackie Academic & Professional, Glasgow. 2009
Set Wyllie, D.C. and Mah, C.W. Rock Slope Engineering Electronic Spon Press 2004
CREDIT VALUE 15 ECTS VALUE 7.5
PRE-REQUISITE MODULES None
CO-REQUISITE MODULES None
NQF LEVEL (FHEQ) 5 AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING No
ORIGIN DATE Tuesday 10th July 2018 LAST REVISION DATE Tuesday 8th September 2020
KEY WORDS SEARCH Geotechnical Engineering; Soil Mechanics; Rock Mass Classification; Site Investigation; Geotechnical Design

Please note that all modules are subject to change, please get in touch if you have any questions about this module.