Geotechnics - 2025 entry

This module provides a comprehensive introduction to the geotechnical behaviour of rock and soil materials as applied to engineering design. The course begins with the fundamental principles of engineering geological characterization, progressing through core concepts in introductory soil and rock mechanics. You will combine these foundational elements with empirical design methodologies, serving as a basis for more advanced geotechnical engineering modules in the third year.

On this module, you will have a combination of lectures, collaborative group activities, and hands-on practical sessions. Assessment comprises two core components: (1) a technical report based on the analysis and interpretation of site investigation data, and (2) an exam.

Prerequisites:

Successful completion of first-year modules within the CSM programme or possible direct-entry candidates into the second year.

Relevance and Progression:

You will particularly enjoy this module if you are intending to pursue careers in civil engineering, mining and minerals engineering, geotechnical design for surface and subsurface construction, or environmental geosciences. It offers critical insight into the geological and geomechanical factors underpinning engineering design.

The module introduces rock engineering, rock mass classification, soil engineering, soil classification, and site investigation principles, which are core to the design of engineering structures within geological materials. It enhances problem-solving and team-working skills while offering hands-on experience in collecting geological data, allowing students to design geological engineering structures using their own data.

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1. Describe and classify both rock and soil behaviour in the context of the geotechnical and related industries
2. Recognise and determine the influence of factors controlling the engineering behaviour of a rock or soil on small and large scale.
3. Design a basic site investigation programme and understand the standard site investigation tests and their uses
4. Undertake engineering geology data collection, draw conclusions and apply empirical design methodology

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

5. Use relevant information and understand its influence on engineering behaviour of rock or soil
6. Evaluate and apply knowledge of a range of different concepts relating to material behaviour
7. Apply this knowledge to a variety of design applications

Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and  Knowledge:

8. Interact effectively within a team/learning group, giving and receiving information and ideas and modifying responses where appropriate
9. Select appropriate data from a range of sources and develop research strategies
10. Identify key areas of problems and choose appropriate tools/methods for their resolution in a considered manner.

• Introduction of rock and soil engineering applied to the geotechnical, civil and mining industries
• Engineering descriptions of rock and soil.
• Factors affecting the strength behaviour of geological materials
• The concept of effective stress: effect of groundwater, pore water pressure, and engineering material behaviour. 
• Engineering Geology Data Collection – Mapping and Logging, and visualisation of discontinuity data using stereograms.
• Development of Hoek and Brown strength parameters for rock masses using the GSI approach.
• Design Methodologies (analytical, observational and empirical)
• Rock Mass Classification and application to underground and surface designs.
• Observational design methodology and associated instrumentation applied to underground excavation design.
• The concept of effective stress: effect of groundwater, pore water pressure, and engineering material behaviour. 
• Aspects of foundation engineering - simple bearing capacity determination for shallow foundations, aspects influencing founding depth and the detrimental aspects of groundwater.
• Site investigation – methods and techniques.
• Guidance on design and inspection of tips and related structures 

If a student is referred or deferred, the failed / non-completed component(s) will be re-assessed at the same weighting as the original assessment.

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: