Study information

Soil Mechanics with Mine Tailings Engineering - 2025 entry

MODULE TITLESoil Mechanics with Mine Tailings Engineering CREDIT VALUE15
MODULE CODECSM3444 MODULE CONVENERProf Karen Hudson-Edwards (Coordinator)
DURATION: TERM 1 2 3
DURATION: WEEKS 11 0 0
Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) 15
DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content

The course is designed for undergraduate students in various branches of engineering that are concerned with the engineering and hydrologic behaviour of earth systems, including geohazards, geotechnical engineering, geological engineering, environmental engineering and mining engineering. The module focuses on tailings dams and embankment dams and includes laboratory analysis to determine the key failure mechanisms of fine-grained material such as mine tailings.

This module will introduce you to the analyses often used in the design of embankment gravity, embedded and reinforced soil retaining walls, simple shallow and pile foundations, the assessment of slope stability and slope stabilisation schemes. It will build on the basic concepts of soil mechanics, and provide a basis for geotechnical design of embankment walls used widely in the mining industry.

Prerequisite module:  None

AIMS - intentions of the module
• To introduce you to the form of and typical methods of construction for geotechnical structures.
• To provide you with the skills to investigate quantitatively the stability of unreinforced and piled slopes; gravity, embedded and reinforced soil retaining walls; and simple foundations.
• To understand the importance of pore water pressures, and assess the impact of changes in pore water pressure on the stability of geotechnical structures.
• To apply suitable factors to limit state calculations to meet the demands of real life situations.
 
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. Tailings storage facilities and how they are constructed
2. The mechanisms of tailings storage facility failure
3. The difference between total and effective stress analysis & the importance of pore water pressure
4. The theoretical scientific basis of traditional limit-based design calculations
5. Use engineering IT tools to aid in the analysis and design of embedded retaining structures.


Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

6. Calculate lateral and shear stresses on retaining walls and foundations.
7. Apply factors of safety and standard empirical modifications to the basic limit-state calculations to meet the demands of real situations.
8. Investigate quantitatively the stability of unreinforced and piled slopes; gravity, embedded and reinforced soil retaining walls; and simple foundations using total or effective stress analysis as appropriate.

Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and Knowledge:

9. Time management
10. Engineering approach to solution of problems
11. Effective communication through written reports
12. Creativity and innovation in problem solving
SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module
This module will cover the following topics:
  • Tailings storage facility failures and the Global Tailings Standard
  • Seepage and hydraulic conductivity
  • Flow nets
  • Physical properties of tailings
  • Effective stress and shear strength
  • Triaxial tests
  • Compressibility and consolidation of mine tailings
  • Foundations and foundation design
  • Tailings storage facility management and dam building strategies

TAILINGS STORAGE FACILITY FAILURE MECHANISMS
  • Overview of how tailings storage facilities fail: earthquakes, foundation failure, liquefaction, internal and external erosion.

 

LEARNING AND TEACHING
LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities 39 Guided Independent Study 111 Placement / Study Abroad 0
DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS

Category

Hours of study time

Description

Scheduled learning and teaching activities

33

Lectures

Scheduled learning and teaching activities

6

Laboratory Practical

Guided independent study

111

Private study

 

ASSESSMENT
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade
Form of Assessment Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
None      

 

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)
Coursework 40 Written Exams 60 Practical Exams 0
DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Form of Assessment % of Credit Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Examination
 60 2 hours 1-12 Verbal
Liquid and Plastic Limit Practical 40 8 hours 1-3, 5-12 Written

 

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-assessment
Examination Examination 1-12 Referral/deferral period
Liquid and Plastic Limit Practical Coursework 1-3, 5-12 Referral/deferral period

 

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES
Deferral – if you have been deferred for any assessment you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
 
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 40%.
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

Reading list for this module:

Type Author Title Edition Publisher Year ISBN
Set Powrie, W Soil Mechanics: Concepts and Applications 2014
Set Powrie, W Solutions Manual for Soil Mechanics: Concepts and Applications 2014
Set Craig, R. F. Soil Mechanics 6th E & FN Spon 1997
CREDIT VALUE 15 ECTS VALUE 7.5
PRE-REQUISITE MODULES None
CO-REQUISITE MODULES None
NQF LEVEL (FHEQ) 6 AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING No
ORIGIN DATE Tuesday 6th August 2019 LAST REVISION DATE Wednesday 26th February 2025
KEY WORDS SEARCH Soil Mechanics, Mine Tailings, Embankment and Foundation Design, Geotechnical Engineering, Tailings Storage Facility

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