Units / CIV6147
CIV6147 · Advanced geomechanics
2027 Handbook0 credit pointsLevel 6Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Overview
Consolidation theory of soils, estimation of consolidation and creep settlements for different types of soils, advanced topics on shear strength of soils and rocks for various drainage conditions, stress-paths and laboratory triaxial tests, determination of drained and undrained shear strength parameters, critical state mechanics and various failure criteria, soil and rock slope analysis, earth pressure theory and design of retaining walls.
Offerings
| Campus | Teaching period | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Clayton | Second semester | Teaching activities are on-campus (ON-CAMPUS) |
Assessment
The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Assignment 1 | Written | 15% | Threshold |
| 2 | Assignment 2 | Written | 15% | Threshold |
| 3 | Assignment 3 | Written | 20% | Threshold |
| 4 | Final assessment | Examination | 50% | Threshold |
Continuous assessment: 50% Final assessment: 50% Final grades: PGO (pass grade only) or NGO (fail) This unit contains threshold hurdle requirements that you must achieve to be able to pass the unit. You are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component and at least 45% in the final assessment component. The consequence of not achieving a hurdle requirement is a fail grade (NGO).
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
prohibition
Learning outcomes
- Determine soil consolidation time and associated settlements.
- Appraise the shear strength of soils and rocks.
- Analyse advanced soil strength testing and stress paths results considering drained and undrained behaviour.
- Draw on various soil models to analyse soil/rock behaviour.
- Analyse stability of soil and rock slopes.
- Draw on earth pressure theories to design basic retaining walls.
- Communicate professional decisions to specialist and/or non-specialist audiences.
Workload
The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-9 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Workshops | 24 hours |
| Practical activities | 24 hours |
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