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Unit of Study CIVL2022 - Soil Mechanics and Geotechnics (2025)

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Unit Snapshot

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Unit description

This unit explores the mechanical behaviour of geomaterials and how it impacts geotechnical design. It introduces the different types of geomaterials involved in geotechnical projects and explains how they deform and fail under loads. This knowledge is applied to the design of foundation systems and the quantitative assessment of risk associated with slope instability.

Unit content

Module 1: Geological materials 

Module 2: Underground stresses           

Module 3: Failure       

Module 4: Slope stability control             

Module 5: Foundation design    

Module 6: Integrated geotechnics     

 

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Gold Coast
Term1
Term1
Lismore
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Online
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Term1

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

characterise different types of geological materials and relate their properties to their behaviour

evaluate stresses and failure in geological materials

evaluate and incorporate uncertainty in geotechnical engineering design

work as a team to formulate and present solutions to geotechnical engineering problems, such as slope stability and foundation design problems.

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment
  • No prescribed resources/equipment.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.