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In any Geotechnical Design project, it is necessary to understand not only the soil properties but also the geological origin and history of the soil and the rock mass. Building on the principles of soil mechanics taught in Year 1, this course is aimed at extending the students' geology and soil testing knowledge and introduce site investigation concepts, where soil properties can be derived. Within Geology, a fundamental understanding of plate tectonics, rock formation, weathering and deposition will be covered, allowing the students to understand the origin of soils and how these will influence the soil properties. The knowledge provided by Site Investigation will demonstrate how to take the basic geology of a site and obtain a detailed understanding of the engineering properties of the soils and how to communicate the relevant information obtained. In soil mechanics, consolidation theory will be introduced, together with the basic principles of Critical State Soil Mechanics. Methodologies for the design of shallow and deep foundations, using Serviceability and Ultimate Limit State (SLS and ULS) will be introduced, together with methodologies for the analysis of slope stability, giving the students a broad overview of Geotechnical Engineering.

Learning Outcomes

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• Understand the importance of Geology for Civil Engineers
• Understand the stress regimes and deformation of the Earth’s crust
• Understand the geological cycle and the origins of soils
• Understand Geological Hazards
• Understand ground investigations and how to specify them
• Understand desk studies, site and lab woks as well as factual and Interpretive reports
• Understand how to use Site Investigation Reports in design.
• Understand the behaviour of soils before and after failure using Critical State Soil Mechanics
• Design shallow and deep foundations based on Limit States
• Analyse Slope Stability as well as provide solutions to mitigate against slope failure
• Develop laboratory skills relevant to geotechnical Engineering
• Present information textually and graphical

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Reading List:

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Powrie, W. (1997) Soil mechanics: concepts and applications. E. & F.N. Spon

Atkinson, J.H. (2007) An introduction to the mechanics of soils and foundations through critical state soil

mechanics. Spon Press

Tomlinson, M.J. (2001) Foundation Design and Construction. Prentice Hall

Head, K.H. (1988). Manual of soil laboratory testing. Vol.1, 2, John Wiley & sons

Waltham A.C. (2009). Foundations of engineering geology. CRC Press

Clayton, C.R.I. et al. (1995). Site investigation. Oxford, Cambridge Mass, Blackwell Science