CIVILENG 3006 - Geotechnical Engineering

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2025

The course applies and extends the fundamental understanding of soil mechanics to the design of geotechnical engineering systems. The following topics are examined: site investigations and in situ testing; seepage; consolidation; pore pressure coefficients & stress paths; lateral earth pressures and retaining wall design; foundation design; loading induced stresses and displacements; bearing capacity of shallow foundations; design of shallow foundations; analysis and design of pile foundations and the stability of slopes.

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Course Details

Course Code	CIVILENG 3006
Course	Geotechnical Engineering
Coordinating Unit	Civil Engineering
Term	Semester 2
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 4 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Prerequisites	CEME 2004 or CIVILENG 2004 or C&ENVENG 2069
Restrictions	Available to BE(Civil & Struct), BE (Honours) (Civil & Environmental), BE(Architectural) & associated double degree students only
Assessment	Exams, coursework

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr An Deng

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .

A full timetable will be available to students through MyUni.

Course Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1	Interpret and summarise desktop information to predict the expected soil and groundwater conditions prior to undertaking a site investigation;
2	Scope and plan site investigations that are feasible, cost effective and appropriately characterise the ground;
3	Develop an idealised geotechnical model that summarises the ground profile and identifies and quantifies key parameters needed for design;
4	Calculate 2D seepage, pore pressure coefficients, time-dependent consolidation, lateral earth pressures, loading induced stresses and displacements, and bearing capacity of shallow foundations;
5	Design retaining walls, foundations, and analyse the stablility of slopes;
6	Evaluate design options and specify final design recommendations based on factors such as sustainability, construction feasibility and cost effectiveness;
7	Measure soil properties in the laboratory and interpret and summarise the data.

The above course learning outcomes are aligned with the Engineers Australia . The course develops the following EA Elements of Competency to levels of introductory (A), intermediate (B), advanced (C):

1.1	1.2	1.3	1.4	1.5	1.6	2.1	2.2	2.3	2.4	3.1	3.2	3.3	3.4	3.5	3.6
A	A	C	—	B	A	B	C	C	—	A	A	A	A	A	A

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.	1-7
Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.	1-7
Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.	1-3,5-7
Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.	1-7
Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.	1-7
Attribute 7: Digital capabilities Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.	1-7
Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.	5,6,7

Learning Resources

Required Resources

Electronic copies of lecture notes and other relevant learning resources, such as copies of PowerPoint slides and audio recordings of lectures, will be made available to students, at no cost, via MyUni.

Recommended Resources

Students are encouraged to purchase text books; they will be beneficial for this course (although not essential).

Recommended text books:

Atkinson, J., The Mechanics of Soils and Foundations, 2nd ed., 2007, Spon Press.

Bowles, J. E. Foundation analysis and design, 5th ed., 1996, McGraw-Hill.

Knappett, J. A. and Craig, R. F., Craig's Soil Mechanics, 9th ed., 2019, CRC Press.

Smith, I., Smith's Elements of Soil Mechanics, 9th ed., 2014, John Wiley and Sons Ltd.

Online Learning

MyUni will be used to disseminate learning resources and information relevant to the course. Online learning modules will be used to assist your preparation for laboratory experiments and these are available on MyUni. In addition, the MyUni Discussion Boards and Gradebook will also be utilised in this course.

Learning & Teaching Modes

The course will be delivered in the format of lectures and interactive learning modules supported by problem-solving tutorials and assignments. In addition, laboratory classes will be used to develop skills in the determination of soil properties.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

Activity	Contact Hours	Independent Study Hours	Total
Lectures	28	0	28
Tutorials	8	16	24
Practicals	3	6 (per person)	9
Assignments	0	46	46
Exam Preparation	0	40	40
Exam (x1)	3	0	3
Total	42	108	150

Learning Activities Summary

This course explores the following topics:

Site Investigations and In Situ Testing
Purpose of a site investigation, plan and execute a site investigation, interpret information from site investigations, and reporting;
Two-Dimensional Flow of Water Through Soils
Governing equation for 2D flow, construct a flownet, practical uses of a flownet, porewater pressure distribution under a hydraulic structure, determination of uplift pressure, heaving and piping failures;
Consolidation
Governing equation for 1D consolidation, time rate of consolidation settlement, determination of consolidation coefficient, and sand drains;
Pore Pressure Coefficients and Stress Paths
Importance of Skempton's pore pressure coefficients, determination of the coefficients, purpose of stress paths, determination of K_f line, and plot of total and effective stress paths;
Lateral Earth Pressures and Retaining Wall Design
Typical retaining walls (e.g. gravity, cantilever, sheet pile, anchored), Rankine's theory, Coulomb's theory, factors leading to instability of a retaining wall, and design a retaining wall;
Foundations
Purpose & types of foundations, construction processes, and selection & design criteria of a foundation;
Loading Induced Stresses and Displacements
Determine stresses and displacements imposed on a soil by external loads (point, line, strip, rectangular), Boussinesq's solutions, Fadum's Chart, and effect of layered soil profiles;
Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations
Determine ultimate/allowable bearing capacity for shallow footings, effects of soil parameters, ground water and eccentric loads on bearing capacity, short- and long-term bearing capacity, and layered soil profiles;
Design of Shallow Foundations
Determine size of a footing (pad, strip or raft) to satisfy loading and serviceability requirements;
Analysis and Design of Pile Foundations
Allowable load capacity of a single pile and pile group, settlement of a single pile, effects of clay and sand, uplift capacity, piles rested on rock, and Franki piles;
Stability of Slopes
Types of slope failure, factors causing slope failure, and calculate factor of safety of a slope (short- and long-term methods).

These topics are delivered in the context of a set of integrated learning units designed to motivate students to attain learning outcomes
of this course. The learning activity details are provided on MyUni.

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Task Type	Individual / Group	Due*	Weighting	Hurdle Criteria	Learning Outcome
Assignments	Formative	Individual	Weeks 3 - 12	30%		1 - 6
Practical Reports	Formative	Group	Weeks 6 - 11	10%		7
Examination	Summative	Individual	Exam period	60%	min 40%	3 - 6

* The specific due date for each assessment task will be available on MyUni.

This assessment breakdown complies with the University's Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy.

This course has a hurdle requirement. Meeting the specified hurdle criteria is a requirement for passing the course.

Assessment Detail

Assessment description details are given as follows.

Assessment Task	Topic	Weighting	Task Description
Assignment 1	Site Investigation	6%	Propose a site investigation plan; develop ground layering in terms of borehole logs.
Assignment 2	Seepage & Consolidation	4%	Construct a flow net for seepage through a hydraulic structure, calculate and analyse flow rate and piping failure; calculate and analyse consolidation problems of a ground.
Assignment 3	Pore Pressure Coefficients & Stress Paths	2%	Calculate pore pressure A, B coefficients, plot total and effective stress paths, and determine and analyse a Kf line.
Assignment 4	Retaining Wall Design	6%	Design a retaining wall system including wall type, wall height/thickness and ensure the wall is stable satisfying safety requirements.
Assignment 5	Stresses & Displacements Induced by Loading	2%	Calculate stress and displacement in ground caused by superstructure load.
Assignment 6	Bearing Capacity & Shallow Foundation	4%	Determine bearing capacity, deflection and bending moment of a footing when loaded.
Assignment 7	Pile Design	6%	Design a pile foundation for a superstructure, including determination of pile type, cross-section, length and if a pile group is selected, piles arrangement.
Assignment 8	Slope	0%	Analyse stability of a slope, determine factor of safety for a slope failure, and measures to increase factor of safety.
Laboratory Practical 1	Direct Shear	3.3%	Undertake direct shear test on sand, analyse test data, use software program Dsand to analyse data, and prepare a laboratory report. The report should provide shear stress versus shear displacement, normal displacement versus shear displacement, friction angle, software analysing results, and a result discussion.
Laboratory Practical 2	Seepage	3.3%	Undertake seepage through a model dam, analyse test data, use software program SEEP/W to simulate seepage, and prepare a laboratory report. The report should provide a flow net for the seepage, results obtained from SEEP/W program, and a result discussion.
Laboratory Practical 3	Oedometer	3.3%	Undertake oedometer consolidation on clay, analyse test data, use software program Consol to assist in analysis, and prepare a laboratory report. The report should provide clay deformation versus time, void ratio versus applied load, consolidation parameters c_c, c_s and c_v, and a results discussion.
Examination	Examinable Topics	60%	Use open-book, invigilated examination.
	Total	100%

Note: Assignments 1 to 7 and Practicals 1 to 3 are graded against rubrics. Feedback and guide solutions are given after the completion of grading to assist in process of learning.

Assignment 8 is a self-assessed task and is supported with a guide solution.

Submission

Submit assessment to MyUni Assignments portal. The submission due times are given below. The times are indictive and are subject to updating.

Assessment Task	Topic	Releasing	Due Time
Assignment 1	Site Investigation	Week 1	Week 3
Assignment 2	Seepage & Consolidation	Week 3	Week 5
Assignment 3	Pore Pressure Coefficients & Stress Paths	Week 5	Week 6
Assignment 4	Retaining Wall Design	Week 6	Week 8
Assignment 5	Stresses & Displacements Induced by Loading	Week 8	Week 9
Assignment 6	Bearing Capacity & Shallow Foundation	Week 9	Week 11
Assignment 7	Pile Design	Week 11	Week 13
Assignment 8	Slope	Week 12	N/A
Laboratory Practical 1	Direct Shear	Weeks 3 to Week 9 as on lab class timetable	Two weeks following the laboratory class
Laboratory Practical 2	Seepage	Weeks 3 to Week 9 as on lab class timetable	Two weeks following the laboratory class
Laboratory Practical 3	Oedometer	Weeks 3 to Week 9 as on lab class timetable	Two weeks following the laboratory class
Examination	Examinable Topics	Examination week	Examination week

Note:
(1) Assessment is submitted electronically through the assignment feature in MyUni.
(2) Late submissions will incur a penalty of 10% per day.
(3) An extension needs to be applied before the due time, using the assessment extension form (link).
(4) Assignments are marked in approximately two weeks after the assessment has been submitted. Design assessment marking may take a bit longer time.
(5) Practical reports are marked from Week 10 when all lab classes have competed. After moderating peer review, the marking results are released in Week 12.
(6) Marking results, including marks, rubrics, written feedback, are released to MyUni Gradebook. Guide solutions are given on MyUni Assignments section.
(7) Assessment is subject to Academic Integrity Policy (link). Turnitin and manual comparison are used to detect similarities for assessment.
(8) Refer to assessment policy Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment (MACA) (link) for other assessment submission requirements.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through .

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.

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Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator

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