CIVL 2012 Soil Mechanics

Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 300985

Coordinator Pan Hu Opens in new window

Description This is an introductory subject covering the use of soil, and the water in it, as an engineering material. It will provide students with a basic understanding of the physical and mechanical properties of soils, simple soil testing methods to characterise soil strength and deformation behaviour, and how to apply basic techniques to assess the hydro-mechanical response of soils subjected to loading.

School Eng, Design & Built Env

Discipline Geotechnical Engineering

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 2 10cp

Check your fees via the Fees page.

Level Undergraduate Level 2 subject

Pre-requisite(s) MATH 1016

Equivalent Subjects CIVL 2011 - Soil Engineering CIVL 2013 - Soil Mechanics (WSTC AssocD)

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  1. Explain the concepts of soil mechanics
  2. Apply soil mechanics concepts to soil engineering problems
  3. Analyse the response of soil and the water in it when subjected to loading
  4. Apply basic laboratory tests to measure the engineering properties of soils
  5. Solve simple design problems in soil engineering

Subject Content

soil formation
clay mineralogy
soil classification
soil compaction
effective stress in soils
flow of water in soils
flow nets and the engineering effects of water movements
consolidation and settlement
stress increases in soils
shear strength in soils
lateral stresses in soils

Assessment

The following table summarises the standard assessment tasks for this subject. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated, where there is a difference your Learning Guide takes precedence.

Type Length Percent Threshold Individual/Group Task
Short Answer 5 N Individual
Report 15 pages in total 15 N Individual
Quiz Closed book - 2x 50 minutes 30 N Individual
Final Exam 2 hours 50 N Individual

Teaching Periods

Sydney City Campus - Term 3 (2023)

Sydney City

On-site

Subject Contact Ankit Agarwal Opens in new window

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Autumn (2024)

Penrith (Kingswood)

On-site

Subject Contact Pan Hu Opens in new window

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Parramatta - Victoria Rd

On-site

Subject Contact Pan Hu Opens in new window

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Sydney City Campus - Term 2 (2024)

Sydney City

On-site

Subject Contact Pan Hu Opens in new window

View timetable Opens in new window