Semesters 1 & 2

Unit(s) of Assessment	Weighting Towards Module Mark (%)
Unseen examination – 2 hours (end of Semester 2) (3 compulsory questions - 2 Soils + 1 Concrete) (Learning outcomes assessed – b, c, e-l)	80
Phase test - multiple choice (start of Semester 2) (Learning outcomes assessed – a, b)	15
Seepage coursework (Semester 2) (Learning outcomes assessed – c)	5
Qualifying Condition(s)  A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module

This module is designed to introduce the basic concepts of unbound and bound particular materials in terms of soil properties, behaviour, and some preliminary design through lectures and coursework.   The behaviour of unbound particulate materials,e.g soils and clays, will be reviewed and considered in relation to their engineering use in foundations , slopes etc.   The behaviour of cement-bound particulate materials, e.g. concrete and mortars, will also be reviewed and considered in relation to their safe and sustainable use within engineering structures

Completion of the progress requirements of Level HE1

To interest students in the broad area of geotechnical engineering. To provide students with the fundamental understanding of the classification, properties, behaviour and mechanics of soils. To introduce basic geotechnical design   To review the principles and practice of the safe and sustainable manufacture and use of plain and reinforced concrete and cement-based materials including: the manufacture, placement, and compaction of fresh concrete, the curing, and assessment of hardened concrete, the maintenance of plain and reinforced concrete structures during their operation, and subsequent end-of-life handling and reprocessing.

Upon successful completion of the module, students should be able to: Describe a soil and determine its physical properties Compute in situ stresses for soil profiles. - including for different water conditions and surface loadings Compute stress distributions in the ground and estimate the immediate settlement of a structure. Evaluate one- and two-dimensional steady-state flow problems and appreciate the potential dangers of uncontrolled seepage. Explain shear strength - the methods of testing, Mohr's circle, total and effective stress path and use of parameters in a field situations. Describe the process of one-dimensional consolidation and be able to predict settlement and compressibility. Design simple earth-retaining structures. Carry out normal compliance tests on fresh and hardened concrete. Critically discuss the key health and safety issues relating to the manufacture and use of concrete. Carry out mix designs and predict durability and deformation of structural concrete. Assess the condition of concrete structures using a range of techniques. Identify the sustainability issues relating to concrete manufacture and end-of-life.

Introduction: Physical properties of soils; classification; compaction Effective Stress: Definition and nature of effective stress; intuitive and analytical models; principle of effective stress; short-term and long-term cases Pore-water pressure regimes: Hydrostatic, artesian and underdrained cases; effect of capillary rise Stress distribution and immediate settlement: Boussinesq solution and derivatives; use of theory of elasticity; measurement and use of undrained modulus; computation of immediate settlement Seepage: Darcy’s law; coefficient of permeability and factors affecting it; Laplace equation and various solutions; Dupuit approach; anisotropy, its causes and incorporation in solutions; the quick condition, seepage through earth dams, top flow line Shear strength: Nature of shear strength; drained and undrained shear strength; loose, dense and critical states; contraction and dilation; influence of volume change and generation of pore-water pressure; shear box apparatus; triaxial apparatus, Mohr’s circle, stress paths; residual strength, ring shear apparatus; field methods, plate bearing test, shear vane; factors affecting measured values of shear strength Compressibility and consolidation: Compressibility characteristics of normally- and over-consolidated soils; classical theory of one-dimensional consolidation; pore-water pressure isochrones; secondary effects Earth pressure: Types of earth-retaining structure, coefficients of earth pressure - active, passive and at rest; Rankine theory; Coulomb wedge analysis; short-term and long term problems; design of gravity walls, anchored walls and strutted excavations       Sustainability of cement and concrete products including resource base, life-cycle assessment, maintanence and eventual end-of-life options, e,g, recycling. Health and Safety aspects of working with cement and cement-based material, COSHH requirements, PPE and safe working practice. Properties of, and compliance tests for cement, aggregate and fresh concrete. Destructive and non-destructive tests on hardened concrete. Specification requirements and methods of mix design. Statistical control procedures and quality control, The history, manufacture and chemical composition of modern cements and admixtures Dimensional changes in concrete structures. Durability of plain and reinforced concrete.

65 hrs lectures, 26 hrs tutorials, 6 hrs assignment work, 1 hr class test, 2 hrs examination and 100 hrs independent learning. Total student learning time 200 hours.   Tutorials will be run throughout the course. In addition tutorial material and short quizes will be put on Ulearn for independent learning.    Use of the Ulearn material and particularly online tutorials will be tracked to evaluate student progress with the material and course.    The module runs in parallel with the experimental work in ENG2015 (Engineering Laboratories 2)

Required reading: None   Recommended background reading Barnes GE, Soil Mechanics : Principles and Practice, 2nd ed, Macmillan, 2000. (ISBN 03337 7776X) Craig RF, Craig’s Soil Mechanics, 7th ed, Spon, 2004. (ISBN 04153 27024) Robert D. Holtz, William D. Kovacs, and Thomas C. Sheahan, An Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering: International Version, 2nd ed, Pearson Education, 2009 (ISBN 01370 11326)   Neville AM, Properties of Concrete, Prentice Hall; 4th ed, 1995. (ISBN 978-0582230705) Neville AM, and Brooks JJ, Concrete Technology, Prentice Hall, 1990 (ISBN 978-0582988590)   Additional references to key standards, case studies etc will be given during lectures

30th September 2010