Courses & Units

Engineering Geology and Soil Mechanics ENG221

Introduction

This unit analyses how the characteristics of earth materials may influence the design, construction, stability and life of engineering structures and consists of two components: engineering geology and soil mechanics. The engineering geology component will serve as an introduction to geology, engineering geology, rock evaluation and geophysical methods and impact of geology on design and stability of engineering structures such as slopes, cuttings, quarries, tunnels, dams and bridges. The soil mechanics part will introduce soil classification, soil phase relationships, soil compaction, Darcy's law and water seepage through soils, Terzaghi's effective stress principle, and soil consolidation theory and test. Students will prepare to achieve the stated learning outcomes in this unit through attending a series of lectures, tutorials, field trip and laboratory practicals.

Summary

Unit name Engineering Geology and Soil Mechanics
Unit code ENG221
Credit points 12.5
College/School College of Sciences and Engineering
School of Engineering
Discipline Earth Sciences|Engineering
Coordinator Doctor Hong Liu
Available as an elective? Yes
Delivered By University of Tasmania
Level Intermediate

Availability

Location Study period Attendance options Available to
Hobart Semester 2 On-Campus International Domestic

Key

On-campus
Off-Campus
International students
Domestic students
Note

Please check that your computer meets the minimum System Requirements if you are attending via Distance/Off-Campus.

Units are offered in attending mode unless otherwise indicated (that is attendance is required at the campus identified). A unit identified as offered by distance, that is there is no requirement for attendance, is identified with a nominal enrolment campus. A unit offered to both attending students and by distance from the same campus is identified as having both modes of study.

Key Dates

Study Period Start date Census date WW date End date
Semester 2 22/7/2024 16/8/2024 9/9/2024 27/10/2024

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2024 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2024 will be available from the 1st October 2023. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

  • Identify earth materials and geological processes in laboratory and in the field on the basis of their characteristic properties.
  • Apply geological and geophysical methods to discover essential information on distributions and properties of the earth materials.
  • Classify engineering soils in a systematic and unified manner according to Australian and international standards.
  • Apply Darcy's law and Terzaghi's effective stress principle to evaluate soil permeability, deformation, and strength properties during the processes of water seepage through soils and soil consolidation.

Fee Information

Field of Education Commencing Student Contribution 1,3 Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3 Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3 Domestic Full Fee 4
030900 $1,118.00 $1,118.00 not applicable $3,085.00

1 Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
2 Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
3 Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
4 Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.

If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.

Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.

Requisites

Prerequisites

KAA110 OR ENG103 OR JEE135

Mutual Exclusions

You cannot enrol in this unit as well as the following:

KNE273

Teaching

Teaching Pattern

3 x 1-hour lectures per week

1 x 1-hour tutorial per week 

7 x 3-hour geology practicals from weeks 1 to 7

1 whole-day engineering geology field trip

4 x 3-hour soil mechanics practicals from weeks 8 to 12

 

AssessmentSoil Mechanics Quizzes (4%)|Soil Mechanics Project - Soil Consolidation (6%)|A whole-day engineering geology field trip (10%)|Engineering Geology Online Quizzes (10%)|Soil Mechanics Practicals (12.5%)|Soil Mechanics Tutorials (12.5%)|Geology Practicals and Quizzes (15%)|Final Exam (30%)
TimetableView the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required

For Engineering Geology part:
A practical manual is required for geology. It is recommended to read each of the practicals prior to the sessions. The complete manuals can be purchased through UniPrint (cost around $16). Alternatively you can download each practical from MyLO.

 

For Soil Mechanics part:

Any textbooks about soil mechanics or foundation engineering such as the following textbook
Knappett, J.A., Craig, R.F. 2012. Craig's Soil Mechanics, 8th Edition, SPON Press. Full text is available at library.
Recommended

For Engineering Geology part:
Portions of Marshak S, 2012, Earth: Portrait of a Planet.
Bell, F. G., 2007, Engineering Geology, (2nd edition) Elsevier, BH.
Price, D.G., 2009, Engineering Geology: Principles and Practice, Berlin: Springer.


For the Soil Mechanics part:
Budhu, M. Soil Mechanics and Foundations (3rd Edition). J.Wiley and Sons Inc, NY, 2011.
Das, B.M. Principles of geotechnical enineering, 7th edition, CENGAGE Learning, 2010.
Ishibashi, I. and Hazarika H. Soil Mechanics Fundamentals, CRC Press, 2010.
Beer, D. and McMurrey, D. 2009. A guide to writing as an engineer (3rd Edition). Wiley:
http://www.coop.com.au/bookshop/show/9780470417010.

LinksBooktopia textbook finder

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.