Geology and Soil Mechanics unit (ENG206)

Introduction

This unit provides students with a fundamental understanding of earth materials and their influence on civil engineering design, construction, and long-term infrastructure stability. The unit consists of two key components: geology and soil mechanics. The geology component introduces engineering geology, rock classification, and geophysical exploration methods, with a focus on how geological features impact the stability of slopes, tunnels, dams, and bridges. The soil mechanics component covers soil classification, permeability, compaction, effective stress, and consolidation, enabling students to evaluate the engineering behaviour of soils under various conditions. 

Building on the fundamental statics and material concepts introduced in the first year units, this unit prepares students for advanced geotechnical design and analysis in later units. Students will apply Darcy’s Law, Terzaghi’s Effective Stress Principle, and consolidation theory to real-world infrastructure challenges, including settlement behaviour under changing environmental conditions.

Through laboratory experiments, field trips and case studies, students will gain practical experience in identifying, testing, and classifying earth materials, ensuring they develop the skills necessary for designing resilient and climate-adaptive civil structures. 

Summary

Unit name	Geology and Soil Mechanics
Unit code	ENG206
Credit points	12.5
College/School	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

Specific information on 2027 unit availability will be available in August

Learning Outcomes

• Identify earth materials and geological processes in the laboratory and in the field on the basis of their characteristic properties relevant to civil engineering.
• Classify earth materials in a systematic and unified manner according to Australian and international standards.
• Apply geological and geophysical methods to discover essential information on the distributions and properties of earth materials.
• Evaluate soil permeability, consolidation, deformation and strength properties by applying Darcy’s law, effective stress principle and Terzaghi consolidation theory.
• Integrate climate change considerations into the stability and design of civil engineering structures constructed with earth materials.

Fee Information

2027 fee information will be available in August.

Requisites

Prerequisites

ENG106 Civil Engineering Foundations

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	1 x 2 hour lecture per week 1 x 2 hour Tutorial per week 4 x 3 hour labs per semester
Assessment	Assignment (15%)|Field Trip (15%)|Examination (30%)|Laboratory (40%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required	Required readings will be listed in the unit outline prior to the start of classes.

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