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Foundation Engineering and Design unit (ENG315)

Introduction

This unit builds on the basic concepts and fundamental principles of engineering geology and soil mechanics covered in a prerequisite unit. It gives an introduction to Geotechnical Engineering, and provides the basic concepts and mechanics necessary for geotechnical design. Through this unit, students will develop an understanding of the factors influencing soil strength, and apply this understanding to explore the stability of slopes, retaining walls and foundations. This unit is aimed to investigate the stability of the ground, and the stability of any structures built in or on the ground. An understanding of the factors influencing the ability of the ground to withstand loads of various types is essential for all civil engineers. It emphasizes understanding principles and applying them to practical situations. The aim is to give students the necessary skills to design, construct and supervise geotechnical projects.

Summary

Unit name Foundation Engineering and Design
Unit code ENG315
Credit points 12.5
College/School Sciences and Engineering
School of Engineering
Discipline Engineering
Coordinator Doctor Hong Liu
Available as an elective? Yes
Delivered By University of Tasmania
Level Advanced

Sustainable Development Goals

The Unit Coordinator has identified that this unit aligns with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on the alignment of the unit with these goals.

Availability

Specific information on 2027 unit availability will be available in August

Learning Outcomes

  • Describe the behaviour of engineering soils under typical loading conditions in terms of total stress, effective stress, stress and strain invariants, and stress history according to poroelastic model, Mohr-Coulomb failure model and critical state model.
  • Design appropriate testing methods to determine the drained and undrained shear strengths of engineering soils in laboratory and field.
  • Evaluate the stability of geostructures against typical failure mechanisms using analytical and numerical methods.
  • Design typical geotechnical structures such as footing, pile, slope and retaining wall including their documentations to ensure their short-term and long-term stabilities using both total and effective stress analysis methods.

Fee Information

2027 fee information will be available in August.

Requisites

Prerequisites

ENG221

Mutual Exclusions

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

ENG421

Teaching

Teaching Pattern

3 x 60 minute lectures weekly, 1 x 60 minute tutorial weekly, 3 x 3hr practicals

AssessmentIn-class quiz (10%)|Practicals (10%)|Tutorials (15%)|Final exam (30%)|Design projects (35%)
TimetableView 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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