Foundation Engineering and Design unit (ENG706)

Hobart

Introduction

This unit builds on the basic concepts and fundamental principles of engineering geology and soil mechanics and focuses on geotechnical engineering design. It introduces the following topics to students: soil stress path, soil shear strength, critical state model, bearing capacity and serviceability limit of geotechnical structures, footing design, pile foundation design, slope stability, lateral earth pressure and retaining wall design.

Summary

Unit name	Foundation Engineering and Design
Unit code	ENG706
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Sciences and Engineering School of Engineering
Discipline	Engineering
Coordinator	Doctor Hong Liu
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Postgraduate

Availability

Location	Study period	Attendance options		Available to
Hobart	Semester 1

Note

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Key Dates

Study Period	Start date	Census date	WW date	End date
Semester 1	22/2/2026	16/3/2026	19/4/2026	13/6/2026

* 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 2026 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2026 will be available from the 1st October 2025. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

• Model the behaviour of engineering soils under typical loading conditions using poroelastic model, Mohr-Coulomb failure model and critical state model.
• 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.
• Evaluate the stability of geostructures against typical failure mechanisms using analytical and numerical methods

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
030911	$1,192.00	$1,192.00	not applicable	$3,401.00

• Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
• HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility³
• FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility⁴

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 UniConnect 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

ENG103 or KAA110

Concurrent Prerequisites

ENG703

Mutual Exclusions

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

KNE773 or ENG315 or KNE273

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	3 x 1 hour lectures per week, 1 x 1 hour tutorial per week, and  3 x 3 hours practicals per semester
Assessment	Practical reports (10%)|Quizzes (10%)|Assignments (15%)|Exam (30%)|Design project (35%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required	Knappett, J.A., Craig, R.F. 2012. Craig's Soil Mechanics, 8th Edition, SPON Press
Recommended	Budhu, M. 2011. Soil Mechanics and Foundations (3rd Edition). J.Wiley and Sons Inc, NY Das, B.M. 2010. Principles of geotechnical enineering, 7th edition, CENGAGE Learning Ishibashi, I. and Hazarika H. 2010. Soil Mechanics Fundamentals, CRC Press Beer, D. and McMurrey, D. 2009. A guide to writing as an engineer (3rd Edition). Wiley: http://www.coop.com.au/bookshop/show/9780470417010

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