Useful links
Unit of study_
CIVL2410: Soil Mechanics 1
2025 unit information
This course provides an elementary introduction to Geotechnical Engineering, and provides the basic mechanics necessary for the detailed study of Geotechnical Engineering. This course aims to provide an understanding of: the nature of soils as engineering materials; common soil classification schemes; the importance of water in the soil and the effects of water movement; methods of predicting soil settlements, the stress-strain-strength response of soils, and earth pressures.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Engineering
| Study level | Undergraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Civil Engineering |
| Credit points | 6 |
|
Prerequisites:
?
|
None |
|---|---|
|
Corequisites:
?
|
None |
| Prohibitions:
?
|
None |
| Assumed knowledge:
?
|
CIVL2201 and (CIVL1022 or GEOL1501) and (CIVL1802 or ENGG1802). An understanding of simple statics, equilibrium, forces and bending moments, and of stress and strain and the relationship between them. This is covered by University of Sydney courses CIVL1802 Statics (or ENGG1802 Engineering Mechanics), CIVL2201 Structural Mechanics. Familiarity with the use of spreadsheets (Excel, Mathcad) to obtain solutions to engineering problems, and with the graphical presentation of this data. Familiarity with word processing packages for report presentation. Familiarity with partial differential equations, and their analytical and numerical solution |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. demonstrate proficiency in handling experimental data, including strength parameters
- LO2. analyse and report the results of a laboratory experiment at a professional standard
- LO3. develop and use a spreadsheet to analyse a geotechnical design problem
- LO4. give an engineering classification of any piece of soil, and on this basis predict how it will perform as an engineering material
- LO5. calculate the settlements, and rates of settlement, under structures of various shapes and sizes
- LO6. explain the advantages and limitations of the different methods of settlement calculation
- LO7. determine the strength parameters appropriate to a range of stability problems, and understand the difference between total and effective stress approaches
- LO8. understand the principle of effective stress, and be able to apply this to calculate the stresses causing soil deformation
- LO9. calculate quantities of water flowing through the ground, and understand the effects that water flow has on the soil.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Semester 2 2025
|
Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
|
Find your current year census dates
Modes of attendance (MoA)
This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.
