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Unit of study_
CIVL5452: Foundation Engineering
2021 unit information
The objectives of this unit are to gain an understanding of the design process in foundation engineering, to understand the importance of site investigation and field testing, and to learn how to deal with uncertainty. To achieve these objectives students are asked to design foundations using real data. Students will develop the ability to interpret the results of a site investigation; to use laboratory and field data to design simple foundations; develop an appreciation of the interaction between the soil, foundation system and the supported structure. The syllabus is comprised of field testing, site characterisation, interpretation of field data, design of pile raft and surface footings, support of excavations, soil improvement, and geotechnical report writing.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Engineering
| Study level | Postgraduate |
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| Academic unit | Civil Engineering |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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CIVL6452 |
| Assumed knowledge:
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[CIVL2410 OR CIVL9410] AND [CIVL3411 OR CIVL9411]. Students are assumed to have a good knowledge of fundamental soil mechanics, which is covered in the courses of soil mechanics (settlement, water flow, soil strength) and foundation engineering (soil models, stability analyses; slope stability; retaining walls; foundation capacity) |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. write a geotechnical report
- LO2. interpret borehole log data to determine soil parameters and develop a geotechnical model
- LO3. design foundations (shallow, piled, piled raft) and retaining wall systems
- LO4. understand basic principles of soil mechanics, and the limitations of these theories
- LO5. creatively apply theories of soil mechanics to foundation design; in particular, deal with parameter variability and uncertainty that arises with real problems.
Unit availability
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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