| CODE | GSC3106 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Introduction to Engineering Geology | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | Not Applicable | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Geosciences | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will explore how geoscientists can contribute effectively to the field of Engineering. In order to do this, geocientists need to understand the main concerns of Engineering such as stability of foundations and earth-retaining structures, settlements, the effects of water on engineering, etc. This study-unit will introduce students to the concepts of soil classification and the mechanical properties of rocks, soils and unconsolidated sediments, and their response to external and internal forces. It also seeks to familiarise the students with the assessment and quantification of hazards such as slope and cliff instability, and earthquake ground shaking. The study-unit material will be delivered both through lectures as well as through laboratory and site visits, for example to a geotechnical drilling site. Case studies, particularly in the local context, will also be discussed. Topics will include: - An introduction to soil mechanics - why soils are so different form other materials; - An introduction to rock mechanics, and why the two (rocks and soils) are different; - Soil and rock properties: void ratio, moisture content, plasticity, particle grading, fractures (presence and different types of discontinuities), permeability, rock block sizes, swelling characteristics, compressibility characteristics, consolidation and related environments, weathering differences; - The relation between different geological processes and depositional environments and the geotechnical properties of sediments; - Effective stress and Mohr-Coulomb failure envelopes for soil strength; - Basic engineering applications: - types of foundations and a description of the bearing capacity mechanism, retaining walls and excavations; - Consolidation and settlement; - Slope stability; - Rock mass instability and the use of sterographic projection to analyse discontinuities; - Ground investigation techniques, including report writing to Eurocode 7; - Case studies. Study-unit Aims: The study-unit aims to utilise the geological and physical concepts learned in earlier units, together with new concepts about soil properties, in the understanding of the behaviour of shallow rocks and soils, as well as hazards such as slope and cliff instabilities and failures. It will provide students with an understanding of the investigations and testing that are carried out on a site before civil works are carried out. It also aims to familiarise students with laboratory tests and techniques that are not normally available in this department. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - describe the mechanical properties of soils and rock and define the fundamental quantities and indices, such as plasticity, compressive strength, permeability amongst others; - explain the relationships between the geological origins of rocks and sediments and their geotechnical properties; - explain the relationships between stresses and strains in the soils; - understand the significance of consolidation and settlement; - describe the physical causes and occurrence of slope failure and landsliding; - describe the various laboratory tests that are carried out to measure the above properties. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - use his/her knowledge of soil classification and soil properties to characterise a given site; - read and understand geological laboratory reports and geotechnical reports; - represent ground data by means of annotated sketches and simple geological cross-sections; - discuss and analyse case studies. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Waltham, Tony (2009) Foundations of Engineering Geology, 3rd Edition. Spon press. - Gonzalez de Vallejo, Luis I. and Ferrer, Mercedes. (2011) Geological Engineering. CRC Press. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Fieldwork | |||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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