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AR20478: Soil mechanics and foundation design

[Page last updated: 04 August 2021]

Academic Year: 2021/2
Owning Department/School: Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering
Credits: 12 [equivalent to 24 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 240
Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Period:
Semester 2
Assessment Summary: CW 35%, EX 65%
Assessment Detail:
  • Open Book Examination (EX 65%)
  • Lab Report (CW 10%)
  • Design Project (CW 25%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Aims: You will develop your understanding of the behaviour of soil, and the factors that influence that behaviour. You will learn how to apply principles of soil mechanics to the design of shallow and deep foundations and how the necessary information is obtained in practice.

Learning Outcomes: On successful completion of the unit, you will be able to:
* Explain and apply the concepts and principles of soil mechanics.
* Apply your knowledge of engineering principles to propose foundation designs, when incomplete information is available.
* Discuss and assess the selection of appropriate foundation type and construction based upon design constraints
* Within a team Integrate your knowledge of foundation design and construction in an unfamiliar design context and reflect upon your design choices.

Skills: Intellectual skills
* To understand taught material - taught
Professional/Practical skills
* To deal with basic foundation engineering issues in a systematic yet creative way, and to communicate the conclusions clearly.
Transferable/key skills
* Ability to collect, analyse, synthesise and present technical information.
* To demonstrate communication and team working skills.

Content:
* Soil classification and description
* Volumetric relations
* Total and effective stress
* Drained and undrained loading
* Soil shear strength
* Site investigation and in-situ testing
* Elastic settlement
* Soil consolidation and compressibility
* Shallow foundation design
* Pile foundation design
* Seepage and flow through soils.
* Design project.

Programme availability:

AR20478 is a Designated Essential Unit on the following programmes:

Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering
  • UEAR-AFB07 : BEng(Hons) Civil Engineering (Year 2)
  • UEAR-AKB07 : BEng(Hons) Civil Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • UEAR-AFM03 : MEng(Hons) Civil and Architectural Engineering (Year 2)
  • UEAR-AKM03 : MEng(Hons) Civil and Architectural Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • UEAR-AFM07 : MEng(Hons) Civil Engineering (Year 2)
  • UEAR-AKM07 : MEng(Hons) Civil Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 2)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2021/22 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2022/23 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2021/22.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.