Systems Modelling and Design (CVEN30010)

AIMS

This subject contains capstone design projects with an emphasis on geotechnical and hydraulic engineering and includes a hydrological component. Students will be given briefings on special topics in geotechnical but there will be emphasis put on self-learning. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the principles governing the flow of water through soil and its consequent impact on failure of soil structures such as occurs in landslides. Computer models to investigate these areas and laboratory experiments illustrating these phenomena will also be conducted.

A final capstone design project combining geotechnical and hydraulic engineering will require students in the Civil Systems Major to apply their knowledge to realistic design problem preparing them for employment in the construction industry. Students will be required to write this work up as a technical report that documents the designs, relevant data, and construction plans. This subject builds on knowledge gained in subjects such as Fluid Mechanics and Earth Processes for Engineering and assumes a familiarity with concepts of sustainability and engineering systems. The subject builds knowledge for the professional masters degree subjects Geotechnical Engineering and Civil Hydraulics.

INDICATIVE CONTENT

Stresses in soils, permeability and seepage, flow nets, the effect of seepage on stability, slope stability principles, surface runoff, landslides, methods of analysis, design and remediation, the use of computer models to solve seepage and slope stability problems in the engineering design process.