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Geotechnical Engineering (CVEN90050)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
email narsilio@unimelb.edu.au
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
AIMS
Soil and rock are among the most important civil engineering materials. They form the foundations of all structures, can be rearranged to provide a topography to suit particular needs like embankments for road and railways, can form a structure in its own right when used for levee banks or dam walls, or may need to be removed to allow access such as with tunnels and cuttings. Students completing this unit should understand how to make simplifications to complex soil conditions, how to establish strength/deformation characteristics of the soil and how to apply fundamental geomechanics knowledge learned in earlier units to solve problems involving the stability of an earth mass for these various situations. Graduates from this subject will be able to work under the guidance of a chartered engineer to design and supervise construction of a range of geotechnical structures such as foundations, roads, and retaining walls.
This subject builds directly on knowledge from a range of undergraduate and postgraduate subjects in the areas of mathematics, statistics, earth processes, and fluid mechanics. It also draws on knowledge of sustainability and management to provide context for problems.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
Topics covered include a detailed review of pore-water pressures and effective stress, soil strength and compressibility (direct shear and triaxial testing, and others), consolidation, compaction and their applications to geotechnical design in selected areas, rigid and flexible earth retaining structures, reinforced soil walls, pavements, introduction to liquefaction, and introduction to geothermal energy.
Intended learning outcomes
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILO)
On completion of this subject the student is expected to:
- Make simplifications to complex soil conditions
- Establish strength/deformation characteristics of soil
- Apply fundamental geomechanics knowledge learned in earlier units to solve problems involving the stability of an earth mass.
Generic skills
- Ability to apply knowledge of basic science and engineering fundamentals
- Ability to communicate effectively, not only with engineers but also with the community at large
- Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution
- Ability to utilise systems approach to design and operational performance
- Ability to function effectively as an individual in multi-disciplinary and multicultural teams, with the capacity to be a leader or manager as well as an effective team member
- Expectation of the need to undertake lifelong learning and the capacity to do so
- Capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self-directed learning
- Intellectual curiosity and creativity, including understanding of the philosophical and methodological bases of research activity.
Last updated: 9 March 2023
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Students must have completed BOTH of the following subjects, or equivalent to enrol in this subject:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ENEN20002 | Earth Processes for Engineering |
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
CVEN30010 | Systems Modelling and Design |
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
Students cannot gain credit for this subject and:
- 421-306 Geotechnical Engineering
Recommended background knowledge
Learning in this subject will be assisted by knowledge gained in the following subject:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
CVEN90044 | Engineering Site Characterisation | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 9 March 2023
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Three 1000 word assignments (10% each). Each assignment requires approximately 13-15 hours of work. These assignments may use data from laboratory tests. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) 1, 2 and 3 are addressed in these assignments
| Throughout the teaching period | 30% |
Two 45-minute online tests (5% each). ILOs 1, 2 and 3 are addressed in the tests
| Throughout the teaching period | 10% |
One examination. ILOs 1, 2 and 3 are addressed in the exam
| End of semester | 60% |
Last updated: 9 March 2023
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinator Guillermo Narsilio Ferrero Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 53 hours (Lectures: 3 hours per week; Tutorial: 1 hour per week; Laboratory: 5 hours per semester) Total time commitment 200 hours Teaching period 2 March 2020 to 7 June 2020 Last self-enrol date 13 March 2020 Census date 30 April 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 June 2020 Assessment period ends 3 July 2020 Semester 1 contact information
email narsilio@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
200 hours
Last updated: 9 March 2023
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Course notes will be made available in LMS or for purchase from the University Bookroom.
- Subject notes
LEARNING AND TEACHING METHODS
The subject is based principally on lectures and tutorials; and the critical reading of prescribed textbooks, lecture notes, and selected papers. Depending on availability of site constructions with works related to the subject objectives, a site visit co-organised by lecturers and experienced industry professionals is also implemented to reinforce some concepts learnt in the classrooms. Laboratory sessions are used to complement the fundamentals of strength (tri-axial) and compressibility (consolidation) testing and analysis.
INDICATIVE KEY LEARNING RESOURCES
Course notes will be made available in LMS or for purchase from the University Bookroom, as well as selected journal articles, references to relevant AS/NZ and/or ASTM standards.
CAREERS / INDUSTRY LINKS
Experienced industry professionals and specialist contractors present during site visits and provide background material about the construction sites and projects (acting as case studies). These site visits are undertaken to enhance students understanding of typical geotechnical works, particularly in excavations and earth retaining structures. - Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Architectural Engineering Course Doctor of Philosophy - Engineering Course Ph.D.- Engineering Course Master of Philosophy - Engineering Specialisation (formal) Civil with Business Specialisation (formal) Structural Specialisation (formal) Civil Specialisation (formal) Environmental - Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 9 March 2023