Geotechnical Modelling and Design (CVEN30010)

Geotechnical Modelling and Design is a capstone subject focusing on expanding knowledge and applying into practical design in geotechnical engineering. This subject strengthens fundamental soil mechanics knowledge and further intensively expands practical geotechnical engineering knowledge and modelling skills. Students will grasp the essential knowledge through lectures, laboratory practicals, tutorials and computer workshops, where emphasis is paid on self-learning and problem-solving skills. Students have the opportunity to conduct laboratory experiments to observe water flow in soil and understand the underlying soil mechanism. Students will be provided with training and access to modern geotechnical computer modelling software to simulate practical engineering design problems. Completion of this subject will contribute to equip the students with the relevant knowledge and skills for a competent engineer.

In this capstone subject, students are required to finish a practical design project by applying their knowledge to solve a number of design problems while considering multiple and sometimes conflicting design criteria which aims to strengthen their problem-solving skills. Students will write a technical report for the design project that documents the designs, relevant analysis, and modelling results. This project provides a good opportunity for the student to apply technical knowledge (e.g. soil mechanics, water seepage and slope stability analysis) and strengthen engineering design skills (e.g. problem solving approach, trade-off analysis, data management, software modelling, communications, presentation). This is hoped to prepare them for employment in the industry, as well as future study or research.

This subject builds on knowledge gained in subjects such as Engineering Mathematics, Fluid Mechanics and Earth Processes for Engineering and assumes familiarity with concepts of civil and geotechnical engineering. This subject also delivers introductory material for engineering graduate coursework subjects including Geotechnical Engineering, Civil Hydraulics and Quantitative Environmental Modelling.

INDICATIVE CONTENT

Basic soil properties and three phase diagram, stresses in soils, site investigation, permeability and seepage, flow nets, the effect of seepage on stability, slope stability principles, landslides, design and remediation, trade-off analysis in engineering design, computer modelling to solve engineering design problems.