1.
Name of Course
2.
Course Code
3.
Name(s) of academic staff
To be Assigned
4.
Rationale for the inclusion of the
course/module in the programme
Faculty
5.
Semester and Year offered
1/1
6.
Total Student
Learning Time
(SLT)
Face to Face
Total Guided and Independent Learning
L = Lecture
L
T = Tutorial
Geotechniques I
T
P
O
Independent = 84
Total =126
P = Practical
O= Others
7.
Credit Value
3
8.
Prerequisite (if any)
none
9.
Objectives:
This course deals with the principles of soil mechanics and their application for civil engineering works. It covers
topics on Basic Soil Mechanics i.e. soil composition and classification, stresses and strength behaviour of soils,
flow of water through soils, soil consolidation, soil compaction, lateral earth pressures, bearing capacity of soils
and soil exploration.
10.
Learning outcomes:
At the end of this course, the student should be able to:-
11.
1. To understand the basic principles of Soil Mechanics
2. To perform engineering calculations related to the behaviour and response of soils to applied load and
various geotechnical situations.
3. To analyse various soil engineering problems.
4. To familiarise with field and laboratory tests of soils for civil engineering purposes.
Transferable Skills:
12.
Teaching-learning and assessment strategy
A variety of teaching and learning strategies are used throughout the course, including:
 Classroom lessons. Lectures and Power Point presentations
 Laboratory sessions: Practice exercises
 student-Lecturer discussion
 collaborative and co-operative learning;
 Independent study.
Assessment strategies include the following:
 Ongoing quizzes
 Midterm tests
 Performance Assessment (Participation, project, Assigned exercises)
 Lecturer Observation
13.
Synopsis:
14.
Mode of Delivery:


15.
Classroom lessons. Lectures and Power Point presentations
Site visit : Practice exercises
Assessment Methods and Types:
The assessment for this course will be based on the following:
Coursework
40%

Quizzes
10%

Assignments
10%

Mid-Semester Exam
20%
Final Examination
60%
Total
16.
100%
Mapping of the course/module to the Programme Aims
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
A6
A7
A8
A9
A10
A11
A12
LO9
LO10
LO11
LO12

17.
Mapping of the course/module to the Programme Learning Outcomes
LO1
LO2
LO3
LO4
LO5
LO6
LO7
LO8

18.
Content outline of the course/module and the SLT per topic
SLT
T
Topic 3
Topic 2
Topic 1
Introduction to soil composition and classification


Origin of soils, soil composition, types and classification
Basic soil properties – density, specific gravity, void ratio and phase
diagram
 Particles sizes and particle size distribution.
 Soil consistency - Atterberg limits ( liquidity limits, plastic limits,
plasticity index )
 Soil Classification system (British Standard and Universal soil
Classification system (USCS))
Flow of water through soils



Concept of heads and hydraulic gradient and Darcy's Law
Permeability and 1-D flow of water through soil
Determination of the coefficient of permeability - constant head,
falling head and field tests.
 Seepage and 2-D flow in soils - introduction to flownet construction
Compaction



Compaction theory and methods of compaction in the laboratory.
Field compaction - equipment, procedure and control.
Relative compaction and determination of in-situ dry density and
moisture content.
 Laboratory configuration test
Shear strength of soils
Topic 5
Topic 4

Total stresses, pore pressure and the concept of effective stresses.
Overburden pressures.
 Shear strength - deformation relationships of soil
 Plastic failure and shear failure, failure criteria
 Mohr-Coulomb failure theory and shear strength parameters of
soils.
 Tests for shear strength parameters of soils - direct shear test
Lateral earth pressure



Introduction to lateral earth pressures at rest, active and passive
conditions.
Rankine's and Coulomb's theories
Distribution of lateral earth pressures behind a wall and the
determination of the resultant force
Total
19.
42
Main references supporting the course
1. R. Whitlow, 'Basic Soil Mechanics', Third Edition, Longman Group Limited, England 1995.
P
Total
L
Indep.
Details
Additional references supporting the course
20.
1. G.N. Smith, 'Elements of Soil Mechanics of Civil and Mining Engineers', 4th edition, 1991.
2. B.M. Das, 'Principles of Geotechnical Engineering', 2nd edition, PWS-KENT Publishing Company, Boston,
1990.
3. British Standard Methods of Tests for Soils for Civil Engineering Purposes, BS1377: Part 1 to 9, British
Standards Institution, London, 1990.
Other additional information
All materials will be available to the students in the library.