Civil Engineering
CE 412 - Foundation Engineering
12:30 - 1:45 TTh
Instructor: Matthew A. Dettman, P.E., Associate Professor
Text: Principles of Foundation Engineering, Braja M. Das
Course Description
Continuation of the material in CE410 focusing on the design and construction of shallow and deep foundations.
Additional topics will include slope stability analysis and advanced discussions of retaining wall design and subsurface investigations.
Course Overview
This course is an advanced course in Geotechnical Engineering. Much of the information to be gained in this course will come from reading assignments, so take them seriously. There will be information on the exam that will not be lecture material. Lectures will be utilized for in depth discussion and presentation of the more complex topics and analytical techniques, as well as discussion of case histories and experiential teaching from the instructor. It will be expected that the student will read the text and learn topics not discussed in class but required for the course. Homework will often require that the students use their problem solving abilities obtained throughout their educational career to read, comprehend, and apply basic Geotechnical Engineering design tools.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, the student will be able to:
1.
Perform a time rate of consolidation analysis
2.
Develop a design budget and proposal for a Geotechnical Investigation
3.
Select boring location, depth, and associated laboratory tests for a small commercial construction project.
4.
Select and design the appropriate shallow foundation system and deep foundation system utilizing boring log data and associated laboratory testing and incorporating the following considerations; a. Soil type b. Settlement c. Loads (type, direction, etc.) d. Surface Topography e. Alternative s (mat, spread f ooting, combined footing) f. Cost
5.
Prepare a Geotechnical Engineering design report for a shallow and/or deep foundation system including, but not limited to, appropriate engineering analysis, discussion of alternatives, presentation of field and laboratory data, and final foundation design recommendations.
6.
Perform a slope stability analysis both by hand and utilizing software
7.
Perform a retaining wall analysis including sliding and overturning considerations
8.
Understand basic terminology and application of common soil improvement techniques.
Civil Engineering Design
This course is considered one of the major design experiences in the CE curriculum. Design is generally considered to consist of breaking down a system into it’s basic components and then rearranging those components into a new whole.
In this course, the students will complete a design project consisting of the prepa ration of a design proposal including a budget, performance of the field investigation, performance of the required engineering analysis and foundation design, and preparation of the final Geotechnical Engineering design report. Design also must consider the applicable engineering standards and constraints of the project and should explore alternatives.
Engineering standards for this project will include applicable building codes, ASTM standards, and accepted methods of analysis and design. In the final report, the students will be required to identify the standards applicable to the project.
Realistic constraints will also be project dependent. They may include budget, schedule, rules for a competition, geometry of a building site, or myriad other things. In the final report, the students will be required to identify the constraints applicable to the project.
The tools for the design project will be included in the lecture material and demonstrated in the final design project report.

CE 412 – Foundation Engineering - Course Policies and Procedures
HOMEWORK, READING, QUIZZES
Homework - Homework will be assigned from the textbook throughout the semester. It is expected that the student will complete each problem assigned. A portion of each exam may include a select set of homework problems. Prior to handing out each exam, the student will be asked to turn in an unannounced number of the homework problems, which must be worked out and ready to turn in at the beginning of each exam.
Reading - It is expected that reading assignments will be completed prior to its scheduled lecture date.
Quizzes - Unannounced quizzes may be given at any time and cannot be made up.
Quizzes are closed book and notes unless otherwise specified.
Your quiz average will be equal to 1 Problem Set.
EXAMS
Exams will be primarily mathematical problem solving. Some short answer essay questions may be used. Assume exams to be open book and notes unless otherwise stated. All information obtained through lectures, field trips, reading assignments, and guest lecturers is fair game for exams. If you miss an exam without notifying me before the exam starts, you will receive a 0 for that exam.
PROJECTS
This class will require a design project and a software project. The design project will be a simulation of a Geotechnical Engineering design report that is very similar to the type of report that a GE firm would produce for a commercial project. The software project will require an in-depth use of a commercially available software package commonly used practice. Details of each will be provided when the projects are assigned.
ATTENDANCE
I do not have a specific attendance policy, however let me put it this way, you better be here. I will not repeat missed lecture material or re-distribute missed handouts. You are responsible for any missed material.
GRADING
Exams
Final Exam (Cumulative)
Design Project
Software Project
50%
20%
20%
90 - 100% A
80 - 89.99 B
70 - 70.99 C
10% 60 - 69.99 D
BELOW 60 F
You may not exempt the final. If you have an 88.50% average (including the final) and score an A on the final, you will receive an A for the class. All other grades are calculated similarly, i.e. a 78.5% average including the final and a B on the final, you will get a B for the course, etc. The exception is for a failing grade. Any average of 59.99 or below is an F.
OFFICE
2128 ESB Phone) 745-2462 Office hours posted on my office door
WEBSITE AND EMAIL http://www.wku.edu/~matthew.dettman matthew.dettman@wku.edu

Week Date
1
4
5
2
3
6
7
13
14
15
16
17
8
9
10
11
12
Jan 10-14
Jan 17-21
Jan 24- 28
Jan31-Feb 4
Feb 7-11
Feb 14-18
Feb 21-25
Feb 28-Mar4
Mar 7-11
Mar 14-18
Mar 21-25
Mar 28-Apr 1
Apr 4-8
Apr 11-15
Apr 18-22
Apr 25-29
May 5
Topic
Review, Subsurface Exploration
Settlement
Shallow Foundations
“
Shallow Foundations
Mat Foundations, Exam 1
Mats, Piles
Piles
Piles
Caissons, Exam 2
Spring Break
Caissons
Slope Stability
“
Lateral Earth Pressure Revisited
Soil Improvement, Exam 3
Final - 10:30 am
Reading Assignment
Ch. 2 Sections 1-13, 18, 19, 21, 22
Ch. 1 Sections 1-7, 11-21
Ch. 3 Sections 1-7, 9, 11
Ch. 4 Sections 1-5, 15
Ch. 5 Sections 1-4, 6, 7(k only)
Ch. 9 Sections 1-7, 9-18, 20-22
Ch. 10 Sections 1-10, 12
Notes
TBA