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Module

CEG2201 : Geotechnics

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Sadegh Nadimi
  • Lecturer: Dr Mohamed Rouainia
  • Owning School: Engineering
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 5.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

This module aims to introduce:
The fundamental concepts and principles of soil mechanics
The engineering properties of soil and their relationship with Geotechnical design.
Techniques for the identification and classification of soils
The role of Geotechnical Engineering in Civil Engineering and Construction.

Summary:
This module will provide an introduction to the engineering properties of soils and their relevance to geotechnical design. Students will perform laboratory practicals in soil description.

Outline Of Syllabus

The origin of soils and the relationship to their basic properties. The role of geotechnical engineering
and relevance of engineering soil parameters to geotechnical design; total and effective stress; pore
pressure; geostatic stresses; stress-strain characteristics; shear strength; seepage; flow nets;
primary consolidation; Laboratory testing of soils.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion118:3018:30Revision for exam
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture111:0011:00Lectures
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion12:002:00examination
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesPractical71:007:00Practicals
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching101:3015:00Tutorials
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesFieldwork16:006:00Fieldwork
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study113:0033:00Includes background reading and reading lecture notes for a full understanding of material
Guided Independent StudyDistance Learning Advance Preparation51:307:30open book canvas quizzes
Total100:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Students undertake lectures and tutorials, with several problem-solving small group teaching activities in order to gain an understanding of the basic soil properties and their behaviour and use in construction. Practical skills will be developed through laboratory (practical) and field classes which will be held to allow students to gain practice in the determination of engineering properties of soils.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written Examination1201A50N/A
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Computer assessment1M12Open Book Canvas Quiz 2
Computer assessment1M13Open Book Canvas Quiz 3
Computer assessment1M12Open Book Canvas Quiz 4
Computer assessment1M13Open Book Canvas Quiz 5
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Computer assessment1MOpen Book Canvas Quiz 1 (Formative)
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The exam covers the knowledge outcomes relating to the fundamental concept of engineering soil properties. The
exam is designed to allow students to demonstrate their understanding of soil behaviour and use in construction, and the use of geotechnical design parameters in simple geotechnical design calculations. The CANVAS-based
assessment is based on the results of laboratory exercises and field practical class to allow students to demonstrate their ability to select important geotechnical design parameters.

Reading Lists

Timetable