CIVIL 324 : Geomechanics 3

Engineering

2023 Summer School (1230) (10 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Shear strength of soil – triaxial testing, measurement of pore water pressures, and interpretation of test data. Effective and total stress paths for drained and undrained loading in laboratory tests and field applications. Consolidation. Application of elastic solutions in geomechanics. Geotechnical numerical modelling.

Course Overview

This course lifts students to the level of having sufficient knowledge of geomechanics and geotechnical engineering to enter the profession with a sound grasp of theory and its application, including an appreciation of the approximations. The course emphasises principles and concepts central to the professional practice of geotechnical engineering. There is a mix of laboratory work, analysis for design and the application of state of the art computer programs for the solution of complex engineering problems.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: CIVIL 322 or equivalent Restriction: CIVIL 420, 728

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Create appropriate techniques for complex engineering problems (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.2, 6.1 and 6.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Projects 30% Individual Coursework
Test 10% Individual Coursework
Quizzes 10% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1
Projects
Test
Quizzes
Final Exam

A minimum of 40% in the Final Exam is required to pass the course.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 10 point course and students are expected to spend 15 hours per week involved in each 10 point summer school course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect, on average, 3 hours of lectures/tutorials, 2 hours of lab, 5 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 5 hours of work on quizzes/projects/test preparation per week.

Delivery Mode

Online

Attendance is expected at scheduled online activities including labs/tutorials to complete components of the course.
The course will include live online events including group discussions/tutorials/lectures and these will be recorded.

While this course is delivered online, attendance on campus may be required for the test and/or exam.

Where possible, study material will be released progressively throughout the course.
This course runs to the University semester/quarter timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Electronic course notes will be provided. Additional reference material will be employed when required.

Health & Safety

Students are expected to adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Health and Safety section of the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Please be informed that, with the retirement of the previous lecturer, this summer school class will be delivered by a replacement staff. Hence, the same course materials used in previous years will also be employed.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.