Module ENGI4161: GEOTECHNICAL AND HIGHWAY ENGINEERING

Department: Engineering

ENGI4161: GEOTECHNICAL AND HIGHWAY ENGINEERING

Prerequisites

• (ENGI3341 Environmental Engineering; ENGI3311 Soil Engineering; ENGI3301 Structures and Surveying; ENGI3411 Applied Mechanics; ENGI3381 Design and Management for Civil Engineering; ENGI3401 Civil Design) OR (MEng(Overseas))

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• This module is for students intending to fulfil the requirements of the M.Eng. stream in Civil Engineering (H200).
• The module will provide graduates with advanced knowledge of geotechnical site investigations, the design and analysis of embankment and concrete dams and foundation design for offshore structures, as well as providing advanced knowledge of highway engineering.
• This module is complemented by the 60 credit M.Eng Research and Development project module or by the 40 credit Technical Project where the final year MEng student has the opportunity to apply the material taught in this module in a large scale project.
• The module provides a firm foundation for a broad range of careers in Civil and General Engineering through an appropriate combination of core and optional courses.

Content

• SITE INVESTIGATION:
• Geo-hazards and contaminated land investigations;
• Geotechnical desk study;
• Boreholes, trial pits, drilling, sampling and logging;
• Groundwater observations;
• Engineering description of soil and rock;
• In-situ tests (permeability, SPT, vane, cone and pressuremeter).
• DAM ENGINEERING:
• Dam Classification (earth and rockfill, roller compacted, gravity, buttress and arch);
• Stability, settlement and internal seepage in embankment dams;
• Concrete dam stability.
• HIGHWAY ENGINEERING:
• Microscopic and macroscopic traffic flow modelling;
• The traffic assignment problem and dynamic network models;
• Measurement devices and data processing;
• Estimation of traffic variables and automatic incident detection;
• Origin-destination estimation;
• Motorway traffic control;
• Urban road traffic control.
• Road construction materials and methods
• Road pavement design.
• OFFSHORE STRUCTURES:
• Classification of offshore foundation types
• Lateral loading on foundations
• Anchors

Learning Outcomes

• Appreciation and technical understanding of the characterisation and testing of soils to enable the design and analysis of a variety of geotechnical structures.
• Understanding of the capabilities and limitations of advanced simulation methods when applied to geotechnical engineering problems.
• Knowledge of simple analysis tools and modelling techniques for the prediction of the performance of geotechnical structures.
• Understanding of the different types of dam structures and their suitability for different geological/topological conditions.
• Understanding of traffic flow modelling approaches at different scales.
• Understanding of traffic flow control problems for different types of network and measurement devices for modelling and control purposes.
• Understanding of the traffic flow variables' estimation problems.
• Knowledge of simple design methods for road pavements.

• The awareness of current design codes of practice and engineering approaches to geotechnical design.
• The use of the Finite Element method in the analysis of foundation deformation and dam stress distribution.
• The ability to carry out assessments of the stability of geotechnical structures.
• The ability to devise a preliminary site investigation programme for a variety of engineering structures.
• The ability to apply modelling, estimation and control algorithms for traffic related problems.
• The ability to perform critical assessment and review and to communicate technical findings effectively.

• Capacity for independent self-learning within the bounds of professional practice.
• Highly specialised analytical and numerical skills appropriate to an engineer.
• Highly specialised use of information technology (IT) relevant to the engineering profession.
• Mathematics relevant to the application of advanced engineering concepts.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• The courses are covered in lectures and are reinforced by seminars leading to the required problem solving capability
• Students are able to make use of staff 'Tutorial Hours' to discuss any aspect of the module with teaching staff on a one-to-one basis
• Written timed examinations are appropriate for all module components because of the largely quantitative methods covered in the courses. The examination will enable students to demonstrate their ability to solve advanced problems independently
• Coursework assignments are appropriate for geotechnical engineering because of the practical nature of the material covered in this course and to assess the student's ability to perform independent data analysis and professional reporting.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

None.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University