Geotechnical Modelling and Design

to strengthen their problem-solving skills. This project provides a good opportunity for the student to apply technical knowledge (e.g. soil mechanics, water seepage and slope stability analysis) and strengthen engineering design skills (e.g. problem solving approach, trade-off analysis, data management, software modelling, communications, presentation). This is to prepare the students for employment in the industry, as well as future study or research. This subject builds on knowledge gained in subjects such as Engineering Mathematics, Fluid Mechanics and Earth Processes for Engineering and assumes familiarity with concepts of civil and geotechnical engineering. This subject also delivers introductory material for engineering graduate coursework subjects including Geotechnical Engineering, Civil Hydraulics and Quantitative Environmental Modelling. The subject will cover topics such as basic soil mechanics, stresses in soils, effective stress principle, Coulomb failure criteria, site investigation, permeability and seepage, flow nets, the effect of seepage on stability, slope stability principles, landslides, design and remediation, trade-off analysis in engineering design, and computer modelling to solve engineering design problems.

• 1ILO 1. Describe and analyse geotechnical seepage and the associated engineering hazards;
• 2ILO 2. Describe and analyse slope stability, the associated engineering hazards and stabilisation methods;
• 3ILO 3. Apply geotechnical principles in a geotechnical design project, including defining the design problem, identifying potential solutions, evaluation and analysis;
• 4ILO 4. Apply modelling techniques to assist the design project;
• 5ILO 5. Analyse the different design schemes and identify their performance;
• 6ILO 6. Clearly and effectively communicate technical issues and solutions, and compose professional technical reports.