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Course & Unit Catalogues


AR40324: Advanced geotechnical engineering

[Page last updated: 23 October 2023]

Academic Year: 2023/24
Owning Department/School: Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering
Credits: 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 120
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Semester 2
Assessment Summary: EX 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Examination (EX 100%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: On successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to demonstrate:
* a depth of understanding of the problems studied, and their relationship to design and construction.
* a systematic understanding of this knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of this area of professional practice; and,
* conceptual understanding that enables the student to evaluate critically current practice and new developments, and propose new solutions.


Aims: To give a knowledge and understanding of a range of more advanced geotechnical engineering problems than are covered in the core units.

Skills: Intellectual skills
* To understand taught material - taught Professional/Practical skills
* Analytical and design skills related to the material covered - assessed Transferable/key skills
* To communicate ideas verbally and in writing - facilitated and assessed.

Content: Coping with uncertainty in geotechnical problems. Problematic soils and their influence on geotechnical design. Advanced modelling of soils: Numerical models, yield and failure criteria, soil plasticity, coupled shear and volumetric behaviour.

Course availability:

AR40324 is Compulsory on the following courses:

Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering
  • UEAR-AFM07 : MEng(Hons) Civil Engineering (Year 4)
  • UEAR-AKM07 : MEng(Hons) Civil Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 5)

AR40324 is Optional on the following courses:

Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering
  • UEAR-AFM03 : MEng(Hons) Civil and Architectural Engineering (Year 4)
  • UEAR-AKM03 : MEng(Hons) Civil and Architectural Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 5)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2023/24 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2024/25 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2023/24.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.