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EA3027: GEOTECHNICS 1 (2020-2021)

Last modified: 05 Aug 2021 13:04


Course Overview

Aimed principally at students interested in civil engineering, it aims to familiarise students with the fundamental concepts involved in soil mechanics and engineering geology.  The first course in the civil engineering programme that includes the importance of soil mechanics in the structural design.  The main emphasis is understanding the main principles of soil mechanics through the introduction of laboratory tests commonly used to obtain the engineering properties of different types of soil such as sand and clay.  Discussion of the consequences of some soil failures (such as in the case of Tower of Pisa) are also introduced.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 3
Term First Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Adelaja Osofero

Qualification Prerequisites

  • Either Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

The course provides an introduction to engineering geology covering topics such as the formation and classification of rocks, weathering processes, plate tectonics, aggregates, groundwater, fluvial and coastal processes and site investigation.  The main part of the course is devoted to a study of the engineering behaviour of soils.  This commences with origin of soil through the introduction to soil classification and a description of the phase composition of soils.  Site investigation, consolidation, shear strength and critical states of soils are also covered.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Timed online test (50%)

Coursework (40%)

Coursework (10%)

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
FactualRememberILO’s for this course are available in the course guide.

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