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College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Department of Civil Engineering
HomeUndergraduateSyllabiCIV 330 - Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering

CIV 330 – Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering

Current Catalog Description

This course introduces students to the principles that govern the use and application of soil as an engineering material in civil engineering practice, and for students to gain proficiency in the classification and quantitative evaluation of soil engineering properties. The lectures and homework assignments will emphasize basic soil mechanics concepts using fundamental skills from engineering, science and mechanics courses.

Prerequisite

MEC 363; CIV, MEC or ESG major

Corequisite:

CIV 341

Textbooks and/or Other Required Material

An Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering by R. Holtz, W. Kovacs and T. Sheahan, Prentice Hall, 2nd Edition 978-0132496346.

This course is

Required

Topics Covered

  1. Original of soils and weight-volume relationships
  2. Soil classification for engineering applications
  3. Soil compaction
  4. Flow of water through soils
  5. Stresses in soil masses: Total, pore pressure, and effective stresses
  6. Stresses in soil masses due to external loads: Foundations and Excavations
  7. Consolidation of saturated clay deposits
  8. Time rate of consolidation
  9. Stresses in solid: Mohr's Circle
  10. Shear strength of soils and Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria

Course Learning and Student Outcomes

Explain what geotechnical engineering is and how important it is to civil engineering. ABET Student Outcome: 1

Classify soils for civil engineering applications. ABET Student Outcome: 7

Determine the specification for compacting soils in-situ.  ABET Student Outcomes: 1, 6

Estimate soil permeability and quantity of water seepage in soils.  ABET Student Outcome: 6

Determine various stresses in soil masses including: naturally existing stresses (total, pore pressure, and effective), and externally induced stress changes due to foundations or excavations. ABET Student Outcomes: 6, 7

Estimate the magnitude and time-rate of settlement due to consolidation. ABET Student Outcomes 6, 7

Determine normal and shear stresses at a point in a soil mass and use of Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion to evaluate possible failures. ABET Student Outcome: 6

Write clear technical memos. ABET Student Coutcome: 3

Prepared by

Ali Farhadzadeh (2021)

Last Updated:

9/2021