Course Details in 2026/27 Session

Module Title	LM Geotechnical Engineering 3
School	School of Engineering
Department	Civil Engineering
Module Code	04 29657
Module Lead	Professor I Jefferson
Level	Masters Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-20 hours Tutorial-23 hours Practical Classes and workshops-14 hours Guided independent study-143 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	This modules covers the following: (1) Computer Aided Engineering Use of the computer package (i.e. ABAQUS or similar) Use of computer package for slope stability calculation Use of computer package for retaining wall stability calculation Use of finite element analysis for simple problems such as behaviour of soil under triaxial conditions (2) Critical State Soil Mechanics Critical State Framework, establishment of State Boundary Surface, Roscoe Surface for normally consolidated clays, normalized q & p/ plots, the Hvorslev surface, sands and the critical state model Routine soil tests interpreted according to the critical state model Behaviour of soils before yield, introduction to plasticity and soils, Cam-Clay theory, calculation of elastic and plastic strains
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Be exposed and subsequently use commercially available geotechnical design software in a systematic fashion and to critical assess their benefits and limitations. Critically recall, evaluate and apply the unifying concept of critical state soil mechanics for a range of geotechnical applications.
Assessment	29657-04 : Module Mark : Mixed (100%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: Centrally timetabled 3 hour written examination (70%) Coursework (30%) made up of one computer design exercise Reassessment: Centrally timetabled 3 hour written examination (100%)
Other
Reading List