KB6022 - Geotechnical Engineering

The module will include a range of learning materials such as presentations, notes, seminar questions for you to answer, and other resources such as video links, spreadsheets and specific software-related files. All these resources will be arranged in a convenient learning journey, giving you a clear expectation of the material to be studied and tasks to be completed on a week-by-week basis. You will be expected to complete the appropriate tasks in your weekly journey before either attending classes or taking part in online sessions. You will take part in lectures to develop your knowledge and understanding of the module material and in seminars and IT workshop sessions, where you will learn to apply the concepts learned to engineering problems. There may be occasions within the semester where normal teaching will be suspended to allow your learning to be supplemented by a range of activities such as design workshops, guest presentations, professional body events, site visits and field work.

You will be supported by staff in seminars and workshops, giving you ample opportunity to ask questions to clarify and deepen your understanding of the module material, as well as to seek specific help, for example with practice assessment tasks. At other times, you will have regular access to University academic staff online, including the use of discussion boards and chat rooms in the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). This will allow you to access support regularly at convenient times.

The module and the wider programme teams will also provide a supportive approach, enabling you to quickly and easily access and speak to any member of the programme team, as required.

The University Library and other student services also offer a variety of academic skills training both online and face to face, which you can access as needed.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Determine horizontal earth pressures and design a retaining wall
2. Classify and analyse earth slopes.
3. Analyze and design foundations for ultimate and serviceability limit states.


Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
4. Apply the appropriate analysis tools to the design of foundations and other earth or earth supporting structures.


Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Evaluate sustainability, health and safety and design risk management issues in the context of geotechnical engineering.

Formative assessment will be through problem solving tasks in the seminar sessions on which verbal feedback will be provided.

You will be summatively assessed by means of an examination of 3 hours duration. This will assess all MLOs and will be worth 100% of the module marks.

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You will be introduced to the application of the principles of soil mechanics to the analysis and design of earth slopes, foundations and retaining structures. You will gain body of knowledge to allow you to specify, design, evaluate and make decisions in geotechnical problems using contemporary principles and concepts, including the standards, and codes of used in industry. You will also gain experience in dealing with the uncertainty arising from the difficulty of characterizing conditions below the ground based on limited data, and on how design and health and safety risks arising from this uncertainty can be managed. Almost all civil engineering problems involve some geotechnical engineering; for example all structures have foundations, whilst all railways and highways make use of embankments and cuttings constructed from earth. An understanding of design in this area is therefore important for a civil engineering graduate and will contribute significantly to your employability in the industry.