GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

(Date of document: 20rd May 2014)

Course Code

CEGB 333

Course Status

Core for BCE

Level

Degree

Semester Taught

Credit

Co-requisites

CEGB 323

Assessments

Final exam
Tests (2)/ Quizzes
Mini Project

Lecturers

Ms. Intan Nor Zuliana Baharuddin (Coordinator)

Course Description

This course targets is to develop students technical competency in

40%
40%
20%

analysis and application of soil mechanics (i.e. analysis of footing,

retaining wall and stability of slope). Upon completion of this
subject, students should be able to comprehend the concept of soil
failure and apply it in analyzing soil problems.
Course Objectives

1. To introduce concept of soil failure models and its behaviours.

2. To provide an understanding in analyses of soil problems
associated with structures and its application to civil engineering.
3. To enhance students technical judgments in solving complex soil
engineering problems.

Transferrable Skills

Students are required to acquire understanding stresses,

consolidation theory as well as calculation.

Course Outcomes

Course Outcomes

PO1
a

Ability to comprehend the stressstrain behaviour of soils.

Ability to comprehend the concept
of critical state soil mechanics.
Ability to apply the analyses of
stresses and displacements of soil
mass in solving geotechnical
problem
Ability to apply the analysis of
lateral earth pressures in retaining
walls problems.
Ability to apply the soil
consolidation theory in settlements
analyses.
Ability to identify, formulate and
solve stability of slopes.
Ability to evaluate, synthesis and
present practical geotechnical
engineering problems
Ability to apply geotechnical
knowledge to practical engineering
problem
PO emphasis
:

Current
Coverage
(%)

PO2
c

PO3
a

PO4
c

PO5
c

PO6
a

PO7
a

PO8

PO
10

PO9
a

PO
11

x
x
x

x
x
x
x
x

PO1

PO2

PO3

PO4

PO5

PO6

PO7

PO8

PO9

PO10

PO11

PO12

Total

74%

26%

nil

nil

nil

nil

nil

nil

nil

nil

nil

nil

100

PO12

Bloom's Coverage (%) :

Cognitive
Low Med
16
60

Current Coverage(%)

Assessment-Course Outcomes Matrix

Affective

nil

nil

Total
100

Assessments
Tests /Quizzes
Group Project
Final Exam
PO emphasis

Psychomotor
High
24

PO1
CO1
10

PO1
CO2
10

PO1
CO3
20

PO2
CO4
15

PO2
CO5
25

PO2
CO6
20

10

10

20

20

20

20

PO9

PO10

PO2
CO7

PO2
CO8

50

50

PO11

PO12

:
Current
Coverage
(%)

PO1
74%

PO2
26%

PO3

PO4

PO5

PO6

PO7

PO8

Total
100

Bloom's Coverage (%) :

Current Coverage(%)

Cognitive
Low Med
16
60

High
24

Psychomotor

Affective

nil

nil

Total
100

MODULE 1: SOIL STRENGTH AND STIFNESS

Stress-strain, Mohr-Coulomb Failure Theory and Strength of Soil.
Soil Stiffness and Elasticity.
Soil Deformation: Elastic (linear and Non-Linear), Perfectly-Plastic
and Elasto-Plastic (strain-Hardening and Strain-Softening) models.
Stress Paths.
MODULE 2: CRITICAL STATE SOIL MECHANICS
Critical State Concept.
State Boundary Surface.
Critical State Line and Stress Paths.
Soil Yielding.
MODULE 3: STRESSES AND DISPLACEMENTS OF SOIL MASS
Stresses in Soil Mass due to Applied Loading: Point Load, Line Load, Uniform pressures
(strip, circular and rectangular areas) and Linearly-increasing pressures.
Influence Chart for vertical Stress.
Elastic Displacements.
MODULE 4: LATERAL EARTH PRESSURES
Types of Retaining Walls.
Rankines Theory of Earth Pressure.
Coulombs Theory of Earth Pressure.
MODULE 5: CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMNTS
Method of Consolidation Settlement Analysis: One-Dimensional Method, Skempton-Bjerrum
Method, and Stress-Path Method.
Degree of Consolidation and Terzaghis Theory of One-Dimensional Consolidation.
Coefficient of Consolidation: Log-Time and Root-Time Methods.
Compression Ratios and Secondary Compression (Creep).
MODULE 6: STABILITY OF SLOPES
Mass Movement and Landslides.
Taylors Stability Number Method.
Method of Slices for Circular Slip: Conventional (Fellenius/Swedish) and Bishops
Simplified methods.
Translational Slide on Infinite Slope.
Slope with Plane Failure Surface (Culmanns Method).
References:
1. Soil Mechanics, Craig, R.F., 8th Edition, E & FN Spon, 2012.
2. Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering, Das, B.M., 3rd Edition, Thomson, 2008.
3. Soil Mechanics, Craig, R.F., 6th Edition, E & FN Spon, 2004.
4. Soil Mechanics & Foundations, Budhu, M., 2nd Edition, Wiley, 2008.
5. Basic Soil Mechanics, Whitlow, R., 4th Edition, Prentice Hall, 2001.
*****The books are available in the University Library.
References:
1. Charles K. Alexander and Matthew N.O. Sadiku , Fundamentals of Electric Circuits, 4th ed, McGrawHill, 2009.
2. Thomas L. Floyd and David M. Buchla, Electric Circuits Fundamentals,8th ed., Pearson, 2010.

3. Nilsson and Riedel, Electric Circuits, 9th ed., Pearson, 2011.

Summary of BCE Programme Educational Objectives (PEO) and Programme Outcomes (PO)
BCE Programme Educational Objectives (PEO)
The PEOs for the Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) programme in UNITEN are based upon the
qualities of its graduate at least 5 years after graduation, the university mission, vision and
philosophy.
PEO
No.

Program Educational Objectives

UNITEN produces civil engineering graduates who:

PEO1 Practicing engineers in civil engineering with the ability to venture into energy related business.
PEO2 Hold leadership responsibilities and/or establish their own enterprises.
PEO3 Have professional qualifications/certifications in civil engineering related areas.
PEO4 Engages in activities to enhance knowledge in their professional works.
BCE Programme Outcomes (PO)
BCE PO are the expected traits that UNITEN students should have upon graduation.
The POs for the Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) programme in UNITEN are based upon qualities
that UNITEN is looking for in a graduate upon graduation. The PO was also drafted out based upon the
attributes highlighted by EAC (Engineering Accreditation Council). From here each subjects offered in the
department will strive to cover portions of the PO. The type of subjects chosen will be dependent upon the
programme.
PO
No.

Program Outcomes
Students graduating from the Bachelor of Civil Engineering (BCE), programmes will have
the ability to:
Statement
PO Indicators
Apply fundamental knowledge of
a) Comprehend (C1,C2)
mathematics, science and civil engineering
b) Apply (C3, C4)
principles in solving complex problems
c) Solve complex engineering problems (C5,C6)
Identify, formulate, analyse and solve
a) Identify, formulate and solve (C3, C4)
complex civil engineering problems
b) Evaluate and synthesise the solution to complex civil
engineering problems (C5,C6)
Design solutions for complex civil
a) Illustrate solutions for civil engineering problems
engineering problems that meet specific
with appropriate consideration for public health and
needs with appropriate consideration for
safety. (C3, C4)
public health and safety, culture, society,
b) Illustrate solutions for civil engineering problems
and environment.
with appropriate consideration for culture, society,
and environment. (C3, C4)
c) Propose solutions for complex civil engineering
problems that meet specific needs with appropriate
consideration for public health and safety, culture,
society, and environment. (C5,C6)
Conduct investigations, interpret data and
a) use research methods for collecting data (C1, C2)
provide conclusions in investigating
b) analyze and interpret data using engineering
complex problems related to civil
principles and appropriate techniques (C3,C4)
engineering
c) design and evaluate research methods and results to
provide conclusions for complex engineering
problems. (C5,C6)

Create appropriate techniques, select

resources, and apply modern engineering
tools to execute complex engineering
activities
Apply reasoning in assessing societal,
health, safety, legal and cultural issues and
the consequent responsibilities relevant to
professional engineering practice

a) Usage of modern tool (P1,P2)

b) Manipulation of modern tool to execute complex
engineering activities (P3,P4)
a)

Apply reasoning in assessing societal, legal and

cultural issues and the consequent responsibilities
relevant to professional engineering practice (C3,
C4)
b) Apply reasoning in assessing health and safety
issues and the consequent responsibilities relevant
to professional engineering practice (C3, C4)
No sub-attribute (C2,C3)

Demonstrate knowledge of the impact of

professional engineering solutions in
environmental contexts and the need for
sustainable development

Demonstrate commitment to professional

and ethical principles

No sub-attribute (A3)

Communicate effectively on complex

engineering activities

a)

10

Function effectively as an individual and in

a group with the capacity to be a leader

No sub-attribute (A4)

11

Acknowledge the need for, and be able to

engage in life-long learning

No sub-attribute (C2)

12

Demonstrate knowledge on project

management principles and entrepreneurship
skills

a)

Communicate effectively by means of oral

presentation (P3)
b) Communicate effectively by means of report writing
(P3)
c) Communicate effectively by means of oral
presentation and/or report writing on complex
engineering activities (P3)

Demonstrate knowledge on project management

principles (C2,C3)
b) Demonstrate knowledge on entrepreneurship skills
(C2,C3)

*C Cognitive, P- Psychomotor, A- Affective