1 course outline1
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This document provides a course description for FCE 311 - Geotechnical Engineering I, a 3rd year undergraduate course offered by the University of Nairobi's Department of Civil and Construction Engineering. The course is an introduction to soil mechanics, focusing on soil formation, structure, physical properties, classification, compaction, and permeability. Through lectures, examples, discussions, and assigned reading, students will develop an understanding of soil engineering properties and how to apply basic analytical procedures and laboratory testing methods to solve engineering problems involving soil. Assessment will include laboratory tests, continuous assessment tests, and a final exam.
1 course outline1
- 1. Course Description – FCE 311 University of Nairobi Department of Civil and Construction Engineering 3RD YEAR, FIRST SEMESTER, 2012/2013 ACADEMIC YEAR FCE 311 - GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING I Lecturer: Dr. Nyambane Osano Email: sosano@uonbi.ac.ke Course Description This course is an introductory part of Soil Mechanics, which focuses on soil formation, soil structures, physical properties of soils, soil classifications, soil compaction and permeability. Prerequisite None Student Learning Outcomes Upon successful completion of this course, the students should acquire the following knowledge: a) Developed competence in the principles of soil mechanics and application in engineering practice. b) Ability to list the relevant engineering properties of soils and their characteristics and describe the factors which control these properties. c) Apply laboratory methods of determining the properties of soils. 1
- 2. Course Description – FCE 311 d) Ability to identify common situations when the soil becomes a factor in an engineering or environmental problem. e) Ability to apply basic analytical procedures to obtain the engineering quantity desired and understand their limitations. Teaching Methodology and Techniques This course relies on lectures and Power Point presentation by the lecturer. Worked examples will be offered. Students will then be required to contribute to discussions based on the explanations and will need to read the corresponding section in the assigned textbook. Required Text Book a) Modern Geotechnical Engineering, CBS Publishers & Distributors, New Dheli b) Geotechnical Engineering (Basics of Soil Mechanics), S. Chand & Company Ltd, New Dheli c) Foundation Engineering Handbook, CBS Publishers & Distributors, New Dheli. Detailed Course outline: Lesson 1: Introduction - definitions of Soil Mechanics and Soil. Soil formation - physical and chemical weathering, residual and alluvial soils, and tropical soils. Lesson 2: Clay mineralogy, soil structure, Lesson 3: Basic properties, Phase relationships 2
- 3. Course Description – FCE 311 Lesson 4: Physical properties of soils, water content, specific gravity, bulk and dry densities, field densities. Lesson 5: Consistency and plasticity of soils. Lesson 6: Determination of soil properties by laboratory testing Lesson 7: Particle size analysis and Lesson 8: Soil description and Classification Lesson 9: Soil compaction, laboratory and field compaction tests. Dry density/water content/air content relationships. Lesson 10: Permeability - Darcys law, laboratory and field methods of determining coefficient of permeability, coefficient of permeability for stratified deposits. Lesson 11: Effective stress. Laboratory tests Summary of tests: a) Liquid Limit determination b) Plastic Limit determination c) Dry Density Determination using Sand Replacement d) Particle Size Distribution Determination by Dry Sieving e) Compaction Tests f) Specific Gravity of Soils 3
- 4. Course Description – FCE 311 The format for presentation of the Laboratory Reports shall be issued by the lecturer. All laboratory reports MUST be submitted to the Lecturer through the Lab Technician before sitting for the Final Exam at the end of the semester. Assessment 1. Lectures – Mandatory 2. Laboratory tests – 10% 3. CAT – 20% 4. Final Examination – 70% 4