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COURSE DETAILS
Units of Credit 6 Contact hours 35 hours (short course format)
Class 26-28, 31 March & 1st April, 9:00 17:00 CE 109
Course Coordinator and Lecturer
Hossein Taiebat [email protected]
Office: CE 502, Civil Engineering Building (02)9385 5942
SUBJECT PREREQUISITES AND ASSUMED KNOWLEDGE
This course is one of the Geotechnical Engineering
specialisation courses offered to all MEngSc students in Civil and
Environmental Engineering. It heavily relies on Soil Mechanics and
Geotechnical Engineering background. Knowledge of Soil Mechanics to
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) standard is essential. Geologist
M.Eng.Sc students should take CVEN9525, Fundamentals of
Geomechanics, before attempting this course.
HANDBOOK DESCRIPTION
Geotechnical engineering for embankment and concrete dams.
Zoning of embankment dams. Site investigations planning, and
techniques, seepage control measures, and the design and
specification and construction of filters. Stability analysis under
normal loads for embankment and concrete gravity dams. Foundation
preparation, cleanup and grouting. Detailing of embankment dams.
Specification and quality control. Design of embankment dams for
earthquake; earthquakes in Australia, selection of design
earthquake; general design principles, defensive design. Analysis
of dynamic stability and deformations of embankment dams.
Assessment of liquefaction potential and post liquefaction
behaviour. Design of remedial measures. Mine and industrial
tailings dams.
OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
To introduce students to the State of the Art of geotechnical
engineering of dams, including assessment of existing dams, and
investigation and design of new dams. The course is specialised and
designed for those who will work in Geotechnical Engineering,
Engineering Geology and Civil, Environmental and Dams Engineering.
By the end of the course, successful students should be ale to:
Select a suitable section of dam and suggest the required zones
Select material and design parameters for the dam and its
foundation Select a suitable site among feasible sites for
construction of a dam Provide solutions to the geotechnical
problems associated with embankment dams Provide solution to
prevent seepage and internal erosion of embankment dams Design
filters and drains Understand the nature of earthquake and its
loading on dams and selection of the design earthquake Evaluate the
effects of earthquakes on embankment dams and analyse their
foundations for liquefaction Analyse concrete gravity dams under
static and earthquake loading Understand the concepts of defensive
design for earthquake, cracking and settlement of embankment dams
For each hour of contact it is expected that you will put in at
least 1.5 hours of private study.
CVEN9524 Geotechnical Engineering of Dams
Semester 1, 2014
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COURSE PROGRAM
Table below shows the course program.
Day Morning Afternoon
26/03
Introduction, type of embankment and concrete dams, embankment
zoning. Selection of embankment type, dam failure.
An overview of geological problems associated with dams.
Geotechnical questions associated with geological environment.
27/03
Shear strength, compressibility and permeability of embankment
materials and soil foundations
Analysis of stability and deformation of embankment dams. Nature
of earthquake motion,
28/03 Effects of earthquakes on embankment dams.
Analysis of liquefaction, post liquefaction strength stability
analysis.
29/03
30/03
31/03 Filter design, specification and construction. Control of
seepage, internal erosion and piping. Embankment dam details.
01/04
Foundation preparation and grouting. Monitoring and surveillance
of embankment dams.
Mine and industrial dams.
ASSESSMENT
Assessment will be based on student performance in an
assignment, which will be handed out during the course, and the
final examination. Assignment: 40% Final exam: 60% Assignment is
due on Tuesday, 13th of May. Students are advised to keep a copy of
their assignments. The final examination will be of 2 hours
duration and will be held in the formal examination period and will
cover the entire course. In order to pass the subject, students
must receive 40% or more in the final examination and receive an
overall total of 50% marks or more for the subject. Notes:
Exam scripts will not be returned.
Assignments should be either handed to the lecturer personally,
or handed in to the School Office. They may also be posted by mail
to the lecturer (a copy must be retained by the student). Email and
fax submissions will not be accepted. If a self addressed/stamped
envelope is included with the assignment then the marked assignment
will be returned to the student.
Late work may not be accepted or assessed. If you have a good
reason for being unable to submit your work on time, it is
important that you let your course coordinator knows promptly.
There are two kinds of provisions made for students who have good
reasons for late submission: - Students who are late with
assignments may apply to the subject coordinator for an extension.
You must
apply for an extension before the due date. Extensions may be
refused if you do not present documented medical or other evidence
of illness or misadventure. An extension is only for a short
period, usually no more than a week.
- Where a longer period is needed, you should apply for Special
Consideration. You must make a formal application as soon as
practicable after the problem occurs and within three working days
of the assessment to which it refers. The application must be made
on the Request for Consideration form available from NewSouth Q.
The completed application form must be submitted to NewSouth Q.
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COURSE NOTES
A comprehensive set of notes will be given to the students. The
notes are complete and sufficient for the course. They include
references to other information for specific topics if you wish to
read further.
TEACHING STRATEGIES
The contents of this subject will be presented in a series of
lectures followed by tutorials. The lectures explain the theory and
design recommendations. They tend to engage students in formal and
informal discussions to broaden their understanding of different
problems related to Geotechnical Engineering. Students are required
to do extra research into the topics related to ground improvements
not covered in the lecture. An example of the approaches to
learning is:
Lectures Find out what you must learn
Hear announcements on course changes
Take notes on descriptions and interpretation of figures
Tutorials Be guided by tutors
Practice solving set problems
Ask questions
Private Study Review lecture material
Participate in tutorial and discussions
Assessments Demonstrate your knowledge and skills
Demonstrate higher understanding and problem solving
DATES TO NOTE
Refer to MyUNSW for Important Dates available at:
https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/resources/KeyDates.html
PLAGIARISM
Beware! An assignment that includes plagiarised material will
receive a 0% Fail, and students who plagiarise may fail the course.
Students who plagiarise are also liable to disciplinary action,
including exclusion from enrolment. Plagiarism is the use of
another persons work or ideas as if they were your own. When it is
necessary or desirable to use other peoples material you should
adequately acknowledge whose words or ideas they are and where you
found them (giving the complete reference details, including page
number(s)). The Learning Centre provides further information on
what constitutes Plagiarism at:
https://student.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism
ACADEMIC ADVICE
For information about: Notes on assessments and plagiarism,
School policy on Supplementary exams, Special Considerations,
Solutions to Problems, Year Managers and Grievance Officer of
Teaching and Learning Committee, and CEVSOC. Refer to Academic
Advice on the School website available at:
http://www.engineering.unsw.edu.au/civil-engineering/resources/academic-advice
