Course Description – FCE 311

University of NairobiDepartment 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 DescriptionThis 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.

PrerequisiteNone Student Learning OutcomesUpon 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.

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

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Course Description – FCE 311

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 Booka) Modern Geotechnical Engineering, CBS Publishers & Distributors, New

Dhelib) Geotechnical Engineering (Basics of Soil Mechanics), S. Chand &

Company Ltd, New Dhelic) 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

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.

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Course Description – FCE 311

Laboratory tests

Summary of tests:a) Liquid Limit determinationb) Plastic Limit determinationc) Dry Density Determination using Sand Replacementd) Particle Size Distribution Determination by Dry Sievinge) Compaction Testsf) Specific Gravity of Soils

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%

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