CVEN 4345 – Advanced Geotechnical Engineering

      Spring, 2006

 

 

2006-2008 Catalog Data:         CVEN 4345: Application of physical-chemical principles in soil engineering; soil composition; factors influencing engineering soil properties, application of finite element method in geotechnical engineering.  Prerequisite: CVEN 3390 and CVEN 4340

 

Textbook:                                 None

 

Reference:                               

1.      Fundamentals of Soil Behavior (3rd Edition), James K. Mitchell & Kenichi Soga, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 2005

2.      Principles of Foundation Engineering (5th Edition), B.M. Das, ITP/PWS, 2003

3.      Foundation Analysis and Design, J.E. Bowles, 5th Edition, McGraw Hill, 1996

4.      Principles of Geotechnical Engineering (5th Edition), B.M. Das, Brooks/Cole, 2002

5.      Library Material

 

 

Instructor:                                 Mien Jao, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering Department

 

Goals:                                       (1) Apply mathematics, science & engineering knowledge. Apply physical-chemical principles in soil engineering.  Apply regression analysis to relate laboratory and filed test data. (ABET Outcomes # a)

 (2) Ability to design and conduct experiments; analyze/interpret results. Conduct lab experiments, analyze and interpret test results for soil improvement, investigate a complex geotechnical system using finite element approach (ABET Outcomes #b)

(3) Enhance communication skill through written project reports (ABET Outcomes # g)

 

 

Prerequisites by Topics:            Geotechnical Engineering and Foundation Engineering

 

Topics:

 

  1. Introduction; Soil Formation, Soil Deposit; Basic Soil Properties
  2. Soil Mineralogy
  3. Clay-Water-Electrolyte System
  4. Soil Fabric and Structure
  5. Determination of Soil Composition
  6. Soil Composition and Engineering Properties
  7. Strength Measurements and Strength Behavior
  8. Application of FEM in Geotechnical Engineering

 

Computer usage: Use a finite element computer program to investigate a complex geotechnical system.

 

Special Projects :

 

1.  Stabilization of Beaumont Clay using Fly Ash or Lime

2.  Correlation of Texas Cone Penetrometer Test Values and Undrained Shear Strength of Beaumont Clay

3.  An Investigation of the Behavior of Shallow Foundation above Concrete Box Culvert using FEM

 

Contribution of course to meet the professional component:

 

This course contributes to the engineering science and engineering design component.

 

ABET category content as estimated by faculty member who prepared this course description:

 

                        Engineering Topics:       3 credits or 100%