Course Descriptor CE 357 – Geotechnical Engineering Page 1 Department of CAEE Spring Semester 2021 The University of Texas at Austin Unique Nos. 16095, 16100, 16105, 16110, 16115, 16120, 16125, 16130, 16135, 16140, 16145, 16150, 16155, 16160 CE 357 GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING Class Lectures: Laboratory: Days: M, W, F Varies with lab section Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon Or Ernest Cockrell, Jr., Hall 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ECJ B.140 Instructor: Lab TAs: TBA (varies with section) Dr. Jorge G. Zornberg Office: ECJ 9.227G E-mail: [email protected] Office hours: M, W 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Course Objectives and Academic/Learning Goals The overall objectives of this course are to expose civil, architectural, and environmental engineering undergraduate students to the terminology, important principles, and basic methods of analysis used in geotechnical engineering. Geotechnical engineering focuses on how soil and rock support and affect the performance of structures built on or below the earth's surface. Accordingly, this course introduces the student to the basic principles that govern the behavior of soils, and geotechnical engineering works. The central concepts to be covered in this class are: (1.) Index properties and classification of soils; (2.) Soil hydraulic conductivity and pore water movement; (3.) Soil compressibility, consolidation, and settlements; (4.) Shear strength of soil; (5.) Geosynthetic types and functions; (6.) Stresses in soil and the effective stress concept; and (7.) Engineering soil properties and their measurement. An understanding of these basic concepts is essential in the design of foundations for structures, retaining walls, tunnels, excavations, earth fills, dams, pavements, stable earth slopes, sanitary landfills, and environmental remediation projects. By the end of this course, the student should be able to: (1.) Classify the different types of geotechnical materials. (2.) Become familiar with the tests needed to describe and predict the behavior of a soil, permitting the student to work effectively with specialists in geotechnical engineering. (3.) Apply basic hydraulic flow principles to interpret the behavior of geotechnical components in hydraulic systems (e.g. earth dams). (4.) Explain the response in effective stresses to a change in total stresses. 1 Course Descriptor CE 357 – Geotechnical Engineering Page 2 (5.) Apply the theory of consolidation to estimate time-dependent settlements. Select and justify the selection of solutions to settlement-related problems. (6.) Acquire the background knowledge needed to complete more advanced courses in geotechnical engineering (CE 360K - Foundation Engineering, CE 375 - Earth Slopes and Retaining Structures, as well as courses at the graduate level). (7.) Improve professional engineering skills, including the presentation of technical data and written communications. Course Delivery This is a hybrid course, which means that some of the course content is delivered in person and some online. As the course progresses, the course TAs and I will coordinate any in-person components of the course. However, we will conduct the in-person components in a way that those of you that are taking the course entirely online can also gain access to the content. My initial plan for the course is reflected in the course syllabus. However, I may change the mix of in-person and online, in either direction, in response to changing health conditions. I understand how challenging this is and I will do my best to keep things as planned. Synchronous and Asynchronous Course Components The course will make extensive use of the Modules features in Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) to facilitate the organization of course components. These components are briefly discussed below to highlight their sequencing in each course module. Additional information is provided subsequently in this syllabus regarding these components. The module components are color-coded and/or capitalized to facilitate following their sequence. Specifically, the different module components will be conducted as follows: • ASYNCHRONOUS COMPONENTS BEFORE SYNCHRONOUS MEETINGS: They include pre-recorded videos, which should be watched ahead of the synchronous meeting. You should plan your schedule accordingly, as the lecture/lab will be conducting assuming that everyone has successfully completed the items required before the meeting. All pre- meeting/lab components are DUE by the time of the synchronous meeting (i.e. lecture meetings or labs). • SYNCHRONOUS COMPONENTS: During which the class will meet in person or via Zoom and will start at the regular schedule of the class (Monday and Wednesdays at 1:00 pm for the lectures), Fridays at 1:00 pm for the labs). They may finish before 3:00pm depending on the volume of information that has been delivered asynchronously. • ASYNCHRONOUS COMPONENTS AFTER SYNCHRONOUS MEETINGS: They will provide additional opportunities to learn the course material. They also include the assessment components of the course. Because of the online nature of the course components, the number of assessment components will be more frequent, yet with lower stakes than in the case of typical (non-online) courses. The due date of the post-meeting components will be explicitly indicated. The pre-meeting components of the modules may include: • GATHER SLIDE PRINTOUTS: This involves obtaining the printouts of the relevant PowerPoint slides to be used during the videos and the synchronous components of the course. You will need to write on these printouts during the lectures and laboratories. • PRE-RECORDED LECTURE/LABORATORY VIDEOS: They involve prerecorded lectures/labs that should be watched BEFORE the synchronous lecture/laboratory session begins. They correspond to the asynchronous portion of this course. They will present relevant topics to toe course and will include quizzes to facilitate your understanding of the material. 2 Course Descriptor CE 357 – Geotechnical Engineering Page 3 • QUIZZES: They will be used to assess your knowledge during the asynchronous or synchronous lectures/laboratories. They will be graded unless noted otherwise. The meeting components of the modules may include: • SYNCHRONOUS MEETINGS: The class will meet in person or via Zoom to discuss the material presented in pre-class videos or to cover new topics for the class • SYNCHRONOUS LABORATORIES: They class will also meet in person or via Zoom to cover the laboratory material. While you will not be conducted your own lab experiments, our TAs will have generated experimental data that will allow you to prepare reports and evaluations of such data. The post-meeting components of the modules may include: • HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS: They will provide additional opportunities to learn important components of the course material. Unlike the quizzes and exams, collaboration with your classmates is allowed (and even encouraged) to complete these assignments. Their submissions are individual, though. • LAB REPORTS: They involve compilation of the experimental data generated in preparation of the laboratories. • EXAMS: They will be used to assess your holistic understanding of the course material. • READING MATERIAL: Including material covered in class, as well as complementary background and relevant information. They will be useful as material to read after the lectures. Information Technology Considering the online nature of the course components, the technology used to mediate such components has been carefully organized. You will need access to a laptop or desktop computer (modern and updated operating system) and a reliable internet connection. You will also need to have available during the lectures a version of the course packet in which you can write (printed or using a second iPad/tablet where you can write). The following information technology platforms will be used in this course: • ZOOM: Videotelephony and online services to be used for delivery of the synchronous components of the course. • CANVAS: Learning Management System (LMS) used to facilitate the organization of course components. The Modules in Canvas will be used to organize the learning components of the course • PANOPTO: Main video platform to be used to deliver the asynchronous components of this course. They will be complemented with other video sources. • GRADESCOPE: Platform to be used to compile and deliver exams in the course • PIAZZA: Discussion platform adopted in this course for communication among students, TAs and Instructor. • QUIZZES: They will be compiled using both CANVAS and PANOPTO. Will be used to assess understanding of asynchronous components of the course. Course Prerequisites • Civil Engineering 319F - Elementary Mechanics of Fluids Course Textbooks 1. Class Textbook: Das, B.M. and Sobhan, K.: Principles of Geotechnical Engineering – Ninth Edition. Thomson Engineering, 2017; ISBN-10: 1305970934. 3 Course Descriptor CE 357 – Geotechnical Engineering Page 4 2. Course Notes: Zornberg, Jorge G., CE 357: Geotechnical Engineering Class Handouts - Available on-line in Canvas in the Module for each lecture. The notes include supporting materials for the course lectures. Please have them available for the pre-recorded lectures and for the synchronous lectures. 3. Laboratory Text: "Laboratory Notes for CE 357 - Geotechnical Engineering." (Available on-line in Canvas for each Lab). 4. Other Materials: To plot data and perform graphical solutions in homework assignments, laboratory reports, and exams, you must have a straight edge,