Soil mechanics and foundation design for civil structures.
Course details
This course covers the principles of soil mechanics and their application to foundation design. You will learn how to characterise soil and rock materials, analyse their behaviour under load, and apply that knowledge to the design of foundations for buildings, bridges, and other civil infrastructure. The course places strong emphasis on practical design problems encountered in the field.
You will complete a series of laboratory tests to determine key soil parameters, including grain size distribution, Atterberg limits, permeability, and shear strength. These results feed into design calculations for shallow foundations, deep foundations, and retaining structures. You will also examine slope stability and earth pressure concepts essential for excavations and embankments.
Who takes this course
This course is offered to students in the Civil Engineering Technology program.
Credits: 3 · Hours: 45
Prerequisites
Learning outcomes
- Classify soil types and determine their engineering properties through laboratory testing.
- Analyze soil consolidation and shear strength parameters.
- Design shallow and deep foundations for standard civil structures.
- Evaluate slope stability and earth retention systems.
- Interpret geotechnical investigation reports to recommend construction solutions.
Evaluation
| Component | Weight (%) |
| Laboratory reports | 20 |
| Midterm examination | 25 |
| Foundation design project | 30 |
| Final examination | 25 |