| Effective Term: | 2025/08 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Innovation, Science & Sustainability |
| Unit Title: | Geotechnical Engineering 2 |
| Unit ID: | ENGRG3102 |
| Credit Points: | 15.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | (ENGRG2102) |
| Co-requisite(s): | Nil |
| Exclusion(s): | (ENGIN3202) |
| ASCED: | 030999 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
This is an intermediate level unit in geotechnical engineering where more in depth knowledge in this field is introduced and basic foundation design skills are excelled. The topics covered include, geotechnical site investigation practices, an introduction to AS2870 Residential Slabs & Footings, analysis and design of shallow foundations, analysis and design of deep foundations, and analysis of slope stability and design of retaining structures. By the end of this unit, students should be capable of preparing a small-scale site investigation program, classifying residential building sites based on AS2870 and proposing suitable footing systems for residential buildings, design basic shallow and deep foundations under simple loading conditions, as well as analyse soil slope stability and design retaining structures. |
| Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
| Work Experience Indicator: |
| No work experience |
| Placement Component: No |
| Supplementary Assessment:Yes |
| Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment |
| Course Level: |
| Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | | | | | | | Intermediate | | | |  | | | | Advanced | | | | | | |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
| Knowledge: |
| K1. | Identify and explain the range of important issues in the planning of a detailed geotechnical site investigation programs |
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| K2. | Identify and evaluate reactivity characteristics of soils, classification of residential building sites and design of residential building foundations based on AS2870 : Residential Slabs & Footing |
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| K3. | Describe and apply design principles of Shallow foundations, Deep foundations and Retaining walls subjected to different loading conditions & soil conditions |
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| K4. | Explain and analyse soil slope stability |
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| Skills: |
| S1. | Propose and plan a site investigation for a small to medium scale geotechnical engineering project and produce a technical report to an acceptable professional standard |
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| S2. | Evaluate and justify complex information in classifying residential building sites based on soil reactivity |
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| S3. | Analyse soil-foundation systems, estimate allowable bearing capacity of soils based on established engineering methods and design of simple foundation systems for given loading conditions and soil properties |
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| S4. | Evaluate stability of sloping embankments and design of basic earth retaining structures |
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| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Apply the knowledge, technical and analytical skills to independently analyse and design various geotechnical engineering systems and communicate the achieved outcome |
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| A2. | Apply the advanced technical knowledge and skills in research based problem solving exercises in geotechnical engineering and demonstrate expert judgement required in such assignments |
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| Unit Content: |
Topics may include:
1. Geotechnical Site investigation Practices and planning for soil exploration
2. Site Classification and design of Residential building foundations based on AS2870
3. Bearing Capacity Analysis and Design of Shallow Foundations
4. Design of Deep Foundations
5. Soil Slope Stability Analysis
6. Design of Retaining Structures |
| Graduate Attributes: |
| Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.
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| FED TASK and descriptor | Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit | | Level | FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal | Students will demonstrate high-level skills to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups Students will be required to display (in person and/or online) high-level skills in-person and/or online in: • Effective verbal and non-verbal communication via a range of synchronous and asynchronous methods • Active listening for meaning and influencing • High-level empathy for others • Negotiating and demonstrating extended conflict resolution skills • Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 2
Leadership | Students will demonstrate the ability to apply leadership skills and behaviours Students will be required to display skills in: • Creating, contributing to, and enabling collegial environments • Showing self-awareness and the ability to self-reflect for personal growth • Inspiring and enabling others • Making informed and evidence-based decisions through consultation with others • Displaying initiative and ability to solve problems | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity | Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complex and ambiguous environments, using their imagination to create new ideas Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically on complex problems • Synthesising, evaluating ideas, concepts and information • Proposing alternative perspectives to refine ideas • Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts through deep inquiry • Proposing creative solutions in problem solving | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy | Students will demonstrate the ability to work proficiently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks Students will be required to display high-level skills in: • Finding, accessing, collating, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and appropriately and securely sharing complex digital information at a high-level • Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media • Using digital tools appropriately to conduct research • Contributing proficiently to digital teams and working groups • Participating in and utilising digital learning opportunities | 2 - No | FEDTASK 5
Sustainable and Ethical Mindset | Students will demonstrate the ability to think ethically and sustainably. Students will be required to display skills in: • The responsible conduct of research • Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in multiple global economic environmental and societal contexts • Demonstrating commitment to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen • Generating research solutions which are sustainable,ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable • Extending lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others • Demonstrate extended actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life. | 1 - Yes |
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| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | | 1. | K1, K2, S1, S2, A2 | Geotechnical soil investigation (Field / Laboratory investigations) and preparation of Geotechnical Reports | Field/ Laboratory investigations and reports | 10-20% | | 2. | K3, K4, S3, S4, A1, A2 | Design of Residential Building foundations based on AS2870, design of Shallow & Deep foundations & retaining structures | Design reports, presentations | 20-40% | | 3. | K3, K4, S2, S3, S4, A1 | Assessment of all or part of the unit by tests/ examination. | Test/ Examination | 40-60% |
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