Intro to Geotechnical Engineering

Department of Earth Science / Northeastern Illinois University

INTRODUCTION TO GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
ESCI 340
Spring 2010

Course Description from the NEIU catalog: Introduction to basic concepts of design and engineering of earth materials. Soil and rock mechanics, interaction of soil and rock with water, effective stress, failure models, rock and soil mass behavior, and materials testing. Especially useful for those interested in environmental and engineering aspects of geology. Lecture 3 hours. Prerequisite: MATH 104 or MATH 106 and eight credit hours in Earth Science at the 200-level or higher.

Text: Donald P. Coduto, Geotechnical Engineering: Principles and Practices, Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1999. Readings also may be assigned from other sources.

Core drilling with a trailer rig

Contact Information

   Instructor: Dr. Laura L. Sanders
   E-Mail (the fastest way to reach me!):
          L-Sanders (at) neiu.edu
   Voice Mail:  773/442-6051
   Office: During office hours, I am in S-130 or S-134A.
          Mail may be left for me on the door to S-130.
   Hours:

12:05-1:40 pm TR

6:30-6:55 pm TR

8:20-8:50 pm TR

Class meeting times:
7:05-8:20 pm, Tues/Thurs, Room S-120.

w What should you bring to this course?

w What will you gain from this course?

SCHEDULE

HOMEWORK

WIKI

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES (This outline will change several times per week. Check back frequently for updates!)

JAN 12 INTRODUCTION: What is geotechnical engineering? READ: Chapter 1 (especially p. 1-3, 11-end). The Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists (AEG).	JAN 14 Engineering geology: rock, soil, and water. READ: Chap. 2, p. 15-33.
JAN 19 Engineering geology, cont'd.	JAN 21 Engineering geology, cont'd.
JAN 26 Soil: Where does it come from? READ: Chap. 2, p. 33-45. READ: Chap. 4, p. 94-124. Homework #1 is due today.	JAN 28 Soil composition and engineering properties, particle size and shape. READ: Chap. 4, p. 125-135. Homework #2 is due today.
FEB 2 Soil composition and engineering properties, particle size and shape, continued. READ: Chap. 4.	FEB 4 Soil composition and engineering properties, particle size and shape, continued. READ: Chap. 4.
FEB 9 Snow day! University closed.	FEB 11 Review of weight-volume problem-solving and soil properties.
FEB 16 Exam #1.	FEB 18 Grain size analysis. READ: Chap. 4, p. 115-124. Atterberg limits. READ: Chap. 4, p. 125-132.
FEB 23 Soil classification systems: USDA.	FEB 25 AASHTO, USCS. READ: Chap. 5, p. 136-156. Homework #3 is due today.
MAR 2 USCS classification.	MAR 4 Visual-manual soil description.
MAR 9 Soil compaction. READ: Chap. 6, p. 177-193. Earthwork. READ: Chap. 6., p. 157-177.	MAR 11 Soil compaction and Earthwork, continued. Homework #4 is due today.
MAR 16 Soil compaction and earthwork, continued.	MAR 18 Exam #2
MAR 23 SPRING BREAK--NO CLASS	MAR 25 SPRING BREAK--NO CLASS
MAR 30 The geotechnical report project. Site characterization: using geologic and topographic maps.	APR 1 Geotechnical project: drilling methods and sampling, continued. READ: Chap. 3, p. 46-93. Interpreting boring logs.	APR 2 Last day to drop a course.
APR 6 Site characterization, continued: cross sections.	APR 8 Site characterization, continued.
APR 13 Geotechnical project, continued. Don't forget: A visit to Wang Engineering will be scheduled at some point *next* week.	APR 15 Class cancelled due to instructor illness.
APR 20 AEG North-Central Section dinner meeting. Social hour 5:30 pm, dinner 6:30 pm. Meet at the restaurant!	APR 22 Field trip to Wang Engineering, Inc. Meet at the lab at 12:45 pm.
APR 27 Geotechnical project.	APR 29 Exam #3 Get the review sheet here! Course evaluations.
MAY 4 Geotechnical Project report is due at 7:05 pm in Room S-130.

COURSE POLICIES

w Attendance at all class sessions, including field trips, is expected.
w All course requirements must be completed to pass the course.
w The final date to drop the course, per University policy, is April 2.
w Check e-mail and the course website at least every other day to watch for course announcements and updates.
w Students are expected to participate in all course assessments, for example, "minute papers", ungraded quiz-type questions, concept maps, or survey-type questions.

"Kissing Silos" in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Taiwan dam failure from 1999 earthquake	Bring the following to class every day:
	w Your textbook and notebook w Scientific calculator with keys for logarithms, exponents, scientific notation, and at least one memory w Pencil, eraser, ruler, and colored pencil (any color).

Evaluation and Grading

    Assignments (including in-class assignments and homework):    25%
    Exams (three, weighted equally):                                                            60%
    Project (details here):                                                                                  15%

w Grading scale: A 100-90%; B 89-80%; C 79-70%; D 69-60%; F 59% and lower.

w Homework assignments either must be computer-printed or hand-written on engineering computation paper. (See examples here or here.)

w For best results, maximize your homework scores by following the guidelines here.

w Late homework assignments will not be accepted unless there is an instructor-approved reason for missing the deadline.

w Make-up exams will be permitted only in a case where there is an instructor-approved reason for missing the exam. Missed exams that are not made up will result in a score of zero for that exam.

Chicago's Deep Tunnel

Academic integrity: The NEIU policy on academic misconduct will be strictly enforced. A site from Indiana University explains and gives examples of plagiarism and provides helpful tips on how to avoid it. Cheating on homework, exams, quizzes, or other course components will result in a score of zero for that assignment or more severe penalties, as described in the NEIU policy.

Flexibility: The schedule of activities will change several times per week as the semester evolves. Check this page frequently for updates!

Department of Earth Science | Northeastern Illinois University