2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

CIVE1465 Materials, Water and Soils

20 creditsClass Size: 175

Module manager: Prof. Ian Richardson
Email: .

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Pre-requisite qualifications

Admission to UG programmes in the School of Civil Engineering

Module replaces

CIVE1460 Properties of Materials: Water, Soil, Steel and Timber

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Students discover the properties of soils, steel and timber as structural materials, and are introduced to the principles of fluid flow. Materials are studied in relation to structural performance, embodied energy and carbon. Soils are studied in terms of strength and deformation as the basis for geotechnical and foundation engineering. The study of fluid mechanics provides the foundation for the study of pipe flow, flow in open-channels, flow through porous and waste-water processing.

Objectives

The objectives for this module are:

-To develop an understanding of the properties and behaviour of materials.
-To learn about steel, timber and others as construction materials and the relationship between their characteristics and their engineering properties.
-To understand the most relevant properties of soils, their classifications, their stress-strain behaviour and strength characteristics.
-To apply the fundamentals of soil mechanics to the study of lateral earth pressures, including the analysis of retaining walls.
-To take the step from solid to fluid mechanics so that they are able to analyse fluids flow using the familiar fundamental principles of conservation of mass, conservation of energy and Newton's laws.
- To learn how to utilise fluid mechanics concepts to analyse and design simple hydraulic structures.

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes (contributing to the AHEP4 learning outcomes between brackets and ARB competences between square brackets):

1. Apply their knowledge of mathematics, physics, and engineering principles to the solution of problems concerned with soil mechanics and fluid mechanics. (C1/M1)
2. Formulate and analyse problems to reach substantiated solutions, using first principles and engineering judgement to work with information that may be incomplete. (C2/M2)
3. Use practical laboratory skills to investigate problems concerned with the properties of construction materials and the behaviour of soils and water. (C12/M12)
4. Select and apply appropriate materials, understanding their differentiating characteristics and recognising their limitations. (C13/M13)
5. Understand the concepts of embodied energy and carbon and how optimising for these to minimise adverse impacts can affect materials selection. (C7/M7)

In addition, students completing this module will also have gained the knowledge, understanding, skills or abilities that contribute to achieving the following ARB General Criteria for Part 1:

- understand the constructional and structural systems, the environmental strategies and the regulatory requirements that apply to the design and construction of a comprehensive design project; GC1.2.

- the investigation, critical appraisal and selection of alternative structural, constructional and material systems relevant to architectural design; GC8.1.

- strategies for building construction, and ability to integrate knowledge of structural principles and construction techniques; GC8.2.

- the physical properties and characteristics of building materials, components and systems, and the environmental impact of specification choices; GC8.3.

Skills learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:

a. Critical thinking
b. Problem solving and analytical skills
c. Working under pressure
d. Active learning
e. Anticipatory/future thinking
f. Integrated problem solving
g. Presentation skills
h. Academic language
i. Academic integrity
j. Time management

Syllabus

MATERIALS:

-Introduction to civil engineering materials.
-Bonding, structure, plasticity, deformation and strengthening mechanisms of metals.
-In-service performance, embodied energy and carbon, operational energy.
-Failure mechanism of metals in service, welding and corrosion of metals.
-Anatomy of the tree, anisotropy, strength, moisture content, shrinkage and durability of timber.


SOILS.

-Introduction to geological processes. Formation of soils and rocks.
-Soil classification including index tests, particle size distribution and field tests.
-Principle of effective stress.
-Strength and stress-strain behaviour. Mohr-Coulomb criteria.
-Laboratory and field tests.
-Introduction to lateral earth pressures: Rankine and Coulomb approaches, gravity and sheet pile retaining walls.


WATER.

-Fluid mechanics and fluid properties.
-Forces in static fluids: pressure, Pascal’s law, manometers, forces on submerged surfaces.
-Fluid dynamics: continuity, conservation of matter, Bernoulli’s equation, venturis, forces in moving fluids.
-Boundaries: laminar and turbulent flow, pressure losses in pipes, boundary layer.

Methods of Assessment

We are currently refreshing our modules to make sure students have the best possible experience. Full assessment details for this module are not available before the start of the academic year, at which time details of the assessment(s) will be provided.

Assessment for this module will consist of;

3 x Coursework
1 x OTLA
1 x In-class test

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Supervision	8	3.00	24.00
Lectures	40	1.00	40.00
Practicals	4	3.00	12.00
Seminar	8	1.00	8.00
Independent online learning hours			6.00
Private study hours			110.00
Total Contact hours			84.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Multiple choice questions, formative and summative problem activities, examples classes, in-class interaction and direct feedback.

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 01/05/2024

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