2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
CIVE3510 Foundation Engineering Fundamentals
10 creditsClass Size: 160
Module manager: Dr. Shashank B. Subramanyam
Email: S.B.Subramanyam@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
Pre-requisites
| CIVE1460 | Properties of Materials: Water, Soil, Steel and Timber |
| CIVE1660 | Integrated Design Project I (inc Design Studio 1) |
| CIVE2470 | Water Engineering and Geotechnics |
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Module summary
The module will build on a basic understanding of the behaviour of soil to cover the range of foundations available for structures, including shallow foundations such as strip, pad and raft foundations, deep foundations such as caissons, shafts and piles; and composite foundations such as piled rafts. It will cover the approach to design, analysis and construction of foundations. Assessment is by a three hour open book examination and a project.Objectives
On completion of this module the students should have a knowledge of the range of foundations available for construction, their analysis, construction and performance and be able to select the appropriate foundation for a particular situation.Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject (contributing to the AHEP4 learning outcomes indicated between brackets):
1. A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of scientific principles and methodology of foundations for structures, their performances during construction and in service, to formulate/analyse complex problems in engineering foundations (M1 and M2);
2. Awareness of wider context of engineering in the constructional and structural systems, the environmental strategies and the regulatory requirements that apply to the design and construction of a comprehensive design project (M1);
3. Evaluate risk by demonstrating a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of scientific principles of geotechnical hazards and how they affect design decisions for temporary and permanent works for foundations (M9);
4. Extract and evaluate pertinent data and apply engineering analysis techniques in the solution of complex problems while discussing limitations of information and techniques for uncertain and incomplete data (M2 and M3);
5. Design complex foundation systems by applying technical knowledge and understanding, to establish rigorous and creative solutions for foundations considering the limitations posed by uncertain/incomplete data (M2 and M5);
6. Apply analytical and computational techniques to model foundation systems and recognise their limitations (M3).
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:
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;
2. The investigation, critical appraisal and selection of alternative structural, constructional and material systems relevant to architectural design; GC8.1;
3. Strategies for building construction, and ability to integrate knowledge of structural principles and
construction techniques; GC8.2;
4. The physical properties and characteristics of building materials, components and systems, and the environmental impact of specification choices; GC8.3.
Skills outcomes
Use of knowledge
Use of digital tools/technology
Extract/evaluate pertinent data
Syllabus
-Review of the behaviour of granular and cohesive soil, drained and undrained loading, consolidation and compression characteristics.
-The design process covering methods to deal with uncertainty, design and load combinations, assumptions, the design procedure and decision criteria.
- Actions on and analysis (ultimate limit state and serviceability limit state) of:
- Shallow foundations - pad, strip and raft
- Deep foundations - caissons, shafts and piles
- Composite foundation - piled rafts, and basements
The content of this module is essential for an understanding of the ways in which building structures behave and, as such, is highly informative for building designers. The taught content forms a key part of later architectural design modules and is demonstrated in the Design Studios 3.2 (CIVE3871) and 4.2 (CIVE5845M).
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Class tests, exams and assessment | 5 | 0.50 | 2.50 |
| Lecture | 11 | 2.00 | 22.00 |
| Tutorial | 11 | 1.00 | 11.00 |
| Private study hours | 114.50 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 35.50 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150.00 | ||
Private study
The assignment for this course is to design a foundation for a structure. Students are required to produce the ground model and undertake analysis to determine the overall stability, the local stability and deformation of the structure. The assignment will be carried out in two parts; the first part, a formative exercise, covers an assessment of geotechnical hazards, creation of the ground model, a summary of the assumptions and approach to the design and the design of shallow foundations; the second part is the report of the complete foundation design and that is assessed. This exercise will be used by students to assemble a portfolio of material to support them in the exam and ensure that they have covered the topics that could be examined.Opportunities for Formative Feedback
- Short, weekly on line tests are used by students to assess their understanding of basic principles which they should be familiar with- A mock exam is held at the end of the semester to prepare students for an open book exam
- The coursework includes a formative exercise to help students understand what is expected of them
Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Project | Project Report: Foundation design | 30.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 30.00 | |
Resit is by 100% online time-limited assessment.
Exams
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
| Online Time-Limited assessment | 5 hr 00 mins | 70.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 70.00 | |
Resit is by 100% online time-limited assessment
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 11/06/2024
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