Form C4 Heriot-Watt University - Course Descriptor Version 4.

0 (2017/2018)

1ED
Foundation Engineering School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society On or Off-
Course Title School 1DU
Campus
1DL
Course SCQF Course
W. J. McCarter D21FE Semester 2/3 Credits 15
Co-ordinator Level Code

1. Pre-requisites None

2. Linked Courses None

(specify if synoptic)
3. Excluded Courses None

4. Course Code 5. Availability as an Yes No

D21FE Elective X

6. Degrees for which this BEng/MEng in Civil/Structural Engineering;

is a core course Dip/MSc Structural and Foundation Engineering
7. Aims
The overall aim of this course is to:

 To impart a knowledge and understanding of the geotechnical design process.

 To equip students with appropriate methods of analysis for settlement and bearing capacity calculations.
 To examine appropriate national codes and Eurocodes and implications in geotechnical design.

8. Syllabus

Overview of foundation types: Shallow footings; piled foundations including pile types; pile selection; installation; integrity; pile testing; Codes and Standards (BS8004;
BS EN 1997-1: 2004)

Deformation due to surface loading: Stress distribution under loaded areas; elastic displacement; review of settlement theory; effective stress and primary
consolidation; rate of consolidation.

Bearing Capacity of Foundations - Shallow Footings: Historical review - Rankine; Prandtl; Meyerhof, Hansen etc; active and passive pressures; general bearing
capacity equation; undrained/drained conditions; design to Eurocode; shape factors; depth factors etc.

Bearing Capacity of Foundations - Piles: Forces on piles and load transference; capacity of piles - cohesive soil, granular soil; group behaviour of piles; design to
Eurocode.

08/02/2021 23:07
Form C4 Heriot-Watt University - Course Descriptor Version 4.0 (2017/2018)

1ED
Foundation Engineering School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society On or Off-
Course Title School 1DU
Campus
1DL
Course SCQF Course
W. J. McCarter D21FE Semester 2/3 Credits 15
Co-ordinator Level Code

9. Learning Outcomes (HWU Core Skills: Employability and Professional Career Readiness)

Subject Mastery Understanding, Knowledge and Cognitive Skills Scholarship, Enquiry and Research (Research-Informed Learning)

On completion of the course, the student should have an appreciation of the design/decision making process in the selection of shallow or deep
foundations. (S)he should also be able to,
 design shallow / deep foundations to carry ultimate load;
 estimate deformations under service load conditions;
 explain the difference between drained and undrained behaviour;
 recognise mechanisms which contribute to generating deformations and load capacity;
 apply parameters obtained from site investigations to design situations;
 distinguish between different types of foundations and when to use them.

Personal Abilities Industrial, Commercial & Professional Practice Autonomy, Accountability & Working with Others Communication, Numeracy & ICT
In this course, students will be explicitly encouraged to:

 be aware of the importance of time management;

 develop their personal skills, including an awareness of both traditional and internet-based information sources;
 develop their skills in problem solving
 provide constructive feedback to teaching staff.

10. Assessment Methods 11. Re-assessment Methods (MSc only)

Method Duration of Exam Weighting (%) Synoptic courses? Method Duration of Exam
(if applicable) (if applicable)
Examination 2 100% Examination 2 hours
-

12. Date and Version

Date of Proposal Date of Approval by Date of Version 4.0
School Committee Implementation Number

08/02/2021 23:07