Instructor:
Dr. Arpita Nandi
Lecture: M: 12:35 - 2:35, F:
12:35 - 1:30
202 Hutcheson Hall
Lab:
W: 12:35 – 2:35
E-mail: nandi@etsu.edu
Office Hours:
My office hours will be MW 9:00-10:00, and F 2:00 – 3:00, at room 204 Hutcheson
Hall and will be available outside of office hours by appointment.
I am readily available via e-mail.
Lab :
Will consist of handouts, and students will work in laboratory for soil
and rock analysis.
Lab supplies
(Bring to class every
day):
Engineering Computation Paper (100
sheets) 8 1/2" x 11"
Hand lens 10x, and Calculator.
General Course Information
Course Objectives:
This course will cover wide range of subjects related to engineering geology
including soil and rock properties, groundwater, and subsurface investigations
for civil structures including highways, dams, tunnels, and bridges. The
fundamental concepts important in engineering geology and applications to actual
problems will be addressed by hands-on problem solving assignments and
laboratory analysis. The aim of the
course is to increase student’s awareness and understanding of geological
investigation methods, geological materials and their behavior.
Another aim is to increase the student’s written and oral
presentation-skills which are required in every geotechnical projects.
Expectations:
I expect students to attend all classes. Reading (as noted on the syllabus)
should be done before class to aid in discussion of the daily topics.
Part of the participation grade will be
attendance, also in-class assignments and surprise quizzes (NO MAKE UPS)
will count as part of class participation.
Labs:
All laboratory assignments will be due before the start of the next lab class,
no exceptions.
Late submission may be accepted with a penalty, unless prior arrangements have
been made. In this course, the work
you hand in for credit must be entirely your own work. In group activity, even
if you work with others, you are expected to hand in individual assignments
written in your own words. You are
welcome to discuss any course related problems or issues with me.
My goal, and that of the department, is to create a productive learning
environment for all students.
Class Project:
Students will be required to choose a topic within the broad scope of
Engineering Geology and write a term paper in the standard geotechnical report
format on the issue and will present the findings in the class.
Field trips:
·
Local field trip to address slope stability issue, subsidence problems
·
Field visit to a rock core drilling site for geotechnical evaluation
·
Visit dam site to understand and evaluate the foundation, and structures
Exams:
The exams will combine lectures and lab assignments.
Exams will consist of multiple choice, T/F, short answer, and essay.
Final grades will be based on total points at the end of the semester, and a
curve may be applied if necessary.
Exam
Make Ups - I reserve the
right to refuse make up exams if I feel that an absence is not justified.
Make up exams will be administered only when a reasonable excuse is
given. If you know beforehand, I must
be notified if a test is going to be missed. Tests may be taken ahead of time if
an absence is unavoidable.
Academic dishonesty:
For the purposes of this class, academic dishonesty is defined to include:
cheating on exams, plagiarism (know what this means), or turning in someone
else's work as your own. Academic dishonesty shall result in a failing grade.
Students with disabilities:
I will make every effort to accommodate students with disabilities. In
accordance with University policy, if you have a documented disability and
require accommodations to obtain equal access in this course; please contact me
ASAP at the beginning of the semester.
Grading:
Most of your grade is based on your performance on the examinations, quizzes and
lab assignments. The assignments
require some group work and some individual activities.
You are strongly encouraged to work together.
In-class activities and discussion are an important component of this
course. The breakdown of the
learning assessment on which your grades will be determined is as follows:
Midterm #2:
15%
Final Exam:
30%
Lab assignments:
25%
Class Project:
10%
Participation:
5%
Total:
100%
Topics:
1.
Definition of engineering geology,
its inter disciplinary nature with Civil Engineering, Hydrogeology, Geophysics
and Environmental geology
2.
Soil as engineering materials:
Grain size distribution, Atterburg limits, Phase relations, Soil classification,
Compaction, Consolidation, Permeability, Soil strength, and other index
properties
3.
Rock as engineering materials:
Rock classification, Density, Tensile, and Compressive strength, Stress-Strain
behavior, Mohr circle, and Coulomb criterion
4.
Engineering significance of earth
structures:
joints, faults, and folds
5.
Site evaluation: Geological conditions
necessary for construction of Dams, Tunnels, Bridges, Retaining Walls and
Highways.
6.
Local engineering geology:
Mitigation of slope instability in road cut and mine walls and subsidence in
Karst landscape.
7.
Geotechnical report writing.