ECIV 5691
Soil Properties and Behaviour
Liang Cui PhD
Office: CB 4063
[Link]@[Link]
Lakehead University
COURSE OUTLINE
Instructor Liang Cui, Ph.D.
Email [Link]@lakehead
Friday, 02:00pm-03:00pm
Office Hours
(please e-mail to get an appointment)
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COURSE DESCRIPTION
1. Permeability and Seepage
2. Soil Stress
3. Soil Settlement
4. Shear Strength
5. Slope Stability
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COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. Demonstrate the ability to analyze the geotechnical characteristics of soils and
select the appropriate methods for soil compaction.
2. Demonstrate the ability to analyze 1D, 2D, and 3D seepage through saturated and
unsaturated soils.
3. Demonstrate the ability to discuss and analyze total stress, pore pressure, and
effective stress in saturated and unsaturated soil mass.
4. Demonstrate the ability to evaluate the stress states through Mohr’s circle and
analyze the stress paths in soils under triaxial loading conditions.
5. Demonstrate the ability to discuss the process of soil settlement, evaluate the
elastic settlement, primary consolidation, and secondary consolidation, and
compare different methods to accelerate soil consolidation.
6. Demonstrate the ability to discuss and analyze the shear strength properties and
shear strength and stress-strain behavior of saturated and unsaturated soils.
7. Demonstrate the ability to discuss and analyze the end-of-construction and long-
term stability of slopes using infinite and finite slope limit equilibrium methods.
8. Demonstrate the ability to communicate ideas, issues, and conclusions clearly
and effectively related to assignments and the term project.
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References
• Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, 9nd Edition, Braja M. Das,
Khaled Sobhan, CL Engineering, 2018 (ISBN: 1305970934).
• Craig’s Soil Mechanics, 8th Edition, Jonathan Knappett, R.F. Craig,
CRC Press, 2012 (ISBN: 0415561264).
• Environmental Soil Properties and Behavior, Raymond N. Yong,
Nasashi Nakano, Roland Pusch, CRC Press, 2011 (ISBN:
9781439845301).
• Unsaturated Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice, D.G. Fredlund,
H. Rahardjo, and M.D. Fredlund, John Wiley & Sons, 2012 (ISBN:
978-1-118-13359-0).
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MARKS DISTRIBUTION
▪ Homework Assignments 10%
▪ Course Project 15%
▪ Midterm Exam 25%
▪ Final Examination 50%
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HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS
• Four assignments will be assigned.
• Individual assignments.
• Online submission: Please scan your hand-written assignment and
upload it to D2L.
• Late submission won’t be accepted (hand-written assignments).
• For each assignment, four questions (selected at random) will be
marked by TA, and partially completed assignments will be given
partial credit.
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Course Project-Term Paper
1. Length of the term paper: 5,000-word individual term paper on a
geotechnical case study.
2. Topic: Each student is asked to identify a geotechnical topic, and technology
involving at least one of the following aspects:
• Seepage
• Soil settlement
• Slope stability
Please note topic related to foundation engineering is not accepted in this
course.
3. Submission of topic (D2L): May 05 (Monday), by 12:00pm
4. Submission of Project Report (D2L): June 06 (Friday), by 12:00pm
5. Submission of 10-minute Video Presentation (D2L): June 06 (Friday), by
12:00pm
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Course Project-Term Paper
Marks Distribution of Course Project (15 Marks)
• Project Topic (1 Mark)
• Video Presentation (4 marks)
• Final Report (PDF file only) (10 marks)
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EXAMS
▪ Midterm and Final Exams
1. The midterm and final exams are closed book.
2. Midterm Exam:Date and time:
May 15 (Thursday) from 10:00am to 11:30am
3. Final Exam:
June 12 (Thursday) from 09:30am to 12:30pm
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BONUS MARKS
▪ In-class Reward
• Attendance check will be conducted (6 times);
• If you miss any in-class reward, it won’t affect your regular marks (only the
bonus marks).
• In-class reward will provide you up to 3 marks in your final grade.
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