School: Engineering

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Engineering Geology and Rock Mechanics
  • Unit Code

    ENS3208
  • Year

    2021
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    4
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    A/Prof Sanjay Kumar SHUKLA

Description

This unit provides an introduction to the engineering geology and mechanics of rocks. It deals with engineering properties of rocks, their behaviour under applied loads, and their applications in civil and mining engineering projects.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass MAT1236 OR MAT1250 AND ONE OF ENS3242 OR ENS2270

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Explain the processes leading to the formation of rocks and their structures.
  2. Design rock slopes and rock foundations for varying site conditions, specifying appropriate rock stabilisation methods where appropriate.
  3. Analyse and describe the properties of rocks that affect their ability to support themselves and any imposed loads.
  4. Prepare spherical presentations of geological data.
  5. Use effective communication skills in a collaborative context to report on the findings of laboratory testing.

Unit Content

  1. Foundations on rock.
  2. Geological applications in engineering projects: earthquakes, hydrogeology, environmental geology, subsurface investigation, civil engineering projects, mining engineering projects.
  3. Geological formations and structures: structure of the earth, rock minerals, rock formation and types, dip and dip directions, folds, faults and discontinuities, weathering of rocks, soil formation and clay minerals.
  4. Rock mass classification: intact rock and rock mass, rock quality designation, rock mass classification systems, RMR system, Q-system.
  5. Rock properties and laboratory testing: engineering properties of rocks, uniaxial compressive strength test, indirect tensile strength test, point load strength test, slake durability test, Schmidt hammer test, triaxial test.
  6. Rock slope stability: factor of safety, types of rock slope failure, slope stability analysis, slope stabilisation methods.
  7. Spherical presentation of geological data: fundamentals of spherical projections, intersections of planes and lines, spherical projections, applications.
  8. Strength and deformation characteristics of rocks: creep in rocks/time-dependant behaviour of rocks, in situ stresses and strength, stress, strain and constitutive models, stresses and strains in rock around underground openings, theories of rock failure.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECUs LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 213 x 2 hour labNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 2 hour tutorialNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences through ECUs LMS as well as additional ECU l

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
ExerciseQuizzes and tutorial exercises20%
Laboratory WorkLaboratory performance and reports20%
ExaminationEnd of semester examination60%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
ExerciseQuizzes and tutorial exercises20%
ExerciseVirtual laboratory activities20%
AssignmentSummative assessment of unit content60%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

ENS3208|4|1

School: Engineering

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Engineering Geology and Rock Mechanics
  • Unit Code

    ENS3208
  • Year

    2021
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    4
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    A/Prof Sanjay Kumar SHUKLA

Description

This unit provides an introduction to the engineering geology and mechanics of rocks. It deals with engineering properties of rocks, their behaviour under applied loads, and their applications in civil and mining engineering projects.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass MAT1236 OR MAT1250 AND ONE OF ENS3242 OR ENS2270

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Explain the processes leading to the formation of rocks and their structures.
  2. Design rock slopes and rock foundations for varying site conditions, specifying appropriate rock stabilisation methods where appropriate.
  3. Analyse and describe the properties of rocks that affect their ability to support themselves and any imposed loads.
  4. Prepare spherical presentations of geological data.
  5. Use effective communication skills in a collaborative context to report on the findings of laboratory testing.

Unit Content

  1. Foundations on rock.
  2. Geological applications in engineering projects: earthquakes, hydrogeology, environmental geology, subsurface investigation, civil engineering projects, mining engineering projects.
  3. Geological formations and structures: structure of the earth, rock minerals, rock formation and types, dip and dip directions, folds, faults and discontinuities, weathering of rocks, soil formation and clay minerals.
  4. Rock mass classification: intact rock and rock mass, rock quality designation, rock mass classification systems, RMR system, Q-system.
  5. Rock properties and laboratory testing: engineering properties of rocks, uniaxial compressive strength test, indirect tensile strength test, point load strength test, slake durability test, Schmidt hammer test, triaxial test.
  6. Rock slope stability: factor of safety, types of rock slope failure, slope stability analysis, slope stabilisation methods.
  7. Spherical presentation of geological data: fundamentals of spherical projections, intersections of planes and lines, spherical projections, applications.
  8. Strength and deformation characteristics of rocks: creep in rocks/time-dependant behaviour of rocks, in situ stresses and strength, stress, strain and constitutive models, stresses and strains in rock around underground openings, theories of rock failure.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECUs LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 213 x 2 hour labNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 2 hour tutorialNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences through ECUs LMS as well as additional ECU l

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
ExerciseQuizzes and tutorial exercises20%
Laboratory WorkLaboratory performance and reports20%
Examination ^End of semester examination60%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
ExerciseQuizzes and tutorial exercises20%
ExerciseVirtual laboratory activities20%
Assignment ^Summative assessment of unit content60%

^ Mandatory to Pass


Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

ENS3208|4|2