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.

Please note that given the circumstances of COVID-19, there may be some modifications to the assessment schedule promoted in Handbook for Semester 1 2020 Units. Students will be notified of all approved modifications by Unit Coordinators via email and Unit Blackboard sites. Where changes have been made, these are designed to ensure that you still meet the unit learning outcomes in the context of our adjusted teaching and learning arrangements.

  • Unit Title

    Engineering Geology and Rock Mechanics
  • Unit Code

    ENS6144
  • Year

    2020
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    A/Prof Sanjay Kumar SHUKLA

Description

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

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded ENS5208

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Evaluate stresses and strains in tunnels and around openings in rock.
  2. Design rock slopes and rock foundations for varying site conditions, specifying appropriate rock stabilisation methods where appropriate.
  3. Analyse and describe the processes leading to the formation of rocks and their structures and the properties that affect their ability to support themselves and any imposed loads.
  4. Prepare accurate spherical presentations of geological data.
  5. Use high level 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.
  9. Stresses and strains in rock around underground openings.
  10. Tunnelling in soils and rocks.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU Blackboard.

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 23 x 1 hour labNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 1 hour tutorialNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences through ECU Blackboard as well as additional ECU learning technologies.

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 Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
ExerciseTerm papers20%
Laboratory Work ^Laboratory performance and reports20%
Examination ^End of semester examination60%

^ 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.

ENS6144|2|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.

Please note that given the circumstances of COVID-19, there may be some modifications to the assessment schedule promoted in Handbook for this unit. All assessment changes will be published by 27 July 2020. All students are reminded to check handbook at the beginning of semester to ensure they have the correct outline.

  • Unit Title

    Engineering Geology and Rock Mechanics
  • Unit Code

    ENS6144
  • Year

    2020
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    2
  • 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. The engineering properties of rocks, their behaviour under applied loads, and their applications in civil and mining engineering projects are explored.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded ENS5208

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Evaluate stresses and strains in tunnels and around openings in rock.
  2. Design rock slopes and rock foundations for varying site conditions, specifying appropriate rock stabilisation methods where appropriate.
  3. Analyse and describe the processes leading to the formation of rocks and their structures and the properties that affect their ability to support themselves and any imposed loads.
  4. Prepare accurate spherical presentations of geological data.
  5. Use high level 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.
  9. Stresses and strains in rock around underground openings.
  10. Tunnelling in soils and rocks.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU Blackboard.

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 23 x 1 hour labNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 1 hour tutorialNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences through ECU Blackboard as well as additional ECU learning technologies.

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 Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
ExerciseTerm papers20%
Laboratory WorkLaboratory performance and reports20%
ExaminationEnd of semester examination60%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
ExerciseTerm papers20%
ExerciseVirtual laboratory activities20%
AssignmentSumative 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.

ENS6144|2|2