Postgraduate Courses in Structural Engineering

A Master of Engineering (Geotechnical) - ME (Geotech) requires the completion of 48 credit points. This can be achieved by one year full time or two (or more) years part time study by completing the following units of study.

ENGG5001 - Professional Development is a core unit of study for all masters courses.

Electives can come from any of the Masters level Civil Units of Study or other Master’s level UoS approved by the Postgraduate Director.

Other options for studying geotechnical engineering postgraduate courses include

• Master of Engineering (Civil Engineering) in which 48 credit points from any masters course in structural, geotechnical, environmental fluids or project management may be counted.
• Master of Engineering (Structural and Foundation Engineering)
• Graduate Diploma of Engineering Studies: 36 credit points
• Graduate Diploma in Geotechnical Engineering
• Graduate Diploma in Structural and Foundation Engineering
• Graduate Certificate of Engineering Studies: 24 credit points

Brief Course Descriptions

Complete descriptions can be found at the on-line unit of study handbook.


CIVL5450 - Analysis and Design of Pile Foundations
Available in odd years in Semester 1
Prof John Small

Types of piles and their uses, effects of pile installation, axial capacity of piles and pile groups, settlement of pile foundations, ultimate lateral capacity, lateral deformations, analysis of pile groups subjected to general loading conditions, piled raft foundations, piles subjected to ground movements, pile load testing, code provisions for pile design.


CIVL5351 - Environmental Geotechnics
Currently available in odd years in Semester 1
A/Prof David Airey, Dr Abbas El-Zein

Landfill design, including clay mineralogy, effects of chemicals on soil permeability, flow rates through membranes, effect of punctures, composite liners, mechanisms of mass transport, diffusion, dispersion, advective transport, sorption, predicting transport time, solutions to advection-dispersion equation, design of liners, stability of clay liners on slopes, design of covers, infiltration rates. Tailings disposal, including types of tailings dams, design of dams, water balances, rehabilitation, use of slope stability and seepage software.

CIVL5454 - Rock Engineering
Currently available in odd years in Semester 2
Prof John Small

Introduction to rock mechanics and rock engineering. Index properties and engineering characterisation of rocks and rock masses. Planes of weakness in rock masses. Rock material strength and rock mass strength. Rock deformability. In situ stress conditions in rock masses. Underground openings. Rock slopes.


CIVL5456 - Earth and Rockfill Dams
Currently available in odd years in Semester 2
Prof John Small

Types of E &R dams, zoning, design of filters, piping, dispersive soils and tests for identifying dispersive soils, stabilty of E&R embankments, computer based analysis of stability, instumentation, design of rip rap, flow and seepage in E&R dams, seepage control and cut-offs, grouting, numerical analysis of seepage, deformation of embankments and foundations, preparation of foundations, design for earthquake resistance of E&R dams.

CIVL5452 - Foundation Engineering
Currently available in even years in Semester 1
Prof John Small

Foundation types and factors influencing their selection. Site investigation. Bearing capacity of shallow foundations. Uplift capacity of foundations. Settlement analysis. Strip, mat and raft foundations - soil-structure interaction. Pile foundations. Foundations in Rock. Floating foundations. Excavation support. Dewatering. Foundations on expansive soils. Ground improvement techniques.

CIVL5457 - Geotechnical Investigations
Currently available in even years in Semester 1
Prof John Small

geotechnical prediction strategies, site investigation techniques, methods of in-situ testing and test interpretation to obtain design parameters, geophysical methods, field instrumentation methods, exposition of selected case histories, application of prediction techniques to case histories such as pile foundation performance, and embankments on soft clay.

CIVL5451 - Numerical and Computer Methods
Currently available in even years in Semester 2
Prof John Small

Introduction to numerical modelling and computer techniques. Finite element analysis of elastic continua. Finite element formulation of elastoplastic problems, seepage, consolidation, pollution migration. Introduction to boundary element techniques.


CIVL5455 - Engineering Properties of Soils
Currently available in even years in Semester 2
A/Prof David Airey

Friction, soil compressibility, creep, drained and undrained strengths, Critical State models, index tests, stiffness.


Project
Available every semester

Students can partake in a small research project, similar to a thesis. The numberof credit points assigned to the project depends on the natures of the project. Discussions with the academic staff concerned are required before enrolling in this unit of study.