Syllabus

Engineering Technology

University of North Texas

Course Title: Soil and Foundation

Course Prefix and Course Number:

CNET 3460

Semester: Spring 2010

The Engineering Technology Department, in cooperation with the Office of Disability Accommodation, complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act in making reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. Please present your written accommodation request to the instructor prior to the fourth day.

SAFETY CATEGORY: 1

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

UNT RESEARCH PARK

University of North Texas

Engineering Technology

940/565-2022

DATE PREPARD: 1/16/10

PEPARED BY: Dr. Cheng Yu

COURSE NUMBER, TITLE, CREDIT HOURS:

CNET 3460, Soils and Foundations, 3 (2;3) credit hours

DESCRIPTION:

A study of the properties of subsurface materials and the principles of subsurface construction. Topics include soil classification and testing, soil mechanics, and foundation systems.

PREREQUISITES:

CNET 2180; ENGR 2332

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:

Schroeder, Dickenson, & Warrington, "Soils in Construction", 5th Edition, Prentice Hall; ISBN: 0130489174

SUPPLEMENTAL TEXTS AND MATERIALS:

Handouts will be provided in class or posted on WebCT.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

At the conclusion of this course, the student will (be able to):

  1. Understand the importance of soils in construction and foundations.
  2. Understand how to identify different soil types and properties.
  3. Understand the soil reports as they apply to construction.
  4. Understand ASTM soil testing methods.
  5. Understand the concepts of soil compaction and excavation.
  6. Understand the importance of moisture content in soil strength.

APPROPRIATE PROGRAM OUTCOMES:

Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc.: An engineering technology program must demonstrate that graduates have:

b. an ability to apply current knowledge and adapt to emerging applications of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology

c. an ability to conduct, analyze and interpret experiments, and apply experimental results to improve processes

e. an ability to function effectively on teams

i. an ability to understand professional, ethical and social responsibilities

Society of Civil Engineering: graduates must demonstrate:

l. producing and utilizing design, construction, and operations documents;

p. applying basic technical concepts to the solution of construction problems involving hydraulics and hydrology, geotechnics, structures, construction scheduling and management, and construction safety

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: (ASCE or ABET Program Outcomes Addressed)

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to do the following activities, given the appropriate parameters:

  1. Perform laboratory analysis according to ASTM specifications. (b,c,e,i,p)
  2. Calculate moisture content in soil. (b,c,e,l,p)
  3. Understand soil weight volume relationships. (b,p)
  4. Classify soil type using AASHTO and Unified system. (b,c,e,i,l,p)
  5. Understand soil compaction. (b,c,e,i,p)
  6. Calculate soil hydraulic conductivity. (b,p)
  7. Analyze the stress in the soil mass. (b,l,p)
  8. Understand soil consolidation and calculate the settlement. (b,c,e,i,l,p)
  9. Design foundation. (b,i,l,p)

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES

  1. Conditions
  1. Students can use pens, paper, calculator and textbooks during lectures.
  2. Students are allowed to download lectures from WebCT.
  3. Students are permitted to use electronic equipment and software for all assignments.
  1. Criteria
  1. Students are required to attend all lecture and lab classes.
  2. Homework and projects will be turned in on the due date.
  3. Makeup examinations will not be given except as required by the University regulations.
  1. Outcome Competencies:
  2. Homework will be used to assess understanding of materials covered in lecture.
  3. Lab experiment will be used to give students practical experience.
  4. Examinations will be used to assess understanding of materials covered.

LEARNING STRATEGIES:

Lectures, demonstrations, problem solving examples, group projects, guest speakers.

COURSE OUTLINE:

This is a tentative outline. At any time, the instructor reserves the right to substitute relevant materials to the course.

1.Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering

2.Engineering Properties of Soils

3.Soil Index properties

4.Soil Classifications

5.Stress analysis and Engineering Properties

6.Interpretation of Soils Reports

7.Embackment Construction and Control

8.Dewatering

9.Excavations and supports

10.Foundation Construction

LABORATORY OUTLINE:

  1. Introduction
  2. Sieve Analysis
  3. Moisture Content Test
  4. Atterberg Limits Test
  5. Soil Classification
  6. Compaction (Proctor Test)
  7. Sand Cone Test
  8. Consolidation Test
  9. In Situ Project (Opt)

COMPUTER USAGE:

Students will be required to download materials from the Internet, use Microsoft work for assignments and use MS PowerPoint to make presentations.

ORAL COMMUNICATION USAGE:

Lecture hours will include student presentations of solutions to classroom problems and/or assignments. Presentations may be required in impromptu responses or as formal PowerPoint Presentations as assigned.

The following presentation guide will not be used. Students will be provided with a presentation guide at the time the presentation assignments are made.

WRITTEN COMMUNICATION USAGE:

All reports assigned as homework, must be prepared professionally. All hand written work will be legible and written in black or blue ink or dark pencil. Papers written in colored inks will not be accepted.

The following Written Grading Guide will not be used. Grading methodology will be included with each assignment.

LIBRARY USAGE:

Minimal usage expected. Students are encouraged to utilize on-line resources, suggested supplemental texts and materials, and to provide examples of current, relevant project safety issues.

GRADING ELEMENTS AND WEIGHTS:

Homework 25%
Attendance 10%
Lab Assignments 25%
Mid-Term Exam 20%
Final Exam 20% / A 90-100%
B 80-89.99%
C 70-79.99%
D 60-69.99%
F 0-59.99%

GRADING POLICIES:

  1. Homework is due at the beginning of the class period. There may be random quizzes administered during the semester. Late homework is not accepted without instructor’s written approval.
  2. The project reports will be written in the IEEE format. Late reports will incur a 50% penalty per week and will not be accepted more than two weeks late.
  3. Each student will be required to make at least one formal oral presentation during the semester. A grade of “F” will be given for the course, if the student or student group does not complete the final project documentation and presentation successfully.
  4. The student is required to attend all scheduled lectures and laboratory class times. The student shall be dropped from the course for three (3) unexcused absences in Lecture OR two (2) unexcused absences in Lab. An excused absence can only be guaranteed by obtaining, in advance, instructor authorization. A student shall be considered absent if twenty or more minutes late to class.

CLASS POLICIES:

  1. All rules relating to academic dishonesty will be enforced in accordance with University policies. Cheating on quizzes, examinations and laboratory assignments and plagiarism on various papers and reports are types of disciplinary misconduct for which penalties are assessed under the UNT Code of Student Conduct and Discipline. Major responsibility for implementing the University’s policy on scholastic dishonesty rests with the faculty. Be advised that the instructor of this course supports and fully implements this policy. The following actions will be taken when evidence of misconduct and given an opportunity to explain same. Based on the outcome of this private conference, the matter will be either dropped or the student will be given a grade of “F” in the course and be referred to the Dean of Students for further counseling and/or disciplinary action.
  2. State common law and federal copyright laws protect my lectures. They are my own original expression and I record them at the same time that I deliver them in order to secure protection. Whereas, you are authorized to take notes in class thereby creating a derivative work from my lecture, the authorization extends only to making one set of notes for your own personal use and no other use. You are not authorized to record my lectures, to provide your notes to anyone else or to make any commercial use of them without expressed prior permission from me.
  3. During the course, handouts will be provided to enhance the presentation of certain concepts. These materials are provided strictly for instructional purposes and may otherwise be restricted. There is no authorization for further reproduction of distribution of handout materials beyond that intended to teach the course.
  4. This syllabus is subject to change at any time during the semester with changes to be announced in class.
  5. Students should schedule at least one hour per lecture hour for study outside class. Students should schedule at least one hour per laboratory hour for outside work to prepare for the laboratory, use of open laboratory hours, and to complete the required laboratory documentation.
  6. Grades are based, in part, on the student’s ability to communicate. Well written English is expected in all course work and is a factor in laboratory report grades. The student’s ability to orally communicate the results of laboratory exercises and class assignments is also monitored.
  7. Each student should retain graded lecture notes, pop quizzes, homework, tests, software generated files, and laboratory reports to document errors in recorded grades. All grades are recorded on WebCT and it is the student’s responsibility to insure that the grades are recorded correctly.
  8. Requests for review of graded work must be submitted during the lecture in which such work is returned to the students. The request should be accompanied by a written justification of the request including any supporting data.
  9. The UNT Catalog procedures on cheating and plagiarism will be vigorously enforced. It is the duty of all students to protect their work so it is not available to others for submission as their efforts. This is especially true of files that are generated on the computer. Students who knowingly allow others to use their work are partners in this unethical behavior.
  10. There is no limit to the use of calculators for lectures, labs, pop quizzes, formal tests, or final examination.
  11. Challenges to the course grade must be presented within 60 days of receipt of grade notices mailed by the university. This will insure that instructor’s records are still available to allow a review of the assigned grade. You should first discuss your complaint with the instructor. If you wish to carry it further, contact the Program Coordinator by calling (940) 565-2022. To further pursue your complaint, contact the Department Chair at (940)565-2022, but ONLY after first discussing your concern with the previous two individuals.
  12. If appropriate, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are maintained on file in the department of your review. Access to these documents may be provided by the :
  13. Instructor of this course,
  14. Program Coordinator, or
  15. Department Secretary.
  16. Seek initial access through the instructor or Coordinator rather than the secretary.
  17. An I (incomplete) grade is given only for extenuating circumstances and in accordance with University and Departmental Policies.

STUDENT EVALUATION OF TEACHING EFFECTIVENESS

The Student Evaluation of Teaching Effectiveness (SETE) is a requirement for all organized classes at UNT. This short survey will be made available to you at the end of the semester, providing you a chance to comment on how this class is taught. I am very interested in the feedback I get from students, as I work to continually improve my teaching. I consider the SETE to be an important part of your participation in this class.