The general aim of the course is to provide sufficient knowledge and understanding of other works related to building construction. The course covers the element of earthworks, land reclamation, slope stabilization, retaining walls and soil improvement, with emphasis on the technology and installation of the element. Safety, health and environmental element during the construction process will be included. Soil mechanics is a scientific field of the civil engineering discipline that studies the mechanical behavior of soil. Soil mechanics is critical in civil engineering as it describes the principles that govern the way civil infrastructure projects such as buildings, bridges, tanks, embankments, dams, and tunnels, are supported by the soil.Soil mechanics differs from classical fluid mechanics or solid mechanics as the soil is (a) a heterogeneous mixture of solid particles (gravel, rock, sand, silt, and clay), liquid, and gas (three-phase system), and (b) is a particulate material. Understanding and predicting soil’s behavior is complex as it is stress-dependent and nonlinear.To derive soil’s mechanical properties, in-situ and laboratory testing are performed and analytical solutions or constitutive models are used to simulate its behavior.In general, the purpose of using soil mechanics varies depending on the project, but broadly it aims to ensure soil’s stability and limit deformation while controlling groundwater flow. Retaining structures are engineered to retain soil and/or rock. They are commonly used to accommodate changes in grade, provide increases in right-of-way and buttress the toe of slopes. In a broad sense, retaining structures can be classified according to their face inclination: if it is greater than 70 degrees, they are typically characterized as retaining walls, while slopes have face inclination flatter than 70 degrees. There are several types of retaining structures, including gravity, sheet pile, cantilever, and anchored earth/ mechanically stabilized earth (reinforced earth) walls and slopes.
1 )Analyse the process of construction method for earthworks, dredging, drainage, slope stabilization, retaining walls and soil improvement
2 ) Demonstrate specific soil mechanic test through various procedures.
3 ) Demonstrate excellent working culture such as good moral, timeliness as well as being efficient, productive and ethical at work in all situations
4 ) Evaluate general planning and design consideration of earthworks; slope stabilization, retaining walls and soil improvement
1. Earthworks
1.1) Introduction
1.2) General consideration & planning
1.3) Bulking & shrinkage
1.4) Areas & volumes
1.5) Design aspects of earthwork structures
1.6) Earthwork plants/equipment
1.7) Earthwork processes: excavation/digging, transporting/hauling, placing & spreading, compaction
1.8) Scheduling of earthwork
1.9) Mass haul diagram.
2. Drainage
2.1) Introduction
2.2) General planning and design consideration
2.3) Types of drainage e.g. Surface Drainage, Sub soil Drainage
2.4) Drainage construction
3. Dredging
3.1) Introduction
3.2) General planning and design consideration
3.3) Types of dredging
3.4) Method of dredging for river and drainage systems
3.5) Sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS)
3.6) JPS Manual Mesra Alam (MSMA)
4. Slope Stabilization and Retaining Walls
4.1) Introduction
4.2) Slope stability concepts
4.3) Slope failures
4.4) Selection of stabilization methods
4.5) Slope stabilization methods: unloading, buttressing, drainage, reinforcement, retaining walls, vegetation, surface slope protection, soil hardening, rock slope stabilization methods
4.6) Maintenance of slope
5. Soil Improvement and stabilization
5.1) Introduction
5.2) Types of unstable soil in Malaysia: marine deposits, inland valley deposits, ex- mining soil and fill soil.
5.3) Problems of unstable soil
5.4) Method of soil improvement: preloading & vertical drain, vibro- compaction/ flotation, dynamic compaction, stone column, grouting, geo-textiles etc.
5.5) Selection of soil improvement method.
5.6) Methods of classic soil stabilization with cement and lime
5.7) Understand the reaction mechanism that occurs during modification and stabilization processes.
6. Soil Mechanics
6.1) Soil formation and nature
6.2) Soil description and classification
6.3) Clay Mineralogy
6.4) Permeability and seepage
7. Soil Lab
7.1) Moisture Content Determination
7.2) Particle Size Distribution
7.3) Proctor Compaction Test
7.4) Consistency (Atterberg) Limits
7.5) Liquid and plastic limit
7.6) Shrinkage test
7.7) Testing & Commissioning