Slope stabilization?

Geology for Engineers

89.325
Course Home Syllabus Schedule Supplemental Materials Links
 

Syllabus

Credits and Contact Hours: 3 credit hours, 4 contact hours

Instructor’s Name: G. Nelson Eby, PhD.

 

Textbook: Geology for Engineers & Environmental Scientists, 3rd Edition, Alan E. Kehew, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006.

 

Other Supplemental Materials:

 

None

Prerequisites:

 

84.121 Chemistry I

84.123 Chemistry I Laboratory

95.141 Physics I

96.141 Physics I Laboratory

 

Specific Course Goals:

 

At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to show that they have realized the following course goals:

  • Understand the basic physical processes that drive the dynamic earth.
  • Identify common minerals and have a basic understanding of how the properties of minerals affect engineering applications.
  • Understand the classification of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks and their properties and how these properties affect engineering applications – e.g. durability, compressive strength, aggregate properties, etc.
  • Understand rock deformation and the response of rocks to applied stress – faulting versus folding.  Stress-strain and the application of the Mohr’s circle.
  • Understand the causes of earthquakes, earthquake magnitude, and assessment of seismic risk.  The ability to estimate ground motion and the effect of this motion on structures.
  • Understand surface and groundwater flow.
  • Understand the processes of downslope movement and the factors that affect these movements.
  • Understand surficial processes including the development of glacial and arid region landforms.
  • Understand the exploitation of geological resources with emphasis of the engineering aspects of the development of these resources.
  • Understand weathering processes and the development of soils.

 

Course Topics:

 

The Earth and Its Systems

Minerals

Igneous Rocks and Processes

Sedimentary Rocks and Processes

Metamorphic Rocks and Processes

Mechanics of Rock Materials

Structural Deformation of the Earth’s Crust and Earthquakes

Weathering and Erosion

Soils, Soil Hazards, and Land Subsidence

Groundwater

Subsurface Contamination and Remediation

Mass Movement and Slope Stability

Rivers

Oceans and Coasts

Glaciers, Permafrost, and Deserts

 

Course Structure:

 

The course will consist of two one hour lectures and a 2 hour recitation (laboratory). The lecture and recitation parts of the course are fully integrated and the final grade will be based on the student performance in both the lecture and recitation.

 

General Course Information:

 

Attendance is mandatory for this course. Except in the case of personal illness or a death in the immediate family, both of which must be substantiated, the student MUST seek prior approval from the instructor for a class absence. Ski trips, hunting trips, extended weekends, an exam in another course, etc. are NOT legitimate excuses for a class absence. Any special pleading must be done before the missed class, not after. Any un-excused absence will result in a grade of zero being recorded for missed material (including exams). Homework problems will be assigned on a weekly basis and completion of these problems is essential in order to understand the material.

 

The student's attention is called to the definitions and regulations regarding cheating and plagiarism. The instructor shall assign a grade of zero to any portion of an exam on which he determines cheating has occurred. Likewise a grade of zero will be assigned to any portion of a homework exercise that has been plagiarized.

 

Grading Policy:

 

Because this is an integrated course, your grade will be based on the total course evaluations. Your grade will be determined as follows:

 

    Two Hour Exams @ 20% each = 40%

 

       Homework Problems = 10%

 

    Recitation Exercises = 20%

 

    Final Exam = 30%

 

The Hour Exams will not be cumulative but the Final Exam will be inclusive. The Hour Exams are scheduled for October 15 and November 19.

Due dates for Homework Problems and Recitation Exercises are shown on the course schedule.

 

Contacting the Instructor:

 

The instructor's Office Hours are Tu 12 noon, W 1:00 PM, and Th 2:00 PM. The instructor's office is OLN 302b (or OLN 201). Additional hours are available by appointment. If you have problems, or want to make an appointment, you can reach me either by telephone, 978-934-3907 (I have voice mail) or better yet by e-mail, Nelson_Eby@uml.edu. I log on to my e-mail account when I come in each day and thus will get your message first thing in the morning.