Course Title: Rock Mechanics
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Rock Mechanics
Credit Points: 12.00
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
CIVE1105 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
120H Civil, Environmental & Chemical Engineering |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 1 2009, Sem 1 2010, Sem 1 2012, Sem 1 2013, Sem 1 2014, Sem 1 2015, Spring2016 |
CIVE1105 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
172H School of Engineering |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2018, Sem 1 2019, Sem 1 2020, Sem 1 2021, Sem 1 2023, Sem 1 2024 |
Flexible Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
CIVE1264 |
SHAPE, VTC |
Undergraduate |
172H School of Engineering |
Face-to-Face |
OFFMay2021 (VC10) |
CIVE1264 |
SHAPE, VTC |
Undergraduate |
172H School of Engineering |
Face-to-Face |
OFFMay2023 (VC14) |
Course Coordinator: A/Prof. Gang Ren
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 2409
Course Coordinator Email: gang.ren@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: 10.12.27
Course Coordinator Availability: by appointment
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
The required prior study for this course is:
Students must have completed or received exemption for the prerequisite course: (CIVE1178, Geotechnical Engineering 1) before being eligible to enrol in this course.
Course Description
Rock Mechanics deals with the behaviour of rocks under the influence of loading or unloading. The engineering principles are applied to the design of rock structures, such as tunnels, underground caverns and rock slopes. After an introduction to the engineering properties of rock, as a substance and in mass, the initial part of the course will concentrate on the use of analytical and mathematical tools in describing rock mass properties and stress fields. You will learn rock strength testing, rock mass classification and the application of the principles to rock engineering designs. Specific applications in rock excavation, tunnelling and slope stability assessment will be introduced as projects, class exercises and assignments. The aims of this course are to learn about the mechanical behaviour of rock and rock masses, the engineering properties of rock and techniques for the classification of rock masses and analysis of rock structures.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for BH077 Bachelor of Engineering, Civil and Infrastructure (Honours) for students who commenced their program prior to 2023:
1.3 In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline.
1.6 Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of contemporary engineering practice in the specific discipline.
2.1 Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving.
2.2 Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources.
This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for BH077 Bachelor of Engineering, Civil and Infrastructure (Honours) for students who commenced their program in 2023:
- PLO1: Demonstrate an in-depth understanding and knowledge of fundamental engineering and scientific theories, principles and concepts and apply advanced technical knowledge in specialist domain of engineering.
- PLO2: Utilise mathematics and engineering fundamentals, software, tools and techniques to design engineering systems for complex engineering challenges.
- PLO4: Apply systematic problem solving, design methods and information and project management to propose and implement creative and sustainable solutions with intellectual independence and cultural sensitivity.
- PLO6: Develop and demonstrate the capacity for autonomy, agility and reflection of own learning, career and professional development and conduct.
On completion of this course you should be able to:
- Critically review rock mechanics principles and methods and their applications to engineering practices.
- Measure the physical characteristics of rock masses, including the engineering description of rocks, discontinuities and rock mass; the strength of rock substance, defects and rock mass; laboratory testing of rock, data presentation.
- Analyse stresses under gravitational and imposed loads for rock engineering applications.
- Predict the response of rock masses to loading (and unloading).
- Classify rock masses for engineering applications, such as tunnel design and construction.
- Analyse rock slope stability and foundations on rock.
- Apply established engineering practices to design foundations considering strength, long and short-term settlement, deformation, and safety.
Overview of Learning Activities
You will learn the concepts and applications of principles of rock mechanics through a series of lectures and tutorial classes and a laboratory session. Assessments are completed individually for lab report and project assignment. The course is supported by the Canvas online learning management system.
Overview of Learning Resources
Prescribed text, recommended references and a learning package will be used as required. Further, access to computers, simulation programs and Geomechanics Laboratory resources will be provided during the course.
Overview of Assessment
The course will have three assessment tasks which are designed aligning with the expected outcomes of the course: a laboratory test report; a major project assignment and the final assessment. Details of each assessment are given below.
Note that: ☒This course has no hurdle requirements.
Assessment tasks
Assessment Task 1: Rock point -load testing and reporting
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1 to 2.
For this assignment you will be required to carry out: Literature reviews on point-load testing, procedures and interpretation. Reporting on the rock strength characteristics based the point-load test results.
Assessment Task 2: Major Project Assignment for a Tunnelling Project
Weighting 50%
This assessment task supports CLO 3,4 & 5.
The objective of this assignment is to use the knowledge and skills that you have acquired from the course to solve engineering problems and provide professional advice in relation to a tunnel design and construction.
Assessment 3: End of semester assignment (online, 24 hours)
Weighting 30% This assessment supports CLOs 1 to 6