Module manager: Professor Doug Stewart
Email: D.I.Stewart@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
The standard qualifications (or equivalent) set by the School of Civil Engineering for entry to any of its JBM accredited UG programmes.
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Geotechnics is the solution of engineering problems on or within the ground. In this module it is concerned with soil stress-strain behaviour, the safe-loads for, and the movement of foundations and the impact of water flow in soil. The Water Engineering part of the module focuses on fundamentals of flow in pipe systems, basic flow in open channels, safe water supply and drinking water treatment techniques. The module is about the application of mathematics and engineering principles to the solution of engineering problems in the fields of water engineering and geotechnics.
The objectives of this module are:
- To describe the factors that influence soil strength and to apply this understanding to ultimate load.
- To understand the concept of soil stiffness, and its application to deformation problems.
- To develop an intuitive understanding of how soil responds to loads through the conceptual framework of Critical State Soil Mechanics.
- To understand the equations of flow through porous media, and to apply them to both flow and consolidation problems.
- To develop the analysis of energy/pressure loss in pipes in both laminar and turbulent flows and the fundamental concepts of open-channel flow.
- To develop techniques for the analysis of piped (single and network) systems including reservoirs, pumps, fittings and valves.
- To deliver the elementary aspects of water resources including requirements for safe water supply and its treatment processes for drinking water purposes.
On successful completion of this the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject (contributing to the AHEP4 outcomes in square brackets and ARB competences in brackets)
1- apply their understanding of soil strength to ultimate load problems such as bearing capacity and slope stability [C1/M1, C2/M2, C3/M3, C7/M7, C9/M9] (CK5 part, D7 part)
2- apply their understanding of soil stiffness to address deformation problems such as settlement of a structure [C1/M1, C2/M2] (D7 part)
3- describe and use conceptual models such as Critical State Soil Mechanics to show how soil will respond to load [C1/M1, C2/M2, C3/M3]
4- evaluate pore water pressures and flow volumes during steady state seepage, and estimate the effect of water flow on the rate of consolidation of clay soil [C1/M1, C2/M2]
5- apply mathematics and engineering principles for the solution of complex problems in the concepts of fluid friction in pipes, open channel flow and energy loss from friction and also from local changes in flow condition [C1/M1, C2/M2, C3/M3, C7/M7] (CK5 part)
6- use practical laboratory skills to collect data and investigate complex problems related to energy loss from flow in pipes including frictional and local losses while being aware of risk in the practical work and function effectively as a member or leader of a team [C3/M3, C12/M12]
7- understand the demand and requirements for palatable and potable water, and the implication that this has on the infrastructure for drinking water treatment. [C2/M2, C7/M7] (CK5 part)
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
a- Apply knowledge of mathematics, and engineering principles to the solution engineering problems.
b- Select appropriate analytical methods for specific design scenarios.
c- Analyse geotechnical problems to be make engineering design decisions.
d- Analyse water engineering problems to be make engineering design decisions.
e- Apply critical thinking, problem solving, systems thinking to water engineering and geotechnics problems.
f- Understand and mitigate the risks posed in designing with variable natural materials.
The module extends the fundamental principles of geotechnics to describe, in detail, seepage processes settlement processes and instability problems in soils that lead to foundation failure and slope instability. As a result students can assess alternative forms of building construction (including foundation designs) to evaluate their global stability and in-service behaviour caused by changes in the environmental conditions (e.g. changes in ground water profiles and flood risk caused by climate change).
In water engineering students are introduced to the broader concepts of water distribution systems, water supply and water treatment which are relevant to design and operation. Water quality standards for drinking water and wastewater discharges; the hydrological cycle and climate change impacts are also covered. Essential pipe flow and pipe network analysis methods as well as basic open channel flow theory is covered allowing students to design piped and open channel drainage and water conveyance systems.
GEOTECHNICS:
Topics studied include:
- Strengths of soil;
- ultimate capacity of shallow foundations;
- behaviour of piles;
- soil stiffness;
- settlement of foundations;
- geostructural mechanisms;
- seepage;
- consolidation theory;
- slope stability;
- the critical state soil model.
WATER ENGINEERING:
Topics studied include:
- Roughness in pipes and channels, hydraulically rough and smooth surfaces, the Colebrooke-White expression;
- Turbulent flow in pipes, including its application to pipe networks;
- Matching pumps to pipelines, hydraulic efficiency of pumps;
- Water supply and wastewater treatment;
- Water quality standards for drinking water; the hydrological cycle and climate change impacts; physical/chemical and biological water characteristics; effect of organic matters on river water quality, river self-purification capacity, and application of the Streeter–Phelps for water quality modelling; Drinking water treatment techniques
- Open Channel Flow: Uniform flow, roughness in channels, Manning's Equation, Normal Depth, Critical Depth.
Methods of assessment
The assessment details for this module will be provided at the start of the academic year
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 44 | 1 | 44 |
| Practical | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Seminar | 10 | 2 | 20 |
| Independent online learning hours | 30 | ||
| Private study hours | 100 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 70 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Formative and summative Problem activities;
Regular examples classes.
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 30/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team