Module manager: Professor Andy Sleigh
Email: P.A.Sleigh@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
Admission to UG programmes in the School of Civil Engineering
CIVE3510 CIVE3415
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module is concerned with some advanced topics in water engineering and geotechnics. It develops concepts of river modelling including the basic concepts of hydrology. It covers the use for the fundamental equation of open channel plus examines use of numerical methods in for river and flooding simulation. In respect to geotechnics, it covers the range of foundations available for structures, including shallow foundations (strip, pad and raft), deep foundations (caissons, shafts and piles) and composite foundations (piled rafts).
The objectives of this module are:
- To develop an understanding of hydrology and the relevant catchment processes that translate rainfall into river flow.
- To develop and use the fundamental equations of open channel flow
- To describe rapidly varying flow and its analysis through specific energy concepts as an analysis technique for devices that control and measure flow in open channels.
- To understand steady state backwater curves, how to use numerical techniques for predicting change in levels, and the effect that structures in open channels can have up or downstream.
- To understand knowledge of hydraulic design of real rivers that brings together the hydrology and hydraulics theory in the module, with practical considerations.
- To learn about the different types of foundations and how they are designed, analysed, and constructed.
- To understand the principles of geotechnical and foundation design, the relevant codes, design philosophies and applicable safety factors.
- To learn how to evaluate the load-bearing capacity of shallow foundations in different types of soil and using a variety of methods, and to estimate settlements.
- To develop an understanding of piled foundations (single piles and groups of piles) and the methods to estimate their capacity in different soil conditions.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes (contributing to the AHEP4 learning outcomes indicated between brackets):
1. Apply a comprehensive knowledge of mathematics/ engineering principles, to formulate/analyse complex problems in river engineering and open channel hydraulics, reaching substantial conclusions (M1 and M2)
2. Apply engineering judgment to analyse flow conditions in complex geometry while demonstrating awareness of wider context related to environment, etc. (M1 and M2)
3. Discuss limitations of information and techniques when working on complex engineering problems related to natural flow in rivers and floods that rely on uncertain and incomplete data (M2 and M3)
4. Design solutions for managing complex natural flows and floods by showing some originality and consideration of environmental and commercial implications and their effect on design choices (M5)
5. Evaluate probability based flood risk following a complex analysis of the problem while considering environmental and safety risks to people and infrastructure, including the costs and benefits of mitigation solutions (M7 and M9).
6. Apply computational techniques using standard software to model hydrology and hydraulics of flooding in natural rivers (M3)
7. A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of scientific principles and methodology of foundations for structures, their performances during construction and in service, to formulate/analyse complex problems in engineering foundations (M1 and M2)
8. Awareness of wider context of engineering in the constructional and structural systems, the environmental strategies and the regulatory requirements that apply to the design and construction of a comprehensive design project (M1)
9. Evaluate risk by demonstrating a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of scientific principles of geotechnical hazards and how they affect design decisions for temporary and permanent works for foundations (M9).
10. Extract and evaluate pertinent data and apply engineering analysis techniques in the solution of complex problems while discussing limitations of information and techniques for uncertain and incomplete data (M2 and M3)
11. Design complex foundation systems by applying technical knowledge and understanding, to establish rigorous and creative solutions for foundations considering the limitations posed by uncertain/incomplete data (M2 and M5)
12. Apply analytical and computational techniques to model foundation systems and recognise their limitations (M3)
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
Academic
-Plan time, prioritise tasks and organise academic and personal commitments effectively
-Extract and evaluate pertinent data and to apply engineering analysis techniques in the solution of water engineering & geotechnical problems.
Technical:
- identify geotechnical hazards and assess the risk of them occurring
- assess the forces acting on a foundation and the response of the soil to those forces
- produce engineering solutions to foundation problems
- use industry standard software
Work ready:
- take a logical approach to solving problems; resolving issues by tackling from different angles, using both analytical and numerical skills.
- understand, interpret, analyse and manipulate analytical and numerical data.
- gather information from a range of sources, analyse, and interpret data to aid understanding and anticipate problems. To use reasoning and judgement to identify needs, make decisions, solve problems, and respond with actions.
Water Engineering
- Rapidly Varying Flow: specific energy and its application
- Steady State Backwater Curves: a full treatment of all the curves that can occur in open channel flow i.e., M, S, A, H and C curves
- Methods of integrating the Backwater function: The direct and standard step methods for prismoidal and natural channels
- Engineering hydrology considering the relevant catchment processes that translate rainfall into river flow, with an emphasis on flood hydrology.
- - Introduction to the Flood Estimation Handbook (FEH) and its application for estimating flood hydrology
- Overview and use of industry-standard software tools
Geotechnics/Foundations:
-Review of the behaviour of granular and cohesive soil, drained and undrained loading, consolidation and compression characteristics.
-The design process covering methods to deal with uncertainty, design and load combinations, assumptions, the design procedure and decision criteria.
-Actions on and analysis (ultimate limit state and serviceability limit state) of: shallow foundations (pad, strip, raft), deep foundations (caissons, shafts, piles), and composite foundations (piled rafts, basements).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 22 | 2 | 44 |
| Seminars | 18 | 1 | 18 |
| Practicals | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Independent online learning hours | 20 | ||
| Private study hours | 112 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 68 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team