TEACHING DESIGN IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

The author reports on the fourth informal meetings of teachers of geotechnical subjects held in 1983 at Bristol University. Many delegates thought that many engineers who had backgrounds in structural engineering could benefit from site appreciation. Although probability theory was important, system uncertainty and human factors needed to be taken into account. It was important to recognise the lack of good communication and awareness as a major cause of failure. Computers can be used to make the teaching of soil mechanics more coherent, but students did not need to understand the detailed operation of the programs but should be able to build from sub-routines. Computers could be used as well to facilitate parametric design studies, and had applications in data logging. The importance of projects was discussed. All projects should develop interest, initiative and independence in the minds of students. Basic laboratory work can be profitably linked with a simplified design problem. Examples were given of projects involving contacts outside the university -simulating real-life conditions. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00174653
• Corporate Authors:

  Foundation Publications Limited

  7 Ongar Road
  Brentwood CM15 9AU, Essex,   England 
• Authors:
  • HIRD, C C
• Publication Date: 1984-7

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 11
• Serial:
  • GROUND ENGINEERING
  • Volume: 17
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: EMAP CONSTRUCT LIMITED
  • ISSN: 0017-4653

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Computer aided design; Construction sites; Design; Digital computers; Education; Evaluation and assessment; Geotechnical engineering; Human factors; Information processing; Lectures; Probability; Rock mechanics; Soil mechanics; Training; Universities and colleges; Universities and colleges
• Uncontrolled Terms: Site investigation
• Old TRIS Terms: Course (Lecture)
• ITRD Terms: 3628: Construction site; 9011: Design (overall design); 8673: Digital computer; 2284: Education; 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 2257: Human factor; 8516: Lecture; 6534: Probability; 5757: Rock mechanics; 5722: Site investigation; 5755: Soil mechanics; 111: University
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Design; Education and Training; Geotechnology; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I41: General Soil Surveys; I43: Rock Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00393289
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 30 1985 12:00AM