Geological Sciences 376

Engineering Geology

Fall 2006

Dr. John H. Foster

Phone 714-278-7096; email: jfoster@fullerton.edu

Office: MH 204

Office Hours: TR 1-2; R 3-5

Classroom: MH-212

Class Meetings: TR 2-3 and T 2-5

Books: Rahn, Perry (1996), “Engineering Geology”; Lab Exercises from Johnson and DeGraff (J&D) and Pipkin and Cummings (P&C) provided.

This course is designed for the geology and engineering major who wants to apply his or her knowledge to the practical design and investigation of geologic hazards and construction projects. In the course, the Principles of Geology are used in conjunction with engineering and mathematical operations to identify rock strength properties related to building design and land use concerns. The student should be familiar with basic elements of mineral and rock properties as well as geologic structures and should have some experience in field methods. In the course, we will learn how to describe rock properties relative to engineering terminology and use; we will evaluate seismic shaking and response of rocks and soil; we will learn the terminology and design criteria for the analysis and mitigation of landslides; and we will learn the properties of soils that create hazards and how to design for these hazards; and finally we learn investigative techniques and how to use technology to better understand rock and soil hazard properties.

GRADES:

Your grade will be based on field trips, a report, two exams, problem sets and labs. The exams are worth 100 points each; each lab is worth 25 points; two field trips, each worth 25 points; and 10 problem sets worth 10 points each. There is no make up option for a missed field trip. In addition, I will assign a report for each of you due on December 1. Lateness will result in a diminished grade (10% off) and reports more than one day late will not be accepted. The report will be 10 pages on a topic selected by you and me during an office hour session. The report will be worth 100 points. The total Number of points possible in the class is 750. Grading will be by percent of score possible and will comply with University +/- grading in the following manner:

Grade: 100 – 98% = A+; 97 – 93% = A; 90 – 92% = A-; 89 – 88% = B+; 87 – 83% = B; 82 – 80% = B-; 79 – 78% = C+; 77 – 73% = C; 72 – 70% = C-; 69 – 68% = D+; 67 – 63% = D; 62 – 60% = D-; 59 – 0% = F

SCHEDULE:

The class will be conducted as two hours a week lectures and 3 hours a week for labs as shown below. Labs are due as assigned but generally will be due by the end of lab time the next period. If late, by one week or less, I will deduct 10% from the grade and I will not accept labs handed in later than a week after the assigned due date. See the schedule below.

COURSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:

You will learn a lot in this class that is directly applicable to a career in environmental or engineering geology and which will prepare you for the exams you must pass to become a certified or registered professional in many states. Many resources will be introduced to you and many techniques you have never used so please be prepared to put forth an effort commensurate with the class level. In particular you will learn how to use air photos to make maps, how to construct valid cross sections, how hillside grading is done and the standards that apply to it; newest methods of landslide and earthquake analysis as well as techniques for rock and soil analysis for both lab and field situations. We will consider the use of geophysical techniques and instrumentation and we will learn to map a trench and to log soil and rock.

Remember, Engineering Geology is the application of the Principles of Geology to engineered structures. An engineering geologist is a geologist first and foremost; one who is capable of interpreting field conditions quickly and reliably and translating them into language understandable by other scientists and engineers and often the public in general. To do that effectively though, you must first be able to decipher the subsurface conditions in such a way that you completely understand them.

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES, READINGS AND LABS

Dates		Readings	Topic/Lab/Activity
Week 1	August 22 & 24		Introduction
Week 2	August 29 & 31	Ch 1	Rock Strength Lab1: J&D Ex 1
Week 3	September 5 &7	Ch 4	Rock Mechanics Lab 2: J&D Ex 2&3
	Saturday September 9	7:30 AM-5:00 PM	Rock and Soil Field Trip
Week 4	September 12 & 14	Ch 5	Soil Mechanics Lab 3: J&D Ex 10 & 11
Week 5	Tuesday, September 19		No class
	Thursday, September 21		Continue with Rock and Soil Mechanics Lab 4: J&D Ex 12&13
Week 6	September 26 & 28	Ch 2	Maps and Remote Sensing Lab 5: J&D Ex 17 & 18
Week 7	October 3 & 5	Ch 3	Shallow alluvial geology and cross sections Lab 6: P&C Ch 2&3
Week 8	October 10 October 12	Mid-Term Exam	Field Sampling and Testing Lab7: J&D Ex 6-8
Week 9	October 17 & 19		Reports and Data Analysis Lab 8: J&D Ex 9
	Saturday October 21	7:30 AM-5:00 PM	Field Trip to Construction Site
Week 10	October 24 & 26	Ch 6	Mass Wasting Lab11: J&D Ex 16
Week 11	October 31	Ch 8	Floods Lab 10: P&C Ch 9
	November 2		No Class
Week 12	November 7 & 9	Ch 10	Coastal Processes Lab 11: P&C Ch 11
Week 13	November 14 & 16	Ch 11	Faulting and Seismicity Lab 12: P&C Ch 4-6
Week 14	November 21 & 23		Thanksgiving Week
Week 15	November 28 & 30		Faulting and Seismicity Cont
Week 16	December 5 December 7	Ch 14	No Class Design with Nature
Week 17	December 14	2:30-4:20	Final Exam Period