Download COVENANT UNIVERSITY Course Compact 2014/2015 Session

COVENANT UNIVERSITY
Course Compact 2014/2015 Session.
College:
CST
Department:
Building Technology
Course code:
BLD 324
Course title:
Building Material Science
Units:
2 units
Course Lecturer:
Mr. O. Joshua
Semester:
Omega
Time:
Monday, 12-2pm
Location:
CST, Hall 313
A. Course Overview
Building Material Science basically concerns generally
 Soil mechanics which looks at the general behavior of soil under the action of
stresses. It looks at the alteration of the soil properties under the influence of
water.
 It looks at the various soil properties and how these properties are affected by
stresses. Also looks at how these properties are used to classify the soils.
 Discusses consolidation and settlements and how to predict the depth of
consolidation due to given stress conditions.
 Discusses soil bearing capacity failures by analyzing how much load a particular soil
can hold effectively.
 And finally looks at types and forms lateral earth pressure and possibly design a
retaining wall.
B. Course Objectives
At the end of this course, students are expected to:
 Understand how soil is formed, transmission of properties from the parent material
to the soil, the various soil classifications and their responses to stress.
 Understand the various soil properties and how to measure them using
mathematical tool.
 How to utilize these properties like gradation, Atterbergs limits and others to
classify the soil using the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS).
 Understand the Odometer test and the deformation types on soils to help identify
the nature of consolidation (normal, over or under consolidation) of the soil. How
to use mathematical soil stress relations to ascertain the nature of consolidation.
 Prediction of the depth of consolidation settlement on loaded soils.


Definition and basic theories of soil bearing capacities. Determination of soil
bearing capacity and the maximum loads a soil can hold using the Terzaghi soil
capacity formulae. Mention some relationships between the soil classification and
bearing capacity by Terzaghi.
Understand what retaining wall is and it’s various types and applications.
Calculating lateral earth pressure using the Rankine and Coulomb’s lateral earth
pressure theories. Possibly learn to design for a simple cantilever soil retaining wall.
C. Method of Teaching/Teaching Aids.
 The use of marker boards for detailed explanation and lecture notes mostly in soft
copies and power point lecture slides.
 Practical sessions in the laboratory to learn how to determine soil characteristics
like gradation and atterbergs limits via laboratory procedures.
D. Course Outlines.
Mode 1.
Week 1:
General introduction of the course and what the students are expected to
know at the end of the course.
Week 2-3:
Mode 2.
Week 4-5:
Discuss soil formation, constituents of soil and its idealization to
determining its characteristics like density, unit weight, void ratio, porosity,
bulk and dry densities, degree of saturation and specific gravity.
Discuss soil classification using characteristics like the gradation, Atterbergs
limits, Casagrande’s plasticity chat to classify soils using the Unified Soil
Classification system (USCS). Definition of terms in stresses in soil and
general introduction to effective and pore water stresses in soils.
Week 6-7:
Discuss consolidation and settlements in soils. Understand Odometer tests
and its implication in determining the state of consolidation (Norma, over or
under consolidation). Determine the depth of consolidation settlement on
proposed loaded soil profile.
Week 8:
Discuss the definition of soil bearing capacity and types of general-bearing
capacity failures in soils. Determine soil bearing capacity and maximum
stress a soil can bear without failing using the Terzaghi soil bearing capacity
formular.
Week 9-10:
Discuss the various types of retaining walls and their applications. Discuss
lateral earth pressure and its theories postulated by Rankin and Coulomb.
Using the formula in these theories to determine the lateral earth pressure
on a given wall and how to design for cantilever walls to be subjected to
lateral pressure.
Week 11:
Contingency week, i.e., unforeseen circumstances that might tamper with
previous lecture periods, this will serve as the week to tidy up uncovered
areas of the course. For example, public holidays, lecture free days due to
university events like college weeks, public lectures and founder’s day.
Week 12:
Tutorials and revision.
E. Tutorials.
To solve past questions alongside lecture deliveries.
F. Grading Methods
Continuous Assessment:
Final Exam:
30%
70%
G. Ground Rules
 Prompt submission of assignments.
 Zero tolerance to lateness to lectures.
 Enforce hanging of Identifications cards and compliance to dressing codes.
H. Topic for Term Paper/Assignment.
 Discuss the modes of higher applications of retaining walls like in coffer dams.
 Basically, definition of terms.
I. Alignment with Covenant University core-values, visions and goals.
Fully aligned
J. Relevance to the Industry
Course relevant in the effective execution and supervision of soil surveys prior to
construction and other related activities that loads the soil.
K. Recommended Reading:
 Foundation Design, Principles and Practice by Donald P. Coduto.
 An Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering by Roberts D. Holtz and William D.
Kovacs.