DEEP FOUNDATIONS AND EARTH RETAINING STRUCTURES - 2025/6
Module code: ENGM272
Module Overview
Civil engineers are often called on to design systems that will support large structures at depth or steep / vertical faces in soil. The former case will normally require large foundations, sometimes at depth whereas the latter may require an earth-retaining structure of some kind. Ground modifications techniques are often employed to improve the physical properties of ground before construction begins. This module applies the basic principles of soil mechanics to the safe and sustainable design of large foundations and earth-retaining structures.
It is expected that students taking this module have a background knowledge of soil mechanics and structural mechanics to the level of final year Bachelor of Engineering..
Module provider
Sustainability, Civil & Env Engineering
Module Leader
BHATTACHARYA Suby (Sust & CEE)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 7
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Independent Learning Hours: 98
Seminar Hours: 16
Tutorial Hours: 6
Guided Learning: 10
Captured Content: 20
Module Availability
Semester 2
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
None
Module content
Indicative content includes:
- Overview of foundation design
Flow chart and basic ingredients for foundation design, summary of soil parameters and soil testing required, engineering correlations for obtaining soil parameters
- Design of shallow foundations (carrying moments) and deep foundations
Bearing capacity for shallow foundations with large moments, types of pile foundations and the method of construction, Bridge foundations and design considerations under special conditions (seismic areas), geotechnical bearing capacity of piles (shaft resistance and end bearing using API Code), Structural capacity of piles, Eurocode provisions, settlement calculations, analysis of laterally loaded piles (p-y, t-z, q-z), Stiffness of piles and caissons, Analysis of caissons supporting bridges
- Earth-Retaining Structures
Limit states for design, General Wall selection (sheet pile, secant piles, contiguous piles, diaphragm wall), Practical design issues, Case histories
- Ground Improvement:
Requirements for ground improvement, ground improvement techniques widely used in practice: principles on each type of ground improvement methods and their suitability, case studies on ground improvement methods.
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | COURSEWORK | 40 |
| Examination | OPEN BOOK Examination (2-HOUR) | 60 |
Alternative Assessment
N/A
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate
· Knowledge and understanding of the principles of deep foundation and earth-retaining structure design (LOs 1-5) – assessed through a 2-hour unseen examination.
· The ability to solve open-ended design problems using real data (LOs 3, 5) - assessed through coursework assignments.
Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:
· Foundation design coursework
· Examination
Formative assessment and feedback
Feedback will be given on both coursework assignments, in the form of generic comments through SurreyLearn and more detailed and individualised feedback given on the marked assignments within the time allowed for marking coursework. Formative assessment will be through solving problems in class (and getting feedback on the correct solution there and then) and also through tackling tutorial sheets – for which feedback takes the form of full worked solutions posted on SurreyLearn after the student has had an opportunity to try the problems for him/herself.
Module aims
- understanding the overview of foundation design through the use of generic flowchart and the required basic ingredients
- understanding of the failure mechanisms for foundations and earth-retaining structures through Limit States
- ability to carry out analysis and design of foundations (deep foundations for complex applications, shallow foundations with large moments) using different codes of practices.
- understanding of some fundamental design issues through case studies and assignment work
- understanding of some design and analysis issues for foundations (to provide an appreciation of the issues related to foundation construction)
- knowledge and understanding of design and the need for site investigation
- an overview and broader understanding of ground improvement techniques including design methodologies
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
| 001 | Carry out design of deep foundations for major bridges, oil platforms, wind turbines | K |
| 002 | Identify relevant limit states for foundation design | K |
| 003 | Carry out earth pressure calculations for earth retaining structures | KCT |
| 004 | Forensic studies of foundation failures under different conditions | KCPT |
| 005 | Prepare a design basis document for complex foundation design | KCPT |
| 006 | Carry out design of shallow foundation with large overturning moment | KCPT |
| 007 | Select foundation options for a specfic project and compare the advantages and limitations of different types of foundations | KCPT |
| 008 | Select appropriate analysis methods to be used for foundation design | KCPT |
| 009 | Identify appropriate soil testing, and interprete soil testing data to obtain the design parameters. | KCPT |
| 010 | Identify preliminary design requirements for ground improvement methods. | T |
| 011 | Appreciate that changes to a retaining wall or foundation design require a reassessment of risks | P |
| 012 | Independent learning skills | T |
| 013 | Oral & written communication | T |
| 014 | Graphical presentation of data | T |
| 015 | Synthesis of data | T |
| 016 | 3D spatial awareness | T |
| 017 | Use of word processor, spreadsheet, drawings | T |
| 018 | Critical thinking | T |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:
Build on students’ knowledge of geotechnical engineering and help them to apply it to the design and analysis of deep foundations and earth-retaining structures.
The learning and teaching methods include:
- combined lectures/seminars/problem-solving/software demonstration classes
- independent learning (reading, tutorials, using software, coursework assignments, and revision
- a laboratory class
- open book examination
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ENGM272
Other information
Surrey's Curriculum Framework is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills and capabilities in the following areas:
Digital capabilities: Use of industry standard software to analyse problems.
Employability: Back analysis of case studies of failures will allow use of practical data and will enhance employability.
Global: Study of international codes of practice for foundation design will enhance global opportunities.
Programmes this module appears in
| Programme | Semester | Classification | Qualifying conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering MEng | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Advanced Geotechnical Engineering MSc | 2 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Structural Engineering MSc | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Civil Engineering MSc | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Infrastructure Engineering and Management MSc | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Bridge Engineering MSc | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.