This is an introductory course on geotechnical mechanics, building off of geology basics from EPSC 221 and stress state analysis from CIVE 207. The course consists of very long lectures, weekly tutorials, and biweekly labs. The evaluation is very exam-heavy taking up around 90% of the total grade, with only around 10% left to lab reports. I had no assignments when I took this course (which is less work but makes studying harder). The exams are curved generously however.

To review: EPSC 221 (tectonic plates, earthquakes, rock types, geologic history), CIVE 202 (sieve analysis), CIVE 207 (stress-strain analysis, Mohr circles), MATH 264 (solving PDEs using separation variables). Introduction to Geotechnical Mechanics: applications of geomechanics in engineering, leaning towers, earth retaining structures, slopes, excavations, dams, influence of chemical reactions in geotechnical mechanics. Origin and Formation of Soils: plate tectonics, earthquakes, seismic moment, case studies, debris flow, weathering processes, soil classifications, particle sizes, sieve analysis, hydrometer analysis, sphericity. Soil Classification Systems and Phase Composition of Soils: particle size distribution, classification systems, phase compositions. Stress States in Geotechni...read more

Very knowledgeable, and tries his best to bond with the students. Lectures can be a bit dry as he mostly just reads from the slides (which are copied from the course pack).

Review tutorial problems since there are no assignments. Collaborate well with your lab group members. The professor outlines which pages of the course pack will be covered in each lecture, so read the pages ahead of time.