MINING 7112 - Advanced Mine Geotechnical Engineering

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2019

The aim of this course is to introduce students to the principles of data analysing to determine required design data for slope stability and underground excavations analyses. In this course students should be able to study stability condition of an open cut and an underground mine and design pit walls and support measures. Students work in groups on a geotechnical study and design project under the supervisions of an academic staff member.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code MINING 7112
    Course Advanced Mine Geotechnical Engineering
    Coordinating Unit School of Civil, Environmental & Mining Eng
    Term Semester 2
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 4 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Course Description The aim of this course is to introduce students to the principles of data analysing to determine required design data for slope stability and underground excavations analyses. In this course students should be able to study stability condition of an open cut and an underground mine and design pit walls and support measures. Students work in groups on a geotechnical study and design project under the supervisions of an academic staff member.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Abbas Taheri

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

     
    1 Analyse lab and field testing data;
    2 Complete rock mass characterization and classification;
    3 Calculate rock mass strength and deformability and Joints and bedding and faults strength;
    4 Complete structural modelling of rock mass;
    5 Complete structurally-controlled and non-strocturally controlled failures analyses; 
    6 Design of excavations using empirical, analytical and numerical methods;
    7 Complete back-analysis of failures and interpret design data;
    8 Demonstrate a sound engineering judgment to design underground openings and interpret the results;
    9 Demonstrate team skills in the management of a project work;
    10 Demonstrate advanced written and oral communication skills.

     
    The above course learning outcomes are aligned with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standard for the Professional Engineer.
    The course is designed to develop the following Elements of Competency:

    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    2-7
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1-8
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    1-10
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    3-8
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    9
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    9-10
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Lecture materials: PowerPoint slides, video, relevant scientific and technical papers (Lectures notes will be provided and these will be available on MyUni);
    Microsoft Office;
    Computer Laboratory;
    Necessary geotechnical/rock mechanics software.

    Recommended Resources
    1. Bieniawski, Z. T. 1989. Engineering Rock Mass Classification. John Wiley & Sons.
    2. Brady, B. H. G. and Brown, E. T. 2004. Rock mechanics for underground mining. 3rd Edition, Kluwer Academics Publishers.
    3. Hoek, E., Kaiser, P.K. and Bawden, W. F. 2005. Support of underground excavations in hard rock, A. A. Balkema Publishers.
    4. Hoek, E. 2007. Practical rock engineering, 2nd ed. Rocscience Inc.
    5. Read, J. Stacey, P. (Ed.) 2009. Guidelines for open pit slope design. A. A. Balkema Publishers.
    6. Taheri, A. 2012. Design of Rock Slopes Using Classification Systems. Published in “Advances in Engineering Research, Volume 2” Nova Science Publishers, Inc. pp.453-488. 
    7. Wyllie, D. C. and Mah, C. W. 2004. Rock Slope Engineering: Civil and Mining. Spon Press, Tylor and Francis Group.
    8. MEA Mining Geomechanics Course Learning Guide
    9. MEA Mine Geotechnical Engineering Course Learning Guide
    10. MEA Report Writing Guide

    Online Learning
    All required learning resources and course information will be made available on MyUni.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    1. Project-based learning: This course utilises project-based learning methods. Students will be given a project to work
    on. Students are required to work in groups, share the project workload, have weekly meetings and discussions. A formal progress and final report has to be submitted for each project.

    2. Weekly Lectures: Each week there will be a lecture about each activity. Each lecture include a brief background knowledge
    required for each activity and then instructions to help students to complete the activity.  
     
    3. Tutorial sessions: Project work will be supported with weekly tutorial sessions. 
     
    4. Practical sessions: Each week there will be practical sessions to support students use geotechnical software for their project effectively.



    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.


    Activity                                              Contact Hours                  Independent Study Hours                           Total

    Lectures                                                  
    12                                                    0                                                12

    Tutorials                                                   12                                                   36                                               48

    Practical
                                                       24                                                   24                                               48

    Interviews (x2)
                                           1                                                     10                                               11

    Final Presentation
                                        2                                                     10                                               12

    Final Report
                                                  0                                                     20                                               20

    Total
                                                             51                                                   100                                             151

    Learning Activities Summary

    No information currently available.

  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Weighting (%) Individual/ Group Formative/ Summative
    Due (week)*
    Hurdle criteria Learning outcomes
    Interview 1 10 Group Summative Week 5 1. 2. 3. 4. 9. 10.
    Interview 2 15 Group Summative Week 9 2. 5. 6. 9. 10.
    Final presentation 25 Group Summative Week 12 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
    Final report 50 Group Summative Week 12 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
    Total 100
    * The specific due date for each assessment task will be available on MyUni.
     
    This assessment breakdown is registered as an exemption to the University's Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy. The exemption is related to the Procedures clause(s): 1. a. i    1. a. iii   
     
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Progress Interview 1 and 2:

    As per the course requirement:
    • All the members of the team must be present (0 mark will be awarded to any member of the team who is not present),
    •  Interview will be conducted in the lab or lecture room,
    • Students will be expected to demonstrate ability to use software for the purposes of the design,
    • Students are required to give a one-page write-up on the workload distribution for the project till date.
    Final Presentations:

    Each group needs to provide the Course Convenor a copy of their Final Presentation before the start of the seminar in the morning. All students are required to attend and take part in the presentations for the whole seminar session. Absence from these
    presentations will only be allowed because of medical or extenuating circumstances. This will require documented evidence, e.g. Medical Certificate, etc. The room is equipped with projection facilities and students may use PowerPoint if they wish. However, it is the individual’s responsibility to ensure that the presentation is functioning beforehand.

    Final Report Submission:

    Students need to use the standard School cover sheet, which can be found at:

    http://www.ecms.adelaide.edu.au/civeng/students/docs/assessment_cover_sheet.pdf
     
    Students should post your final report into the ‘Advanced Mine geotechnical Engineering’ box outside the School Office before
    4.00 pm on the specified submission date. 

    Every  member in the group MUST sign the Coversheet. Assignments without the School Assignment Coversheet will NOT be accepted.
     
    Students are advised to retain a copy of every assignment submitted for assessment either as a hardcopy or in electronic form. From time to time assignments are mislaid and a student may be asked to re-submit.


    Assessment Detail
    Further details of each assignment will be provided in lectures and via MyUni well before the due date.
    Submission
    Details of the submission process will also be provided in lectures and via MyUni as part of the information provided relevant to the
    assignments.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.