CIVL2102 Engineering Geology and

Rock Mechanics
Dr Sérgio D.N. Lourenço & Prof Jun Yang
Venue and time
 1st part – Engineering Geology: Dr Sérgio D.N. Lourenço
(7 weeks)
 2nd part – Rock Mechanics: Professor Jun Yang (7 weeks)

 Monday – 14:30-15:20
 Thursday – 13:30-15:20
 Venue: MB217
 All lectures f2f
 Videos uploaded into Moodle for the first 2-weeks

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Learning outcomes
1. Describe the main minerals, rock types (metamorphic,
igneous and sedimentary) and surface deposits, the
processes responsible for their formation and occurrence.
2. Outline the geology of Hong Kong, recognize its relevance
to civil engineering and acknowledge ground variability.
3. Interpret geological maps, construct elementary geological
cross-sections and plot stereonets.
4. Understand the fundamentals of stresses and strains in rocks
and the major techniques for measuring in situ stresses.
5. Describe the behaviour and properties of rocks as an
engineering material, including failure and strength of intact
rock, rock discontinuity and rock mass.
6. Apply rock mechanics in engineering practice, including rock
slope stability and stabilization, excavations in rocks, and
rock foundations.

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Content
 Engineering Geology (1st part)
 Hard rock geology: minerals, igneous rocks and
metamorphic rocks, structural geology
 The sedimentary system: sedimentary rocks, depositional
environments, principles of stratigraphy
 Weathering: processes, material grades
 Geology of Hong Kong
 Geological maps & cross-sections
 Rock masses, discontinuities and stereonets
 Geological controls of engineering works

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Content
 Rock Mechanics (2nd part)
 Fundamentals of stresses and strains and their relations
 In-situ stresses in rocks and measurements
 Laboratory testing techniques for rocks
 Failure of intact rock, rock discontinuity and rock mass;
strength theory
 Rock slopes and stabilisation
 Excavations in rocks, rock foundations

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 Assessment

Assessment Type Percentage of Total Description

Assessment (%)
Continuous 10 (1) Assignments, (2) fieldtrip report
Assessment

Practical work 20 (1) Mineral and Rock Laboratory

identifications; (2) Geological field
trip; rock mechanics tests.
Written 70 3-hour written examination
Examination

A pass mark is needed for each assessment type

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Assessment
 Continuous assessment (10%)
 Engineering Geology Personal and Protective Equipment
1) Each student has to bring and wear
1. Fieldtrip + fieldtrip report his/her own safety footwear for all site visits
 Rock Mechanics 2) At the gathering point, each student must
be checked to make sure that he/she wears
1. Assignment 1
safety shoes.
2. Assignment 2 3) Those students who do not do so shall be
turned away and NOT allowed to join the
site visit.
4) For a compulsory site visit, they shall in
turn receive zero marks for this part of the
assessment.
5) No makeup site visit shall be arranged for
them.

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Assessment - Fieldtrip

8 Likely dates: March 05 & 12, 2022

Assessment
 Fieldtrip

9 Likely dates: March 05 & 12, 2022

Assessment
 Practical work (20%)
 Engineering Geology
1. Identification of mineral specimens & weathering grades +
2. Identification of rock specimens & orientation of planes (report 1)
3. Venue: Laboratory HW LG4
4. Time: 9:30-12:30 (check Moodle)
5. Groups of 8 students (check Moodle)
 Rock Mechanics
1. Uniaxial compressive strength +
2. Brazilian test (report 2)
3. Venue: Laboratory HW LG4
4. Time: 9:30-12:30 (check Moodle)
5. Groups of 8 students (check Moodle)

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Assessment
 Examination (70%)
 Two parts
 Engineering Geology 50%
 Rock Mechanics 50%
 3 hours
 Sit-in exam, closed-book

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Engineering Geology
 What is it?
 Investigation, study and solutions of
problems that arise from the interaction
between geology and man’s activities

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Engineering Geology
 What is it?
 Application of geology to engineering
practice

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Engineering Geology
 Subject at the interface of geology and
civil engineering:
 a) Transport
 Bridges and waterways

14 bridges waterways
Engineering Geology
 Subject at the interface of geology and
civil engineering:
 a) Transport
 Tunnels, railways and roads

15 railways roads
Engineering Geology
 Subject at the interface of geology and
civil engineering:
 b) Water supply
 Dams and pipelines

16 Glen Canyon dam

Engineering Geology
 Subject at the interface of geology and
civil engineering:
 c) Waste disposal
 Landfills, nuclear waste storage nuclear

landfill

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Engineering Geology
 Subject at the interface of geology and
civil engineering:
 d) Urban development
 Office buildings, warehouses, housing

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Engineering Geology
 Subject at the interface of geology and civil engineering:
 ENGINEERING GEOLOGY: draws heavily on structural
geology, petrology, sedimentology, geomorphology
 Associated fields:
 soil mechanics
 rock mechanics
 hydrogeology
 applied geophysics
 spatial characterization dyke
fault

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Engineering Geology
 What do Engineering Geologists do?
 Ground investigation
 Dam & bridge foundation design
 Tunnel & road design
 Mining & quarrying
 Assessment of contaminated land
 Remediation of old mine workings
 Geophysical surveying/remote sensing/GIS

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Engineering Geology
 THIS COURSE:
 Will it make you an engineering geologist?
 No. You’ll need to follow an MSc.
 What will you learn?
 the language of the geologist
 some basic geology concepts
 how basic geology knowledge is applied in civil engineering

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Engineering Geology
 Most engineering geologists have degrees in Geology or
Civil Engineering
 GEOLOGISTS: prefer to solve a problem intuitively,
indirectly and qualitatively, often preferring the problem
to the results. Complexities emphasized. Reluctant to
simplify the problem. Trained to entertain alternative
hypotheses.

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Engineering Geology
 Most engineering geologists have degrees in Geology or
Civil Engineering
 ENGINEERS: trained to be analytical. Rely on numerical
data. Want to simplify in order to get numerical results.

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Engineering Geology
 GEOLOGIST:  ENGINEER:
 “thick bedded, cross-  “sandstone, strong,
bedded micaceous permeable, 2 sets of
sediments. Deltaic discontinuities”
environment, easterly
current directions, plant
remains, scour structures.
Well jointed, with cleavage
is finer-grained material.
Thin conglomerate lenses,
etc, etc.”

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Engineering Geology
 ENGINEERING GEOLOGIST:
 Is able to translate traditional geological information into
the language used by engineer. Boils down complexities
into simpler model of reality, emphasising relevant aspects
for engineer.
 Must know geological and engineering terminology.

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Lectures plan
FUNDAMENTALS
 16/01/23 M: Introduction to engineering geology;
 19/01/23: Th: Plate tectonics; minerals
 30/01/23 M: Igneous rocks
 02/02/23 Th: Formation of sedimentary rocks, sedimentary rocks; stratigraphy
 06/02/23 M: Structural geology
 09/02/23 Th: Metamorphic rocks; HK geology
 13/02/23 M: Weathering
METHODS
 16/02/23 Th: Geological maps & cross-sections
 20/02/23 M: Geological maps & cross-sections
 23/02/23 Th: Rock masses, discontinuities & stereonets
APPLICATIONS
 27/02/23 M: Geology for engineering
 02/03/23 M: Geology for engineering

 Fieldtrip dates: 04/03/23 & 11/03/23 (tentative)

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Reading

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Download from HKUL
Reading

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Download from HKUL
Reading

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Download from HKUL
Plagiarism
 Students caught will be referred to the disciplinary
committee

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Next lecture
 FUNDAMENTALS: Plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanism

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