CIVIL ENGINEERING ORIENTATION LECTURE - Rock Mechanics (rock stability and
tunneling) is the study of mechanics applied
LESSON NO. 4: GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
to rock and rock masses.
INTRODUCTION - Soil Dynamics (dynamic properties of soils,
earthquake engineering) engineering field
• GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
that deals with the response of soils
- is the branch of engineering concerned with
subjected to time-dependent (dynamic)
the analysis, design and construction of
loads.
foundations, slopes, retaining structures,
- The behavior of soil under a dynamic load is
embankments, tunnels, levees, wharves,
critical for any building constructed on top
landfills, and other systems that are made of
of the ground.
or are supported by soil or rock.
- Pavement Engineering (flexible and rigid
• Geotechnology plays a key role in all civil
pavements) uses engineering techniques to
engineering projects built on or in the ground,
design and maintain flexible (asphalt) and
and it is vital for the assessment of natural
rigid (concrete) pavements.
hazards such as earthquakes, liquefaction,
- Geosynthetics are man-made materials used
sinkholes, rock falls and landslides.
to improve soil conditions (Geo = earth or
WHAT IS GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING? soil + synthetics = man-made) “plastics
materials”
• From a scientific perspective, geotechnical
engineering largely involves defining the soil's GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING APPLICATION IN
strength and deformation properties. Clay, silt, PRACTICE
sand, rock, and snow are important materials in ✓ Soil sampling
geotechnics. ✓ Investigating geomaterials properties
• Geotechnical engineering includes specialist ✓ Controlling groundwater level and flow as well
fields such as soil and rock mechanics, as environmental and hydrological interactions.
geophysics, hydrogeology, and associated ✓ Foundation engineering excavations and
disciplines such as geology. supporting ground structures-Underground
• Geotechnical engineering and engineering structures
geology are a branch of civil engineering. ✓ Dams
• According to Karl Terzaghi the father of ✓ Natural or artificial fills
Geotechnical Engineering, GE is often used ✓ Roads and airports
interchangeably with Soil Mechanics, wherein ✓ Subgrades and ground structures
soil mechanics is the study of the properties of ✓ Slope stability assessments
soils that are related to their behavior, and
applications as materials used in engineering. • Despite notable progress in geotechnical
• Soil mechanics is to analyze the deformations of engineering, many solutions are still
and flow of fluids within natural and man-made approximate, which is mainly due to the natural
structures that are supported on or made of soil, inherent inhomogeneity of soils and dominant
or structures that are buried in soils. environmental conditions.
• Example applications are building and bridge • It is necessary to have comprehensive
foundations, retaining walls, dams, and buried understanding of natural soil deposits,
pipeline systems. environment interactions, and response to local
• Geotechnical Engineering also includes: conditions to allow more accurate predictions of
- Foundation Engineering (deep and geomaterials engineering performance and
foundations) engineering field of study behavior in project.
devoted to the design of structures which
support other structures, it has distinct
focus on soil-structure interaction.
tunneling) is the study of mechanics applied
LESSON NO. 4: GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
to rock and rock masses.
INTRODUCTION - Soil Dynamics (dynamic properties of soils,
earthquake engineering) engineering field
• GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
that deals with the response of soils
- is the branch of engineering concerned with
subjected to time-dependent (dynamic)
the analysis, design and construction of
loads.
foundations, slopes, retaining structures,
- The behavior of soil under a dynamic load is
embankments, tunnels, levees, wharves,
critical for any building constructed on top
landfills, and other systems that are made of
of the ground.
or are supported by soil or rock.
- Pavement Engineering (flexible and rigid
• Geotechnology plays a key role in all civil
pavements) uses engineering techniques to
engineering projects built on or in the ground,
design and maintain flexible (asphalt) and
and it is vital for the assessment of natural
rigid (concrete) pavements.
hazards such as earthquakes, liquefaction,
- Geosynthetics are man-made materials used
sinkholes, rock falls and landslides.
to improve soil conditions (Geo = earth or
WHAT IS GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING? soil + synthetics = man-made) “plastics
materials”
• From a scientific perspective, geotechnical
engineering largely involves defining the soil's GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING APPLICATION IN
strength and deformation properties. Clay, silt, PRACTICE
sand, rock, and snow are important materials in ✓ Soil sampling
geotechnics. ✓ Investigating geomaterials properties
• Geotechnical engineering includes specialist ✓ Controlling groundwater level and flow as well
fields such as soil and rock mechanics, as environmental and hydrological interactions.
geophysics, hydrogeology, and associated ✓ Foundation engineering excavations and
disciplines such as geology. supporting ground structures-Underground
• Geotechnical engineering and engineering structures
geology are a branch of civil engineering. ✓ Dams
• According to Karl Terzaghi the father of ✓ Natural or artificial fills
Geotechnical Engineering, GE is often used ✓ Roads and airports
interchangeably with Soil Mechanics, wherein ✓ Subgrades and ground structures
soil mechanics is the study of the properties of ✓ Slope stability assessments
soils that are related to their behavior, and
applications as materials used in engineering. • Despite notable progress in geotechnical
• Soil mechanics is to analyze the deformations of engineering, many solutions are still
and flow of fluids within natural and man-made approximate, which is mainly due to the natural
structures that are supported on or made of soil, inherent inhomogeneity of soils and dominant
or structures that are buried in soils. environmental conditions.
• Example applications are building and bridge • It is necessary to have comprehensive
foundations, retaining walls, dams, and buried understanding of natural soil deposits,
pipeline systems. environment interactions, and response to local
• Geotechnical Engineering also includes: conditions to allow more accurate predictions of
- Foundation Engineering (deep and geomaterials engineering performance and
foundations) engineering field of study behavior in project.
devoted to the design of structures which
support other structures, it has distinct
focus on soil-structure interaction.
