G5- Geotechnical Engineering Flashcards
- The understanding of geotechnical engineering began early in the
18th Century
Father of Modern Soil Mechanics
Karl Terzaghi
- The application of soil and rock mechanics principles to the development of infrastructures.
geotechnical engineering
Two Scientific Specialisms of Geotechnical Engineering:
- Geotechnics
- Engineering Geology
the application of geological, geophysical and hydrological scientific principles.
Geotechnics
the application of geological knowledge and techniques to enhance engineering projects
Engineering Geology
These are branch of geotechnical Engineering:
- Soil Mechanics
- Rock Mechanics
- Foundation Engineering
the engineering mechanics and properties of soil.
Soil mechanics
the engineering mechanics and properties of rocks.
Rock Mechanics
applies geology, soil mechanics and structural engineering to the design and structures of foundations for civil engineering and other structures.
Foundation Engineering
Geotechnical engineering can be matched by the following:
- Earthquake Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Hydraulics Engineering
- Known as ground investigations
- Involves sampling and testing physical properties of soil and rocks.
geotechnical surveys
Critical Factors Assessed by geotechnical surveys
- Consistency
- Structure
- Strength
- Drainage Properties
whether the soil is hard and soft.
consistency
the arrangement and layers of soil and rocks.
structure
how much weight the soil can support
Strength
how well water moves through the soil
drainage properties
Types of Geotechnical Testing:
- Consolidating Testing
- Triaxial Testing
- Direct Shear Testing
- Permeability Testing
- California Bearing Ratio Testing
- Plate Load test
determine how much and how fast soil compresses under pressure. Predicting soil settlement over time.Consolidating Testing
Consolidating Testing
measures the mechanical properties of soil, rock or granual materials.
Triaxial Testing
determine how soil and rocks respond to shear stress. Resistance to deformation.
Direct Shear Testing
assessing the permeability of earth materials. Key elements of the stability of earth structures.
permeability testing
Types of permeability testing
The falling head test and the constant head test
Falling head test
measures fine-grained soils
