Geotechnical engineering is the branch of civil engineering concerned with the

engineering behavior of earth materials. Geotechnical engineering is important in civil

engineering, but also has applications in military, mining, petroleum and other engineering
disciplines that are concerned with construction occurring on the surface or within the ground
Geotechnical engineering uses principles of soil mechanics and rock mechanics to
investigate subsurface conditions and materials; determine the relevant physical/mechanical
and chemical properties of these materials; evaluate stability o natural slopes and man-made
soil deposits; assess risks posed by site conditions; design earthworks and
structure foundations; and monitor site conditions, earthwork and foundation construction.
Geotechnical engineering is the study of the behaviour of soils under the influence of
loading forces and soil-water interactions. This knowledge is applied to the design of
foundations, retaining walls, earth dams, clay liners, and geosynthetics for waste containment.
The goals of geotechnical engineers could range from the design of foundations and
temporary excavation support, through route selection for railways and highways, to the
increasingly important areas of landfill disposal of wastes and groundwater
contamination. As such, the geotechnical engineer is involved in field and laboratory
investigations to determine the engineering properties of site soils and other geomaterials
and their subsequent use in the analytical study of the problem at hand.
In recent years, the activities of geotechnical engineers have also involved
geoenvironmental engineering. Geoenvironmental engineers design strategies for the clean -
up of contaminated soils and groundwater and develop management systems for
contaminated sites. Employment opportunities include geotechnical and engineering
consultants, public utilities, governmental agencies, environmental agencies, specialized
contractors and resource industry companies
A typical geotechnical engineering project begins with a review of project needs to
define the required material properties. Then follows a site investigation of soil, rock, fault
distribution and bedrock properties on and below an area of interest to determine their
engineering properties including how they will interact with, on or in a
proposed construction. Site investigations are needed to gain an understanding of the area in or
on which the engineering will take place. Investigations can include the assessment of the risk
to humans, property and the environment from natural hazards such
as earthquakes, landslides, sinkholes, soil liquefaction, debris flows and rockfalls.
A geotechnical engineer then determines and designs the type of foundations,
earthworks, and/or pavement subgrades required for the intended man-made structures to be
built. Foundations are designed and constructed for structures of various sizes such as high-
rise buildings, bridges, medium to large commercial buildings, and smaller structures where
the soil conditions do not allow code-based design.
Foundations built for above-ground structures include shallow and deep foundations.
Retaining structures include earth-filled dams and retaining walls. Earthworks
include embankments, tunnels, dikes and levees, channels, reservoirs, deposition of hazardous
waste and sanitary landfills. Geotechnical engineers are extensively involved in earthen and
concrete dam projects, evaluating the subsurface conditions at the dam site and the side slopes
of the reservoir, the seepage conditions under and around the dam and the stability of the dam
under a range of normal and extreme loading conditions.
Geotechnical engineering is also related to coastal and ocean engineering. Coastal
engineering can involve the design and construction of wharves, marinas, and jetties. Ocean
engineering can involve foundation and anchor systems for offshore structures such as oil
platforms.
The fields of geotechnical engineering and engineering geology are closely related, and
have large areas of overlap. However, the field of geotechnical engineering is a specialty
of engineering, where the field of engineering geology is a specialty of geology. Coming from
the fields of engineering and science, respectively, the two may approach the same subject,
such as soil classification, with different methods.

Practicing engineers
Geotechnical engineers are typically graduates of a four-year civil engineering program
and some hold a masters degree.

Soil Mechanics
In geotechnical engineering, soils are considered a three-phase material composed of: rock
or mineral particles, water and air. The voids of a soil, the spaces in between mineral particles,
contain the water and air.
The engineering properties of soils are affected by four main factors: the predominant size of
the mineral particles, the type of mineral particles, the grain size distribution, and the relative
quantities of mineral, water and air present in the soil matrix. Fine particles (fines) are defined
as particles less than 0.075 mm in diameter.

Specific weight or Unit Weight

Porosity
Void ratio