GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

VEB 2013
INTRODUCTION
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1. Describe the importance of Geotechnical Engineering.

2. Describe problems associating with soils.
WHAT IS GEOTECHNICAL
ENGINEERING?
ELEMENTS OF GEOTECHNICS

1. Engineering Geology

2. Soil Mechanics

3. Rock Mechanics
INTRODUCTION AND EVOLUTION
OF GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
 Soil is the oldest and most complex engineering material.
 Soil was used by our ancestors to build
 Burial sites
 Flood protection
 Shelters
 Roman engineers, especially Vitruvius (first century B.C.
during the reign of Emperor Augustus) paid great attention
to:
i. Soil types (sand, gravel, etc.)
ii. Design and construction of solid foundation
However, the above factors were based on trial and error
method; no theoritical basis for design.
 INTRODUCTION AND EVOLUTION
OF GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
 Coulomb (1773), a French physicist
who is best remembered for his work in
electricity and magnetism is also
credited as the first person to use
mechanics to solve soil problem.
 Coulomb was a member of the French
Royal Engineers interested in protecting
old fortress that fell easily from cannon
fire.
 Coulomb’s failure criterion and method
of analysis still prevail
 INTRODUCTION AND EVOLUTION
OF GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
 The first large scale attempts at geotechnical engineering
occurred in Sweden during the early decades of the 20th century.
The Swedes introduced the word “geotechnical” (Geotekniska, is
Swedish) during this period.
 Wolmar Fellenius was the most prominent ‘soil’ engineer during
that time in Sweden and his method of slope stability analysis is
still being used today.
 In the 20th century, rapid growth of cities, industry and
construction of skyscrapers, dams, tunnels, roads, ports and
harbours facilities, airports, towers etc. which requires stable and
yet economical foundations gave rise to new questions about soil.
INTRODUCTION AND EVOLUTION
OF GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

 In 1925, publication of Erdbaumechanik auf

Bodenphysikalischer Grundlage (German for The Mechanics
of Earth Construction Based on Soil Physics) gave birth of
geotechnical engineering by Karl Terzaghi (1883-1963), the
undisputed father of soil mechanics.
 Erdbaumechanik laid the foundation for soil mechanics
which deals with the fundamental principles of soil
mechanics on which more advanced studies are bases.
ROLE OF GEOTECHNICAL
ENGINEERS
TO AN ENGINEER: SOIL IS A MATERIAL THAT
CAN BE..

 Built on – building, roads etc.

 Built in – tunnels, bunker etc.
 Built with – embankments, dams, dykes
etc
 ENGINEERS STUDY SOIL BECAUSE IT’S A…

 Support for structure, etc…

 construction material to build
embankment, etc…
 foundation for roads etc…
 fill material etc…
ENGINEERS

 Primarily interested in mechanical properties of soils: e.g:

depends on nature of soil grains, current stress, water content
and unit weight, etc.
TYPICAL GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION
GEOTECHNICAL PROBLEMS

 Landslide
 Settlement of soil
 Foundation-related problems
 Underground constructions – tunnel
 Dam construction
 Retaining walls
 Soil-bearing capacity
GEOTECHNICAL PROBLEMS
GEOTECHNICAL PROBLEMS
GEOTECHNICAL PROBLEMS

Huzhu Pagoda (leaning Tower of China)

• Tower body was leaning seriously to the

southeast, about 2.27 meters from its
axle.
• The gradient has reached nearly 7
degrees now, even greater than that of
the Pisa Tower.
GEOTECHNICAL PROBLEMS
GEOTECHNICAL PROBLEMS
GEOTECHNICAL PROBLEMS
GEOTECHNICAL PROBLEMS
GEOTECHNICAL PROBLEMS
GEOTECHNICAL PROBLEMS

Inadequate
foundations in
muddy soils
below sea level
caused these
houses in the
Netherlands to
subside.
GEOTECHNICAL PROBLEMS

House on
soil that
contain
clays that
swell
when they
become
wet and
shrink
when they
dry.
GEOTECHNICAL PROBLEMS

Landslide Earthquake
SLOPE STABILITY
GEOTECHNICAL PROBLEMS
GEOTECHNICAL PROBLEMS
GEOTECHNICAL PROBLEMS
GEOTECHNICAL PROBLEMS
Slope Stability

collapsed
tower

Highland Tower Tragedy

SLOPE STABILITY
 Slope Stability

Nov 2008 - slope failure at Ulu Yam Selangor with 2 casualties

Slope Stability

Dec 2008 – 20 meter

slope failure at CIMB
Group building at Jalan
Semantan, Damansara
Slope Stability

Dec 2008 – 20 meter

slope failure at CIMB
Group building at Jalan
Semantan, Damansara
Slope Stability

Dec 2008, Taman Bukit

Mewah, Hulu Klang close
to Bukit Antarabangsa.
Four casualties, 14
bungalows destroyed
Slope Stability

Slope failure at
Taman Bukit
Mewah
 Slope Stability

Slope Erosion near Taman

Bukit Segar Jaya, Cheras – an
early sign of an impending May 2011-Landslides at Madrasah At-
slope failure Taqwa in Hulu Langat Selangor
causing 16 casualties
GEOTECHNICAL PROBLEMS
 SOIL AS AN ENGINEERING MATERIAL

 Soil meant different thing to different group of

people
 Geologist
 Geotechnical engineer
 Farmer
SOIL AS AN ENGINEERING MATERIAL
E.G: THE
FLORIDA SOIL
E.G.: FOREST SOIL IN FLORIDA
TO AN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER

 Sand
 Clay
 Sandy soil
 Sandy Clay
 Elastic Clay
 Silt
 Bedrock