Lecture Summary

Lecture 1 (Introduction):
• Geological Engineering is the application of Geology and Engineering to solve design
problems.
• EGBC code of ethics à Engineer and Geoscientist primary responsibility is to ensure the
paramount of safety, health, and welfare of publics; and comply the sustainable development
in performing their duties.
• History of Geological Engineering:
o Ancient times: all about empiricism (trial and error)
o Medieval times: More empiricism (reactive behavior)
o Late 18th Century: Geology as field of science
o Industrial Revolution - 19th Century: Engineers as Geologists
o Modern age - 20th Century:
§ Massive and complex construction projects
§ New perspective of Geological Engineering as a field of study
§ Development of analytical methods
• Source of Uncertainty:
o Geological
o Parameter (spatial variation and lack of data on key parameters)
o Model (gaps in theory to predict or simplify properties)
o Human (subjectivity, error)
• Case study: Mount Polley Tailing Dams (2014) à design didn’t take into account the presence
glaciolacustrine layer that was susceptible to undrained failure.
• Case Study: Fundao Tailing Dam, Brazil (2015) à widespread saturation allowed, introduced
the potential for sand liquefaction.
• Burland Triangle (Soil Mechanics Triangle)
Concerns regarding soil mechanics teaching and practice:
(1) lack of evidence supporting soil mechanics theories and rules (empiricism)
(2) numerous simplifications that overlook crucial factors
(3) insufficient basic knowledge, leading to limited free thinking.

a. Ground Profile
 This aspect emphasizes the necessity of comprehensively understanding ground conditions
through field observation and description. It should be carried out through engineering
description, encompassing the features of geology and paragenesis.
b. Soil Behavior
This aspect underscores the importance of understanding actual soil behavior as particulate
materials. It provides a conceptual understanding of soil responses to various factors,
including effective stress, compressibility, drained and undrained strength, and dilatant and
contractant behavior.
c. Applied Mechanics
This aspect involves the application of principles of mechanics to analyze soil behavior under
various parameters. The analysis includes stress-strain analysis, consolidation, limit analysis,
elasticity, and plasticity. Various method of modeling (numerical, mathematic, etc.) may be
applied in this section.
d. Empiricism
This aspect can be described as the trial-and-error component. Moreover, it involves
calibration and modification based on prior experiences, whether failures or successes (well-
winnoed experience).
Every part plays a crucial role and cannot be eliminated. They mutually support and complement
each other in constructing a reliable and comprehensive soil mechanics analysis.