Advanced Geotechnical

Engineering (I)

CVEN 6332

Lecture 1
Geotechnical Engineering:
A sub-discipline of civil engineering that involves natural materials found close
to the surface of the earth. Examples include foundation design, and retaining
wall design.
Objectives:
 To learn engineering properties of soils.
 To study methods of analysis to solve geotechnical engineering problems
Soil:
• An un-cemented aggregate of natural grains & decayed organic matter (solid
particles) with liquid and gas in the empty spaces between the solid particles.
• Any unconsolidated materials composed of discrete particles with gases and
liquids in between.
Rock:
Any indurate material that requires blasting
and drilling for excavation.

International of Society of Rock Mechanics:

compressive strength > 160 psi
 Soil Formation
Soils are derived from
1.Rocks through weathering
2.Organic residues of plants & animals
3.Domestic & industrial wastes

Majority ingredients of earth crust (up to 10 miles deep)

O - 47% (by weight)
Si – 28%
Al – 8%
Fe – 4.5%
Ca – 3.5%
Na – 2.5%
K – 2.5%
Mg -2.0%
Others -2.0%
 Weathering
1. Physical Process of weathering – A breakdown of
rocks into smaller particles without a change in
chemical .
(a) Unloading – stress release due to excavation,
tunneling, and erosion.
(b)Thermal expansion and contraction
(c)Crystal growth –
ice crystal volume increase approx. 10%
Arid region : crystallization of saline
(d) Organic Activity
Animal : ants, rats, etc.
Plants : roots
(e) Colloid (< 1u) plucking – contraction of soil
colloids on drying may exert a strong tension to loose
or remove flakes from rock
 Weathering
• 2. Chemical Process of weathering – change in chemical composition may or may not reduce
particle size. Some important chemical processes are:

• (a) Hydrolysis – the chemical breakdown of a compound due to reaction with water; a
reaction involves splitting water molecules into irons and forming acid or basic elements
• H 2O = H+ + OH-
• Fe3O4 + H2O = Fe2O3 + Fe+2 + 2 (OH)- (magnetite) (hematite)

• (b)Hydration – absorption of water

• Fe2O3 + 3 H2O = Fe2O3 . 3 H2O
• (hematite, red) (limonite, yellow)
• The generic formula of limonite is frequently written as FeO(OH)·nH2O, although this is not entirely
accurate as the ratio of oxide to hydroxide can vary quite widely
• (c)Carbonation – the combination of carbonate or bicarbonate irons with earth materials
CO2 + H2O = H2CO3
• (Carbonic acid)

• CaMg(CO3)2 + CO2 + H2O = Ca(HCO3)2 +Mg (HCO3)2

• (dolomitic limestone /dolomite)
 Weathering
• 2. Chemical Process of weathering –
• (d) Oxidation: The combination of a substance
with oxygen. A reaction in which the atoms of an
element lose electrons and the valence of the
element increases
• (e)Reduction: The decreasing of the oxidation
state of an atom. Oxidation is the loss of electrons
by cations, and reduction is the gain of electrons
• (f) Others: cations exchange …
 Factors affecting weathering
• 1. Climate –
– (a) Temperature: high temperature causes intensive weathering
– (b) Moisture: same as temperature
– (c) Vegetation
2. Topography –
Climate, erosion, vegetation
3. Parent rock
4. Time
5. Biological factors – Effects of vegetation and organic compound
6. Others – Wind & water erosion
Scenic Views due to Weathering
Scenic Views due to Weathering
 Soil Deposit

Residual soil deposits:

Soil deposits formed by the weathered products at
their place of origin. An important character: Fine
grained soil at surface and grain size increases.
Soil Deposit: residual soil deposit usually contains certain
sequence of horizons
O) Organic matter: Litter layer of plant residues in relatively undecomposed form.

A) Surface soil: Layer of mineral soil with most organic matter accumulation and 
soil life. This layer eluviates (is depleted of) iron, clay, aluminium, organic
compounds, and other soluble constituents. When eluviation is pronounced, a
lighter coloured "E" subsurface soil horizon is apparent at the base of the "A"
horizon. A-horizons may also be the result of a combination of soil bioturbation and
surface processes that winnow fine particles from biologically mounded topsoil. In
this case, the A-horizon is regarded as a "biomantle".

B) Subsoil: This layer accumulates iron, clay, aluminum and organic compounds, a
process referred to as illuviation. (clay, oxides of aluminum and irons, humus)
C) Parent rock: Layer of large unbroken rocks. This layer may accumulate the more
soluble compounds .(partially weathered)
R) bedrock: R horizons denote the layer of partially weathered bedrock at the base
of the soil profile. Unlike the above layers, R horizons largely comprise continuous
masses (as opposed to boulders) of hard rock that cannot be excavated by hand.
Soils formed in situ will exhibit strong similarities to this bedrock layer.
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_horizon
Transported deposits: River: River or alluvial deposit

Transported by water, via Lake: Lake or lacustrine deposit

Ocean: Ocean or marine deposit

Transported by wind: Wind or Aeolian deposit
Transported by ice or snow: Glacial deposit
Transported by gravity: Colluvium deposit
• Aeolian Deposit: uniform silt size particles;
typically has large void volume; salts produce
good interparticle bond, however they (salts)
maybe dissolved by flowing water.
• Collapsing soil: a soil which undergo large
volume reduction when wet
How to ID collapsing soil?
1. Volume of the undisturbed soil
2. Volume of water at liquid limit
3. If 1 > 2, it is collapsing soil
• Soil Constituents and Basic Properties:
• Solid : minerals, precipitated salts, organics
• Liquid: water and dissolved salt
• Gas: air, O2, N2, CH4, CO2, water vapor