GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Etymology
 GEOTECHNICAL – relating to the application of
technology to engineering problems caused by
geological factors.
o Geo – gē (Gk.), meaning earth
o Technical – tekhnikos (Gk.)
– involving or needing special
skills or knowledge.
 ENGINEERING - ingenium (L.) – cleverness
- ingenaire – to contrive; devise
Definition
 branch of civil engineering that deals with the
behavior of earth materials.
 important to construction activities taking place on
the surface or within the ground. (e.g. mining,
coastal, drilling, and other discipline)
 process of understanding and working with soil and
rock, underground water, site and structural
conditions, in relation to a construction project.
* Geotechnical engineers plan and design the structures for
buildings, roads, embankments, canals, and hundreds of
construction role. The geotechnical engineer will also deal
with geological hazards like landslides, soil erosion and, in
some extreme conditions, earthquakes. They study the soil
as well as rock layers that make up the earth in order to
establish their physical and chemical characteristics.
What does Geotechnical Engineer do?
 Figure out the impact that geological formations
may have on construction projects.
 Guard and maintain the earth’s physical
environment during the development of major
public and private projects.
Geotechnical engineers perform the following functions
within the framework of the following jobs:
 Geotechnical or Geological Engineers (General)
 Geotechnical or Geological Engineers (Oil Sands
Project)
 Hydrogeological Engineer
 Reservoir Geomechanics Engineer (Oil & Gas
Operations)
 Geomechanics Engineers (Marine Operations)
Geotechnical engineers can be employed by the following
types of organizations:
 Colleges and universities
 Construction contractors
 Electrical utility companies
 Engineering consulting firms
 Mining companies
 Municipal, regional, and federal government
 Oil and gas exploration, production, and
transportation companies
 Petroleum services companies
 Public and private research organizations
 Real estate development companies
History
1. The Primitive Era of Soil Usage
2. The Perception of Soil Design as an Art rather than
Science
3. Foundation-Related Engineering Issues
4. The Emergence of the Principle of Soil Mechanics
(Geotechnical Engineering)
Specialization
 SOIL MECHANICS
- a discipline that applies the principles of
engineering mechanics to soils to predict the
mechanical behavior of soils.
 ROCK MECHANICS
- theoretical and applied science of the
mechanical behavior of rock and rock masses.
 investigate subsurface conditions and materials;
 determine the relevant physical/mechanical and
chemical properties of these materials;
 evaluate the stability of 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

Elements

 Foundation and Pavement Design

 Expansive/Collapsing Soils
 Compaction Monitoring & Testing
 Vibration Monitoring
 Soil and Rock classification and parameters
 Settlement and Subsidence Analysis
 Field Permeability Tests
 Underpinning and Special Foundation
Applications

 SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS
o for transferring building loads to underlying
ground.
o mostly for firm soils or light loads
- Foundation Systems
 Designing of Shallow
Foundation Systems –
Bearing Capacity Failure
 DEEP FOUNDATIONS
o for transferring building loads to underlying
ground
o mostly for weak soils or heavy loads
- Foundation Systems
 Deep Foundation Systems:
Driven Piles
 Driven timber piles; Pacific
Highway
 RETAINING WALLS
o prevent soils from spreading laterally
 COFFERDAM
o sheet pile walls enclosing an area, to
prevent water seeping in

*By knowing about geotechnical engineering, the durability

of any civil engineering structures can be improved.