FORENSIC GEOTECHNICAL

ENGINEERING
(CASE STUDIES ON UNDERPINNING)

Er.A.KARTHIKEYAN,M.E,MIE.,MIGS
Chartered Engineer (India),
Professional Engineer (ECI),
Structural & Geo-Tech Consultant,
Arumbakkam, Chennai-106.
• What is Forensic?
– Scientific tests or techniques
used in connection with the
detection of crime (failures).
• What is Forensic
Engineering?
– Forensic engineering is the
application of engineering
principles to the investigation
of failures or other
performance problems.
• What is Forensic
Geotechnical Engineering?
– The Forensic Application for
Sub-Soil and foundation
failures.
 Why Geo-technical failure happens?
• No soil test
• Improper soil test
• Improper tools
• Improper predictions
• Overloading the structure
• Taking advantage of factor of safety
• Lack of expertise
• Improper Workmanship
• Tree roots penetration and suction
• Pollution
• Natural Calamities
 Geo-technical failures and Structural
failures- Comparison
• Structural failures may occur either locally or totally (globally)
• Geo technical failures mostly leads to total failure of the
structure
Unequal settlement and angular
distortion of foundation
 Remedies & Rehabilitation
• Proper Soil investigation
• Shoring & Underpinning
• Nailing
• Soil Stabilization
• Load reduction
• Introducing additional structural members
(mostly Columns)
 Proper Soil Investigation
• Soil test should be conducted as near as possible
to the sub structure
• Field test viz.,
– Standard Penetration Test, Static Cone Penetration
Test, Dynamic Cone Penetration Test, Plate load test,
Pressure meter test, Field Vane Shear test,
Undisturbed soil sample, Rock Quality Index (RQD)
• Laboratory test,
– Moisture content, Index properties- Sieve analysis and
soil classification, Liquid limit, plastic limit, plasticity
index, Free swell test, consolidation test, Direct shear
test, Triaxial test, Soil Permeability, etc.,
 Underpinning
• Underpinning is the process of strengthening
the foundation of an existing building or
other structure.
• Underpinning should be done only after
proper shoring.
– Increase the Foundation size
– Additional Foundations along with existing
foundation
– Stabilizing the soil below foundation by grouting
Various type of Shoring
Cont…
Various type of Underpinning
Cont…
 Risk involved in Underpinning
• Collapse of Sub soil during excavation
• Collapse of nearby structures
• Collapse of existing structure
• Collapse of services like water supply, sanitary
lines, EB cables, etc.,
• Encounter shallow ground water
 Soil Stabilization
• Soil stabilization a general term for any physical,
chemical, mechanical, biological or combined
method of changing a natural soil to meet an
engineering purpose.
– Compaction
– Grouting
– Stone Columns around sub structure (small diameter)
– Heating
– Freezing
– Micro organisms cultivation
Shear strength
 Summary
• Forensic Geotechnical Engineering is a well
advanced foundation engineering.
• FGE, requires both strong academic
knowledge and practical exposure.
• FGEngineers should have strong knowledge on
both structural and geotechnical behavior of
the foundation.