GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

(Soil Mechanics & Foundation Engineering)

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING - I (Theory & Practical): 5th Sem.

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING – II (Theory & Practical): 6th Sem.
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING – III (Theory): 8th Sem.

SOIL:
The term SOIL (in Soil Engineering) is defined as an unconsolidated material, composed of solid
particles, produced by the disintegration of rocks.
The void space between the particles may contain AIR, WATER or both.

Nomenclature in Soil Engineering.

SOIL MECHANICS:
The term SOIL MECHANICS (Dr. Karl Terzaghi, 1925 from Germany) is the application of the
laws of mechanics and hydraulics to engineering problems dealing with sediments and other unconsolidated
accumulations of solid particles produced by the mechanical and chemical disintegration of rock.
IMPORTANT APPLICATIONS OF GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING:

* Foundation Design and Construction

* Pavement Design
* Design of Underground Structures and Earth Retaining Structures
* Design of Embankments and Excavations
* Design of Earth Dams.

* Foundation Design and Construction

Shallow Foundation

Deep Foundation (Pile Foundation)

* Pavement Design

Pavement Details

* Design of Underground Structures and Earth Retaining Structures

Tunnel

Retaining Wall
* Design of Embankments and Excavations

Embankment Slope

Excavation Slope
* Design of Earth Dams

Earth Dam
ORIGIN OF SOIL:

Geologic cycle of soil.

MAJOR SOIL DEPOSISTS OF INDIA:

* Alluvial Deposits
- In alluvial soil deposits there are existence of alternating layers of Sand, Silt & Clay
- A large part of north India is covered with alluvial deposits

* Black Cotton Soils

- Black cotton soils are clays of high plasticity.
A large part of Central India and a portion of South India is covered with black cotton soils

* Lateritic Soils
- Lateritic soils are formed by decomposition of rock, removal of bases and silica and accumulation of iron
oxide and aluminum oxide
- These soils exist in the Central, Southern and Eastern India

* Desert Soils
- A large part of Rajasthan and adjoining states is covered with sand dunes
- The sand is non-plastic and highly pervious

* Marine Deposits
- The marine clays are soft and highly plastic and contain a large amount of organic matter
- In South-West coast of India, there are thick layers of sand above deep deposits of soft marine clays.
LIMITATIONS OF GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
(UNIQUE NATURE OF SOIL)
A good engineering judgment is required for the interpretation of the results of Geotechnical Engineering.

The following are the limitations of Geotechnical Engineering:

* As the soil does not possess a linear or unique stress-strain relationship, the solutions of the theory of
elasticity cannot be directly applied

Linear (Elastic) Non-linear (Plastic)

* The behaviour and the strength of soils depend upon pressure, drainage, environment and many other
factors
* Since the soils are sensitive to disturbance, the results of tests conducted on soil samples should be
interpreted carefully
* The most of the soil is underground and cannot be inspected, adequate soil exploration should be done to
determine the profile of soil strata

Subsurface Profile
* The behaviour of soil changes as the particles get shifted
* The soil is a multi-phase system, consisting of solid, water & air phases. The behaviour of a soil depends
upon the relative proportion of the three phases:

Partially Saturated Soil Dry Soil Saturated Soil