Topic 1 - Introduction To Geotechnic

INTRODUCTION TO GEOTECHNICS
AZMAN/JKA/DCC3103 1
• For Civil Engineering study, Soil is defined the
uncemented aggregate of mineral grains and decayed
organic matter along with the liquid and gas that occupy
the empty spaces between the solid particles.
• Soil mechanics is a branch of science that deals with the

study of the physical properties of soil and the behaviour
of soil masses subjected to various types of forces.
AZMAN/JKA/DCC3103 2
 Soil is used as a construction material in various civil
engineering projects, and it support structural foundation.
 The application of the principles of soils mechanics and

rock mechanics is to design the foundations, retaining
structure and earth structures.
AZMAN/JKA/DCC3103 3
Soil engineering is the application of the principles of
soil mechanics to practical problems.
Geotechnical engineering is the sub discipline of

civil engineering that involves natural material found
close to the surface of the earth.
It includes the application of principles of soil

mechanics and rock mechanics to the design of
foundation, retaining structures, and earth
structures.
AZMAN/JKA/DCC3103 4
 Sedimentary rock
 Metamorphic rock
 Igneous rock
AZMAN/JKA/DCC3103 5
AZMAN/JKA/DCC3103 6
• Sedimentary rocks are formed from particles of sand,
shells, pebbles, and other fragments of material.
• Gradually, the sediment accumulates in layers and over
a long period of time hardens into rock.
• Generally, sedimentary rock is fairly soft and may break
apart or crumble easily.
• Can be found:
– Sand rocks (Panti, Johor)
– Shale (Batu Arang, Selangor)
– Mud rocks (Kg. Laloh, Kelantan)
– Limestone (Langkawi, Kedah)
AZMAN/JKA/DCC3103 7
Conglomerate Breccia
limestone shale
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• Metamorphic rocks are formed under the surface of the earth
from the metamorphosis (change) that occurs due to intense
heat and pressure (squeezing).
• The rocks that result from these processes often have ribbon
like layers and may have shiny crystals, formed by minerals
growing slowly over time, on their surface.
• Can be found
– slates (Sg. Aring, Kelantan)
– phyllite (Lebuhraya Timur-Barat)
– schist (Mersing, Johor)
– marble (Langkawi, Kedah)
– quartzite (Genting Sempah, Selangor).
AZMAN/JKA/DCC3103 9
phyllite schist
quartzite marble
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• Igneous rocks are formed when magma (molten rock
deep within the earth) cools and hardens.
• Sometimes the magma cools inside the earth, and other
times it erupts onto the surface from volcanoes (in this
case, it is called lava).
• Can be found:
– granite (Tampin, N.S. dan Kuala Lumpur)
– rhyolite (Lanchang, Pahang)
– basalt (Segamat, Johor dan Kuantan, Pahang)
– gabbro (Wakaf Tapai, Terengganu).
Granite rhyolite
Basalt Gabbro
Soil is formed by the process of Weathering of rock,
that is, disintegration and decomposition of rock and
minerals at or near the earth’s surface through the
actions of natural or mechanical and chemical agents
into smaller and smaller grains.
The factors of weathering may be atmospheric, such as
i. Changes in temperature and pressure;
ii. Erosion and
iii. Transportation by wind, water and glaciers.
Meanwhile chemical reaction such as:

i. Crystal growth
ii. Oxidation
iii. Hydration
iv. Carbonation and
v. Leaching by water, especially rainwater
Weathering
Weathering is the physical or chemical breakdown of

rock. It is this process by which rock is converted into
soil. Weathering is generally thought of as a variety of
physical or chemical processes that are dependent on
the environmental conditions present.
Physical process
Physical weathering is the disintegration of rock.

Physical weathering processes break rock masses into
smaller and smaller pieces without altering the
chemical composition of the pieces. Therefore, the
disintegrated fragments of rock exhibit the same
physical properties as their sources. Processes that
produce physical weathering are unloading, frost action,
organism growth, temperature changes and abrasion.
Chemical processes
Chemical weathering is the decomposition of rock

through chemical processes. Chemical reactions take
place between the minerals of the rock and the air,
water, or dissolved or suspended chemicals in the
atmosphere. Processes that cause chemical weathering
are oxidation, hydration, hydrolysis, carbonation and
solution.
 Organic soil
 Residual soil
 Transported soil
 It derive from the decomposition of organic materials
 Usually found in low-lying areas where the water table
is near or above the ground surface.
 The presence of a high water table helps in the growth
of aquatic plants that, when decomposed, from
organic soil.
 Organic soil sample is peat soil.
• Some soils stay where they were formed and cover
the rock surface from which they derive.
• Residual soils are found in areas where the rate of
weathering is more than the rate at which the
weathered materials are carried away by transporting
agents
 Soil produced by the weathering of rocks can be
transported by physical processes to other places.
 Can be subdivided into five major categories based on
the transporting agent:
 Alluvial soils - transported by rivers and streams: Sedimentary clays.
Aeoline soils - transported by wind: loess.
Glacial soils - transported by glaciers: Glacial till.
 Lacustrine soils - deposited in lake beds: Lacustrine silts and lacustrine

clays.
Marine soils - deposited in sea beds: Marine silts and marine clays.
Soil Sample
Soil samples obtained during the site investigation work

can be divided into two categories:
i. Disturbed soil sample

- Soil classification test, compaction test.
ii. Undisturbed soil sample

- Consolidation test, trixial test
Soil Sample
Disturb soil sample
The structure of the soil is disturbed to the considerable
degree by the action of the boring tools or the
excavation equipment. Disturbed samples are taken
from cuttings produced by the drilling process.
The disturbances can be classified in following basic
types:
i. Change in the stress condition,
ii. Change in the water content and the void ratio,
Disturbance of the soil structure,
iii. Chemical changes,
Soil Sample
Undisturbed soil sample
It retains as closely as practicable the true in-situ
structure and water content of the soil. For undisturbed
sample the stress changes cannot be avoided.
Undisturbed samples are generally taken by cutting
blocks of soil or rock, or by pushing or driving tubes
into the ground. The following requirements are
looked for:
i. No change due to disturbance of the soil structure,
ii. No change in void ratio and water content,
iii. No change in constituents and chemical properties.
 1. Explain 2 main categories of soil sample.
 2. Describe brefly the formation of rocks.

explain the controlling factors of soil
formation from rocks.
 3. Rock can be categorized into 3 group:

Igneous rocks, Sedimentary rocks and
Metamorphic rocks. Give 2 examples for each
rock category and state their general
occurrence in Malaysia.
 4. Sketch the Rock Cycle based on
geotechnical disciplines.
 5. Define 2 types of laboratory test which can

be carried out by using the following types of
soil sample:
i. disturbed sample
ii. undisturbed sample

Topic 1 - Introduction To Geotechnic

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Topic 1 - Introduction To Geotechnic

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INTRODUCTION TO GEOTECHNICS

• Soil mechanics is a branch of science that deals with the

 The application of the principles of soils mechanics and

Geotechnical engineering is the sub discipline of

It includes the application of principles of soil

Meanwhile chemical reaction such as:

Weathering is the physical or chemical breakdown of

Physical weathering is the disintegration of rock.

Chemical weathering is the decomposition of rock

Glacial soils - transported by glaciers: Glacial till.

 Lacustrine soils - deposited in lake beds: Lacustrine silts and lacustrine

Soil samples obtained during the site investigation work

i. Disturbed soil sample

ii. Undisturbed soil sample

 2. Describe brefly the formation of rocks.

 3. Rock can be categorized into 3 group:

 5. Define 2 types of laboratory test which can

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