Lecture 02

Geotechnical Engineering

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 Geotechnical Engineering
SOIL
• The word 'soil' has different meanings for different professions.
• To the agriculturist, soil is the top thin layer of earth within which
organic forces are predominant and which is responsible for the support
of plant life.
• To the geologist, soil is the material which contains various minerals
• From the point of view of an engineer, soil includes all earth materials,
organic and inorganic, occurring in the zone overlying the rock crust.
• Soil is defined as a natural aggregate of mineral grains, with or without
organic constituents, that can be separated by gentle mechanical means
such as agitation in water.
• The behavior of a structure depends upon the properties of the soil
materials on which the structure rests.
 Geotechnical Engineering
To the civil engineer soil is defined as the uncemented or weekly cemented
accumulation of solid particles that have resulted from disintegration of rocks.

In soils voids exist between particles and the voids may be filled with a liquid,
usually water, or gas , usually air. As a result, soils are often referred to as a three-
phase material or system (solid, liquid and gas).

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 Origin of Soils

• Soils are formed by the process of weathering of the parent

rock. The weathering of the rocks might be by mechanical
disintegration, and/or chemical decomposition.
• The process of weathering of the rock decreases the
cohesive forces binding the mineral grains and leads to the
disintegration of bigger masses to smaller and smaller
particles.
• The properties of the soil materials depend upon the
properties of the rocks from which they are derived.
• Rock is defined as a natural aggregate of mineral grains
connected by strong and permanent cohesive forces.
 Applications of Geotechnical Engineering
Foundation Engineering
Tunnel Engineering
Dam Engineering
Retaining Walls
Slope Stability
Pavement Engineering
Earthquake Engineering
Etc.

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Mechanical Weathering
• Mechanical weathering of rocks to smaller particles is due to the
action of such agents as the expansive forces of freezing water in
fissures, due to sudden changes of temperature or due to the abrasion
of rock by moving water or glaciers.
• Temperature changes of sufficient amplitude and frequency bring
about changes in the volume of the rocks in the superficial layers of
the earth's crust in terms of expansion and contraction.
• Such a volume change sets up tensile and shear stresses in the rock
ultimately leading to the fracture of even large rocks.
• This type of rock weathering takes place in a very significant manner
in arid climates where free, extreme atmospheric radiation brings
about considerable variation in temperature at sunrise and sunset.
• Erosion by wind and rain is a very important factor and a continuing
event.
• Cracking forces by growing plants and roots in voids and crevasses of
rock can force fragments apart.
Chemical Weathering
• Chemical weathering (decomposition) can
transform hard rock minerals into soft, easily
erodible matter.
• The principal types of decomposition are
hydration, oxidation, carbonation, desilication and
leaching.
• Oxygen and carbon dioxide which are always
present in the air readily combine with the elements
of rock in the presence of water.
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 PHASE DIAGRAM OF SOIL
• A three phase diagram is an artifice used for easy under standing and convenience.

• A soil mass consists of solid particles, water and air. The three constituents are

blended together to form a complex material

• However, for convenience, all the solid particles are segregated and placed in the

lower layer of the three-phase diagram

• Likewise, water and air particles are placed separately; as shown in three-phase

diagram.

• It may be noted that the three constituents practically cannot be segregated.

PHASE DIAGRAM OF SOIL
 Three Phase Diagram of Soil

V= TOTAL VOLUME OF SOIL

Va = Volume of Air
Vw = Volume of Water
Vs = Volume of Solids
Vv = Volume of Voids

W = TOTAL WEIGHT OF SOIL

Wa = Weight of Air
Ww = Weight of Water
Ws = Weight of Solids

V = Va + Vw + Vs W = Wa + Ww + Ws
PARTIALLY SATURATED SOIL V = Vv + Vs Wa = 0
Vv = Vw + Va W = Ww + Ws
 Two Phase diagram of soil

DRY SOIL FULLY SATURATED SOIL

All the voids are filled with air All the voids are filled with water