Geotechnical engineering is a branch of civil engineering, which deals with the engineering properties of soil. Geotechnical Engineers have to understand the situation and physical condition of the soil and based on that they have to judge the strength of the soil. So that, structural engineers can build the structure over it safely, Highway engineer can build safe roads over it.
In a nutshell “The process of understanding and working with soil and rock, underground water, site and structural conditions, concerning a construction project, is known as geotechnical engineering.”
Before discussing seepage here in this article we have already discussed about seepage in Permeability of soil and its measurement and also in seepage force. But the difference between the topics is the dimension. In the earlier topics we have discussed about the one dimensional flow of water through the cross section of soil. But …
Before discussing about the Group Index (GI) we will first discuss about the need and significance of GI. Significance This group index is developed by US Bureau of Public Road. They wanted to develop the soil classification system called the Public Road Administration classification system which was meant for road construction. Actually the famous name …
This topic is bit on higher side for the readers who are interacting for the first time with soil mechanics. We define consistency by the firmness of soil in qualitative manner. Sounds like very complicated parameter. Don’t worry this is so easy to understand. “Consistency indicates the relative with which a soil can deformed. We …
In this post we are going to learn about the physical significance of specific gravity. Further in the post we will learn most common method to determine the specific gravity of soil. Specific gravity definition Specific gravity is the relative term. Basically it is defined as the ratio of density of and soild to the …
As the literal meaning of this word appear, relative density is the measure of looseness in relation with something. So you might be thinking why this relative word means. This relative word is used because we are measuring with respect to loosest state of the soil. It is denoted by \(D_r(I_D)\). Hence, this is very …
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The permeability of soil is soil property which describes quantitatively, the ease with which water flows through that soil. Soil consists of discrete particle. The void spaces between the particles are interconnected. This interconnected void space behave like complex tube network. Water flows in this complicated tube network. Resistance to flow of water is much …
Water content or moisture content of the soil is defined as the ratio of the weight of water to the weight of solids in a given mass of soil. It is usually expressed as a percentage $$w=\frac{W_w}{W_s}\times100$$ where \(W_w\) is the weight of water and \(W_s\) is weight of solids Range of \(w\): Water content …
Void ratio (e) is defined as ratio of the volume of voids to the volume of solids. $$e=\frac{V_v}{V_s}$$ where :\(V_v\) is volume of void, and \( V_s\) is volume of solids. Range of \( e\) : This can be easily visualized that volume of voids can not be zero. It can go up to any …
Are you curious about geotechnical engineering, and like many others, you also wanted to start a career as Geotechnical Engineers, but don’t have enough knowledge about the geotechnical engineering? Do you also have these questions in mind? What actually geotechnical engineers do? What are the roles and responsibilities of geotechnical engineers? Career option as a …
Read moreWhat actually geotechnical engineers are supposed to know?