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Topic 1 - Introduction To Geotechnical Engineering

This document provides an introduction to geotechnical engineering. It discusses what geotechnical engineering involves, the responsibilities of geotechnical engineers, soil exploration programs, and different types of foundations. The main types of foundations discussed are shallow foundations, such as isolated, mat, combined, continuous, and strap footings, and deep foundations, including driven piles, drilled shafts, and continuous flight auger piles. Shallow foundations are generally cheaper but deep foundations can take larger loads. The selection of foundation depends on factors like soil properties and load requirements.

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Anthony Al Lakiss
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
481 views

Topic 1 - Introduction To Geotechnical Engineering

This document provides an introduction to geotechnical engineering. It discusses what geotechnical engineering involves, the responsibilities of geotechnical engineers, soil exploration programs, and different types of foundations. The main types of foundations discussed are shallow foundations, such as isolated, mat, combined, continuous, and strap footings, and deep foundations, including driven piles, drilled shafts, and continuous flight auger piles. Shallow foundations are generally cheaper but deep foundations can take larger loads. The selection of foundation depends on factors like soil properties and load requirements.

Uploaded by

Anthony Al Lakiss
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CIE 446 - Geotechnical Engineering

Topic -1-

Introduction to Geotechnical
Engineering
OUTLINE

• WHAT IS GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING?

• GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER RESPONSIBILITIES

• SOIL/SITE EXPLORATION PROGRAM


– SOIL EXPLORATION
– PLANNING A SITE INVESTIGATION

• FOUNDATION TYPES
– SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS
– DEEP FOUNDATIONS

• FOUNDATION PLAN
WHAT IS GEOTECHNICAL
ENGINEERING?

o Branch of Civil Engineering concerned with the engineering


behavior of earth materials and construction on or in the ground

o Important for Civil Engineering but also for military, mining,


petroleum and other engineering fields

o Uses the principles of soil and rock mechanics to investigate and


evaluate subsurface conditions
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER
RESPONSIBILITES

Geotechnical Engineers Geotechnical Engineers


are involved in the are also involved in
design and construction activities related to:
of:
• Foundations • Land reclamation and
• Shoring systems dredging
• Retaining walls • Soil and Site Improvement
• Tunnels • Soil Stabilization
• Earth and Rock-fill dams • Slope Stability
• Pavements • Seismic Hazard Assessment
SOIL/SITE EXPLORATION
PROGRAM
• In situ testing
• Lab testing
Site
investigation
report

Soil
• c, f, g, E, DR, Gs, e, w.c.
Properties

• Ultimate limit state


Geotechnical
Design • Serviceability limit state
SOIL EXPLORATION
• Step 1: Perform a preliminary site investigation, few boreholes,
sufficient for small projects.

• Step 2: Perform a detailed site investigation for more complex


projects having problematic areas.

The number and depth of boreholes should be identified

Cost of exploration is 0.1-0.3% of total project cost!


SITE INVESTIGATION GUIDELINES

Minimum depth of boreholes for a 30m wide building

No. of Stories(S) Depth of Boring(Db)(m)


1 3.5
2 6
3 10
4 16
5 24
Reference: Sowers & Sowers(1970)
PLANNING A SITE INVESTIGATION

General borehole depth guidelines

 Db (m) = 3S0.7 ( for light steel/narrow concrete building)


 Db (m) = 6S0.7 (for heavy steel/wide concrete building)

where S is the number of stories of the building

It is always recommended to extend boreholes to bedrock or to a firm


layer.

If this incurs high costs on site exploration program, or if bedrock is too


deep, then at least one borehole is to be extended to the firm layer.
PLANNING A SITE INVESTIGATION

Maximum recommended spacing between boreholes


for different types of projects:

Type of Project Spacing (m)


Multi-story building 10-30
One-story industrial plant 20-60
Residential sub-division 250-500
Bridge structure Under each pier
PLANNING A SITE INVESTIGATION
General rules for residential buildings

- At least 3 boreholes are to be drilled along a diagonal; preferably 5


boreholes.

- Boreholes should be located close to or under columns with high


loads.
Foundation Types

Foundations

Deep Foundations

Shallow Foundations

Driven Drilled Continuous


Piles Shafts Flight Auger
Piles

Isolated Mat Combined Strip Strap


Footings Footings Footings Footings Footings
Foundation Types

Shallow Deep
Foundation Types

Shallow Foundations

- A foundation is said to be shallow when it transfers the structural loads


to the earths near surface.

- A shallow foundation may be defined as one in which the foundation


depth (D) is less than or equal to the foundation width (B)
𝑫
≤𝟏
𝑩
Shallow Foundations
Isolated or Spread Footings

These footings can be square, rectangular or circular.


Shallow Foundations
Mat Footings
MAT, RAFT OR RADIER FOUNDATION
Used when:
1. Total area covered by isolated footings exceeds 50% of total plan area of
building
2. Water table is high and seepage problems are expected
Shallow Foundations
Combined Footings
𝑳
Footings are considered as combined when < 𝟏𝟎
𝑩

Used where the bearing


areas of closely spaced
columns overlap
Shallow Foundations
Continuous or Strip Footings
𝑳
Footings are considered as continuous when ≥ 𝟏𝟎
𝑩

Used in case of a shear wall,


load bearing wall or a series
of very close columns where
single footings will be
unrealistic and overlapping
Shallow Foundations
Strap Footings

When a footing is bound by a property line


=> the load (Column) will not coincide with
the center of gravity of the footing

This will lead to eccentricity of the load thus a


moment will be created on the footing.

If distance between columns > 7m => It will


not be economical to use continuous footings
=> a beam is used to connect the footings
and accommodate for the moment.
Foundation Types

Deep Foundations

• Types of foundations where the embedment is larger than the


maximum plane dimension.

• Used when the soil near the ground surface is not competent enough
to take the loads, and involve deeper geologic layers.

𝑫
• A foundation is considered as deep when ≥𝟒
𝑩
Deep Foundations
Deep Foundations transfer load vertically.
Deep Foundations
Types of deep foundations:
1. Driven Piles: prefabricated elements installed in the ground
2. Drilled shafts/Bored Piles: create a hole in the ground using an auger up
to the required depth, then insert the steel cage followed by concrete
3. Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) piles:
 Similar to drilled shafts, but sides of the hole are supported at all
times by the soil-filled auger, eliminating the need for temporary
casing or bentonite slurry
 Upon reaching the required depth, sand-cement grout or concrete is
pumped down the hollow stem as the auger is steadily withdrawn
 Reinforcement is placed immediately after withdrawal of the auger
 This method is considered faster than other methods
Deep vs. Shallow
• Shallow Foundations are cheaper than Deep ones and usually
easier to execute

• Deep foundations occupy a relatively smaller area of the ground


surface

• Deep foundations can usually take larger loads than shallow


foundations that occupy the same area of the ground surface

• Deep foundations can reach deeper competent layers of bearing


soil or rock

• Deep foundations can also take large uplift and lateral loads
Foundation Plan
The following should be determined:

• Dimensions of footing
• Location of footing
• Depth of installation

Shallow Foundations are usually the more economical option.

As a general rule, consider deep foundations only when shallow


foundations do not give satisfactory design.

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