GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

1
CE161P-5
INTRODUCTION For Engineering Purposes
Geotechnical Engineering - From Soil - is defined as the uncemented
the Beginning
aggregate of mineral grains and
decayed organic matter (solid
particles) with liquid and gas in the
empty spaces between the solid
particles
 BACKGROUND

◆ Soils are the oldest and most complex engineering materials.

Our ancestors used soils as a construction material for flood
protection and shelters.
◆ Western civilization credits the Romans for recognizing the
importance of soils in the stability of structures.

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 BACKGROUND

◆ Karl Terzaghi (1883-1963) is the father

of soil mechanics.
◆ Soil Mechanics, also called geotechnique or
geotechnics or geomechanics, is the
application of engineering mechanics to the
solution of problems dealing with soils as a
foundation and as a construction material.

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INTRODUCTION For Engineering Purposes
Geotechnical Engineering - From
the Beginning
Soil Mechanics - is the branch of
science that deals with the study of
the physical properties of soil and
the behavior of soil masses subjected
to various types of forces
 IMPORTANCE OF SOIL
MECHANICS
◆ Soil mechanics is a subset of geotechnical engineering, which
involves the application of soil mechanics, geology, and hydraulics
to the analysis and design of geotechnical systems:
◇ Dams
◇ Embankments
◇ Tunnels
◇ Canals
◇ Foundations for bridges, roads and buildings
6 ◇ Solid waste disposal systems
 IMPORTANCE OF SOIL
MECHANICS
◆ Every application of soil mechanics involves uncertainty
because of the variability of soils – their stratification,
composition, and engineering properties.

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INTRODUCTION
Geotechnical Engineering - From For Engineering Purposes
the Beginning
Soil Engineering - is the application
of the principles of soil mechanics to
practical problems
INTRODUCTION
For Engineering Purposes
Geotechnical Engineering - From
the Beginning
Geotechnical Engineering - is the
subdiscipline of civil engineering that
involves natural materials found
close to the surface of the earth.
 GEOTECHNICAL LESSONS

◆ All structures that are founded on earth rely on our ability to design
safe and economic foundations. Because of the natural vagaries of soils,
failures do occur.
◆ Failures occur because of the following:
◇ Inadequate site and soil investigations
◇ Unforeseen soil and water conditions
◇ Natural hazards
◇ Poor engineering analysis, design, construction, and quality
control
10 ◇ Usage outside the design conditions
 SAMPLE GEOTECHNICAL
FAILURE
◆ One of the earliest failures that was investigated and
contributed to our knowledge of soil behavior is the failure of
the Transcona Grain Elevator in 1913.
◆ Within 24 hours after loading the grain elevator at a rate of
about 1m of grain height per day, the bin house began to tilt
and settle. Fortunately, the structural damage was minimal
and the bin house was later restored.
◆ No borings were done to identify the soils and to obtain
information on their strength. Rather, an open pit about 4m
deep was made for the foundations and a plate was loaded to
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 SAMPLE GEOTECHNICAL
FAILURE
◆ Peck and Bryant conducted soil investigation and found out
that the applied pressure from loads imposed by the bin house
and the grains ware nearly equal to the calculated maximum
pressure that the soil could withstand, thereby lending support
to the theory for calculating the bearing strength of soft clay
soils.
◆ We also learn from this failure the importance of soil
investigations, soil tests, and the effects of rate of loading.
◆ The Transcona Grain Elevator was designed at a time when
soil mechanics was not yet born.
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 SAMPLE GEOTECHNICAL
FAILURE

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WEIGHT-
VOLUME
RELATIONSHIPS
a) Soil Element in Natural State
b) Three phases of the soil element

The total volume of a given soil

sample can be expressed as
V = Vs + Vv
V = Vs + Vw + Va

Where Vs = volume of soil solids

Vv = volume of voids
Vw = volume of water in
the voids
Va = Volume of air in the
voids
WEIGHT-
VOLUME
RELATIONSHIPS
Assuming the weight of the air to
be negligible, we can give the total
weight of the sample as
W = Ws + Ww

Where Ws = weight of soil solids

Ww = weight of water
VOLUME RELATIONSHIP

• Ratio of the volume of voids to the volume

Void Ratio (e) of solids

• Ratio of the volume of voids to the total

Porosity (n) volume

Degree of • Ratio of the volume of water to the volume

Saturation (S) of voids
FORMULAS
Degree of
Void Ratio Porosity
Saturation
WEIGHT RELATIONSHIP
• Moisture content is also referred as water
Moisture content
Content (ω) • Ratio of the weight of water to the weight
of solids in a given volume of soil
• Ratio of the weight of soil per unit volume
Unit Weight • Unit weight is sometime refer as the moist
unit weight
(γ) • Unit weight is expressed in kilonewtons
per cubic meter (kN/m3)
FORMULAS
Moisture Unit Weight Dry Unit
Content (ω) (γ) Weight (γd)
WORKING WITH DENSITY
- Unit weight is expressed in kilonewtons per cubic meter (kN/m3)
- In connection with Density, its SI unit is expressed in kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m3)
- Therefore, We can write the density equations as
� ��
ρ= or ρ� =
� �
- The unit weight of soil in N/m3 can be obtained from densities in kg/m3 as
γ = g ρ = 9.81ρ or γ� = g ρ� = 9.81ρ�
Where ρ = density of soil (kg/m3)
ρ� = dry density of soil (kg/m3)
m = total mass of the soil sample (kg)
ms = mass of soil soilds in the sample (kg)
V = unit of total volume (m3)
g = acceleration due to gravity = 9.81 m/s2
Break
ACTIVITY #1

Derive the weight-volume relationship of the following.

- Using the formula of void ratio derive this equation of porosity
�
�=
1+�

- Using the formula for Unit weight derive this equation of Moist Unit
Weight, γ = γd (1 + ω)
RELATIONSHIPS
AMONG UNIT
WEIGHT, VOID RATIO,
MOISTURE CONTENT,
AND SPECIFIC
GRAVITY
- If Vs = 1, we can conclude that
e = Vv

- The unit weight of water is

9.81kN/m3.

Figure: Three separate phases of a

soil element with volume of solids
equal to 1.
 FORMULAS TO DERIVE
(RELATIONSHIP TO SPECIFIC GRAVITY)
Degree of Unit Weight (γd),
Weight, Vs = 1 Density of soil (ρ)
Saturation (S) Vs = 1
RELATIONSHIPS AMONG UNIT WEIGHT,
VOID RATIO, MOISTURE CONTENT, AND
SPECIFIC GRAVITY
- Ifthe soil is saturated (s =
1)
Saturated – Void spaces are
completely filled with water.
ρw = density of water = 1000 kg/m3

Figure: Saturated soil element

with volume of soil solids
equal to 1
 FORMULAS TO DERIVE
(RELATIONSHIP TO SPECIFIC GRAVITY)
Moist Unit Weight Saturated Unit Void ratio of
of Soil in terms of Weight of Soil, Saturated Soil (s =
(s) and (e) where (s = 1) 1)
ACTIVITY #2
Derive the relationship among Unit weight, Porosity and moisture content.
- Consider a soil that has a total volume equal to 1. Expressed the weight
of soil solids, dry unit weight, moist unit weight

- Clue use the formula of porosity to start

��
�=
�
ACTIVITY #3
Derive the relationship among Unit weight, Porosity and moisture content.
- Consider a soil that is SATURATED and has a total volume equal to 1.
Expressed the unit weight of saturated soil solids and moisture content
of saturated soil solids.

- Clue use the formula of porosity to start

��
�=
�
Break
RELATIVE DENSITY OR
DENSITY INDEX
The term relative density is commonly used
to indicate the denseness or looseness of
granular soil. It is defined as
���� − �
�� =
���� −����

Where Dr = relative density, usually

given as a percentage
e = void ratio of the soil
emax = void ratio in the loosest
condition
emin = void ratio in the densest
condition
FORMULAS TO CONSIDER IN RELATIVE
DENSITY
Relative Density
Problem
Solving
AA
For a given sandy soil, emax = 0.75, emin = 0.46 and Gs = 2.68. If the
relative density of the soil Dr = 78% and its water content is 9%,
determine the following:
1. In Situ Void Ratio
2. Moist Unit weight of compaction in kN/m3
3. Dry unit weight in kN/m3
For a given sandy soil, emax = 0.75, emin = 0.46 and Gs = 2.68. If the
relative density of the soil Dr = 78% and its water content is 9%,
determine the following:
1. In Situ Void Ratio
���� − �
�� =
���� − ����
0.75 − �
0.78 =
0.75 − 0.46
e = 0.524
For a given sandy soil, emax = 0.75, emin = 0.46 and Gs = 2.68. If the
relative density of the soil Dr = 78% and its water content is 9%,
determine the following:
2. Moist Unit weight of compaction in kN/m3
(1 + ω)Gs γw
γ=
1+�
(1 + 0.09)2.68 (9.81)
γ=
1 + 0.524
γ = 18.8 ��/�3
For a given sandy soil, emax = 0.75, emin = 0.46 and Gs = 2.68. If the
relative density of the soil Dr = 78% and its water content is 9%,
determine the following:
3. Dry unit weight in kN/m3
Gs γw
γ� =
1+�

2.68 (9.81)
γ� =
1 + 0.524

γ� = 17.25 ��/�3