Chapter One:

Introduction
 Introduction
❖ Geotechnical Engineering
is the branch of civil engineering concerned with the
engineering behavior of earth materials.
❖ It ensures that structures such as buildings, bridges, roads,
and dams are built on stable ground by analyzing soil and
rock properties.
❖ By assessing ground conditions, geotechnical engineers
prevent structural failures, minimize risks from natural
hazards like landslides and earthquakes, and promote
sustainable construction practices.
❖focuses on the behavior of soil, rock, and groundwater.
understanding
 Types of geotechnical engineering
❖ Soil Mechanics: It involves studying soil properties and behavior and
applying soil mechanics principles to engineering complications.
❖ Foundation engineering: focuses on designing and constructing
foundations for various structures, including buildings, bridges, dams,
towers, and more. It involves studying and analyzing soil conditions,
calculating bearing capacity, and determining the appropriate
foundation type.
❖ Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering: assesses soil and structures’
response to seismic activity.
❖ Geotechnical Earthquake Engineers analyze the dynamic properties of
soils and their interaction with structures during earthquakes.
 Types of geotechnical engineering
❖ Geosynthetics and Geosystems
❖ Geosynthetics are synthetic materials used and applied in
geotechnical engineering to improve soil behaviour and provide
additional reinforcement.
❖ Geotechnical Engineers employ geosynthetics such as geotextiles,
geogrids, and geomembranes to enhance soil stability, control erosion,
reinforce slopes, and separate soil layers.
❖ Geosystems refer to integrating geosynthetics with other
geotechnical techniques and materials to create composite structures
with improved performance.
 Types of geotechnical engineering
❖ Slope Stability and Retaining Structures
❖ Geotechnical engineers study the stability of slopes and design
retaining structures to prevent soil mass movement and landslides.
❖ Rock mechanics :is a specialized field within geotechnical
engineering that focuses on the behavior of rocks under different
loading conditions. It involves studying rock properties, such as
strength and deformation characteristics, and analyzing how rocks
respond to external forces.
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❖ What is Geology?
▪ The word Geology comes from two Greek words Geo and Logos, Geo
▪ means Earth and Logos means study.
▪ Geology: is the science that deals with the study of earth as a whole
and its surrounding.
▪ Specifically it studies about
▪ Origin,
▪ Age,
▪ Structure of the earth and compositions,
▪ Evolution or progress,
▪ Modification,
▪ Extinction of surface and subsurface features;
▪ Various natural dynamic and physiochemical
processes operating on and in the earth,
 Engineering Geology
• Engineering Geology - applies the principles of Geology to Civil
Engineering works such as in dams, roads, and building constructions.
▪ is an applied discipline of geology that relies heavily on knowledge of
geologic principles and processes.
▪ is an interdisciplinary profession in which an engineering geologist
works closely with civil engineers, architects, developers and
planners.
▪ to ensure that the geologic factors affecting the location, design,
construction, operation and maintenance of engineering works are
recognized and adequately provided.
▪ It is the means by which the engineering geologist applies geologic
skills to solve an engineering problem.
▪ It requires that engineering geologist be,
i) a competent geologist,
ii) able to translate geologic findings into forms applicable to
engineering needs
iii) capable of providing sound judgment
iv) must be competent enough to take independent decisions
 Geology and its Applied Fields
Applied Geology: applies the principle of pure Geology and other scie
nces to understand the nature of the earth and to extract the natural reso
urces of Earth.
Some of the most common and important applied fields are:
➢Economic Geology: Deals with economic minerals and rocks
➢Mining Geology: Deals with the technique of extraction of the econo
mic minerals and rocks
➢Hydrogeology: Deals with surface and underground water.
➢Engineering Geology, the scientific discipline concerned with the app
lication of geological knowledge to engineering problems.
➢Geochemistry: Studies the composition of Earth by applying the princ
iples of chemistry.
➢Geophysics: Studies the Earth’s Internal and processes by applying th
e principles of Physics.
 Importance of Geology in Civil Engineering
• Professional in geology is responsible to accomplish the following tas
ks in relation to Civil engineering works.
• What rocks and soils are present, including the sequence of strata, the
nature and thicknesses of superficial deposits and the presence of igne
ous disturbances;
• How rocks are distributed over, and under, the site (that is, their struct
ure);
• The frequency and orientation of joints in the different bodies of rock
and the location of any faults;
• The presence and extent of any weathering of the rocks, and particular
ly of any soluble rocks such as limestone;
• The groundwater conditions, including the position of the water table,
and whether the groundwater contains toxic material in solution, such
as sulphates, which may affect cement with which it comes in contact.
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▪ The presence of economic deposits which may have been extracted by
mining or quarrying,
▪ The suitability of local rocks and soils, especially those to be excavate
d, as construction materials.
 The application of geology in civil engineering work
➢ Stability of slopes and Cuttings
▪ Plane of weakness
▪ Occurrence of joints
▪ Groundwater condition
➢ Description of Rocks and Rock Mass
➢Tunnels and Tunnelling
➢Dam site, foundation and reservoir
➢Highways
➢Bridges
➢Foundation for building
Geological and geotechnical issues in Ethiopia
▪Dams and Reservoirs: for Hydropower, Irrigation, Drinking, etc.

▪Railways,

▪Roads,

▪High rise buildings,

▪Mining,

▪Waste disposal sites

▪Energy development: Geothermal, Wind, etc.