1

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-I

Lecture-1
Introduction to Geotechnical
Engineering and its importance

Dr. Muhammad Safdar, PhD. (Professional Geotechnical Engineer)

Assistant Professor, Earthquake Engineering Center,
Department of Civil Engineering,
UET Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.
E-mail: [email protected] .
Lecture Contents
• Course Aims
• Introduction to Soil Mechanics
 Soil
 Soil mechanics
• Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering
 Definition
 History of Geotechnical Engineering
 Tests in Geotechnical Engineering
 Importance of Geotechnical Engineering
 Geotechnical Failures (Case studies and Videos)
 Some typical geotechnical questions

CE-331-Geotechnical Engineering-1
Course Instructor 3
Course Aims

• To introduce civil engineering students to soil mechanics,

surface/subsurface soil, its formation, mineralogy, classification,
basic physical/index properties and their use for engineering
purposes.

• Enabling civil engineering students to solve fundamental problems related

to permeability, seepage, compaction and vertical stresses.

• To introduce civil engineering students to soil exploration and various

field and laboratory tests needed for soil exploration.

CE-331-Geotechnical Engineering-1 4
Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Course Aims

CLOs, Mapping with PLOs

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

Taxonomy PLOs
CLO. No Description
Domain  
Explain fundamental engineering concepts of soil’s
1 behavior on basis of its physical properties, index C2 1
properties and modes of formation.
Apply the basic geotechnical properties to classify
2 C3 4
soil by various soil classification systems.
Analyze effects of compaction, seepage and vertical
3 C4 2
stresses on engineering behavior of soil.

CE-331-Geotechnical Engineering-1 5
Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Course Aims
Tentative Weekly Schedule

WEEK TOPIC
Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering and Soil Mechanics, Importance,
1
Formation of Soil, Transportation, sorting, deposition
2 Soil types, Soil fabrics, Clay minerals, surface forces and absorbed water
3 Particle size distribution: Sieve Analysis, Hydrometer Analysis,
4 Phase relationships, Examples
5 Relative density, physical states and index properties of fine-grained soils
6 Unified Soil Classification System, AASHTO Soil Classification System
Soil water, Capillarity, Seepage and Darcy’s Law, Determination of coefficient of
7
permeability measurements-lab and field Capillarity
  Mid Term Exam

CE-331-Geotechnical Engineering-1 6
Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Course Aims
Tentative Weekly Schedule
WEEK TOPIC
8 Seepage theory, flow nets, Solved examples
Moisture density relationship basic concept, Standard and modified Proctor Tests,
9
interpretation of proctor test results,
benefits of soil compaction, field compaction, compaction quality control (Sand Cone Test
10 (ASTM D 1556), Balloon Test (ASTM D 2167), Nuclear Density Meter (ASTM D 2922,
ASTM D 5195)
Stresses from elastic theory, Point load, line load, strip area carrying uniform pressure, Solved
11
Examples
strip area carrying linearly increasing pressure, Circular area carrying uniform pressure,
12
Solved Examples
13 Rectangular area carrying uniform pressure, Influence Chart for vertical stress, Examples
Importance of S.I, purpose of SI, phases of SI, soil exploration program,
14 soils explorations methods: Geophysical Methods (GPR, Seismic Surveys, Electrical
Resistivity, others),
Trial pits, hand or power augers, wash boring, rotary rigs, percussion rigs
15 Soil identification in the field, Number and depths of borings, Soil sampling, Ground water
conditions, Soil lab tests, Type of field or in-situ tests (VST, SPT, CPT, PMT, DMT)
  Final Term Exam

CE-331-Geotechnical Engineering-1 7
Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Introduction to Soil Mechanics
Before introducing soil mechanics, it is important for engineering students to
know about soil.
The term ‘soil’ in civil engineering is defined as the uncemented aggregate of
mineral grains (from weathering of rocks) and decayed organic matter
with liquid and gas in the empty spaces between the solid particles.
• If the products of weathering remain at their original location they constitute
a residual soil.
• If the products are transported and deposited in a different location they
constitute a transported soil, the agents of transportation being gravity,
wind, water and glaciers.
Soil is used as a construction material in various engineering projects,
and it supports structural foundations. Thus, Civil Engineers must study the
properties of soil, such as its origin, grain-size distribution, ability to
drain water, compressibility, shear strength and load bearing capacity.
CE-331-Geotechnical Engineering-1 8
Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Introduction to Soil Mechanics
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 (axial, lateral, dynamic).

Rock Mechanics is the branch of science that deals with the study of the
physical properties of rock and the behavior of rock masses subjected to
various types of forces (axial, lateral, dynamic).

Soils Engineering is the application of the principles of soil mechanics to

practical problems. While Rock Engineering is the application of the
principles of rock mechanics to practical problems.

CE-331-Geotechnical Engineering-1 9
Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Introduction to Geo-Technical Engineering

Geotechnical Engineering is the subdiscipline of civil engineering that

includes the application of principles of soil mechanics and rock mechanics to
the design of foundations, retaining structures, and earth structures.

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 10

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Introduction to Geo-Technical Engineering

Figure: Demonstrates several branches related to geotechnical engineering and their overlap.
CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 11
Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
History of Geotechnical Engineering
Geotechnical Engineering prior to
the 18th Century

Pre-classical (1700 to 1776 A.D.)

Classical soil mechanics – Phase I

(1776 to 1856 A.D.)

Classical soil mechanics – Phase II

(1856 to 1910 A.D.)

Modern soil mechanics

(1910 to 1927 A.D.)

Birth of Geotechnical Engineering

(1927 A.D. to present)
CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 12
Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
History of Geotechnical Engineering

Geotechnical Engineering prior to the 18th Century.

• Ancient civilizations flourished along the banks of rivers, such as Nile (Egypt), Tigris
and Euphrates (Mesopotamia), Huang Ho (Yellow River China).
• Dykes were built for protection of town of Mohenjo Daro (Indus Basin, Pakistan) and for
irrigation purposes (Chan Dynasty, China).
• Ancient Greek Civilizations used isolated pad footings, strip and raft foundations for
building structures.
• Egyptians built pyramids which posed formidable challenges regarding foundations,
stability of slopes, and construction of underground chambers.
• Pagodas were built during Eastern Han dynasty with the arrival of Buddhism in China.
• Leaning tower of Pisa in Italy is one of the most famous examples of problems related
to soil bearing capacity in the construction of structures prior to 18th Century.

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 13

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
History of Geotechnical Engineering

Pre-classical (1700 to 1776 A.D)

• This period concentrated on studies relating to natural slope, unit weights of
various soils and semiempirical earth pressure theories.
• Theory for lateral earth pressure on retaining walls, soil classification based on
unit weights, and model tests on retaining walls were conducted.

Theory for lateral earth pressure

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 14
Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
History of Geotechnical Engineering

Classical soil mechanics – Phase I (1776 to 1856 A.D.)

In this period, a French Scientist Charles Augustin Coulomb determined the true
position of the sliding surface in soil behind a retaining wall.
Coulomb used the laws of friction and cohesion for solid bodies.
Francais and Navier studied the special cases of Coulomb’s work related to inclined
backfills and backfills supporting surcharge (pressure) respectively.

Sliding surface plane Retaining wall with inclined back fill

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 15
Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
History of Geotechnical Engineering

Classical soil mechanics – Phase II (1856 to 1910 A.D.)

Several experimental results from laboratory tests on sand appeared in the literature in
this phase.
Darcy published a study on the permeability of sand filters. Based on these tests, Darcy
determined the term coefficient of permeability ( or hydraulic conductivity) of soil.
Boussinesq proposed the theory of stress distribution under loaded bearing areas in a
homogeneous, semi infinite, elastic, and isotropic medium.
Reynolds demonstrated the phenomenon of dilatancy in sand.

Dilatancy is the volume change

observed in granular materials
when they are subjected to
shear deformations
Stress distribution
CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 16
Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
History of Geotechnical Engineering

Modern soil mechanics – (1910 to 1927 A.D.)

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 17

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
History of Geotechnical Engineering

Birth of Geotechnical Engineering (1927 A.D. to present)

The publication of Erdbaumechanik auf Bodenphysikalisher Grundlage (Soil mechanics on a
basis of soil physics) by Karl Terzaghi in 1925 gave birth to a new era in the development of soil
mechanics. Karl Terzaghi is known as the father of modern soil mechanics.
• He worked on the behavior of soils and settlement of clays.
• Failure due to piping in sand under dams.
The first conference of the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Foundation
Engineering (ISSMFE) was held at Harvard University in 1936 with Karl Terzaghi presiding.
It was through the inspiration and guidance of Terzaghi over the preceding quarter-century that
papers were brought to that conference covering a wide range of topics, such as

shear strength, effective stress, in situ testing, Dutch cone penetrometer, centrifuge testing,
consolidation settlement, elastic stress distribution, preloading for soil improvement, frost
action, expansive clays, arching theory of earth pressure, soil dynamics, and earthquakes.

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 18

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Tests in Geotechnical Engineering

In-situ Tests
• Standard Penetration Testing (SPT)
• Cone Penetration Testing (CPT)
• Plate Load Test (PLT)
• Pile load test
• Flat Dilatometer Test (DMT)
• Vane shear tests

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 19

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Tests in Geotechnical Engineering

Standard Penetration Testing (SPT)

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 20

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Tests in Geotechnical Engineering

Cone Penetration Testing (CPT)

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 21

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Tests in Geotechnical Engineering
Plate Load Test (PLT)-For shallow foundation

Pile Load Test-For deep foundation

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 22

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Tests in Geotechnical Engineering

Vane shear tests

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 23

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Tests in Geotechnical Engineering

Flat Dilatometer Test (DMT)

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 24

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Tests in Geotechnical Engineering

Laboratory Tests
• Determination of Moisture content of soil
• Determination of specific gravity of soil Will be studied in
Geotechnical
• Determination of liquid limit of soil Engineering-1
Lab course
• Determination of Plastic limit and Plasticity Index of soil
• Determination of shrinkage limit of soil
• Sieve analysis and hydrometer analysis
• Proctor and Modified Proctor's Compaction Test
• Direct Shear Test
• Unconfined Compression Test Will be studied in
• Triaxial Shear Test Geotechnical
Engineering-2 Lab course
• Consolidation Test
CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 25
Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Importance of Geotechnical Engineering

The civil engineer has many diverse important encounters with soil. Few
applications are:

• Foundation design.
• Pavement design.
• Design of earth retaining structures and underground.
• Design of embankments and excavation.
• Design of Earth Dams

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 26

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Importance of Geotechnical Engineering

Foundation design

Foundation is a very important element

of all civil engineering structures. All civil
engineering structures like buildings,
dams, bridges, retaining walls, walls,
canals, tunnels or pillars are founded in
or on the surface of the earth. It is
necessary to understand the bearing
capacity of the soil, effect of ground
water and vibration.

ground

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 27

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Importance of Geotechnical Engineering

Foundation design

Question arise whether to use strip footing (type of shallow foundation) or concrete
pile (deep foundation)…?

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 28

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Importance of Geotechnical Engineering

Foundation design

Shallow foundation---if we have firm/stiff soil

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 29

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Importance of Geotechnical Engineering

Foundation design

Shallow foundation

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 30

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Importance of Geotechnical Engineering

Foundation design

Deep foundation---if we have loose/weak

soil

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 31

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Importance of Geotechnical Engineering

Foundation design

Deep foundation
CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 32
Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Importance of Geotechnical Engineering

Foundation design
Steps for concrete pilling
(1) Boring
(2) Steel Placement
(3) Concreting

Helical
1 2 3 Pile

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 33

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Importance of Geotechnical Engineering

Pavement design
Pavement can be either flexible or rigid, and its performance depends upon the
subsoil on which it rests. The thickness of pavement and its component parts depends
upon certain characteristics (modulus of rupture, California bearing ratio, weights,
frequencies, and types of truck axle loads etc.), which should be determined before
the design is made.

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 34

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Importance of Geotechnical Engineering

Design of earth retaining structures and underground

The design and construction of underground and earth-retaining structures constitute
an important phase of engineering.
The underground structures include tunnels, underground buildings, drainage
structures and pipelines. A thorough knowledge of geotechnical engineering is
essential to design gravity-retaining walls, tunnels, underground buildings etc.
subjected to soil loadings.

Retaining wall
CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 35
Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Importance of Geotechnical Engineering

Design of embankments and Embankments

excavation

When the surface of the soil structure is not

horizontal, the component of gravity tends
to move the soil downward, and may disturb
the stability of the earth structure.

The possibility of seeping groundwater

reducing the soil strength while excavating
must also be taken into account.
Sometimes, it is required to drain the
subsoil water to increase the soil strength
and to reduce the seepage forces.

Deep excavation requires lateral braces and

sheet walls to prevent caving in.
Excavation
CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 36
Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Importance of Geotechnical Engineering

Design of Earth Dams

The construction of an earth dam requires a very thorough knowledge of geotechnical
engineering. As soil is used the only construction material in an earth dam, which may
be either homogeneous or of composite section.
Its design involves the determination of the physical properties of soil such as the
index properties, such as density, plasticity characteristics and specific gravity,
particle size distribution and gradation of the soil etc.

Earthen Dams
CE-331 Geotechnical Engineering-1 37
Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Geotechnical Failures

Retaining wall failures

A retaining wall failure occurred in New York City area. The 75-ft tall wall collapsed in 2
events…. reason poor geotechnical investigation and numerical analysis.

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 38

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Geotechnical Failures

Retaining wall failures

On 20th March 2012 a retaining structure along motorway A13 in Austria suddenly
collapsed……..reason poor geotechnical investigation and numerical analysis.

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 39

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Geotechnical Failures

Retaining wall failures

Retaining wall analysis on Plaxis 2d

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 40
Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Geotechnical Failures
Slope Failure

Land slide occurred

in Taiwan main
highway

Rock slide occurred

in North Carolina.

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 41

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Geotechnical Failures
Slope Failure

Slope stability analysis using numerical modeling (Plaxis 3d)

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 42

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Geotechnical Failures

Erosion of Soil
In July 30th 2006 , 8 meter high railway and road embankment was washed out during
heavy rain, close to Ann in Sweden.

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 43

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Geotechnical Failures

Erosion of Soil

Soil erosion occurred

under the bridge pier

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 44

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Geotechnical Failures

Soil liquefaction
(Geotechnical phenomena when
soil behave like fluid) occurred at
Niigata in 1964.

Soil settlement
Leaning Tower of Pisa Case Study in
Geotechnical Engineering

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWdr7pj
SpD4

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 45

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Geotechnical Failures
Reason of failure…Uneven lateral earth pressure

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 46

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Geotechnical Failures

Natural sinkholes
A massive sinkhole occurred in Guatemala in 2007. There are certain indicators
(Geotechnical tests) that can hint to the possible presence of a developing sinkhole before it
is too late.    

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 47

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Geotechnical Failures (Video-1)

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 48

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Geotechnical Failures (Video-2)

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 49

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Geotechnical Failures (Video-3)

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 50

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Geotechnical Failures
If finite element analysis would have done then…the above incident might not
have occurred.

Excavation analysis on Plaxis 2d

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 51
Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Geotechnical Failures (Video-4)
Poor soil investigation, ultimately result in failure of foundation and complete
collapse of structure somewhere in Pakistan.

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 52

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Some typical geotechnical questions
Some common questions which, each geotechnical engineer face in field are as
under;

• In a soil exploration program - to investigate site conditions, how many borings

are necessary, and how deep? How many samples are required? What soil tests
will need to be performed?

• What is the stress in the soil at a given depth from the imposed super structure or
fill load? Can the soil carry this stress without a shear failure?

• How much settlement can be expected for a structure as a result of the increase in
soil stress? How long will it take for this settlement to occur?

• Is this soil suitable for a highway or railroad fill? For dam where water will be
retained? For an embankment to retain industrial waste without leaking
environmental pollutants?

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 53

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Some typical geotechnical questions
• What is the effect of soil moisture change on the volume of the soil mass? How
can volume change be controlled for pavements? For other structures, including
residential construction?

• What is the rate of water movement through a soil mass, i.e., can it be easily
drained? Will a well provide an adequate supply? Will a dam built over this soil
hold water?

• Is a site safe for a radiation-producing plant?

• Can settlements be controlled so that no leakage occurs?

• Is this area safe for structures? Will an earthquake produce a disaster?

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 54

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
Important links
Geotechnical Engineering
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/geotechnical-engineering
  
Geotechnical Failures:
https://www.capitalgeotechnical.com/geotechnical-failures.html

Learning from Failures: A Geotechnical Perspective.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/288515983_Learning_from_Failures_A_G
eotechnical_Perspective

Kansai Airport Osaka Japan Case Study in Geotechnical Engineering:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLo6QToRhmc

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 55

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.
 Thank You

Any Question(s) ?

CE-331: Geotechnical Engineering-1 56

Course Instructor
Dr. M. Safdar, EEC UET Peshawar.