Week 8: Geotechnical Engineering

• What is the primary focus of Geotechnical Engineering?

  It deals with soil, rock, and underground water and their relation to the design construction and operation of engineering projects (Coduto 1998)
• What is Soil Mechanics?

  a discipline that applies the principles of engineering mechanics to soils to

  predict the mechanical behavior of soil.
• What are the 2 types of soil testing?

  • Vane shear test
  • Standard penetration test
• What are the applications of Geotechnical Engineering in foundation systems?

  • Designing shallow foundations addressing bearing capacity failure
  • e.g. Transcona Grain Elevator
• What is the purpose of shallow foundations?

  To transfer building loads to the ground
• What type of soils are shallow foundations mostly used for?

  Firm soils or light loads
• What is a potential issue with shallow foundations?

  Differential settlement can occur (e.g. leaning tower of pisa)
• What are the applications of deep foundations?

  • Transfer building loads to the ground
  • Used for weak soils or heavy loads
• What are driven piles used for in deep foundations?

  prefabricated and hammered into the ground, ideal for loose soils, fast to install but cause noise and vibrations
• What are drilled shafts used for in deep foundations?

  excavating and filling with concrete, suited for cohesive soils, offering high load capacity but slower and costlier to install.
• What is the purpose of retaining walls?

  • Prevent soils from spreading laterally (Side)
• What are the types of retaining structure systems?

  • Reinforced Earth Walls
  • Gabions
  • Tie-backs
  • Excavation Support Systems
• What are sheet piles used for?

  • Resist lateral earth pressures
  • Used in temporary works and excavations
• What materials are used for sheet piles?

  Steel or timber
• What are the applications of geo-fabrics?

  • Reinforcement
  • Separation
  • Filtration
  • Drainage in roads and walls
• What are some geotechnical challenges (geohazards)?

  Excavation impact, slope stability, and geotechnical earthquake engineering
• What are some geotechnical solutions?

  • Ground improvement
  • Soil improvement
• What is one method of soil improvement?

  Chemical injection
• What is the role of geotechnical or geological engineers?

  • Analyze seismic survey results
  • Investigate subsurface conditions
• What do geotechnical engineers do in oil sands projects?

  • Design open pit walls, mine waste dumps and dam structures and analyze slope stability, seepage and hydraulic separation on dam structures
• What is the role of hydrogeological engineers?

  • Design and analysis of ponds containing materials from soil and sand
  • evaluate underground water layers trapped in rocks
  • provide advice on environmental restoration
• What do reservoir geomechanics engineers analyze?

  • Soil strength, drill hole stability, stress constraint, permeability of rock formations

  and the degree of trapped hydrocarbons in underground reservoirs
• What is the focus of geomechanics engineers in marine operations?

  • Analyze physical structures and marine geology relationships
• Where do geotechnical engineers commonly work?

  • Mining companies
  • Oil and gas exploration, production, and transportation companies
  • Petroleum service companies
  • Research and academia
• Common Geotechnical Practice in a Project

  CONSTRUCTION SITE - soil samples - LABORATORY TESTING - soil properties - DESIGN OFFICE (design & analysis) - design details - CONSTRUCTION SITE
• What is Vane Shear Test?

  soil testing of undrained shear strength of soft soils by inserting vane in the soil
• What is standard penetration test?

  measures the relative density and strength of granular or non-cohesive soils by counting the number of hammer blows required to drive a split-barrel sampler into the ground.
• 2 types of ground improvement

  Impact Roller to Compact the Ground and Sheepsfoot Roller to Compact

  Clay Soils
• SCOPE OF WORK OF GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERS

  • GEOTECHNICAL OR GEOLOGICAL ENGINEERS (GENERAL)
  • GEOTECHNICAL OR GEOLOGICAL ENGINEERS (OIL SANDS PROJECTS)
  • HYDROGEOLOGICAL ENGINEER
  • RESERVOIR GEOMECHANICS ENGINEER (OIL & GAS OPERATIONS)
  • GEOMECHANICS ENGINEER (MARINE OPERATIONS)
• example of mining companies

  atlas mining, pasar, apex mining co., inc., philex mining corporation, greenstone resource
• example of OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION, PRODUCTION AND TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES

  sterling, wellex industries, inc. PNOC
• example of petroleum service companies

  seaoil, phoenix, petron, shell
• example of research and academe

  DLSU, ADMU, MSU-IIT, MIT, USC, CLSU, UPD, UPLB