GEOTECHNICAL

ENGINEERING
 What is Geotechnical Engineering?

•Application of civil engineering to earthen

materials
•Soil
•Rock
•Groundwater
 GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

• A specialty of civil engineering

• Deals with Properties, behavior and use of
Earth Materials in engineering works
 GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
• Requires the integrated knowledge from
– Geology
– Material science and testing
– Mechanics and hydraulics
– Environmental science and engineering
• The knowledge and their application is required for

• FOUNDATION
DESIGN
• RETAINING AND EARTH STRUCTURES
 GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

• Includes several aspects

– Soil Mechanics
– Rock Mechanics
– Engineering Geology
– Soil Engineering
– Rock Engineering
– Foundation Engineering
– Geo-environmental Engineering
 In general, geotechnical engineers:

• Estimate the magnitude and location of the

loads to be supported.
• Develop an investigation plan to 
explore the subsurface
• Determine necessary soil parameters through
field and lab testing
• Design the foundation in the safest and most
economical manner.
 The End

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