Chapter 1

The Civil Engineer and Geology

 Geology
- The study of the composition and arrangement of the
earth’s crust.
• Every branch of civil engineering deals with the surface of the earth since
the works of civil engineers are supported by or located in some part of the
earth.
• Consult a geologist before design and construction begins.
• Environmental statements are now mandatory, before construction can
begin.
Training in geology
Training in geology
• Geologic training must obviously be general.
- Physical Geology, Structural Geology, and
Petrology
• Field experience is of fundamental importance in all training.
• Study of Geologic lessons learned in actual engineering practice.

Engineering Judgment
- most prized possession of an engineer that can be gained if he/she possesses
a fundamental knowledge of Geology.
Practical Experience
Geologists And Civil
Engineering Work
 Geologists And Civil Engineering Work
• Geologists welcome the opportunity to cooperate with civil engineering work,
but this does not occur more frequently.
The records of geological survey showed conclusively that closer cooperation
between the geologist and the engineer would be greatly to the advantage
of both, and it was a pity that there was no very direct way in which geologist
could be kept informed of the progress of important excavations.
- Dr. T. Robinson
• Their partnership , in some ways, a union of opposites for the approach of two
to the same problem.
- Geologist analyzes conditions as they are, engineers considers how
existing conditions can be changed.
 Geologists And Civil Engineering Work

- Geologist draws analysis to site problems that exist and suggest

troubles that may arise, engineers has to solve the problems
and overcome the troubles.
• The final responsibility for decisions must always rest with the engineer.
• This joint work calls for a fine a fine degree of real cooperation.
The Pattern of Civil
Engineering
 The Pattern of Civil Engineering
• When a new project comes up, the civil engineer will initially require firsthand
knowledge about the site-area.
Elementary study Preliminary plans
Contract awarded Construction begun
of the site-area and estimates

• The opportunity to use geologic information in specifications will arise in one

or more of four ways:
1. In the provision of possible alterations in design due to variations in subsurface conditions.
2. In the provision of information relating to available materials of construction.
3. In the clauses relating to choice of methods of construction.
4. in reference to the measurements and payment for excavation.
“Earth” or “Rock”?
• There may be materials on the excavation process that cannot be easily classified as
either “earth” or “rock” unless a reference basis is adopted before contract operations
begin.

Hardpan
- This term should always be avoided by engineers to avoid problems.
- Sometimes applied to local gravel deposits whose unusual hardness has been caused
by partial cementing of the rock fragments.
- Glacial basal till (lodgement till or boulder clay) is often
described as hardpan.
The designations used for describing material to be excavated should be as few
as possible:
• Hard-rock excavation – excavation of crystalline rock (granite or hard
sedimentary rock such as limestone).
• Loose-rock or Weak-rock excavation – excavation of blocky limestone.
• Soft-rock and Earth excavation – excavation of disintegrated crystalline
rock, weathered rock, clay, sand and gravel.

Soil refers to unconsolidated natural materials, Weak rocks are rocks of low
compressive strength, and Rock refers to solid bedrock.
Construction
operations
maintenance
conclusion
 conclusion
Geology has a vital role in all engineering operations which interact in any
way with the ground, and thus the science is critical to the entire field of civil
engineering.

• Civil Engineering is essentially an art and its successful practices depends

in large measure upon the exercise of sound judgment.
• Sound judgment in turn comes from long experience based on acute
observations.
•
conclusion
Field geology is based upon such powers of
observation, coupled with the ability to deduce the
presence and orientation of three-dimensional
geologic structure from surface features.
• Block diagrams are means of portrayal of geologic
conditions usually used by geologist and civil
engineers.
• Civil engineers must not only learn to visualize subsurface conditions but
must always realize the added complications that the presence of varying
amounts of groundwater may cause.