GEOTECHNICAL

ENGINEERING I
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
RESOURCE PERSON: Hafiz Usman Tariq (Usman.tariq@umt.edu.pk)
LECTURE 1
17TH FEBRUARY 2019
EVALUATION

 Mid Term 30 %
 Final Term 50 %
 Quizzes, Assignments & Class Participation 20
%
SUGGESTED REFERENCE
BOOKS
1- Principles of Geotechnical Engineering (Braja M. Das)

2- An Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering (Robert D. Holtz

& William D. Kovacs)

3- Geotechnical Engineering: Principles & Practices (Donald P.

Coduto)

4- Fundamentals of Soil Mechanics (M.S. Qureshi & Aziz Akbar)

COURSE CLO’S
 CLO 1. Explain physical characteristics of soil.
 CLO 2. Solve different geotechnical engineering
problems using physical properties of soil.
 CLO 3. Identify different phases of a soil investigation
program.
INTRODUCTION
Soil
An Unconsolidated agglomerate of
minerals with or without organic matter
found at or near the surface of the earth
crust which will or upon which civil
engineers will build their structures.
 Soil mass is a particulate material consisting of solid particles with
INTRODUCTION
Soil Mechanics

Soil mechanics is a branch of Civil Engineering

concerned with the study of soil and its behavior
under different types of loads using the
principles of engineering mechanics, fluid
mechanics, mechanics of dynamics, thermal
dynamics, etc.
SOIL MECHANICS
Stress-strain
relationship in soils
depends upon

Types of Soil State of Soil

Caliche
Loam Silt Mud Loose Dense Moist Dry etc.
etc.
INTRODUCTION
Geotechnical Engineering

Geotechnical engineering deals with the application of

soil mechanics to civil engineering field problems.
“Soil mechanics is a science, but its application is an
art” (Karl Terzaghi)
SOIL FORMATION
Mechanical/Physical
Rocks weathering
Disintegration
(Sedimentary,
(Broken Down/
Igneous,
decomposed)
Metamorphic)

Atmospheric agents

Transported/settled
(Final Soil state)
SOIL FORMATION
Soil is formed due to the weathering of rocks.
Weathering
Weathering is a process whereby an intact rock mass is
decomposed or broken into a loose material by the action of
various atmospheric agents.
Types of Weathering
1. Mechanical/Physical Weathering
2. Chemical Weathering
MECHANICAL WEATHERING
Mechanical Weathering Agents;
1. Temperature changes
2. Freezing & Thawing
3. Erosion/Abrasion due to flowing of water/wind
4. Natural disasters (landsides, earthquakes, etc.)
5. Activities by plants, animals, humans, etc.
MECHANICAL WEATHERING
 Soils formed by mechanical weathering have the
same composition as that of the parent rock.
 Soils formed by mechanical weathering retains the
minerals and material fibers as that of the parent
rock.
 Coarse grained soils (gravels, sands and their
mixtures) are the examples of mechanical
weathering.
CHEMICAL WEATHERING
 Weathering caused by decomposition of rock mineral
by different chemical processes such as oxidation,
hydration, carbonation, leaching, solution, etc. is
known as chemical weathering.
 Different types of clays and organic soils are the
common soils formed by chemical weathering.
CHEMICAL WEATHERING
Chemical weathering processes;
1. Oxidation
2. Carbonation
3. Hydration
4. Leaching
5. Solution

(Search for single line definition of the these + major problems

associated with them)
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

1. What are the typical soil related problems that Civil

Engineers have to deal with? (at least 3 unique)

2. What are the typical soil failures; i.e. failures caused

to civil structures due to failure of soil?