Geotechnical engineering

Subject classification: this is an engineering resource.

Geotechnical engineering is an important subset of civil engineering dealing with engineering performance of earth materials. Geotechnical engineering uses the principles of soil and rock mechanics to determine:

subsurface conditions and materials;
relevant physical/mechanical and chemical properties of these materials;
stability of natural slopes and man-made soil deposits;
risks posed by site conditions;

which should be used in a process of design of:

earthworks;
structure foundations;

and in monitoring of:

site conditions;
earthwork and foundation construction.^[1]^[2]

Foundations built for above-ground structures include shallow and deep foundations. Retaining structures include earth-filled dams and retaining walls.

References

↑ Terzaghi, K., Peck, R.B. and Mesri, G. (1996), Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice 3rd Ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-08658-4
↑ Holtz, R. and Kovacs, W. (1981), An Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering, Prentice-Hall, Inc. ISBN 0-13-484394-0

[TerzaghiPeckMesri-1] Terzaghi, K., Peck, R.B. and Mesri, G. (1996), Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice 3rd Ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-08658-4

[HoltzKovacs-2] Holtz, R. and Kovacs, W. (1981), An Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering, Prentice-Hall, Inc. ISBN 0-13-484394-0

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[2]