Topic I - Geotechnical Engineering (Soil Mechanics I)

Soil Mechanics

a branch of science that deals with the study of the physical properties of soil and the behavior of soil masses subjected to various types of forces

Soil

defined as the uncemented aggregate of mineral grains and decayed organic matter (solid particles) with liquid and gas in the empty spaces between the solid particles

Soil

used as a construction material in various civil engineering projects, and it supports structural foundation

Soil Engineering

the application of the principles of soil mechanics to practical problems

Geotechnical Engineering

the subdiscipline of civil engineering that involves natural materials found close to the surface of the earth

Geotechnical Engineering

includes the application of the principles of soil mechanics and rock mechanics to the design of foundation, retaining structures, and earth structures

lost in antiquity

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING PRIOR TO THE 18^TH CENTURY

The record of a person’s first use of soil as a construction material is _____.

18^th century

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING PRIOR TO THE 18^TH CENTURY

In true engineering terms, the understanding of geotechnical engineering as it is known today began early in the _____ (Skempton, 1985).

foundation, stability of slopes, construction of underground chambers

GREAT PYRAMID OF GIZA

The construction of the pyramids posed formidable challenges regarding _____, _____, and _____.

special mortar

GREAT PYRAMID OF GIZA

In order to build the pyramids, they used _____ to help the pyramid survive for a long period of time.

138

GREAT PYRAMID OF GIZA

In 2008, there are _____ total numbers of known pyramids in Egypt.

Leaning Tower of Piza (Italy)

one of the most famous examples of problems related to soil bearing capacity in the construction of structure prior to the 18^th century

clay, 11 m, 36 ft

LEANING TOWER OF PIZA (ITALY)

Recent investigations showed that a weak _____ layer existed at a depth of about _____ or around _____, below the ground surface compression of which caused the tower to tilt.

solid foundation, 48 m, 60 m, 3 m, south

GARISENDA TOWER

At any rate, the Garisendas did not invest enough in a _____, and the tower, it stands _____ high now originally _____ in height, has sunk considerably over the centuries and leans about _____ towards the _____.

Asinelli Tower

97n m high and weighs 7300 metric tons

1.3 degrees

By how much has the Asinelli Tower tilted?

• Buildings

• Bridges

• Dams

• Tunnels

Geotechnical Aspects of Structure:

Grand Hyatt Manila

tallest building in the Philippines

San Juanico Bridge

longest bridge in the Philippines

Cebu Cordova Link Expressway

longest and highest bridge in the Philippines

Kabiang Tunnel

longest road tunnel in the Philippines

• Chuzon Supermarket in Pampanga

• Warehouse Wall in Bulacan

Geotechnical Failure:

Preclassical Period of Soil Mechanics (1700-1776)

concentrated on studies relating to natural slope and unit weights of various types of soil, as well as semi empirical earth pressure theories

Henri Gautier (1660-1737)

French Royal Engineer

Henri Gautier (1660-1737)

in 1717, he studied the natural slopes of soils when tipped in a heap formulating the design procedures for retaining walls

Bernard Forest De Belidor (1671-1761)

published a textbook for Military and Civil Engineer in France

Bernard Forest De Belidor (1671-1761)

he proposed a theory for lateral earth pressure on retaining walls that was follow-up to Gautier’s (1717) original study

Francois Gadroy (1705-1759)

reported the first laboratory model test results on a 76 mm high retaining wall built with sand fill in 1746 who observed the existence of slip planes in the soil as failure

Francois Gadroy (1705-1759)

a French Engineer

J.J. Mayniel

Gadroy’s study; later summarized in 1808

Jane Rodolphe Perronet (1708-1794)

a French engineer

Jane Rodolphe Perronet (1708-1794)

studied slope stability around 1769 and distinguished between tact ground and fill

Classical Soil Mechanics Phase I (1776-1856)

during this period, most of the development in the area of geotechnical engineering cam from engineers and scientists in France

Charles Augustin Coulomb (1736-1806)

used the principles of maxima and minima to determine the true position of the sliding surface of soil behind a retaining wall, wherein he used the laws of friction and cohesion for solid bodies

William John Macquorn Rankine (1820-1872)

a professor of civil engineering at the University of Glasgow

William John Macquorn Rankine (1820-1872)

his studies provided a notable theory on earth pressure and equilibrium of earth masses

William John Macquorn Rankine (1820-1872)

his theory is just a simplification of Coulomb’s theory

Classical Soil Mechanics Phase II (1856-1910)

several experimental results from laboratory tests on sand appeared in the literature

From the publication of a paper on the permeability of sand filters by French engineer Darcy in 1856

From what did the Classical Soil Mechanics Phase II (1856-1910) start?

Henri Philibert Gaspard Darcy (1803-1858)

in 1856, he published a study on the permeability of sand filters

Henri Philibert Gaspard Darcy (1803-1858)

he defined the term of coefficient of permeability of soil, a very useful parameter in geotechnical engineering to this day

Sir George Howard Darwin (1845-1912)

a professor of astronomy

Sir George Howard Darwin (1845-1912)

conducted laboratory tests to determine the overturning moment on a hinged wall retaining sand in loose and dense state of compaction

Joseph Valentin Boussinesq (1842-1929)

another noteworthy contribution which was published in 1885 by him was the development of the theory of stress distribution under load bearing areas in a homogeneous, semi-infinite, elastic, and isotropic medium

• Osborne Reynolds

• John Clibborn and John Stuart Beresford

Other notable person during the Classical Soil Mechanics Phase II (1856-1910):

Modern Soil Mechanics (1910-1927)

in this period, results of research conducted on clays were published in which the fundamental properties and parameters of clay were established

Albert Mauritz Atterberg (1846-1916)

defined clay-size fractions as the percentage by weight of particles smaller than 2 microns in size

Albert Mauritz Atterberg (1846-1916)

realized the importance of clay particles in soil and the plasticity thereof

Plasticity Index

As defined by Albert Mauritz Atterberg (1846-1916), what is the difference between liquid limit and plastic limit called?

Arthur Langley Bell (1874-1956)

developed relationships for lateral pressure and resistance in clay as well as bearing capacity of shallow foundation

Arthur Langley Bell (1874-1956)

used shear-box tests to measure the undrained shear strength of undisturbed clay specimen

Wolmar Fellenius (1876-1957)

developed the stability analysis of undrained saturated clay slopes with the assumption that the critical surface of sliding is the arc of a circle

Arthur Casagrande (1902-1981)

developed the liquid limit apparatus, the hydrometer test, the horizontal capillary test, the consolidation apparatus, and the direct shear apparatus

Arthur Casagrande (1902-1981)

made many contributions to the analysis of soft clays, soil composition, and classification, seepage, earth dams, and others

Karl Terzaghi (1883-1963)

the father of modern soil mechanics

Karl Terzaghi (1883-1963)

developed the theory of consolidation for clays as we know today

Karl Terzaghi (1883-1963)

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING AFTER 1927

Who absolutely impacted the development of Geotechnical Engineering as a branch of Civil Engineering?

Karl Terzaghi (1883-1963)

his contribution has spread to almost every topic in soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering covered by the test book

October 2, 1883 (Prague)

When and where was Karl Terzaghi (1883-1963) born?

October 25, 1963 (Winchester, Massachussetts)

When and where did Karl Terzaghi (1883-1963) die?

Karl Terzaghi (1883-1963)

won the Norman Medal of ASCE four times (1930, 1943, 1946, and 1955)

Nine honorary doctorate degrees from universities in eight different countries

How many honorary doctorate degrees did Karl Terzaghi (1883-1963) received and from where did he receive them?

Karl Terzaghi (1883-1963)

started modern soil mechanics with his theories of consolidation, lateral earth pressures, bearing capacity, and stability

Ralph Peck (1912-2008)

worked as an assistant to Karl Terzaghi

Ralph Peck (1912-2008)

was a teacher, mentor, friend, and counselor to generations of geotechnical engineers in every country in the world