Geotechnical & Foundation
Engineering
Introduction
1
Learning Outcomes
1. evaluate the shear strength parameters and determine the shear
strength of soil;
2. determine the lateral earth pressure and thrust developed in soil;
3. acquire the knowledge of stability analysis of soil slope;
4. understand and evaluate the compressibility of soil using one
dimensional consolidation theory;
5. determine the immediate and consolidation settlement of
foundations;
6. determine the ultimate and allowable bearing capacity of shallow
and deep foundations.
2
Background Information
Geotechnical Manual for Slope
Geoguide 1 - Guide to Retaining Wall Design
Geoguide 2 - Guide to Site Investigation
Geoguide 3 - Guide to Rock And Soil Descriptions
Geoguide 5 - Guide to Slope Maintenance
Geoguide 7 - Guide to Soil Nail
TGN – Technical Guidance Notes
Works Bureau Technical Circulars
Code of Practice-foundation
GeoSpec
Geological Maps
3
Background Information
Ground Investigation
Collect data & determine the ground model
4
Determine the soil properties
Cohesive • Granular / cohesiveless /
non-cohesive
For comparison
•Strength
• C’, ’
•Unconsolidated Undrained test - Cu
•Deformation
•Immediate settlement / consolidation
•Normal/Over-consolidation
•Permeability
•Negative skin friction 5
C1-Shear Strength
•Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion
•shear strength of sands and clays
•laboratory determination of shear strength
6
7
C2 - Lateral Earth Pressure
•development of earth pressures: active, at-
rest and passive pressures
•Rankine’s and Coulomb’s theory of earth
pressure.
8
Examples of lateral pressure
9
10
C3 - Slope Stability
•factor of safety
•Infinite slopes
•Finite slopes
•method of slices
•application of computer software in slope
stability analysis
11
Slope Stability
12
Slope Analysis
13
14
C4 - Consolidation
•consolidation processes: primary and secondary
•one-dimensional consolidation theory
•laboratory determination of consolidation
properties
15
Consolidation
16
17
Definition of Foundations
foundations are the
connections between a
structure and the ground
that supports it.
?
It is the part of an
engineered system which
transmits to, and into, the
underlying soil or rock the
loads supported by the
foundation and its self 18
weight.
Main Performance Requirements
What loads are to be supported? (Capacity)
How far would the foundation settle in
response to these loads?
19
Essential Considerations
Loading ?
Ground
conditions ?
Buildability ?
Local
Environment /
restriction ?
20
C5 - Settlements of Foundation
•immediate and consolidation settlement
21
C6 - Shallow Foundations
•design considerations and principles
•definition, types and behaviour of shallow
foundations
•ultimate bearing capacity, net and allowable
bearing capacity
22
C7 - Deep Foundations
•classification of piles
•design considerations and principles
•point bearing capacity and frictional resistance of
pile
•considerations for single pile and pile group
23
Laboratory Tests
• compressibility of soil - consolidation test
• shear strength of soil - direct shear test
24
Notable Researchers/Scholars in Soil
Mechanics
Coulomb, Rankine, Fellenius
Terzaghi
Bjerrum Skempton
Brand
Peck Casagrande
Morgenstern Kenney
Janbu Bishop B. Fellenius
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Useful Links
http://www.dur.ac.uk/~des0www4/cal/
http://www.sbe.napier.ac.uk/esm/contents.html
http://www.up.ac.za/academic/civil/divisions/geotech
nical/pgcourses/sgm781/menu.html
http://environment.uwe.ac.uk/geocal/SLOPES/SLOPES.
HTM#SLOPES
http://www.wise-uranium.org/csst.html
https://ivle.nus.edu.sg/Lms/public/course_studentvie
w_public.aspx?CourseID=1b3cb4f3-5979-4901-ab3a-
7b6ed7a0c977
http://www.geoengineer.org/learnbyhy-soil.html
http://www.civil.usyd.edu.au/courses/civl2410/
http://www.civil.usyd.edu.au/courses/civl3411/
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References
Whitlow,R. Basic Soil Mechanics, 2nd Edition
Craig, R.F. (1992). Soil Mechanics, 5th Ed, Chap man & Hall.
Barnes, G.E. Soil Mechanics Principles and Practices, MacMilan.
Berry, P.L. & Reid, D. An Introduction to Soil Mechanics, McGraw-Hill Book Company
Budhu, M., (2000), Soil mechanics & Foundations, 1st Ed., John Wiley & Sons
Capper, P.L., Cassie, W.F. and Geddes, J.D. (1980). Problems in Engineering Soil.
Smith G.N., (1990), Elements of Soil Mechanics, 6th Ed, BSP Professional Books.
Sutton, B.H.C (1986). Solving Problems in Soil Mechanics, 2nd Ed, Longman.
Coduto, D.P. (1994), Foundation Design: Principles and Practices, Prentice-Hall, New Jersey.
Tomlinson, M.J. (1995), Foundation Design and Construction, 6th Ed, Longman Group, Essex, England
Das, B.M. (1995), Principles of Foundation Engineering, 3rd Ed, PWS Publishing Company, Boston.
Bowles, J.E. (1988), Foundation Analysis and Design, 4th Ed, McGraw-HiII, New York.
ELE International. Catalogue in Laboratory Testing.
Chen, W.F. and Duan, L. (2000). Bridge Engineering Handbook.
Fletcher, Chris (2004). Geology of Site Investigation Boreholes from Hong Kong, AGC
Waltham, A.C. (1997). Foundations of Engineering Geology. E & FN SPON. Geotechnical Engineering
Office (1993). Geoguide 1 - Guide to Retaining Wall Design, 2nd Ed.; CED, HK Government,
Government Publications Centre.
Geotechnical Engineering Office (1996). GEO Publication No. 1/96 - Pile Design and Construction, CED,
HK Government, Government Publications Centre.
Geotechnical Engineering Office (1987). Geoguide 2 - Guide to Site Investigation, CED, HK Government,
Government Publications Centre.
Geotechnical Engineering Office (1988). Geoguide 3 - Guide to Rock And Soil Descriptions, CED, HK
Government, Government Publications Centre.
Geotechnical Engineering Office, (1995), Geoguide 5 - Guide to Slope Maintenance, CED, The Government of Hong Kong Special
Administrative
Geotechnical Engineering Office (199 I). GEO Report No. 8: Foundation Design of Caissons on Granite
and Volcanic Rocks, CED, HK Government, Government Publications Centre.
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