Republic of the Philippines
KOLEHIYO NG LUNGSOD NG DASMARINAS
City of Dasmarinas
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING
FIRST SEMESTER, ACADEMIC YEAR 2024-2025
CE0212: Geology for Civil Engineers
TASK NO. 01
Submitted by:
Mary Joy D. Mateo
BSCE - 201
(2023-1-001947)
Submitted to:
Engr. Jucar B. Fernandez, MSCE
Associate professor
September 2024
Date of submission: September 30, 2024
Date submitted: September 30, 2024
Date elapsed : 0 days
1. What is the importance of learning Geology in the CE profession?
Geology is fundamental in civil engineering since it helps engineers
understand the Earth, its materials, and processes. Civil engineers should
be geologically knowledgeable for simple reasons: safety and
effectiveness while constructing buildings, bridges, roads, and other
forms of construction [1]. This becomes more than simple knowledge of the
different types of soils and rocks; it is also important to understand how
the Earth's processes, like earthquakes, weathering, and water movements,
may impact construction projects. Knowledge of geology allows the civil
engineer to avoid problems and build more durable and safe structures
[2].
Probably one of the most important reasons why geology becomes
indispensable in civil engineering relates to site assessment. Site
investigation is what engineers do before any construction is possible at a
site to see if it's suitable for a building. They must determine the types of
rocks, minerals, and soils at the site and identify geologic hazards such as
earthquakes, landslides, and sinkholes [3]. This allows the engineers to
design foundations and other parts of the structure that can support or
withstand whatever conditions the site presents. Without this knowledge,
there is a higher chance that the structure will collapse, which could result
in serious accidents or even disasters. For example, if an engineer is going
to build a skyscraper, he must know if the ground beneath is solid enough
to bear all the building's loads. If the ground is composed of loose soil or
sand, the house could either sink or collapse. Through the geology of the
site, the engineer will be able to learn whether or not he will be obliged to
employ special techniques, such as deep foundations or soil stabilization,
to adapt the ground for the building to stand.
2. Differentiate the theory of continental drift and plate tectonics.
Understanding geological theories, such as continental drift and
plate tectonics, is equally vital for civil engineers. Continental drift refers
to the theory that all the continents initially fit into one supercontinent,
commonly identified as Pangaea, and have since developed to drift
further far apart. Plate tectonics just elaborated those ideas, adding
that the Earth's lithosphere is composed of large plates, which bounce on
the Earth's surface, or, in other words, it is divided into large plates that
are constantly moving. These plates can move in three different ways: they
collide, repeat, or pull away from one another, which causes earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions, and mountain formations [6]. On the other hand, plate
tectonics is very valuable for civil engineers in predicting in which areas
future earthquakes or other geological hazards are likely to occur. For
example, an engineer can make the building more resistant to earthquakes
if he knows that one of the sites of a building is very close to the fault line
between two tectonic plates. Either using a material that can readily bend
and not break or special features like shock absorbers that help the
building withstand shaking during an earthquake.
3. How do you think land formations are created?
The study of geology helps the civil engineer understand how diverse
landforms are created and how they can impact construction projects.
Landforms such as mountains, valleys, and plains are created via the
occurrence of tectonic activity, erosion, and sediment deposits, among
many others. Specifically, two tectonic plates that collide and force the
Earth's crust upward may form mountains, and valleys may form due to
the wearing a way of soil and rock under prolonged wear [2]. The projects
on civil engineering situated in harsh land regions like mountains and
steep valleys need geological parameters of how a landform was
developed and how it will continue changing over time. Suppose we are to
put up a dam in a valley. In that case, it necessitates that we locate the
geological forces concretely producing the shaping of the valley and how
the water and sediment would continue to affect the dam in the future.
These are considerations that engineers should make to prevent some
structural damage or failure that can lead to dangerous and costly
outcomes.
4. Why is weathering an important factor to consider in the CE profession?
Another critical geological process that the civil engineer must
consider is weathering. It is a mechanical or chemical breakdown of rocks
and minerals into smaller particles through exposure to the atmosphere,
water, and biological activities. The process seriously affects the
durability and life span of construction materials. For instance, an area's
high rainfall and humidity may weaken through the chemical weathering
of building materials like limestone and concrete. Therefore, any area's
weathering rate and type must be considered when the constructors design
the structures to last for the intended period [4]. These factors may
elevate maintenance costs and, at the same time, lead to structural
failures. The materials chosen by civil engineers must be those resistant to
the type of weathering occurring in the construction region. They can
always use some protective coatings or any other technique to limit the
effect of weathering on the structure. This way, they ensure that the
buildings, roads, or other infrastructure that they make are safe and
durable.
5. Where is water stored?
Water storage and its movement play another essential role in civil
engineering. Water is stored in several natural reservoirs: rivers, lakes,
aquifers, and glaciers. For the engineers to manage the resources
effectively, design water supply systems, and prevent flooding, they must
understand where and how water is stored. Aquifers, in particular, are
important because they store huge quantities of water-bearing rock that
often makes up very vital sources of fresh water supply to most
communities [5]. Engineers must be careful not to tamper with such
natural water sources during any construction process. For example, over-
drilling in a certain place may reduce the water table, making people
have trouble getting clean water. Understanding how water moves and is
stored helps an engineer design an appropriate drainage system that will
not accumulate or flood water. When not properly handled, water seeps
into the ground to the extent that it could undermine structures' stability,
thus causing damage and possible failure. Engineers must consider the
natural water flow in a particular area and thus design systems that can
handle heavy rainfall or snowmelt without causing problems.
6. What is the importance of learning basic concepts of earthquakes in
the CE profession?
Among natural hazards, earthquakes are perhaps one of the most
significant threats to infrastructure, and thus, civil engineers should be
prepared to provide an appropriate design against the same. It includes
knowledge of the basic concepts of earthquakes: seismic waves, fault lines,
and the Richter scale, which measures the earthquake's magnitude. Seismic
waves are the vibrations that travel through the Earth when an earthquake
occurs. There are several types of seismic waves, each of which will act
differently on the structures [6]. It is of critical importance for engineers
to learn how such waves will interact with the material and design of a
building so that they can construct structures capable of surviving the
shaking. These fault lines are the breaks in the crust of the Earth where
tectonic plates meet and where earthquakes are most likely to occur. If
engineers know where these fault lines are, they can assess the earthquake
risk in a given area and design buildings more resistant to seismic activity.
As a case in point, base isolators are mounted to allow a building to move
independently of the ground during an earthquake, thus lessening the
quantum of shaking to which a structure can be soothed. Perhaps, other
than that concept, the most major concept in earthquake design for a civil
engineer is soil liquefaction. Soil liquefaction is a natural phenomenon in
which the saturated soil loses its strength briefly and acts as a liquid
under an earthquake [7]. This might result in buildings and other
constructions sinking or tilting, significantly causing damage. The
engineers have to design the foundations so that through proper design,
the liquefaction of the soil may be prevented or, at least, their effects
reduced to ensure the safety and stability of the created structures.
REFERENCES:
[1] P. G. Fookes, "Geology for Engineers: The Geological Model, Prediction,
and Performance," The Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and
Hydrogeology, vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 293-424, Nov. 1995.
[2] K. P. Coduto, M. R. Yeung, and W. A. Kitch, Geotechnical Engineering:
Principles and Practices, 2nd ed., Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson
Education, 2010, pp. 68-75.
[3] D. M. McCarthy, Essentials of Soil Mechanics and Foundations: Basic
Geotechnics, 8th ed., Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, 2010, pp.
145-160.
[4] M. G. Worral and A. J. Clark, Weathering of Building Materials and Its
Implications for Design and Construction, 1st ed., New York: Springer, 2007,
pp. 21-34.
[5] M. D. Mays, Groundwater Hydrology, 3rd ed., Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley
& Sons, 2011, pp. 245-260.
[6] J. H. Shaw, P. M. Shearer, and J. R. Rice, "Seismic Waves and Earthquake
Rupture Dynamics," Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, vol. 38,
pp. 387-409, May 2010.
[7] Y. O. Wang and J. C. Allen, "Soil Liquefaction and Its Impact on
Foundations," Geotechnical Journal, vol. 56, no. 2, pp. 98-115, Feb. 2014.
