Geotechnical Site Characterization


Book Description

The topic of site characterization is unique to geotechnical engineering and owes its significance directly to the variability of the natural geologic deposits on the earth’s surface. Proper site characterization requires an understanding of various field and laboratory investigation methods. The book discusses the suitability of various methods under different site conditions and presents the procedures to derive design parameters based on interpretation of test results. Recent developments in specialized site characterization methods (such as seismic hazard evaluation) are also included. Three recent case histories are presented, where site characterization played a key role. The three disparate cases include soft natural soil under static loading, coarse and fine-grained soil under seismic impact, and hazardous waste deposits under both static and seismic loading. Site investigation requirements of building codes are discussed and guidelines for preparing a typical site characterization report are presented. The book is aimed at the practicing geotechnical engineer, as well as advanced undergraduate and graduate students.







Ground Characterization and Foundations


Book Description

This book comprises the select proceedings of the Indian Geotechnical Conference (IGC) 2020. The contents focus on recent developments in geotechnical engineering for a sustainable tomorrow. The book covers the topics related to traditional and latest methods in characterisation of ground at construction sites, recent technological developments/ advances in design of shallow and deep foundations in different subsoil conditions.




Push-Pull Tests for Site Characterization


Book Description

The push-pull test is a powerful site characterization technique that has been applied to a wide range of problems in contaminant hydrogeology. The theoretical and practical apsects of push-pull testing were initially developed to characterize groundwater acquifers but the method has now been extended to saturated and unsaturated soils and sediments as well as to surface water bodies. Dr. Istok and his collaborators have been instrumental in the development of these techniques and he is widely recognized as the world's leading expert push-pull testing. This is the only reference book available on this powerful method.




Evaluation of Soil and Rock Properties


Book Description

This document presents state-of-the-practice information on the evaluation of soil and rock properties for geotechnical design applications. This document addresses the entire range of materials potentially encountered in highway engineering practice, from soft clay to intact rock and variations of materials that fall between these two extremes. Information is presented on parameters measured, evaluation of data quality, and interpretation of properties for conventional soil and rock laboratory testing, as well as in situ devices such as field vane testing, cone penetration testing, dilatometer, pressuremeter, and borehole jack. This document provides the design engineer with information that can be used to develop a rationale for accepting or rejecting data and for resolving inconsistencies between data provided by different laboratories and field tests. This document also includes information on: (1) the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Personal Data Assistance devices for the collection and interpretation of subsurface information; (2) quantitative measures for evaluating disturbance of laboratory soil samples; and (3) the use of measurements from geophysical testing techniques to obtain information on the modulus of soil. Also included are chapters on evaluating properties of special soil materials (e.g., loess, cemented sands, peats and organic soils, etc.) and the use of statistical information in evaluating anomalous data and obtaining design values for soil and rock properties. An appendix of three detailed soil and rock property selection examples is provided which illustrate the application of the methods described in the document.




Geotechnical and Geophysical Site Characterization


Book Description

Geotechnical and Geophysical Site Characterization collects the papers presented at the Third International Conference on Site Characterization (ISC 3) that took place in Taipei from April 1-4, 2008. The subjects covered include new developments in mechanical in-situ testing and interpretation techniques, statistical analysis of test data, geo




Surface Wave Methods for Near-Surface Site Characterization


Book Description

Develop a Greater Understanding of How and Why Surface Wave Testing Works Using examples and case studies directly drawn from the authors’ experience, Surface Wave Methods for Near-Surface Site Characterization addresses both the experimental and theoretical aspects of surface wave propagation in both forward and inverse modeling. This book accents the key facets associated with surface wave testing for near-surface site characterization. It clearly outlines the basic principles, the theoretical framework and the practical implementation of surface wave analysis. In addition, it also describes in detail the equipment and measuring devices, acquisition techniques, signal processing, forward and inverse modeling theories, and testing protocols that form the basis of modern surface wave techniques. Review Examples of Typical Applications for This Geophysical Technique Divided into eight chapters, the book explains surface wave testing principles from data measurement to interpretation. It effectively integrates several examples and case studies illustrating how different ground conditions and geological settings may influence the interpretation of data measurements. The authors accurately describe each phase of testing in addition to the guidelines for correctly performing and interpreting results. They present variants of the test within a consistent framework to facilitate comparisons, and include an in-depth discussion of the uncertainties arising at each stage of surface wave testing. Provides a comprehensive and in-depth treatment of all the steps involved in surface wave testing Discusses surface wave methods and their applications in various geotechnical conditions and geological settings Explains how surface wave measurements can be used to estimate both stiffness and dissipative properties of the ground Addresses the issue of uncertainty, which is often an overlooked problem in surface wave testing Includes examples with comparative analysis using different processing techniques and inversion algorithms Outlines advanced applications of surface wave testing such as joint inversion, underwater investigation, and Love wave analysis Written for geotechnical engineers, engineering seismologists, geophysicists, and researchers, Surface Wave Methods for Near-Surface Site Characterization offers practical guidance, and presents a thorough understanding of the basic concepts.




Modeling in Geotechnical Engineering


Book Description

Modeling in Geotechnical Engineering is a one stop reference for a range of computational models, the theory explaining how they work, and case studies describing how to apply them. Drawing on the expertise of contributors from a range of disciplines including geomechanics, optimization, and computational engineering, this book provides an interdisciplinary guide to this subject which is suitable for readers from a range of backgrounds. Before tackling the computational approaches, a theoretical understanding of the physical systems is provided that helps readers to fully grasp the significance of the numerical methods. The various models are presented in detail, and advice is provided on how to select the correct model for your application. - Provides detailed descriptions of different computational modelling methods for geotechnical applications, including the finite element method, the finite difference method, and the boundary element method - Gives readers the latest advice on the use of big data analytics and artificial intelligence in geotechnical engineering - Includes case studies to help readers apply the methods described in their own work







Handbook of Geotechnical Investigation and Design Tables


Book Description

This practical handbook of properties for soils and rock contains, in a concise tabular format, the key issues relevant to geotechnical investigations, assessments and designs in common practice. In addition, there are brief notes on the application of the tables. These data tables are compiled for experienced geotechnical professionals who require a reference document to access key information. There is an extensive database of correlations for different applications. The book should provide a useful bridge between soil and rock mechanics theory and its application to practical engineering solutions. The initial chapters deal with the planning of the geotechnical investigation, the classification of the soil and rock properties and some of the more used testing is then covered. Later chapters show the reliability and correlations that are used to convert that data in the interpretative and assessment phase of the project. The final chapters apply some of these concepts to geotechnical design. This book is intended primarily for practicing geotechnical engineers working in investigation, assessment and design, but should provide a useful supplement for postgraduate courses.