Owing to the wide-ranging nature of the subject, only core concepts are introduced, supported by the most important theoretical background. References provide an opportunity for wider reading.
Contents:
Introduction
- Importance of ground engineering
Geotechnical risks
- Why work in the ground is risky
- Mitigating risks
- Other issues to consider
Soil classification and description
Total and effective stress, strength and deformation
- Introduction: fundamentals of soil behaviour
- Concept of effective stress
- Stress distribution in the ground
- Strength
- Deformation
- Soil testing methods
Seepage and flow through soils
- Introduction
- Summary of key information for structural engineers
- Darcy’s Law
- Construction of flow nets
Conclusions
- Ground engineering: the wider context
- Soil characteristics