Lecture 1 - Introduction

Soil Mechanics
 Soil mechanics is the 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

 Geotechnical engineering is the sub-discipline of civil

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

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Soil
 Every civil engineering construction is either built in, on or
with soil
 Shallow Foundation on soil
 Deep foundations in soil
 Earthen dams or embankments with soil

 Hence, it is very important to study and understand soil

 Soil is 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
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Shallow Foundation

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-
Mf9eFDdOJGw/T_FwjuiDf_I/AAAAAAAABzE/oaJBwdQhOTA/ 4
s1600/IMG_2436.jpg
Shallow Foundation

https://www.flickr.com/photos/caut/9224104301/in/photostream/lightbox/
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Deep Foundation

http://allaboutskyscrapers.com/images/structure2.jpg 9
Earthen Embankments
Garrison Dam

210 ft tall, 11,300 ft wide

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Garris
on_Dam_aerial.jpg

Grapevine Dam

137 ft tall, 12,850 ft wide

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Slope Failure
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVjr4mii3cE&list=P
LCK0UVoRSk1Vpt4lYwdmRWbc3MOMgfqQS

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQvNm-
Swdb8&index=2&list=PLCK0UVoRSk1Vpt4lYwdmRWbc3
MOMgfqQS

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Liquefaction
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwvvYxSZ7PI

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NSR-10
 TÍTULO H

ESTUDIOS GEOTÉCNICOS

¿Cuántas perforaciones?

¿Qué tan profundas?

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Principles of Foundation Engineering, SI

© 2011 Cengage Learning

2 - 17
Engineering. All Rights Reserved.
18
Aproximadamente (Soweres and
Sowers, 1970)

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Exploratory Borings in the Field

Rotary drilling

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUOKhJ6yb4E
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGk1HI1NGug

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Exploratory Borings in the Field
 Percussion boring:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhCPu4w--oY For anchoring and soil exploration

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 Principles of Foundation Engineering, SI

Sampling
• Split Spoon– Disturbed Sampling

© 2011 Cengage Learning

2 - 25
Engineering. All Rights Reserved.
Sampling
 Split Spoon– Disturbed Sampling

• Drive with 140 lb hammer falling 30 inches

• Count number of blows required to drive each 6”

increment.Spoon is driven 18 inches.

• Standard Penetration Test (SPT) Resistance = N-value =

number of blows required to drive the sampler from 6”
to 18” (noted as blows per foot)

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SPT
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsxaMovxxGI

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 Split Spoon
Sampling

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FHWA, 2001 Foundation Engineering
 Split Spoon Sampling
Typical Sampling Sequence:

• Continuous samples in upper 10’ to 20’

• Sample at standard 5’ intervals thereafter

• Take additional samples at strata changes,

if detected
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Split Spoon Sampling

Split Spoon Sampling

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Split Spoon Sampling

Standard practice is to express

the N-value to an average energy
ratio of 60%:
SPT

Índice de Consistencia
SPT – Correction for N60 in granular soil
SPT – Correlations for angle of friction
SPT – Correlations
Sampling
 Thin-Walled Tube (Shelby Tube) – Undisturbed Sampling
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HWi6iZKciU
Sampling
 Sampling with a Piston Sampler
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAej5A59e-M&feature=player_embedded

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CPT

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CPT

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 CPT: History

• Developed in Europe beginning in the

1930’s

• Introduced in the U.S. in 1965

• CPT with pore pressure measurements

(CPTU) became readily available in the
1980’s. (also known as a piezocone)

From FHWA, 1996

 CPT

Basic Measurements:
• Cone (tip) resistance, qc = total force acting on
cone tip / tip area (10 cm2).

• Side friction, fs = total force acting on friction

sleeve / surface area (150 cm2).

• Friction Ratio, Fr = fs/qc x 100 (expressed as %)

 CPT: Typical Applications
1. Soil Stratigraphy
2. Geotechnical Parameters:
a. Relative Density
b. Friction Angle
c. Equivalent SPT blow count
d. Undrained Shear Strength
3. Direct Applications:
a. Pile Design
b. Liquefaction
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Foundation Engineering
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Vane Shear Test
Coring of Rocks

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Geophysical Exploration
 Seismic Refraction

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Geophysical Exploration
 Cross-Hole Seismic Survey

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Boring Logs (Ver NSR-10)

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Electrical resistivity tomography

A geophysical
technique for imaging
sub-surface structures
from electrical
resistivity
measurements made
at the surface, or
by electrodes in one or
more boreholes.

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Electrical resistivity tomography

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 Ejemplo de perfil vertical

Ejemplo de perfil horizontal

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Design Parameters Selection

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Design Parameters Selection

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Design Parameters Selection
 Parámetros  Parámetros NO
Drenados: Drenados:

c’ - φ’ Cu φ=0

-Arenas (secas o -Arcillas (saturadas en

saturadas) el corto plazo)

-Arcillas (saturadas en  Compresión inconfinada

el largo plazo)  Triaxial UU:

 Corte directo (dreanado)  La NSR-10 no considera condiciones

 Triaxial (CD o CU): parcialmente saturadas (con c - φ
aparentes) por ser generalmente menos
conservadoras