What is Geotechnical Engineering?

Geotechnical engineer concentrate on mainly analysis & understanding properties of soil, foundations, rock, underground water,site and structural conditions, etc.

If you know the basics about the civil engineering than you definitely know about the geotechnical part of this branch.

What is the scope of this particular branch in the civil engineering??

If you are working as a geotechnical engineer then there are plenty of chance to earn handsome amount of salary by working with MNC’s and Government sector.

Below you should gain some basic knowledge of Soil and its type:

Formation of soil:

Soil is form by weathering of rocks which may be carried out by

  •  Physical agency :-  Running water, Ice,Wind etc.
  •  Chemical agency :- Carbonation, Reduction, Oxidation etc.

Generally 4 step involve in geological cycle for formation of soil

1) Weathering

2) Transportation

3) Deposition

4) Upneavel

Soil formation cycle

Type of soil:

1) Alluvial soil: This type of soil deposited from suspension in running water, and found nearly in river region. Alluvium is typically made up of a variety of material including fine particles of silt and clay and larger particles of sand and gravels. 


This type of soil can be classified into 2 group

a)      Khaddar

b)     Bhangar 

2) Lacustrine soil:  This type of soil is form due to deposition from suspension in fresh still water of lack Ex bhopal. This type of soils are beneficial to growth of the crops because of deposition of sediment, land is also flat in this region. The soil material consists of a clay and silt mixture. 


3) Colluvial soil (talus soil):  It is form due to transportation by gravitational force. This soils are among the most productive of the mountainous and hilly landscapes because they have significantly deep rootable material, Which provides moisture and nutrients to the plants.


4) Glacial soil(Till soil) (Drift): It is the soil which is transformed by ice. Ex Kashmir. 


5) Loess soil (collapsible soil): It is the uniformly graded wind silt, slightly cemented due to ca compound.when it becomes wet, It looses its cementing action and become soft and collapsible.


6) Black cotton soil: It is residual soil formed from basalt and contain high percentage of clay mineral montmorilonite (responsible for swelling and shrinkage property of clay).


7) Laterite soil: It is type of soil formed by leaching out of silicious compound and accumulation of iron oxide and alluminium oxide. It is generally found in hilly area having humid climate.


8) Muck soil: Muck soils are uniquely different from mineral soil. It is mixture of  inorganic  soil and black decompose organic compound. They may contain 20 to 80% organic matter compared with mineral soil may contain only 1 to 5%.

This type of soils have developed under saturated or ponded water conditions from deposits of plant materialthat accumulated over very long period of time.


9) Peat soil: It is highly organic soil which almost entirly consist of organic matters, It is highly compressible soil. Crops such as potatoes , sugar, beet, onions, carrots, and market garden crops are commonly grown. Cereals produce low yields.


10) Humus: It is half decomposed organic soil. Humus soil contains many useful nutrients and minerals for healthy soil.



What is Civil Engineering:

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