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Hello. Im a first semester Civil Engineering student in Mexico. I was just looking for some general, broad explanation for the subject of geotechnia. (I think that is what it is called in english) The translation from the spanich word would be Soil Mechanics. As I said, just a basid information or illustration on what that topic is, how it applies to the field, etc. Thanks.
Hi Pablo,
Geotechnical engineering is the application of soil mechanics to practical problems, such as slope stabilization, erosion control, foundation designs, tunnels excavations/support systems, etc.
Basically you will learn how different types of soils and rocks behave in their natural state, or after excavation, backfilling and compaction. You learn how the material compresses, both in the short term and long term, these factors being important for settlement analysis for foundations, buildings, etc.
You will also study the behaviour in different states of saturation (how water table affects it, or how porous it is, etc). soil mechanics is also vital for the design of earthfill and rock-fill dams. You will learn how much pressure is exerted horizontally by retained materials, in order to work out the design forces/pressures for basements, retaining walls, etc.
You will be able to work out the safe bearing pressures, against settlement, for foundations designs, and in advanced studies one also learns about liquefaction, and the effects of earthquakes, etc. You will be able to design and assess the results from site investigations and laboratory tests on disturbed and un-disturbed samples, such as borehole core samples.
I hope this gives you a broad picture, and is of help!
Kind regards,
Arshad
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Answers by Expert:
Arshad Khan
Expertise
I can answer any questions to do with civil and structural engineering consultancy and construction industry in East Africa and the Middle East, and specifically with the analysis and design of reinforced concrete structures. My particular expertise is in the aseismic design and optimisation of tall buildings.
Experience
Employment history: 36 years in Construction and consultancy in the UK, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Africa, Somalia, Zambia, Austria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Doha and the U.A.E.
Organizations
.Fellow of Institution of Structural Engineers (UK)
.Fellow of Institution of Civil Engineers(UK)
.Member of the Institution of Engineers, Kenya
.Registered Engineer, ERB, Kenya
.Member of the Architectural Association of Kenya (Engineers Chapter)
.Chartered Engineer (UK)
Publications
•1984: International Conference on the Art and Practice of Structural Design, London
•1994: 3rd Int. Kerensky Conference in Structural Engineering, Singapore
•2008: International Conference on High-Rise Towers, Abu Dhabi
Education/Credentials
BSc, 1st Class Hons, in Building Engineering, University of Bath, UK
MSc in Concrete Structures and Technology, University of London.
Diploma of Imperial College, UK.
Awards and Honors
•Science Congress Special Award (for 2-seater Hovercraft - 1968)
•Institution of Civil Engineers Award for outstanding performance at Bath University (1975)
•Concrete Society Postgraduate study Bursary Award (1976)
•Consular Representative for British High Commission, Nairobi. (1995 to 1998)
•Examiner for Institution of Civil Engineers Professional Interviews, Nairobi. (1997 to 1998)
•Branch Representative in Vienna for PI assessment for Inst. of Struct. Engrs. (1999 to date)
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