ENGINEERING GEOLOGY

(CENG-621)

Instructor

Tenalem Ayenew

Addis Ababa University

Department of Earth Sciences
 Table of Contents
• Introduction (Subject matter of Engineering Geology and its relation
to other fields)
• Weathering
• Classification of rocks and soils, their properties and suitability as
construction and foundation materials
• Slope movements
• Rock excavations and foundation treatment
• Geological problems in foundation of buildings, bridges, highways,
tunnels
• Dams and Reservoirs
• Tunnels
• Engineering geological maps (case histories)
• Note: Case histories shall be shown in all chapters.
 Selected References
• Alemayehu Tefera (1992). Foundation Engineering. Addis Ababa University Press.
557pp.
• Arorta, K.R. (1988). Introductory soil engineering. Standard Publishers, New Delehi.
626 pp.
• Banger, K.M. (1997). Principles of engineering geology. Standard Publishers, New
Delehi. 451 pp.
• Blyth, F.G.H. and de Freitas, M.H. (1973). A geology for Engineers. Edward Arnold Ltd,
London. 557 pp.
• Dikau, R., Brunsden, D., Schrott, L. and Insen, M. (1996). Landslide recognition:
identification, movement and cause. John Wiley. Chichester, United Kindom. 251 pp.
• Freeze, R.A. and Cherry, J.A. (1979). Groundwater. Prentice-Hall, New Jersey. 604
pp.
• Krynine, D.P. and Judd, W.R. (1957). Principles of engineering geology, McGraw-Hill,
New York. 730 pp.
• Johnson, R.B. and DeGraff J.V. (1988). Principles of engineering geology. John Wilay,
New York, 497 pp.
• Szexhy, K. (1961). The art of tunneling. Tankonyvkiado, Budapest. 891pp.
• Thomas, H.,H. (1976). The engineering of large dams (Part I and II). John Wiley,
Sidney. 777 pp.
• Watters, R.J. (1989). Engineering geology and geotechnical engineering. Balkema,
Rotterdam. 420 pp.
 Subject Matter of Engineering Geology
• Engineering Geology is an applied discipline of Geology that relies
heavily on geologic principles and processes in the application of
geologic fundamentals to engineering practice. The International
Association of Engineering Geologists (IAEG) defined Engineering
Geology as the science devoted to the investigation, study and
solution of the engineering and environmental problems which may
arise as the result of the interaction between geology and the works
and activities of man as well as to the prediction and of the
development of measures for prevention or remediation of
geological hazards.

• Engineering geology is an interdisciplinary profession, in which the

engineering geologist works closely with, and must understand and
respond to the needs of the Civil Engineer. It fills the gap between
Geology and Civil Engineering. In Engineering Geology, Geology is
the principle while Engineering is the practice.
 Engineering geology provides basic geological data for the safe construction and
remediation of engineering structures. The following points highlight how geology is very
important in civil engineering practices.

• Geology provides a systematic knowledge of construction material, its occurrence,

composition, durability and other properties. Examples of such construction materials
are building stones (granite), clays and sand.

• The knowledge of the geological work of natural agencies such as water, wind, ice and
earthquakes helps in planning and carrying out major civil engineering works. For
example, the knowledge of erosion, transportation and deposition helps greatly in
solving the expensive problems of river control, coastal and harbor work and soil
conservation.

• Groundwater is the water, which occurs, in the subsurface rocks. The knowledge about
its quantity and depth of occurrence is required in connection with water supply,
irrigation, excavation and many other engineering works.

• The foundation problems of dams, bridges and buildings are directly related to the
geology of the area where they are to be built. In these works drilling is commonly
undertaken to explore the ground conditions. Geology helps greatly in interpreting the
drilling data.
 Engineering Geologist:

• Is a scientist who can put geologic knowledge to practical use for the purpose
of assuring that the geologic factors affecting the location, design,
construction, operation and maintenance of engineering works are recognized
and adequately provided for.

• Is a fully competent geologist who is versed in the basic theory and practice of
engineering and is aware of the complex natural systems that interact to
produce the natural physical environment, so that he can convince both the
geologist and the Civil Engineer

• Is a "two - face" professional looking back at geologic processes and forward

to engineering products. The Engineering Geologist is denied the scientific
privilege of being wrong because an error can lead to the loss of life or property
for which the courts may find him or her liable.

TYPES :

1. Civil Engineering Geologist,

2. Mining Engineering Geologist.
3. Petroleum Engineering Geologist
 Main Tasks
• Description of the geologic environment pertinent to the engineering
practice,
• Description of earth materials, their distribution, and general
physical and chemical characteristics,
• Deduction of the history of pertinent events affecting the earth
materials,
• Forecasting of future events and conditions that may develop,
• Recommendation of materials for representative sampling and
testing,
• Recommendation of ways to handle and treat various earth
materials and processes; recommending or providing criteria for
excavation design, particularly angle of cut slopes, in materials
where engineering testing is inappropriate or where geologic
elements control stability,
• Inspection during construction activities to confirm conditions.
Field of expertise in Engineering Geology
• Classification and description of rocks and soils
• Ground water and Surface waters
• Rock mechanics
• Earthquakes
• Slope stability
• Exploration
• Mapping
• Design and supervision
• Project planning
• Engineering Geophysics
 FUNDAMENTALS
• Rocks and Soils:

The activities of the engineering geologist invariably are directly or indirectly

associated with rocks and rock-forming minerals. Knowledge of rock types
and the environments in which they formed as well as their responses to
weathering, erosion, and tectonic processes are useful in making estimates
of site conditions and in formulating site investigation programs.
Except for clay minerals, the engineering geologist is less concerned with
minerals per se than the physical properties of the rocks and soils that they
compose.
The terms rock and soil have already been used. It is important to be aware of
the various meanings of these commonly used terms among different
disciplines. For example, what may be a mappable rock unit to the geologist
may be a soil to the civil engineer. Highly weathered granite would appear
as granite on a geologic map but would have the physical properties of an
engineering soil. This, in turn, creates a terminology problem with soil as we
find significantly different definitions among geologists, soil scientists, and
civil engineers.
 FUNDAMENTALS
Rocks and Soils:

• Rock is defined geologically as a naturally occurring consolidated or unconsolidated

material composed of one or more minerals. Although the definition is useful to the
geologist, it is apparent that the definition includes materials with physical properties
that the engineer would consider to be engineering soils, that is, unconsolidated
materials. As a result, a commonly used engineering definition of rock is that of a
hard, compact, naturally occurring aggregate of minerals.
• It should be emphasized that there are no universally accepted definitions or
classifications of rock and soil even within a given discipline. Variations of this
definition are found in Terzaghi and Peck (1967), Geological Society (1972),
Geological Society (1977), IAEG (1981), and ASTM (1983).
• The "soil" of the civil engineer is an aggregate of mineral grains that can be
separated by gentle means such as agitation in water (Terzaghi and Peck, 1967).
Again, physical characteristics supercede the geological and pedological definitions
of soil that restrict the term to surficial materials that support growth of land plants.
Gradations exist between the engineering definitions of soil and rock (as in compact
clay-rich soils) and rocks (e.g., some glacial tills and shales) that have physical
properties falling
• Within a gray zone between the "typical" soil and rock. To the civil engineer physical
properties are of practical value and a terminology has evolved to satisfy engineering
requirements.
 FUNDAMENTALS
• Other Fundamental Issues:
• Weathering
• Mass wasting (landslides)
• Geomorphology
• Structural geology
• Hydrogeology
• Soil and rock-mechanics (stress & strain analysis)
 Weathering
• Weathering is the response of earth materials to a changing
environment. It occurs when rock is mechanically fragmented
(disintegrated) and chemically altered (decomposed).
• Weathering processes are divided into physical (mechanical)
disintegration and chemical decomposition.
• Mechanical weathering is accomplished by physical forces which
break rock into smaller and smaller pieces without changing the
rocks mineral composition.
• Chemical weathering on the other hand, involves a chemical
transformation of the rock into one or more new compounds.
• In nature, these processes usually work simultaneously, however,
for the matter of simplicity the various modes of mechanical and
chemical weathering are presented separately as follows.
• From the engineering geologic view point, it is important to
recognize the part played by weathering processes in the
performance of rock and soil in civil engineering applications.
 Physical Weathering
• Frost wedging and crystal growth
• Unloading
• Temperature change
• Organic activity
 Chemical Weathering

• Solution

• Oxidataion (hematite)

• Hydrolysis (Koalonite)

• Hydration (Gypsum)