KEY OF MODERN DEVELOPMENT

Dr . VINAY KUMAR PANDEY,

Ph.D., M.Sc. (Geology), M. Sc. (Disaster Mitigation)

Dept Of Geology, Lucknow

University, Lucknow, India.
E-mail: vinay78pandey@gmail.com

TOWER OF PISA, ITALY

ROAD DAMAGE DUE TO SHINKAGE

OF SUBSOIL

ROAD DAMAGER DUE TO

SMALL RAIN

SMALL BRIDGE WASH OUT DUE TO LACK OF PROTECTION

WORK

LOOSE SOIL

ROAD CONSTRUCTED ON
SLOPE WASH MATERIAL WITH
UNPROPER PROTECTION

EFFECT OF FLOOD

LOSS DUE TO LACK OF

SAFETY AWERNACE

DANGER ZONE
SLIDE DUE TO
FLOOD

WHY THIS HAPPENED

POOR SUBSURFACE

SOLUTION
STUDY OF AREA IN VIEW OF

SOIL-SUBSOIL NATURE FOR

CONDITION
LACK OF SAFTY MEASURES
LACK OF AWERNASE

CONSTRUCTION, SAFETY
AND REMEADY MEASURES
INCLUDING ECONOMICAL
VALUE BEFORE FINALIZE THE
PROJECT.

STRUCTURE CONSTRUCTED

WITHOUT PROPER STUDY

OF DEFORMABILTY.

FOR STUDY THE NATURE OF

SOIL-SUBSOIL AND ITS

CONSTRUCTION PROPERTIES
COMES UNDER ENGINEERING
GEOLOGY

SOIL BEARING
CAPACITY FAILED

ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
Engineering geology is the application of geology in design,

construction and performance of civil engineering works.

Engineering geological studies may be performed during the

planning, environmental impact analysis, civil or structural

engineering

design,

value

engineering

and

construction

phases of public and private works projects, and during postconstruction and forensic phases of projects.
Soil/Rock

deformability

pattern,

concern of Engineering Geology.

stability

are

main

HISTORY OF ENGINEERING GEOLOGY

The first book entitled Engineering Geology was published in

1880 by William Penning.

The first American engineering geology text book was

written in 1914 by Ries and Watson.

The need for geologist on engineering works gained world

wide attention in 1928 with the failure of the St. Francis dam
in California and the loss of 426 lives.
More engineering failures which occurred the following

years also prompted the requirement for engineering

geologists to work on large engineering projects.

IMPORTANCE OF ENGINEERING
GEOLOGY IN DEVELOPMENT
To recognise potential difficult ground conditions prior to

detailed design and construction

It helps to identify areas susceptible to failure due to

geological hazards
To establish design specifications
To have best selection of site for engineering purposes
To have best selection of engineering materials for

construction

AREA COVERED BY ENGINEERING

GEOLOGY
Geological Hazard
Geotechnical
Material Properties
Landslide & Slope stability
Erosion
Flooding
Dewatering
Seismic Studies Etc.
Most important roles of the engineering geologist is the

interpretation of landforms and earth processes to identify

potential geologic and related man-made hazards that may
impact civil structures and human development.

1lb (Pound) = 0.454 kg

CHINA

BASIC METHODS USED BY

ENGINEERING GEOLOGIST
Geological field mapping of geological structures, formations, soil units

and hazards.
Review of Geological literatures, maps, Geotechnical reports,

engineering plans, environmental reports, Arial photographic studies,

remote sensing data, topographical map etc.
The surface and subsurface investigations as the excavation, sampling

and logging of earth/rock materials in drilled borings, backhoe test pits

and trenches, fault trenching, and bulldozer pits, Geomechanical test,
hydrological tests etc.
Geophysical survey.
Deformation monitoring of soil (Plate load Test), Rock on surface &

subsurface.
Recommendation for safety measures.

MAIN FACTORS AFFECTING THE ROCK

QUALITY
Topography of area
Types Soil/rock on Surface as well as Subsurface.
Degree of weathering
Number of Joint sets
Spacing between joints
Cavity
Filling material
Dewatering/ ground water inflow
Direction and amount of Dip and strike

ORIENTATION IN
EXPLORATION/TUNNELING
STRIKE PERPENDICULAR
TO TUNNEL AXIS

STRIKE PARALLEL TO TUNNEL

AXIS

Drive with dip: Dip

45-90

Drive with dip: Dip

20-45

Dip 45-90

Dip 20-45

Very favorable

Favorable

Very favorable

Drive against dip:

Dip 45-90

Drive against dip:

Dip 20-45

Dip 0-20 , Irrespective of strike angle

Fair

Unfavorable

Fair

Fair

METHODS OF STUDY THE ROCK

QUALITY
A number of Geotechnical parameters govern condition of

Rock mass and the nature of its discontinuities. Main two

are: (1) RMR
(2) Q SYSTEM
(1) RMR (Rock Mass rating):
Bieniawski (1973), proposed RMR system, also know as

Geomechanics Classification for jointed rock masses. Many

modifications has undergone time to time.
Five basic parameters considered for RMR: STRENGTH OF ROCK,

RQD (Rock Quality Designation), SPACING OF JOINTS, CONDITION

OF JOINTS & GROUND WATER CONDITION.
Final RMR value related to five classes of rock mass i.e. very

good, good, fair, poor, very poor rock.

METHODS OF STUDY THE ROCK

QUALITY
Q- SYSTEM (ROCK MASS QUALITY)
Proposed by Basedon in 1974, based on the study of 200 tunnel case histories.
The rock quality Q is determined by estimating six parameters. These are RQD,

JOINT SET NUMBER (Jn), JOINT ROUGHNESS NUMBER (Jr), JOINT ALTERATION
NUMBER (Ja) AND STRESS REDUCTION FACTOR (SRF).
Q= (RQD/Jn) x (Jr/Ja) X (Jw/SRF) (Barton et. al. 1974)
The numerical value Q ranges from 0.001 (for exceptionally poor quality squeezing

ground) to 1000 (for exceptionally good quality rock which is practically unjointed).
Q-value is divided into 9 categories of rock quality which are related to support

requirement depending upon excavation span and intended use of excavation.

SURFACE/SUBSURFACE INVESTIGATION
INVESTIGATIONS

FIELD INVESTIGATIONS
LABOURATURY
INVESTIGATIONS
(A) Geotechnical
(a) Physical properties of Soil & Rock
(B) Hydrological
(b) Geomechanical Properties
(C) Geophysical
(c ) Petrological studies of rock & soil
(D) Construction material

Main Field tests are Drilling, Pit excavation,

Deformability test

(Goodman Jack Test & Hydro Fracture test), Load bearing capacity test
(Plate Load Test), Water Percolation test (permeability test), Earth
resistivity test, Seismic reflection test (know the subsurface fault/ shear
zone), aggregate test , topographical studies etc.
Studies of Satellite imageries is very useful to understand the
topography, geomorphology of area.

RESULTS
On the basis of RMR and Q Value, geologist

suggest supporting system in excavated

rock/soil.
On the basis of geotechnical & geologist

report project designer has fixed the structure

design and remedies measures.

CAREER IN ENGINEERING GEOLOGY

Infrastructure Projects as Hydro Power Plant,

Tunnels for railway/transport, Canal, Dam,

reservoir, highways, bridges, buildings, water
treatment plant, land use, environmental
studies etc.
For Mine and Quarry excavations, mine
reclamation.
For coastal engineering, sand replenishment,
sea cliff stability, water front development.
For offshore drilling platform, sub sea pipeline
and cables etc.