Prepared by Dr O.

Hamza
o_hamza at hotmail dot com

Lecture reference: OH_GA01

Basics of groundwater hydrology and geotechnical engineering Dr. O Hamza

 Content

1. Basic groundwater hydrology

2. Basic forms of geotechnical structure
3. Basic problems in geotechnical engineering
4. Basic mechanics of soil
5. Summary
6. Example problems

GA01 Basics of groundwater hydrology and geotechnical engineering Dr. O Hamza

 Basic groundwater hydrology
Hydrologic Cycle

GA01 Basics of groundwater hydrology and geotechnical engineering Dr. O Hamza

 Basic groundwater hydrology

Hydrologic Cycle

Unsaturated
zone

Saturated
zone

Subsurface water occurs in two different zones: saturated and unsaturated

GA01 Basics of groundwater hydrology and geotechnical engineering Dr. O Hamza

 Basic forms of geotechnical structure

Natural
slope Cut
slope Embankment Road
dam embankme
nt

Building Construction
foundation Tunnel
Supported on soft soil
excavation

Offshore
foundation

Study of groundwater is essential for engineers who construct dams,

tunnels, water conveyance channels, mines, and other structures.

GA01 Basics of groundwater hydrology and geotechnical engineering Dr. O Hamza

 Basic problems in geotechnical engineering

1. Problems of equilibrium or stability

• The load imposed on the soil
• The magnitude & distribution of stress
• The resistance that can the soil afford

2. Problem of deformability or settlement

• Value of the total settlement that will occur
• The rate at which this value will be achieved

Water may contribute to both types of

problem. Therefore, successful designing
requires adequate consideration of
groundwater effects.
GA01 Basics of groundwater hydrology and geotechnical engineering Dr. O Hamza
 Basic mechanics of soil Analysis of stress and strain

Stresses Strains

Instability & Settlements

Loads on soil

normal
normal st
normal stress st
ε
ε
σ = Fn / A =
= δz
δz
What is stress and strain?
/
/ z
zoo
Why the relation between stress and strain is so important?
GA01 Basics of groundwater hydrology and geotechnical engineering Dr. O Hamza
 Basic mechanics of soil Analysis of stress and strain

Stresses and strains occur in all directions

and to do settlement and stability analyses it
is often necessary to relate the stresses in a
particular direction to those in other
directions.
stress strain
mean p' = (s'a + 2s'r) / 3 ev = DV/V = (ea + 2er)
s' = (s'a + s'r) / 2 en = (ea + er)
deviator q' = (s'a - s'r) es = 2 (ea - er) / 3
t' = (s'a - s'r) / 2 eg = (ea - er)

GA01
principal stresses σ'1
Basics of groundwater hydrology and geotechnical engineering Dr. O Hamza
 Basic mechanics of soil Analysis of stress and strain

Mohr circle

To visualise the stresses on all the possible

planes, a graph called the Mohr circle is
drawn by plotting a (normal stress, shear
stress) point for a plane at every possible
angle.
Shearing

Uniaxial compression Uniaxial extension

GA01 Basics of groundwater hydrology and geotechnical engineering Dr. O Hamza

 Basic mechanics of soil Analysis of stress and strain

Stress-strain relation, stiffness and strength

Stresses Constitutive law Strains

Material properties/ parameters

Strength
Stiffness parameters
parameters

Change of size: bulk modulus K

Change of shape: shear modulus G
Change of 1-dimension: Young’s modulus E

Do you think of any material parameter?

GA01 Basics of groundwater hydrology and geotechnical engineering Dr. O Hamza

 Basic mechanics of soil Analysis of stress and strain

Rigid mechanics

Soil

retaining wall

When soils fail they develop distinct slip surfaces

GA01 Basics of groundwater hydrology and geotechnical engineering Dr. O Hamza

 Basic mechanics of soil Analysis of stress and strain

Rigid mechanics
Slip surfaces divided soil or rock into
blocks, so the principles of rigid
body mechanics can be applicable .

Equilibrium is examined by construction of a polygon of forces.

Similarly Compatibility of displacements is examined by construction of a
displacement diagram
GA01 Basics of groundwater hydrology and geotechnical engineering Dr. O Hamza
 Basic mechanics of soil
Special stress and strain states

These are simple theories

for two special cases:
• Isotropic
• One-dimensional

The state of stress in the ground is complex.

GA01 Basics of groundwater hydrology and geotechnical engineering Dr. O Hamza

 Basic mechanics of soil

Special stress and strain states

Isotropic:
Equal stress in radial direction. Applicable to triaxial test before shearing.
p' = (σ 'a + 2σ 'r) / 3 = mean stress
ε v = ∆ V / Vo = volumetric strain

GA01 Basics of groundwater hydrology and geotechnical engineering Dr. O Hamza

 Basic mechanics of soil

Special stress and strain states

ΔH Δe
=
H 0 1 + e0
where e0 is the initial void ratio (before stress increment)

One-dimensional:
Horizontal strains are zero. Applicable to oedometer test and in the ground
below wide foundations, embankments and excavations.
σ 'z = vertical stress
ε v = ∆ V / Vo = volumetric strain
GA01 Basics of groundwater hydrology and geotechnical engineering Dr. O Hamza
 Summary

• Geotechnical engineering is a branch of engineering that deal with

the analysis and design of foundations, slopes and structures made
from soils and rocks.
• Problem in geotechnical engineering can be broadly divided into
stability and serviceability/deformation.
• Many problems in geotechnical engineering require the solution of a
flow in porous media.
• The theories of basic mechanics (equilibrium and compatibility)
and of material behaviour (stiffness and strength) apply equally in
geotechnical engineering.
• The state of stress (including pressure induced by water) in the
ground is complex, therefore simple one-dimensional theories may
be employed to analyse soil behaviour.

GA01 Basics of groundwater hydrology and geotechnical engineering Dr. O Hamza

 Example problems Problem 1

The figure shows a rigid triangular block of soil with a slip surface. Two of the
forces, acting on the block, are known to be W=160kN and T=60kN. Determine
the value of P to ensure the equilibrium of the block.

45o

GA01 Basics of groundwater hydrology and geotechnical engineering Dr. O Hamza

 Example problems Problem 1

The figure shows a rigid triangular block of soil with a slip surface. Two of the
forces, acting on the block, are known to be W=160kN and T=60kN. Determine
the value of P to ensure the equilibrium of the block.

45o

Consider a suitable scale e.g. 1cm=20kN

GA01 Basics of groundwater hydrology and geotechnical engineering Dr. O Hamza

Example problems Problem 2

An element of soil behind a retaining wall; the effective vertical and

horizontal stresses are σ z=300kPa and σ h=100kPa and these are principal
stresses. Draw Mohr's stress circle and determine the maximum shear stress.

Basics of groundwater hydrology and geotechnical engineering Dr. O Hamza

 Example problems Problem 2

An element of soil behind a retaining wall; the effective vertical and

horizontal stresses are σ z=300kPa and σ h=100kPa and these are principal
stresses. Draw Mohr's stress circle and determine the maximum shear stress.
Mohr circle
400
300
τ max
Shear stress, τ' [kPa]

200
100
0
-100 0 100 200 300 400

-200
-300
-400
Norm al stress,σ' [kPa]

GA01 Basics of groundwater hydrology and geotechnical engineering Dr. O Hamza

 Example problems Problem 3

At the beginning of odeometer test, the void ratio and thickness of the
specimen was 0.891 and 19mm respectively. Find the final void ratio ef if
the soil consolidated by 3.52mm (i.e. ∆ H).

GA01 Basics of groundwater hydrology and geotechnical engineering Dr. O Hamza

 Example problems Problem 3

At the beginning of odeometer test, the void ratio and thickness of the
specimen was 0.891 and 19mm respectively. Find the final void ratio ef if
the soil consolidated by 3.52mm (i.e. ∆ H).

ΔV ΔH Δe
Volumetric strain = ε v = = =
V0 H 0 1 + e0

Void ratio change = ∆ e = eo – ef

We have ∆ H=3.52mm, initial void ratio e0=0.891 and
initial thickness H0=0.891mm
0.891 − e f 3.52
=
1 + 0.891 19

Thus, the final void ratio of the soil ef =0.54

GA01 Basics of groundwater hydrology and geotechnical engineering Dr. O Hamza

 References

• Smith G.N. and Smith I.G.N. 1998. Elements of soil mechanics.

Seventh edition
• Verruijt A. 2001. Soil Mechanics, Delft University of Technology

Weblinks
• Electronic journal of geotechnical engineering, Available at
http://www.ejge.com/index_ejge.htm
• GeotechniCAL on the web, 2000, Educational technology for
Ground Engineering. Swiss Federal Technical Institute and
many UK universities. Available at
http://fbe.uwe.ac.uk/public/geocal/index.htm

GA01 Basics of groundwater hydrology and geotechnical engineering Dr. O Hamza

GA01 Basics of groundwater hydrology and geotechnical engineering Dr. O Hamza