GUJARAT TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

Bachelor of Engineering
Subject Code: 3130606
Semester – III
Subject Name: Geotechnical Engineering

Type of course: Core

Prerequisite: Knowledge of Basic Sciences, Strength of Materials, Basic Geology, Fluid

Mechanics

Rationale:
Geotechnical engineering is very fundamental subject to study for determination of various soil parameters
theoretically and experimentally based on laws of mechanics. Any civil engineering structure needs strong
and stable foundation which depends on proper understanding of soil properties and its behavior,
determination of stresses and settlements in soil etc. The thorough understanding and implications of
geotechnical engineering will play a vital role in strong and economic design of any foundation system for
any infrastructural projects. Knowledge of the geotechnical engineering will prepare students to enter into
mutli-disciplinary folds of this subject into various other civil engineering schemes.

Teaching and Examination Scheme:

Teaching Scheme Credits Examination Marks Total

L T P C Theory Marks Practical Marks Marks
ESE (E) PA (M) ESE (V) PA (I)

4 0 2 5 70 30 30 20 150

Content:

Sr. No. Content Total

Hrs

1 Type of Soils, Index Properties, Inter-relationships and Soil Characterization 10

Types of soil and soil formation, Geological cycle, Phase diagrams, Basic terms,
Functional relationships based on index properties, Physical characterization of soil-Dry
and Wet sieve analysis, Atterberg’s Indices, Soil Structures, Soil Water and its types,
Standard nomenclature & IS Soil Classification, Numericals.
Problems/Numericals/Codes/Lab and Field Tests.
2 Permeability and Seepage: 05
Darcy's law and its validity, Factors affecting permeability, Laboratory permeability tests,
Permeability of stratified soil masses, Seepage pressure, Quick condition, Flow nets.
3 Compaction & Consolidation of soil: 09
Definitions, Differentiate between compaction and consolidation, Compaction mechanism
and proctor tests, field compactions methods, factors affecting compaction, Consolidation
mechanism through spring analogy, fundamental definitions, Terzaghi’s one dimensional
consolidation theory (only formula), Time factor, pre-consolidation pressure, consolidation
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 GUJARAT TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Bachelor of Engineering
Subject Code: 3130606
settlement, Numericals.
Tests will be covered in lab sessions.
4 Stress Distribution: 05
Causes of stresses in soil, Boussinesque’s and Westergard’s equation, Pressure Bulb,
Stress distribution on horizontal and vertical planes, Stresses due to different shapes of
footings, New-mark’s influence chart, Numericals.
5 Shear Strength of Soil : 08
Mohr's strength theory, Mohr- coulomb’s strength theory, Modified Mohr coulomb’s
theory, shears parameters through lab and field tests based on drainage conditions,
Numericals.
Tests will be covered in lab sessions.
6 Earth Pressure & Stability of Slopes: 09
Types of lateral earth pressure, Rankine’s and Coulomb’s earth pressure,
Rebhann’s/Culmann’s Graphical methods, Infinite and finite slopes, Factor of safety, Type
of slope failure, Limit equilibrium method, C-analysis-method of slices, Taylor’s stability
number, Numericals.
7 Introduction to Foundations and Bearing Capacity: 10
Shallow Foundations; Types, Basic terms, SBC computation using IS and Terzaghi
methods. Deep Foundations; Pile and Pile capacity, Numericals.

Suggested Specification table with Marks (Theory): (For BE only)

Distribution of Theory Marks

R Level U Level A Level N Level E Level C Level

5 15 25 15 5 5

Legends: R: Remembrance; U: Understanding; A: Application, N: Analyze and E: Evaluate C:

Create and above Levels (Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy)

Note: This specification table shall be treated as a general guideline for students and teachers. The actual
distribution of marks in the question paper may vary slightly from above table.

Reference Books:

1. B.C. Punamia; Soil Mechanics & Foundation Engineering; Laxmi Pub. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi
2. Alamsingh; Soil Mechanics & Foundation Engineering; CBS Publishers & Distributors, Delhi
3. Das Braja M; Principles of Geotechnical Engineering; Thomson Asia Pvt. Ltd.
4. Gopal Ranjan, Rao A.S.R.; Basic and applied soil mechanics; New age int. (p) ltd
5. Arora K.R.; Soil Mechanics & Foundation Engineering; Standard Pub., Delhi
6. Taylor D.W.; Fundamentals of Soil Mechanics; Asia Publishing House, Mumbai
7. Bowles, J.E., "Foundation Analysis and Design, 5th Edition, McGraw Hill, New York, 1995.
8. Relevant IS Codes

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 GUJARAT TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Bachelor of Engineering
Subject Code: 3130606
Course Outcomes: Students will be able to

Sr. No. CO statement Marks % weightage

CO-1 Classify the soil and will be able to understand its behaviour and will 25
be able to compute/estimate index parameters.
CO-2 Interpret soil behaviour through learning soil compaction, 20
consolidation, and analyise various theories and calculate parameters
needed in design.
CO-3 Compute earth pressure, stress distributions and FOS for slopes using 25
various graphical and analytical tools for various engineering
projects/site.
CO-4 Differentiate, compare, formulate, and evaluate soil parameters through 15
performing various tests as per site conditions or project needs ethically
and professionally.
CO-5 Suggest suitable type of foundation as per soil type, estimate bearing 15
capacity and demonstrate its socio-economic feasibility.

List of Experiments:

 In-situ Density Tests

 Sieve analysis
 Atterberg’s Limit Test
 Permeability Tests
 Proctor Compaction Test
 Consolidation /Oedometer test
 Direct Box Shear Test
 Unconfined Compression Test
 Triaxial Compression Tests
 Laboratory Vane Shear Test
 SPT
 CBR Test

Major Equipment: Triaxial Compression Test-setup, Standard Penetration Test -setup

Design based Problems (DP)/Open Ended Problem:

Apart from above tutorials/experiments a group of students has to undertake one open ended
problem/design problem. Few examples of the same are given below:
List of Open Source Software/learning website:

http://nptel.ac.in/
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/civil-and-environmental-engineering/

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