Geotechnical Engineering and Earth’s Materials and Processes

Geotechnical Engineering and Earth’s Materials and Processes — page 1
WHAT IS GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING What do skyscrapers bridges and tunnels have in common Rocks and soil support them all Earth’s materials are beneath everything from homes to landfills Geotechnical engineers sample study and test these materials They design foundations and supports to suit the ground conditions They consider the natural processes that affect new and developed sites Their work helps make buildings stable and safe for the people who use them To create strong foundations geotechnical engineers include materials such as steel bars in their designs Engineering and science Many closely related science and engineering fields focus on Earth’s materials and processes Each field has a different goal For example geologists are scientists who want to discover as much as they can about how Earth and its materials formed Geotechnical engineers also investigate Earth’s materials However they apply what they learn and find practical solutions For example when they study soil it is so their designs work with the properties of that soil These properties include soil texture how it holds water and how it compacts or joins together under pressure Geoenvironmental engineers specialize in solving environmental problems created by people’s use of Earth’s materials One area of focus for these engineers is improving polluted soil 4