Page 6 - Geotechnical Engineering Soil and Foundation Principles and Practice

Source: GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

1 Introduction

1.1 BRANCHES OF MECHANICS

‘‘Mechanics’’ may be defined as that part of physical science that treats of the
action of forces on masses. There are many branches of mechanics, each appli-
cable to a particular kind of mass or classification of matter. Mechanics pertaining
to astronomical bodies is called celestial mechanics. The mechanics of gases is
called pneumatics; of water, hydraulics; of solid bodies in motion, dynamics; of
solid bodies at rest, statics; of heat-energy transfer, thermodynamics; and so on.
Similarly, the branch of mechanics that deals with the action of forces on soil
masses is called soil mechanics, and on rocks, rock mechanics.

1.2 BRANCHES OF GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

The practice of engineering that involves application of the principles of soil
mechanics is called soil engineering. Similarly, the practice of engineering that
involves application of the principles of rock mechanics may be called rock
engineering. Because rock mechanics for the most part grew out of soil mechanics,
a close relationship exists between these engineering disciplines, which now are
collectively referred to as geotechnical engineering.

Foundation engineering is the application of geotechnical engineering for the
design of foundations for structures including buildings, walls, and embankments;
the total load supported by a foundation obviously must not exceed the
supporting capacity of the underlying soil. Less obvious, but also of critical
importance, is that settlement of the completed structure must not be excessive
or uneven.

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