Civil Engineering Today

  Standard penetration test The standard penetration test is the most commonly used in situ test, especially for cohesionless soil which cannot be easily sampled. The test is extremely useful for determining the relative density and the angle of bearing resistance of cohesionless soils. It can also be used to determine the unconfined compressive strength of cohesive soils. Procedure- The standard penetration test is conducted in a bore hole using a standard split spoon sampler, when the bore hole has been drilled to the desired depth, the drilling tools are removed, and the sampler is lowered to the bottom of hole. The sampler is driven into the soil by a drop hammer of 63.5 kg mass falling through a height of 750 mm at the rate of 30 blows per minute (IS: 2131-1963). The number of hammer blows require to drive 150 mm of the sample is counted.   The sampler is further driven by 150 mm and the number of blows recorded. Likewise, the sampler is once again further drive...

  Soil samples Soil samples are obtained during surface exploration or soil exploration to determine the engineering properties of the soils and rocks. Soil samples are generally classified into two categories - 1. Disturbed samples 2. Undisturbed samples   1. Disturbed samples - These are the samples in which the natural structure of the soil gets disturbed during sampling. However, this samples represent the composition and the mineral content of the soil. Disturbed samples can be used to determine the index properties of the soil such as grain size plasticity characteristics specific gravity etc.   2. Undisturbed samples - These are the samples in which the natural structure of the soil and the water content are retained. However, it may be mentioned that it is impossible to get a truly undisturbed sample. Undisturbed samples are used for determining the engineering properties of the soil, such as compressibility, shear strength and permeability...

  Methods of Soil investigation or Soil exploration Soil Exploration or Soil Investigation can be done by any of the following methods - Open excavation or direct methods Boring or semi-direct methods Geophysical methods or indirect methods 1. Open excavation – In this method of exploration an open excavation is made to inspect the soil strata. This method can be divided into two categories:      (i)  Pits and Trenches      (ii) Drifts and Shafts (i) Pits and Trenches - Pits and trenches are excavated at the site to inspect the strata. The size of the pit should be sufficient to provide necessary working space. IS: 4453-1967 recommends a clear working space of 1.2 m into 1.2 m at the bottom of the pit. The depth of the pit depends upon the requirement of the investigation. Shallow pits up to a depth of 3 m can be made without providing any lateral support. For deeper pits, especially below the ground water table, the lateral support in th...

Soil Exploration or Soil Investigation - Soil Exploration or Soil Investigation are done for obtaining the information about subsurface conditions at the site of proposed construction. Site investigation is generally required for every big engineering project. Purposes of Soil Investigation - Site investigations are generally done to obtain the information that is used for one or more of the following Purposes – To select the type and depth of foundation for a given structure. To determine the bearing capacity of the soil. To estimate the probable maximum and differential settlements. To estimate the groundwater level and to determine the properties of water. To predict the lateral earth pressure against retaining walls and abutments. To select suitable construction techniques. To predict and to solve potential foundation problem.   To ascertain the suitability of soil as a construction material. To investigate the safety of the existing structure and to suggest the remedial ...

 What is Civil Engineering? Civil engineering is a professional engineering course that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment. This includes infrastructure such as roads, bridges, buildings, dams, airports, water supply systems, and more. Civil engineers apply scientific principles and technical knowledge to plan, design, construct, and manage these projects, ensuring they are safe, sustainable, and meet the needs of society. Civil engineering has five main types:  Following are the main types of civil engineering - Foundation engineering Structural engineering Environmental engineering Geotechnical engineering Transportation engineering.  Foundation engineering - Foundation engineering is the application of soil mechanics and rock mechanics in the design of foundation elements for structures. In engineering, a foundation serves as the connection between a structure and the ground, transferring loads from ...