Geotechnical engineering implies to a practice related to the engineering behavior of the earth and its diverse materials. Reddy Kancharla mentions that this is a branch of civil engineering and has an important role to play in construction activities. Mr. Kancharla has had a long career in civil construction, geotechnical consultation, and construction QA/QC. Over the decades, his professional responsibilities have included investigating and designing foundations for various types of structures, examining structural failures and remedial designs, identifying and correcting construction discrepancies, and a lot more. His extensive
Geotechnical engineering largely concerns the interconnected structural properties of groundwater and geologic materials. Geological materials mainly include soil and rock, but they can even imply to man-made materials like crushed stone, concrete, soil fill and concrete and manufactured stones. According to Reddy Kancharla, the skills of a geological engineer or consultant is extremely important at a construction site to ensure the development of stable structures that do not settle, deform or crack and does not fall down due to foundation failure. Without proper geotechnical engineering enterprise, a building may turn out to be leaning after completion. In their professional capacity, geotechnical engineers are required to plan and design the structures for buildings, roads, embankments, canals and a variety of other construction projects
A geotechnical engineer or consultant usually uses the principles of soil mechanics and rock mechanics for the purpose of investigating subsurface conditions and materials, determining the relevant mechanical, physical and chemical properties of the metals, evaluating the stability of both man-made soil deposits and natural slopes, as well as assessing the risks posed by site conditions. They carefully monitor site conditions, and design earthworks and structure foundations based on the insights collected.
According to Reddy Kancharla, an adequate geotechnical site investigation in the preliminary stage of a construction project is extremely important. The project must only be progressed if adequate information is obtained about the chances of creating a safe and economic structure on the site, without any prolonged difficulties. Such an investigation largely helps in:
- Determining the thickness, sequence and lateral extent of the soil strata. The level of bedrock is also determined in certain instances.
- Obtaining representative samples of the soils and rock for the purpose of classification and identification. If needed, laboratory tests can be conducted to determine relevant engineering parameters.
- Identifying the groundwater condition.
Geotechnical engineers are responsible for the evaluation of subsurface, soil conditions and materials by using the principles of rock and soil mechanics. They often examine certain environmental issues like water tables and flood plains as well. This helps them to make sure whether a certain site is suitable for a proposed project or not. These professionals can additionally provide the construction and design team with valuable insights on how ground conditions can be made safe and effective for construction.