Engineering geology maps of the UK

School and university students of geology, engineering geology and geotechnical engineering generally have less knowledge of engineering geological conditions than those who have had experience of hands-on research or practice. In the UK, the number of geology, geoscience and earth science departments has reduced over the past 25 years. Engineering geology has a very weak academic base and geology is taught less to civil engineering students than previously

Subgrade geology beneath railways in Manchester

It is not sufficient to identify fine-grained soils, only, as locations for potential subgrade problems as could be done using a traditional 2D geological map. More information is required about the geological structure, lithological variability, mineralogy, moisture content and geotechnical properties of the soil, much of which can be supplied by modern 3D geospatial databases. These databases can be interrogated at key depths to show the wide variability of geological materials and conditions beneath the ground surface. Geological outcrop and thickness of bedrock an superficial deposits (soils), plus the permeability and water table level are predicted from the Manchester geospatial model that is based on 6500 borehole records. Geological sections along railway routes are modelled and the locations of problem soils such as alluvium, till and glaciolacustrine deposits at outcrop and shallow subcrop are identified. Spatial attribution of geotechnical data and simple methods to recast sections in engineering geological terms are demonstrated

Application of numerical modelling to the comprehensive analysis of slope stability

Paper deals with the comprehensive methodology for the numerical simulation of potentially unstable slopes combining engineering geological, hydrological, hydrogeological and geotechnical computational model for the assessment of slope stability. Engineering geological model based on available survey data characterizes the rock environment using individual quasi-homogenous units. Model is defined on the basis of documented lithostratigraphic units in exploration probes and field relief documented by advanced methods, including satellite radar interferometry and laser surface scanning. On the basis of engineering geological model, the hydrological model using MIKE SHE software (Finite Difference Method) was performed. Hydrological model includes simulation of surface runoff, evapotranspiration and flow in unsaturated near-surface zone. The model was calibrated on the basis of available field data. Outputs from this model were used as input initial conditions of the following hydrogeological model. Software FEFLOW based on the Finite Element Method was subsequently used to the creation of hydrogeological model focused on the water flow and distribution of pore pressures of groundwater in individual quasi-homogeneous units in saturated zone. The infiltration condition determined by the hydrological model is considered and a flow model with variable saturation is applied. Finally, the geotechnical stability model of slope following the engineering geological, hydrological and hydrogeological models was performed. The occurrence of plastic and failure zones (assuming elastic-perfectly plastic Mohr-Coulomb constitutive model) inside the slope was simulated by using software MIDAS GTS NX based on the Finite Element Method. Stability factor SSRF (Shear Strength Reduction Factor) is evaluated based on the Shear Strength Reduction Method) as the ratio of actual shear strength and minimum shear strength required to maintain stability. Paper deals also with the comparison of stability factor of natural slope obtained from 3D and 2D numerical model. Generally, in the case of natural slope the condition of plane strain is not fulfil, 2D model is not realistic and 3D model is needed, especially in case of concave morphology of slope

Subsidence resulting from mining

Illinois coal mining investigations, cooperative agreement. (This report was prepared under a cooperative agreement between the Engineering Experiment Station of the University of Illinois, the Illinois State Geological survey and the U.S. Bureau of Mines)Bibliography: p. [180]-205

Инженерно-геологические условия и проект изысканий под строительство инженерно-бытового корпуса на площадке ТЭЦ в г.Советская Гавань (Хабаровский край)

Объектом исследования являются инженерно-геологические условия участка строительства инженерно-бытового корпуса на площадке ТЭЦ в г. Советская Гавань (Хабаровский край). Цель работы – комплексное изучение инженерно-геологических, гидрогеологических, геоморфологических и тектонических условий, а также изучение состава, состояния и свойств грунтов, геологических процессов и явлений и прогноз возможного изменения инженерно-геологических условий в сфере взаимодействия проектируемого сооружения с геологической средой. В результате исследования составлен проект инженерно-геологических изысканий на площадке строительства инженерно-бытового корпуса.Object of research are engineering-geological conditions of a site of construction of the engineering and household case on the combined heat and power plant platform in Sovetskaya Gavan (Khabarovsk Krai). The work purpose – complex studying of engineering-geological, hydrogeological, geomorphological and tectonic conditions, and also studying of structure, a state and properties of soil, geological processes and the phenomena and the forecast of possible change of engineering-geological conditions in the sphere of interaction of the projected construction with the geological environment. As a result of research the project of engineering-geological researches on the platform of construction of the engineering and household case is made

Assessment of blasting operations effects during highway tunnel construction

Blasting operations are one of the fundamental parts of daily civil engineering. Drilling and blasting still remain the only possible ways of tunnelling in very adverse geological conditions. However, this method is a source of various disadvantages, the main one being tremors propagating through the geological environment which not only affect buildings, but also disturb the comfort of living in the vicinity of the source. Designing this procedure is mostly done using standardized empirical relations. This article shows the possibility of using a FEM technique in predicting blast effects. This approach is demonstrated in a simple case study on the impact of blasting operations on steel pipes

Engineering geological models: an introduction: IAEG commission 25

The generation and use of engineering geological models should be a fundamental activity for any geotechnical project. Such models are an essential tool for engineering quality control and provide a transparent way of identifying project-specific critical engineering geological issues and parameters. Models should also form the basis for designing the scope, the method and assessing the effectiveness of site investigations. However, whilst the idea of models in engineering geology has existed for several decades, there has been little published that systematically distinguishes the different model types and how and when they might be used. This paper presents the views of the International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment Commission C25 on the ‘Use of Engineering Geological Models

Engineering geological of an active slope in KM46 Simpang Pulai, Perak

Engineering geological mapping is an essential tool to understand the geotechnical threshold values triggering slope failures. The slope chosen is the KM 46 Jalan Simpang Pulai-Cameron Highlands in Perak. A geological map composed of the confirmed and probable bedrock layer may it be on the ground surface or immediately underneath the soil layer. The soil layer can be transported materials and also can be the residual soil of the bedrock. Engineering geological maps include additional engineering geological information such as dips and strikes of the unconformities, Standard penetration Tests (SPT) values. Geormorphological informations and topograhy inputs

Urban engineering geological maps for Bradford, UK

An applied geological study of the City of Bradford Metropolitan District, UK, was the last of a series of British Government-funded projects to provide background applied geological information for land-use planning and development. This study included a range of engineering geological maps. As well as providing a general engineering geological overview, the maps show foundation conditions, suitability of deposits as engineered fill, excavatability, the thickness of superficial deposits and landslide distribution and slope steepness. The paper briefly describes the content of the maps and how they were produced