Chapter 1: Introduction to

Engineering Geology

Prepared by:
Arishma Gadtaula
M.Sc. Engineering Geologist
Contents
Engineering Geological System
Important rock forming minerals
and their engineering significance
Application of engineering
geology in civil engineering
project ( road, irrigation, tunnel,
dam, reservoir, etc.)
Engineering Geological maps:
their classification and
preparation
Engineering Geological System
The activities of the engineering
geologist invariably are directly or
indirectly associated with rocks and
rock-forming minerals.
Knowledge of rock types and the
environments in which they are
formed as well as their responses
to weathering, erosion and tectonic
processes are useful in making
estimates of site conditions.
Engineering Geological System-
Rock and Soil
Rock is defined geologically as a naturally
occurring consolidated or unconsolidated
material composed of one or more
minerals ( Gary et al., 1972).
This definition however includes materials
with physical properties that the engineer
would consider to be engineering soil that
is unconsolidated material.
As a result, a commonly used definition of
rock is that of a hard, compact, naturally
occurring aggregate of mierals ( Krynine
and Judd, 1957).
The soil of the civil engineer is
ann aggregate of mineral grains
that can be separated by gentle
means such as agitation in water
( Terzaghi and Peck, 1967).
Geological structures
Presence of a geological
structure helps to determine
whether the rock layer was
overturned or not.
It helps to determine the source
of the rock and the depositional
environment in which the rock
was formed.
Geological structures give the
measure of discontinuities
Geomorphology
Erosion and transport agents
combine with weathering
processes to sculpture the earth’s
surface.
Preliminary investigations for
rock and soil types, geologic
structure and soil thickness may
be made for engineering sites by
examining landforms and related
drainage patterns.
Geomorphology- Drainage
Patterns
 Given similar climatic conditions, drainage density
is a useful indication of subsurface conditions.
 For example, lower density or more widely spaced
drainage channels include subsurface drainage
through thick, permeable soils or through karstic
limestone terrain when compared with greater
density over less permeable soils and bedrock
units.
 Drainage pattern also tend to define rock type and
geologic structure.
 Relatively flat lying limestone bedrock may be
indicated by distribution of lakes and depressionas
that result from limestone solution that is, Karst
topography.
Hydrogeology

Hydrogeology is defined as the

study of occurrence, movement
and quality of rock beneath the
earth’s surface.
The knowledge of porosity,
permeability, transmissivity and
other hydraulic properties of the
sediments are important for
different engineering projects.
Weathering
 Weathering processes are responsible for the
development of sediments that may lithify into
sedimentary rocks or occur as engineering soil.
 Besides, it also plays important role in altering
the engineering properties of intact rock and
rock masses.
 Weathering may influence all rock types, the
degree being dependent on the rock type, the
kind of weathering process, the new
environment to which the rock is subjected, the
climate, and time.
 Weathering process may be physical
disintegration and chemical decomposition.
Earthquake and seismicity and
geotechnical category of project
Seismicity of an area plays major role
in design of a project.
The information on past seismic events
occurred in the site contributes to
valuable information.
This ensures a stable design which can
withstand seismic disasters.
For example: Preparation of seismic
hazard map of the site can be
beneficial to avoid the seismic risk
sites.
 Geotechnical category of project

Category 1 Category 2 Category 3

• Relatively small • Conventional • Structures which
structure type of structures fall outside the
It may be categorized as:
• Fundamentals • No exceptional limits of
may be satisfied risk categories 1 and
based on • Design includes 2 ( very large and
experience and quantitative unusual
qualitative geotechnical data structures).
geotechnical and analysis for • Structures in
investigations. satisfying the highly seismic
• Negligible risk fundamental areas.
• Low geotechnical requirements • Require special
complexity and measures and
risk separate
• Simplified design investigation.
procedures • Abnormal risks,
applies or unusual
ground
conditions.
Seismic Hazard Map
Evaluation of engineering
geological system
Parameters responsible for
Engineering geological system
include:
- Rock and soil type
- Geomorphology
- Geological Structures
- Hydrogeology
- Weathering
-Earthquake and seismicity of
the site
 The main phases for evaluation of the EGS and the respective engineering geological task are tabulated in table below:

Phase Activities performed

1. Formulating an investigation - Setting of the problem or
( Project definition) hypothesis.
- Development of the project
concept, scope and setting
deadlines.
- Preliminary information on
geology, topography and
climate.
2. Pre-Feasibility - It involves both office and field
studies.
- Office study involves study of
geological maps, aerial
photo, etc.
- Field study involves
preliminary geological survey
of the site.
3. Feasibility - Preparation of Engineering
Geological Map of site.
- Surface and subsurface site
exploration( Geophysical
Phase Activities performed
4. Design - Detailed engineering geological
mapping.
- Rock studies and mapping for
stability analysis and design of
support system.
- Detailed surface and
subsurface exploration.
- In-situ as well as laboratory
tests.
5. Construction - Excavation and construction
activities like cut, fills,
tunneling, support system, etc.
- Continuous supervision.
6. Maintenance - Regular inspection and
monitoring of the slope stability
after construction.
- Stability of excavated surface
of underground structure after
excavation.
7. Communication/ Reporting - Communicating about the
performance of the project to
project head, contractors, co-
workers or any government board
Important rock forming minerals
and their engineering significance
There are more than 3000 species of
mineral ore known in nature.
The minerals which are common to
make up the bulk of the rocks of the
earth’s crust have been named as rock
forming minerals.
There are two types of mineral,
essential minerals which are
constituents of more than 50% of the
rock and those which occur in small
quantity are Accessory mineral.
Engineering Significance of
Rock Forming Minerals
Clay minerals like Kaolinites swells with
water and therefore creates hazardous
sites for engineering structures.
Rock forming silicates are generally
resistant towards weathering.
Rock forming minerals like calcite and
dolomite dissolves in water with
evolution of CO2 gas and develops hollow
inside the ground. As a result they may
cause internal drainage problem and
collapse.
Feldspar is used in manufacture of
porclain glass, sanitary ware and
enameled bricks.
Calcite is used in manufacture of cement.
Gypsum is used for the production of
Plaster of Paris.
Sheet mica is used as a insulating
material in manufacture of electrical
apparatus and fireproofing material.
Quartz is used as gemstones or
ornamental materials.
Application of engineering geology
in civil engineering project
The parameters of Engineering
geological System are extensively used
for civil engineering projects.
As for instance, for the construction of
tunnel, the structural geological data are
incorporated along with information on
water table condition and many more.
For construction of bridge, the narrow
span of river is usually desirable and the
information on discharge of river during
high floods is crucial.
For the construction of
reservoirs, stream velocities
along with the nature of
tributaries and rock type through
which it flows dictates the
siltation process.
 For dam construction, the
permeability measures, rock type
and geological structures are to
be studied.
For road projects, the orientation
of rock along the alignment ( dip
slope or counter dip slope),
presence of discontinuity sets
and water table conditions are
crucial.
Engineering geological maps: their
classification and preparation
An engineering geological map is
a type of geological map which
provides a generalized
representation of all those
components of a geological
environment of significance in
land- use planning, and in design,
construction and maintenance as
applied to civil and mining
engineering.
Requirements of an Engineering
Geological Map
 It should portray the objective information
necessary to evaluate the engineering geological
features involved in regional planning, in the
selection of both a site and the most suitable
method of construction, and in mining.
 It should make it possible to foresee the changes
in the geological situation likely to be brought
about by a proposed undertaking and to suggest
any necessary preventive measures.
 It should present information in such a way that it

easily understood by professional users who may

not be geologists.
Components of an Engineering
geological Map
 The character of the rocks and soils,
including their distribution, strati graphical and
structural arrangement, age, genesis, lithology,
physical state, and their physical and
mechanical properties.
 Hydrogeological conditions, including the
distribution of water-bearing soils and rocks,
zones of saturated open discontinuities, depth to
water table and its range of fluctuation, regions
of confined water and piezometric levels,
storage coefficients, direction of flow; springs,
rivers, lakes and the limits and occurrence
interval of flooding; pH, salinity, corrosiveness.
Components cont’d
 Geomorphological conditions, including surface
topography and important elements of the landscape.
 Geodynamic phenomena, including erosion and
deposition, Aeolian phenomena, permafrost, slope
movements, formation of karstic conditions, suffusion,
subsidence, volume changes in soil, data on seismic
phenomena including active faults, current regional tectonic
movements, and volcanic activity.
 Engineering geological maps should include interpretative
cross-sections and an explanatory text and legend.
They may also include documentation data which have
been collected for the preparation of the map.
 Orientations of plane including their strike, dip amount
and dip direction.
 More than one map sheet may be required to show all this
information.
Classification of Engineering
Geological Maps
 Engineering geological maps may be classified according to purpose,
content and scale.
 According to purpose, they may be :

Special purpose, providing information either on one specific aspect of

engineering geology, or for one specific purpose.
Multipurpose, providing information covering many aspects of
engineering geology for a variety of planning and engineering purposes.
 According to content, they may be :

Analytical maps, giving details of, or evaluating individual components

of the geological environment. Their content is, as a rule, expressed in the
title, for example, map of weathering grades, jointing map, seismic hazard
map.
Comprehensive maps:
These are of two kinds they may be maps of engineering geological
conditions depicting all the principal components of the engineering
geological environment; on the other hand they may be maps of
engineering geological zoning, evaluating and classifying individual
territorial units on the basis of the uniformity of their engineering
geological conditions. These two types may be combined on small-scale
maps.
 Auxiliary maps: These present factual data and
are, for example, documentation maps, structural
contour maps, isopachyte maps.
Complementary maps:
 These include geological, tectonic,
geomorphological, pedological, geophysical and
hydrogeological maps. They are maps of basic
data which are sometimes included with a set of
engineering geological maps.
According to scale, they may be :
Large-scale: 1 : 10000 and greater.
Medium-scale: less than 1 : 10000 and greater
than1 : 100000.
Small-scale : 1 : 100000 and less.
Classification of Engineering
Geological Map
Assignment
What is the use of Engineering
Geological map?
What is river channel
morphology?
Write short note on Load.
THANK
YOU