Geotechnics

It is a branch of study that is linked to what is engineering to deal with the exhaustive study of the interaction between constructions and the land , geotechnics studies a field before any action that is desired to be carried out in it.

Definition of geotechnics

Geotechnics can be defined as a branch of geology that is closely related to civil engineering and whose main objective is to investigate , through geological principles , the natural elements that are found in the earth’s crust and that are necessary to know when carrying out civil engineering projects such as roads, bridges, dams or buildings .

What do you study

Effectively and exhaustively investigate a previously determined site, in which a work will be carried out , in the locality it will evaluate the soil , its density and everything that leads to the earth’s crust , including the environment and the surroundings of the scheduled place, After studying the soil and its components, they inquire if the land is prone to any earthquake or natural defect that frustrates the construction . After that, if the land is suitable, they proceed to carry out the construction.

History

Karl von Terzaghi is noted as the forerunner of geotechnical engineering, since throughout his professional career he devoted himself to studying and investigating the problems that were linked to foundations, soils and the various components of the earth’s crust , this gave way to dump his work and translate it into sheets that today are basic texts for geotechnics.

Other things that gave rise to geotechnics were the following:

• The development of related sciences such as soil mechanics and lab
• The need to geologically study the terrain as a basis for any type of civil works.
• Solve instability problems according to the required location.
• Know the relationship between geological factors and materials such as rocks and soils.

What is geotechnics for

Previously it was explained that geotechnics was based on evaluating the components of the earth’s crust, this means that it is responsible for evaluating a certain place to distinguish whether or not it is suitable for certain actions to be carried out in it, which leaves us in evidence that it is not only a simple study or a simple and exhaustive investigation of rocks or terrestrial minerals, but it is also used to prevent future inconveniences caused by nature in said terrain, such as avalanches, mud flows , landslides or rockslides.

Necessary foundations for geotechnics

Loa experts in the field must have knowledge of geology , in order to trigger what would be its study, however, geotechnics does not work alone and individually, therefore it is linked to some crucial foundations for the management of this branch, which are the following:

• Soil mechanics
• Rock mechanics
• Geotechnical studies
• Hydrogeology
• Description of rocky massifs
• Generation of geotechnical maps

Importance

Its importance lies in the prevention of serious long-term damage in what are infrastructure or construction of bridges, railways , roads, among others, infrastructures that we use every day and have already become part of our routine, and it turns out that thanks to In the studies recorded by geotechnics, which it puts into practice for the benefit of the population , we enjoy that those bridges, roads, and other infrastructures that are useful for society are stable and do not suffer any collapse or collapse over time , which ends in tragedy.