Challenges for Challenges for Geotechnical Engineering Geotechnical Engineering

Education Education J.N.Jha*, K.S.Gill*, A.K.Chaudhary**J.N.Jha*, K.S.Gill*, A.K.Chaudhary**

*Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, *Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Ludhiana, Punjab, IndiaLudhiana, Punjab, India

**National Institute of Technology, **National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, IndiaJamshedpur, Jharkhand, India

IndexIndex

IntroductionIntroduction Current Status of Geotechnical Current Status of Geotechnical

Engineering courses.Engineering courses. Suggested improvements/incorporation in Suggested improvements/incorporation in

Curriculum.Curriculum. Geotechnical Engineering Teaching Geotechnical Engineering Teaching

Process.Process. Marketing aspects of Geotechnical Marketing aspects of Geotechnical

Engineering.Engineering. Conclusion Conclusion

IntroductionIntroduction

World population (2050):World population (2050): 9 billion 9 billion Increase in population:Increase in population:

Underdeveloped/developing countriesUnderdeveloped/developing countries State of Infrastructure:State of Infrastructure: critical critical e.ge.g India India

1111thth Five Year Plan (HT) Five Year Plan (HT) Investment on infrastructure: Investment on infrastructure:

Rs. 14,50,000 Crores Rs. 14,50,000 Crores Housing Sector & Maintenance of Housing Sector & Maintenance of

Roads: Rs. 1,22,000 crores Roads: Rs. 1,22,000 crores Construction & Development of Construction & Development of

Airports: Rs. 40,000 croresAirports: Rs. 40,000 crores Ports: Rs. 60,000 crores Ports: Rs. 60,000 crores

Requirement of Civil Engineers: Requirement of Civil Engineers: 70,000 per year (Indian Express)70,000 per year (Indian Express)

Availability of Civil Engineers: Availability of Civil Engineers: 18,700 per year 18,700 per year Civil Engineers with Geotechnical Civil Engineers with Geotechnical

Engineering specialization:Engineering specialization:• 5.9% of ASCE Members (Geotech. 5.9% of ASCE Members (Geotech.

engineering as interest area)engineering as interest area)• Total no. of IGS Members: <5,000 Total no. of IGS Members: <5,000

Number of institutes offering M.Tech. Number of institutes offering M.Tech. (Geotechnical Engineering)<100(Geotechnical Engineering)<100

Annual intake (M. Tech. Geotechnical Annual intake (M. Tech. Geotechnical Engineering)<1500Engineering)<1500

Actual admission (M. Tech): Actual admission (M. Tech): (Geotechnical Engineering)<50% of (Geotechnical Engineering)<50% of

intake intake

Current Status of Geotechnical Current Status of Geotechnical Engineering Courses (UG)Engineering Courses (UG)

Very few course teach critical state of Soil Very few course teach critical state of Soil Mechanics. Mechanics.

Little evidence that Modern Technology & Little evidence that Modern Technology & Technique such as Video films or Technique such as Video films or Computer Simulation is used.Computer Simulation is used.

Inadequate use of demonstration and Inadequate use of demonstration and illustrative experiment to convey the illustrative experiment to convey the fundamental behaviour of Soil Mechanics.fundamental behaviour of Soil Mechanics.

Required: Adequate course curriculum & Required: Adequate course curriculum & interesting delivery system needed. interesting delivery system needed.

ExistingExisting SuggestedSuggestedBasic soil Basic soil mechanics mechanics Foundation Foundation EngineeringEngineering Practical Practical Geotechnical Geotechnical EngineeringEngineering

Basic Soil MechanicsBasic Soil Mechanics Foundation EngineeringFoundation Engineering Applied Geotechnical Engg. Applied Geotechnical Engg. (Field/constructional (Field/constructional problems)problems) Geotechnical Engg. Lab.-IGeotechnical Engg. Lab.-IGeotechnical Engg. Lab-IIGeotechnical Engg. Lab-II

(Demonstrative & Illustrative (Demonstrative & Illustrative experiments)experiments)

Suggested Suggested improvements/incorporation in improvements/incorporation in

CurriculumCurriculum

Risk Assessment and Financial Risk Assessment and Financial aspects.aspects.

Physical Modelling.Physical Modelling. Digital image analysis.Digital image analysis. Case histories and practical projects. Case histories and practical projects.

Risk AssessmentRisk Assessment and Financial Aspects and Financial Aspects

Risk Assessment and Financial Risk Assessment and Financial aspects.aspects.

Risk of injury.Risk of injury.• Number of peoples die (collapsing Number of peoples die (collapsing

excavation) is six times number of excavation) is six times number of injuries (Any construction work).injuries (Any construction work).

• Reason: Death due to lack of shoring Reason: Death due to lack of shoring system or inadequate shoring. system or inadequate shoring.

Risk (Geotechnical Engg.)Risk (Geotechnical Engg.)

Caves in: Collapse- Total or Partial (trench, Caves in: Collapse- Total or Partial (trench, deep test pits, large boring)deep test pits, large boring)

Cohesionless soil/Seepage of water.Cohesionless soil/Seepage of water. Encounter of bad air (Buildup of gas from Encounter of bad air (Buildup of gas from

decomposing organics/lack of Oxygen).decomposing organics/lack of Oxygen). Equipment risk (Break of drilling Equipment risk (Break of drilling

equipment/bursting of high pressure hose).equipment/bursting of high pressure hose). Toxic risk (Exposure of toxic waste).Toxic risk (Exposure of toxic waste). Utility risk (Drilling equip. punctured gas).Utility risk (Drilling equip. punctured gas). Inspection risk (Caisson/Deep excavation).Inspection risk (Caisson/Deep excavation).

Financial Loss Financial Loss (Geotechnical Engineers)(Geotechnical Engineers)

Vulnerable to financial loss Vulnerable to financial loss (Reason: Unknown soil condition)(Reason: Unknown soil condition) Good Engineering Practice Good Engineering Practice • Specify frequency and spacing of Specify frequency and spacing of

borings. borings. • Impossible to explore the subsurface Impossible to explore the subsurface

completely.completely.• Some uncertainty remains about Some uncertainty remains about

subsurface condition. subsurface condition.

If problem develops at any stage:If problem develops at any stage:• Failed to perform complete or Failed to perform complete or

diligent subsurface investigationdiligent subsurface investigation• How to mitigateHow to mitigate??1.1. To buy insurance (Error-and-To buy insurance (Error-and-

omissions insurance expensive)omissions insurance expensive)2.2. Limitation of liability clause in Limitation of liability clause in

contract (Not always judgment contract (Not always judgment proof) proof)

Geotechnical Engineers must be Geotechnical Engineers must be trained to evaluate the safety of trained to evaluate the safety of engineering operations at field.engineering operations at field.

Safety aspects and possible financial Safety aspects and possible financial loss during subsurface investigation loss during subsurface investigation must be incorporated in curriculum must be incorporated in curriculum at some stage of the course at at some stage of the course at UG UG level.level.

Physical Modelling Physical Modelling

Key limitation of reduced scale Key limitation of reduced scale physical model is physical model is quantitative quantitative interpretation of experimental datainterpretation of experimental data. .

Modern geotechnical centrifuge Modern geotechnical centrifuge modeling addresses this limitation.modeling addresses this limitation.

To ensure maximum benefit identify To ensure maximum benefit identify a strategic approach for introducing a strategic approach for introducing simulation technique into the courses simulation technique into the courses

Advantages (Physical Modelling)Advantages (Physical Modelling)

Complex non-linear geotechnical Complex non-linear geotechnical mechanism and phenomena can be mechanism and phenomena can be portrayed (otherwise difficult to visualize).portrayed (otherwise difficult to visualize).

Possible to observe the physical sense of Possible to observe the physical sense of fundamental mechanism governing the fundamental mechanism governing the Geotechnical system. Geotechnical system.

Possible to observe failure mechanism by Possible to observe failure mechanism by testing small scale model to collapse. testing small scale model to collapse.

(Not possible in traditional (Not possible in traditional Geotechnical Lab. Session) Geotechnical Lab. Session)

Possible to find deviation between Possible to find deviation between predicted and actual performance of predicted and actual performance of geotechnical system through back geotechnical system through back analysis of physical model- analysis of physical model- experiments.experiments.

Digital Image Analysis Digital Image Analysis

Current Education Curriculum emphasize Current Education Curriculum emphasize behaviourist learning behaviourist learning ((ResearchResearch :Visual input contribute learning :Visual input contribute learning more significantly)more significantly)

Necessary to strengthen the curriculum by Necessary to strengthen the curriculum by incorporating projects (incorporating projects (Application of ITApplication of IT) ) that that 1. Cultivate hands on experience. 1. Cultivate hands on experience. 2.As well as to visualize the materials 2.As well as to visualize the materials conceptually in broader concept. conceptually in broader concept.

Use of Digital Image Analysis can Use of Digital Image Analysis can supplement the traditional teaching supplement the traditional teaching method. (To effectively communicate method. (To effectively communicate complex concepts)complex concepts)

Case History and Practical ProjectsCase History and Practical Projects

Case histories play an important role Case histories play an important role in developing the engineering in developing the engineering approach and engineering judgment.approach and engineering judgment.

Case studies should include not only Case studies should include not only the failure structure and treatment of the failure structure and treatment of such failure projects but some such failure projects but some important successful projects also important successful projects also (Hover Dam, Panama Canal). (Hover Dam, Panama Canal).

AdvantagesAdvantages

Appreciation of significant features Appreciation of significant features and mechanism of problem.and mechanism of problem.

Idealization and simplification of Idealization and simplification of problems.problems.

Assessment of relevant geotechnical Assessment of relevant geotechnical parameters.parameters.

Geotechnical Engineering Geotechnical Engineering (teaching process)(teaching process)

Upgradation of curriculum focuses Upgradation of curriculum focuses only on course content, rarely only on course content, rarely discusses the innovative teaching discusses the innovative teaching process.process.

Learner-oriented approach more Learner-oriented approach more effective then the tradition teaching effective then the tradition teaching approach.approach.

Laboratory ExperimentsLaboratory Experiments

Present curriculum discusses the Present curriculum discusses the testing procedure only.testing procedure only.

Geotechnical engg. students are Geotechnical engg. students are expected to develop understanding expected to develop understanding of geotechnical problems.of geotechnical problems.

Desirable to demonstrate Desirable to demonstrate experiments and tests through experiments and tests through Modern Technology which enables Modern Technology which enables comparison with theoretical analysis. comparison with theoretical analysis.

Audio-Visual AidsAudio-Visual Aids

Ample scope to use audio-visual Ample scope to use audio-visual aids/IT techniques (Direct Teaching).aids/IT techniques (Direct Teaching).

Illustration of laboratory and field Illustration of laboratory and field testing technique.testing technique.

Illustration of fundamental aspects of Illustration of fundamental aspects of Soil and Foundation Behaviour.Soil and Foundation Behaviour.

• Embankment construction and failureEmbankment construction and failure• Development of slope instability.Development of slope instability.• Failure and excavation support. Failure and excavation support.

Role of ComputersRole of Computers

Means of reducing repetitive Means of reducing repetitive computational efforts (stability analysis via computational efforts (stability analysis via method involving slices).method involving slices).

Means of demonstrating fundamental Means of demonstrating fundamental mechanism of behaviour through mechanism of behaviour through computer graphics.computer graphics.

• Development of failure zone beneath Development of failure zone beneath foundation.foundation.

• Seepage through earth dam.Seepage through earth dam.• Deformation pattern in granular material.Deformation pattern in granular material.

Geotechnical Engg. Geotechnical Engg. (Marketing Aspects) (Marketing Aspects)

Geotechnical Engg.: Sample fetching or Geotechnical Engg.: Sample fetching or logging bore holes (general perception).logging bore holes (general perception).

Biggest challenge: To create awareness Biggest challenge: To create awareness that work of Geotechnical engineers have that work of Geotechnical engineers have a direct impact on improving thea direct impact on improving the

quality of life.quality of life. Selling geotechnical as a profession to Selling geotechnical as a profession to

students on large scale so as to attract students on large scale so as to attract bright and maximum no. of students for bright and maximum no. of students for geotechnical engg. Specialization geotechnical engg. Specialization

ConclusionConclusion

Reorient geotechnical engg. Reorient geotechnical engg. curriculum to attract more Civil engg. curriculum to attract more Civil engg. students to opt for Geotechnical students to opt for Geotechnical Engg. Specialization.Engg. Specialization.

Application of IT in Geotechnical Application of IT in Geotechnical engineering education be made engineering education be made compulsory. compulsory.

Safety and financial aspects of engg. Safety and financial aspects of engg. operation in field must be taught.operation in field must be taught.

Site visit and case history should be part Site visit and case history should be part of course programme. of course programme.

Laboratory work must include Laboratory work must include demonstration and illustration of demonstration and illustration of fundamental aspect of Soil and Foundation fundamental aspect of Soil and Foundation Behaviour. Behaviour.

Selling Geotechnical Engg. on a large scale Selling Geotechnical Engg. on a large scale by highlighting the achievements of by highlighting the achievements of geotechnical Engineers. geotechnical Engineers.

Thank you……………….Thank you……………….