Chapter:

Introduction-to-Engineering-Geology

1. Write main tasks for EGS in detailed design phase of civil engineering projects. [2072 Ashwin][3]

Engineering geological studies have to be performed in different phases of any civil engineering projects.For avoiding unnecessary and excessive investment of time and moneyin order to get the required geotechnical information,Engineering geological studies are done systematically in the following phases:
  • Project definition,
  • Feasibility,
  • Design,
  • Construction,
  • Maintenance
  • The respective engineering Geological tasks  in detail design phase are :

    • Detail engineering geological mapping of selected sites.
    • Rock studies nad mapping of selected sites for stability analysis and design of the support system.
    • detail surface and subsurface exploration.
    • In-site as well as laboratory tests.
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    2. Define EGS.Write down it's components.

    Engineering Geological System is defined as a system constituting of all the components and features forming the earth's crust.

    Some components of engineering geological system are:

    • Rocks

    • Soils

    • Geological structures

    • Hydrological Bodies etc.

    Rocks:

    Naturally occurring solid aggregate made up of one or more minerals or mineraloids are known as Rocks.eg-Granite.

    Soils:

    Soil is the mixture of minerals, organic matter ,liquids, gases etc formed by the decomposition of rocks and deposition due to weathering and erosion.

    Geological Structures:

    The structural features like faults, folds, joints,etc that are formed in rocks due to permanent deformation and rock failure created by stresses through geologic time are called Geologic Structures.Geologic Structures are of following types:

    • primary Structures:These are developed at the time of formation of the rocks (eg-Sedimentary Structures)

    • Secondary Structures:These are developed in rocks after their formation as a result of their subjection to external forces (eg-Faults)

    • Compound Structures:These are formed by the combination of events (eg- Unconformities).

    Hydrogeological Bodies:

    Hydrogeology is the branch of geology that deals with the distribution and movement of groundwater in the soil and rocks of the earth's crust. Aquifiers, rivers, etc are hydrogeological bodies.

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    3. Describe engineering significance of rock forming minerals. [2069 Bhadra][3]

    Those minerals which are found in majority of rocks in significant proportion are called rock forming minerals.

    Civil Engineering Significance of Rock-Forming Minerals:
    • The civil engineers need to know the properties of the rocks precisely to enable them to consider different rocks for any required purpose, i.e, as foundation rocks, as road metal, as concrete aggregate, as building stones, as flooring or roofing material, as decorative material etc.All properties of rocks are , in turn, dependend on the properties of their constituent minerals.Thus, properties of civil engineering inportance such as strength, durability, and appearance of rocks can be assessed only with the knowledge of the minerals that form rocks i.e, rock-forming minerals.
    • The economic minerals,since they are scare, do not influence the properties of rocks and hence irrelevant from the civil engineering point of view.However,if they happen to occur in large quantities,their economic value will not permit them to be used as construction materials or as foundation sites.


    MINERALS
    CRYSTAL-FORM
    COLOR
    HARDNESS
    STREAK
    TENACITY
    USES
    Quartz
    Hexagonal
    colourless
    7
    colourless
    Brittle
    • it is sometimes employed to jjewelry and for making spectacle glasses and electrical materials.


    Orthoclase Feldspar
    Monoclinic
    Red
    6
    Colourless
    Brittle
    • It is used in the manufacture of porcelain glass, sanitary wares and enameled brick.


    plagioclase
    Triclinic
    Grey
    6
    White
    Brittle
    • it is used in the manufacture of porcelain.
    Fluorite
    Isometric
    white,yellow,green rose
    4
    White
    Brittle
    • It is used as a flux in the making of steel in the manufacture of opalescent glass, in the enameling of cooking utensils,for the preparation of hydrofluoric acid and sometimes as an ornamental material.
    Calcite
    Hexagonal
    Colourless or white
    3
    White
    Brittle
    • It is used in the manufacture of mortars and cement, as a building and ornamental materials.
    • It is used as a fertilizer in white wash.
    gypsum
    Monoclinic
    White
    2
    White
    Sectile
    • It is used as a retarder in cement as a fertilizer, as a filler in various materials such as paper crayons paint,rubber etc and used in the manufacture of plaster of paris.
    Biotite
    Monoclinic
    Black
    2.5 - 3
    Colorless
    Elastic
    • Mica minerals are extensively used for insulating purposes.
    Muscovite
    Monoclinic
    Colorless
    2.0 - 2.5
    Colorless
    Elastic
    • Insulating purposes,Glass industry.
    Kyanite
    Triclinic
    Light Blue
    4 - 7 depending upon faces.
    White
    Brittle
    • Used in the manufacture of Porcelein glass.
    Hornblende
    Monoclinic
    Greenish black
    5 - 6
    Green
    Brittle
    • It is used for decorative purposes.
    Tourmaline
    Hexagonal-Trigonal
    Dark Black
    7 - 7.5
    Colorless
    Brittle
    • The variously colored and transparent varieties are used as gem stones.
    Olivine
    Orthorhombic
    Grayish green
    6 - 7
    Colorless
    Brittle
    • They provide a high grade material for refractory forsterite bricks,Transparent,beautifully colored crystals of olivine untouched by metamorphism (chrysolites) are used as gemstones

    Note : Only name of minerals and uses are enough for this question.



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    4. What do you mean by Geophysics?Explain various types of Geophysical Methods to measure properties of earth materials.

    Geophysics is the branch of geological science which is the application of the concepts of Physics to study the interior of the earth.

    There are various types of geophysical methods that measure respective physical properties of earth materials as explained below:

    • Gravity Method

    • Magnetic Method

    • Electrical Method

    • Seismic Method

    • Geothermal Method

    • Radiometric Method

    Gravity Method:

    This Method is used to measure the density of materials.

    Magnetic Method:

    This Method is used to measure magnetic susceptibility and natural remnant magnetism of materials.

    Electrical Method:

    This Method is used to measure electrical resistivity and conductivity of materials.

    Seismic Method:

    This Method is used to measure  elastic property i.e, seismic wave velocity of materials.

    Geothermal Method:

    This Method is used to measure  thermal conductivity of materials.

    Radiometric Method:

    This Method is used to measure  gamma ray intensity, concentration of radioactive emanation within materials.

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    5. Write scope of Engineering Geology in field of Civil Engineering. [2068 Magh][2]

    Some of the Scope of Geology in Civil Engineering can be explained as:

    • Geology provides necessary information about the lithology of the area and site construction materials that can be used in the construction of building dams, tunnels, highways, and bridges.

    • Geological information is most important in the planning phase, design phase, and construction phase of an engineering project.

    • Without structural geology study of the area, earthquake engineering studies cannot be performed and hence construction cannot be made immune to earthquakes.

    • The knowledge of geology helps to overcome and minimize the geology related risks that can be encountered during any civil engineering constructions.

    • Water resources engineering projects cannot be completed without hydrogeological study. The knowledge of groundwater is necessary in connection with irrigation, excavation works, water supply, etc.

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    6. Describe about preparation of engineering geological map in field. [2071 Bhadra][3]

    The Graphical representation of purpose specific geological information or data obtained from field (after site investigation) which can be quantified (in numbers), with reference to north at certain scale is known as Engineering Geological Map.It includes lithology (distribution of rock types), soil types (alluval,colluvial,residual etc.), geomorphology (river,stream,slope aspect ,inclination,slope instabilities like mass movements i.e, landslides,debris flow,slope failure etc).

    Preparations:
    • All the geological features (rock units, bedding planes, faults, foliations, etc.) present in the area must be shown so that the geology of the area can eaily be underestood and interpreted.
    • Rocks units or geologic strata are shown by appropriate and relevant where they exposed at the surface.
    • Bedding planes and structural features such as folds, faults, foliations, and lineation are shown with the strike and dip or trend and plunge symbols which give these features three dimensional orientations.
    • Stratiographic contour lines can be used to illustrate the surface of a selected stratum illustrating the sunsurface topographic trends of the strata.
    • Orinetations of planes are often measured as a strike and dip while of lines are shown as trend and plunge.Strike and dip symbols consists of a long strike line, which is perpendicular to the direction of a greatest slope along the surface of the bed, and a shorter dip line on side of the strike line where the bed is going downwards.The angle that the bed makes with the horizontal, along the dip direction, is written next to the dip line.In azimuthal system, the orientation is shown as strike / dip.

    Trend and Plunge are used for linear features and theor symbol is a single arrow on the map.The arrow is oriented in the down going direction of the feature (Trend) and at the end of the arrow, the number of degrees the feature lies below the horizontal (Plunge) is noted.eg- 34/86 indicates a feature that is angled at 34 degree below the horizontal at an angle that is just East of true South.

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    7. Explain Geotechnical Category Of Project.

    Some of the Geotechnical categories can be explained under

    • Category 1

    • Category 2

    • Category 3

    Category 1:

    • It involves relatively small structures.

    • Fundamental requirements will be satisfied on the basis of experience and qualitative geotechnical investigations.

    • There is negligible risk.

    • Geotechnical complexity is low.

    • Simplified design procedures applied.

    Category 2:

    • It involves conventional types of  structures.

    • There is no any exceptional risk.

    • Design includes quantitative geotechnical data and analysis for satisfying the fundamental requirements.

    Category 3:

    • Structures which fall outside the limit of categories 1 and 2 fall within category 3 (Very large and unusual structures).

    • Structures in highly seismic areas.

    • It requires special measures and separate investigation.

    • Abnormal risks,or unusual ground conditions.

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    8. Describe engineering significance of rock forming minerals. [2070 Bhadra][3]

    Those minerals which are found in majority of rocks in significant proportion are called rock forming minerals.

    Civil Engineering Significance of Rock-Forming Minerals:
    • The civil engineers need to know the properties of the rocks precisely to enable them to consider different rocks for any required purpose, i.e, as foundation rocks, as road metal, as concrete aggregate, as building stones, as flooring or roofing material, as decorative material etc.All properties of rocks are , in turn, dependend on the properties of their constituent minerals.Thus, properties of civil engineering inportance such as strength, durability, and appearance of rocks can be assessed only with the knowledge of the minerals that form rocks i.e, rock-forming minerals.
    • The economic minerals,since they are scare, do not influence the properties of rocks and hence irrelevant from the civil engineering point of view.However,if they happen to occur in large quantities,their economic value will not permit them to be used as construction materials or as foundation sites.


    MINERALS
    CRYSTAL-FORM
    COLOR
    HARDNESS
    STREAK
    TENACITY
    USES
    Quartz
    Hexagonal
    colourless
    7
    colourless
    Brittle
    • it is sometimes employed to jjewelry and for making spectacle glasses and electrical materials.


    Orthoclase Feldspar
    Monoclinic
    Red
    6
    Colourless
    Brittle
    • It is used in the manufacture of porcelain glass, sanitary wares and enameled brick.


    plagioclase
    Triclinic
    Grey
    6
    White
    Brittle
    • it is used in the manufacture of porcelain.
    Fluorite
    Isometric
    white,yellow,green rose
    4
    White
    Brittle
    • It is used as a flux in the making of steel in the manufacture of opalescent glass, in the enameling of cooking utensils,for the preparation of hydrofluoric acid and sometimes as an ornamental material.
    Calcite
    Hexagonal
    Colourless or white
    3
    White
    Brittle
    • It is used in the manufacture of mortars and cement, as a building and ornamental materials.
    • It is used as a fertilizer in white wash.
    gypsum
    Monoclinic
    White
    2
    White
    Sectile
    • It is used as a retarder in cement as a fertilizer, as a filler in various materials such as paper crayons paint,rubber etc and used in the manufacture of plaster of paris.
    Biotite
    Monoclinic
    Black
    2.5 - 3
    Colorless
    Elastic
    • Mica minerals are extensively used for insulating purposes.
    Muscovite
    Monoclinic
    Colorless
    2.0 - 2.5
    Colorless
    Elastic
    • Insulating purposes,Glass industry.
    Kyanite
    Triclinic
    Light Blue
    4 - 7 depending upon faces.
    White
    Brittle
    • Used in the manufacture of Porcelein glass.
    Hornblende
    Monoclinic
    Greenish black
    5 - 6
    Green
    Brittle
    • It is used for decorative purposes.
    Tourmaline
    Hexagonal-Trigonal
    Dark Black
    7 - 7.5
    Colorless
    Brittle
    • The variously colored and transparent varieties are used as gem stones.
    Olivine
    Orthorhombic
    Grayish green
    6 - 7
    Colorless
    Brittle
    • They provide a high grade material for refractory forsterite bricks,Transparent,beautifully colored crystals of olivine untouched by metamorphism (chrysolites) are used as gemstones

    NOTE : Only name of minerals and uses are enough for this question.



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    9. Mention engineering geological study with reference to different phases for evaluation of EGS. [2073 Magh][3]

    Engineering geological studies have to be performed in different phases of any civil engineering projects.For avoiding unnecessary and excessive investment of time and moneyin order to get the required geotechnical information,Engineering geological studies are done systematically in the following phases:
    • Project definition,
    • Feasibility,
    • Design,
    • Construction,
    • Maintenance


    The main phases of evaluation of EGS and the respective engineering Geological tasks are :


    Phase
    Task for study
    Project definition
    • setting of the problem.
    • development of the project concept.
    • Preliminary information about regional geology, topography and climate.
    pre-feasibility
    • Existing topographical maps, Aerial photo etc. observed to get regional geological information.
    • field inspection and preliminary geological survey of possible sites.
    Feasibility
    • preparation of engineering geological maps (not in detail).
    • surface and subsurface site explorations.
    • estimation of the mechanical properties of the intact rocks and rock mass based on previous experience and some lab tests.
    Design
    • Detail engineering geological mapping of selected sites.
    • Rock studies nad mapping of selected sites for stability analysis and design of the support system.
    • detail surface and subsurface exploration.
    • In-site as well as laboratory tests.
    Construction
    • Exavation and construction works including the cuts, fills, tunneling, support system, etc.
    • continuous supervision.
    maintenance
    • Regularinspection and monitoring of the sope stability after construction, stability of the excavated surface of the underground structures after excavation.
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    10. What is Earthquake?Write down it's causes.

    Earthquake is the sudden and temporary vibration set up on the earth surface caused by the released seismic waves from the earth's interior on it's surface.Seismic waves are the enormous waves released from the focus at the time of earthquake is transmitted in all direction in the form of waves.Seismic waves are of following types;

    • Body waves,

    • Surface waves.

    Body Waves:

    These are the waves which pass through the interior of the earth.These are of two types:

    • P waves

    • S Waves

     P waves:

    These are called Primary Wave or Longitudinal Waves or Compression Waves, like Sound wave.It shakes things in the same direction it travels.The P wave can travel through solid, semi-solid and liquid i.e, crust, mantle and core.

     S Waves:

        These are the secondary waves and also known as transverse or shear waves. An S wave is slower than P wave and can only move through solid rocks. This wave moves rock up and down, or side-to-side i.e, rock vibrates perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation and much more destructive than P waves. Velocity of P wave is 1.7 times that of S wave.                         

    Surface Waves:

    Surface waves, in contrast to body waves can only move along the surface. They arrive after the main P and S waves and are confined to the outer layers of the Earth. They cause the most surface destruction. Earthquake surface waves are divided into two different categories:

    • Rayleigh Wave

    • Love Wave

         Rayleigh Wave:
        Rayleigh waves, also known as ground roll, spread through the ground as ripples, similar to rolling waves on the ocean. Like rolling ocean waves, Rayleigh waves move both vertically and horizontally in a vertical plane pointed in the direction in which the waves are travelling.Rayleigh waves are slower than body waves and typically travel at a speed that is 10% slower than S-waves.
    Love Wave:

    Love waves have the same motion as S-waves but without the vertical displacement. They move the ground from side to side in a horizontal plane but at right angles to the direction of propagation. Love waves are particularly damaging to the foundations of structures because of the horizontal ground motion they generate. Love waves can also cause horizontal shearing of the ground. They usually travel slightly faster than Rayleigh waves, at a speed that is usually about 10% slower than S-waves, but like S-waves, they cannot spread through water.

    sno.
    Body Waves
    Surface Waves
    1
    They arrive before surface waves are emitted by an earthquake.
    These waves are generated due to the effect of Body waves on earth surface
    2
    They are of higher frequency than surface waves.
    They are of lower frequency than body waves.

    Causes Of Earthquake:

    • Tectonic Causes

    • Non tectonic causes

    Tectonic Causes:

    Earthquake is caused by faulting and folding in the crust due to tectonic activities.The mechanism of earthquake is well defined by the Elastic Rebound Theory.The earth is a dynamic body,the plates on the earth are moving continuously,due to which the rocks, at the plate boundaries, are continuously undergoing deformation. During the process of deformation of a plate, a great amount of stress is gradually exerted on the rock. When the stress exceeds the elastic limit, a fracture is developed.But the friction along the fracture resist the movement for certain time, when the stress exceeds the frictional resistance also, the block moves along a fault plane i.e, an accumulated energy is suddenly released and it travels through the earth shaking the earth's crust for a period of time.This concept of earthquake is called 'Elastic Rebound Theory'.

    Non tectonic causes:

    The earthquake may also occur due to collapse of subterrain cavaties and underground mines. The ground may shake due to large scale blasting and use of heavy machines as well as passing trains and tanks.Big landslides and avalanches are also responsible for ground tremor. Other reason may be the volcanic eruption and collapse of volcanic terrain.

    Civil Engineering Consideration in Seismic Areas:

    Seismic areas are the place which experience earthquake frequently. The civil engineers must think of making his construction immune to earthquakes. The difficulties in achieving this objectives are:

    • the exact place of earthquake (this is important because the epicenter region will be worst affected and hence needs maximum protection).

    • the magnitude of earthquake (this is important because the cost of construction increases with increases in safety required).

    • the duration of earthquake (this is important because the extent of damage will be more if duration is more).

    • the direction of movement of the ground at the time of earthquake.

    The above mentioned factors are crucial because unless they are known, assessment of probable damage due to earthquake to civil engineering structures is not possible.

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