Geological Engineering

A thorough knowledge of geology is essential in the design and construction of infrastructures for transport, buildings and mining operations; while an understanding of geology is also crucial for those working in urban, territorial and environmental planning and in the prevention and mitigation of geohazards. Geological Engineering provides an interpretation of the geological setting, integrating geological conditions into engineering design and construction, and provides engineering solutions that take into account both ground conditions and environment. This textbook, extensively illustrated with working examples and a wealth of graphics, covers the subject area of geological engineering in four sections: Fundamentals: soil mechanics, rock mechanics and hydrogeology Methods: site investigations, rock mass characterization and engineering geological mapping Applications: foundations, slope stability, tunnelling, dams and reservoirs and earth works Geohazards: landslides, other mass movements, earthquake hazards and prevention and mitigation of geological hazards As well as being a textbook for graduate and postgraduate students and academics, Geological Engineering serves as a basic reference for practicing engineering geologists and geological and geotechnical engineers, as well as civil and mining engineers dealing with design and construction of foundations, earth works and excavations for infrastructures, buildings, and mining operations.

PART I. FUNDAMENTALS Chapter 1 - Introduction to Geological Engineering1.1 Definition and Importance of Geological Engineering1.2 The Geological Environment and its Relation with Engineering1.3 Geological Factors and Geotechnical Problems1.4 Methods and Applications in Engineering Geology1.5 Information Sources in Engineering Geology1.6 How this Book is StructuredRecommended Reading/References Chapter 2 – Soil Mechanics and Engineering Geology of Sediments2.1 Introduction2.2 Soil Description and Classification2.3 Flow of Water through Soils2.4 Effective Stress2.5 Consolidation and Compressibility2.6 Shear Strength of Soils2.7 Influence of Mineralogy and Fabric on the Geotechnical Properties of Soils2.8 Engineering Geology Characteristics of Sediments2.9 Problematic SoilsRecommended Reading/References Chapter 3 – ROCK MECHANICS3.1 Introduction3.2 Physical and Mechanical Properties of Rocks3.3 Stress and Strain in Rocks3.4 Strenght and Deformability of Intact Rock3.5 Discontinuities3.6 Strenght and Deformability of Rock Masses3.7 In situ Stress3.8 Rock Mass ClassificationsRecommended Reading/References Chapter4 - HYDROGEOLOGY4.1 Hydrogeological Behaviour of Soils and Rocks4.2 Hydrogeological Parameters4.3 Flow. Darcy's Law and Fundamental Flow Equations in Porous Media4.4 Evaluation Methods for Hydrogeological Parameters4.5 Solution Methods4.6 Chemical Properties of WaterRecommended Reading/References PART II. METHODS Chapter5 – SITE INVESTIGATIONS5.1 Planning and Design5.2 Preliminary Investigations5.3 Engineering Geophysics5.4 Boreholes, Trial Pits, Trenches and Sampling5.5 In situTests5.6 Geotechnical InstrumentationRecommended Reading/References Chapter 6 - ROCK MASS DESCRIPTION AND CHARACTERISATION6.1 Methodology6.2 Description and Zoning6.3 Intact Rock Characterisation6.4 Description of Discontinuities6.5 Rock Mass Parameters6.6 Rock Mass Classification and CharacterisationRecommended Reading/References Chapter 7 - ENGINEERING GEOLOGICAL MAPPING7.1 Definition7.2 Types of Maps7.3 Mapping Methods7.4 Data Collection7.5 ApplicationsRecommended Reading/References PART III. APPLICATIONS Chapter 8 - FOUNDATIONS8.1 Introduction8.2 Shallow Foundations8.3 Deep Foundations8.4 Foundations in Rock8.5 Foundations in Complex Geological Conditions8.6 Site InvestigationRecommended Reading/References Chapter 9 - SLOPES9.1 Introduction9.2 Site Investigations9.3 Factors Influencing Slope Stability9.4 Types of Slope Failure9.5 Stability Analysis9.6 Stabilization Measures9.7 Monitoring and Control9.8 Slope ExcavationRecommended Reading/References Chapter 10 - TUNNELS10.1 Introduction10.2 Site Investigation10.3 Influence of Geological Conditions10.4 Geomechanical Design Parameters10.5 Rock Mass Classifications for Tunneling10.6 Tunnel Support Design using Rock Mass Classifications10.7 Excavability10.8 Tunnel Excavation and Support Methods in Rock10.9 Tunnel Excavation and Support Methods in Soil10.10 Geological Engineering during Tunnel ConstructionRecommended Reading/References Chapter 11 - DAMS AND RESERVOIRS11.1. Introduction11.2 Types of Dams and Auxiliary Structures11.3 Site Investigation11.4 Engineering Geology Criteria for Dam Selection11.5 Geological Materials for Dam Construction11.6 Reservoir Water Tightness11.7 Permeability of Dam Foundations11.8 Reservoir Slope Stability11.9 Engineering Geological Conditions for Dam Foundations11.10 Seismic Actions and Induced SeismicityRecommended Reading/References Chapter 12 - EARTH STRUCTURES12.1 Introduction12.2 Design Methodology12.3 Materials12.4 Implementation and Control12.5 Embankments on Soft Soils12.6 Embankments on SlopesRecommended Reading/References PART IV. GEOLOGICAL HAZARDS Chapter 13 - LANDSLIDES AND OTHER MASS MOVEMENTS13.1 Introduction13.2 Slope Movements13.3 Investigation of Landslides13.4 Corrective Measures13.5 Collapse and Subsidence13.6 Prevention of Risks from Mass MovementsRecommended Reading/References Chapter 14 - SEISMIC HAZARD14.1 Introduction14.2 Faults and Earthquakes14.3 Seismicity Studies14.4 Seismic Hazard Analysis14.5 Seismic Site Response14.6 Ground Effects Induced by Earthquakes14.7 Applications to Geological EngineeringRecommended Reading/References Chapter 15 - PREVENTION OF GEOLOGICAL HAZARDS15.1 Geological Hazards15.2 Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability15.3 Safety Criteria in Geological Engineering15.4 Prevention and Mitigation of Geological Hazards15.5 Hazard and Risk MapsRecommended Reading/References Appendix A: Charts for Circular and Wedge Failure AnalysisAppendix B: Pressure Units Conversion ChartAppendix C: Symbols and AcronymsAppendix D: List of BoxesAppendix E: Permissions to Reproduce Figures and Tables Index

Luis I. González de Vallejo; Professor of Geological Engineering at the Complutense University of Madrid, where he is also Director of the MSc Courses in Geological Engineering. He has dedicated his professional career in geological engineering to consulting, research and teaching, and he has conducted a large number of geological and geotechnical investigations for the design and construction of tunnels, dams and foundations in Spain and Central and South America, including landslide and earthquake hazard analysis, large excavations and site assessment for nuclear power plants and radioactive waste disposal.He has written over 120 papers in journals and proceedings as well as five books. Associate Editor of Soils and Rocks and Member of the Editorial Board of several scientific journals, he has been invited to present the 2nd Mariano Ruiz Vazquez Lecture, at the Academy of Engineering of Mexico, in 2007, and the XXVII Manuel Rocha Lecture, at the Portuguese Geotechnical Society, in 2010. Mercedes Ferrer; Senior Research Officer at the Geological Survey of Spain and Associate Lecturer on Rock Mechanics at the Complutense University of Madrid, where she graduated in Geological Sciences and obtained her doctorate for her research on the deformability and failure mechanisms of soft rocks. She has carried out research projects on geological hazards in Spain, Italy and Central and South America, particularly on landslides and geo-hazard mapping for urban planning, mitigation and prevention purposes. She has written over 100 papers and research reports on geological hazards, landslides and slope stability. At present she is leading a research project on the causes and failure mechanisms of the mega-rockslides of volcanic islands flanks.