Chapter 77: Introduction to Section 8

Figure 77.1  outlines the layout and contents of Section 8 Construction processes.

Geotechnical engineering differs from most other forms of civil engineering in that it does not deal with man-made materials whose properties and behaviour can be reliably dictated and predicted. Man-made materials such as concrete and steel have been rigorously tested in the past, and their engineering properties perfected away from the site environment. A concrete or steel member will perform the same way on different construction projects, provided the same materials are used and the same level of construction workmanship applied.

The ground is not normally man-made, and so every construction project will have a unique set of ground conditions, including the groundwater regime. It is this unique combination of ground conditions and the applied load from buildings and structures that makes geotechnical engineering so fascinating to those who work in the industry, and so frustrating to those who do not. It is no surprise that the biggest risks for new developments are often associated with the ground.