TranslateGeotechnical Engineering
Soil, rock, foundations, and the ground everything is built on.
Lessons
All lessonsEffective Stress: How Soil Carries the Load
Discover the relationship between water pressure and soil strength.
Slope Stability: Keeping Hillsides Secure
An introduction to why slopes fail and how to prevent landslides.
Subsurface Exploration: Uncovering Ground Secrets
Exploring the methods engineers use to see what is hidden underground.
Soil Classification: The Engineering Alphabet
Learn how to categorize soils based on particle size and texture.
Soil Classification: Deciphering the Ground
Learn how engineers categorize soil types to predict foundation behavior.
Challenges
Seismic Liquefaction Mitigation and Foundation Stability
Design and construct a scaled foundation system capable of supporting a weighted superstructure atop a saturated granular soil medium during simulated seismic liquefaction events. Participants must devise a mitigation strategy, such as dynamic compaction, soil reinforcement, or drainage systems, to maintain vertical displacement within a 5mm tolerance when subjected to horizontal harmonic excitation. Your final report must include an analysis of pore-water pressure dissipation rates and effective stress distribution across the failure plane.
Subsurface Liquefaction Mitigation Analysis
Design a small-scale soil foundation system that maintains structural integrity under rapid dynamic loading to simulate seismic-induced liquefaction. Participants must engineer a drainage or compaction strategy using granular media that prevents total pore pressure buildup and subsequent bearing capacity failure when subjected to controlled harmonic vibrations. Document the volumetric strain and settlement ratios observed before and after the simulated seismic event.
Liquefaction Mitigation Design Challenge
Design and construct a soil foundation model capable of supporting a weighted structural load while subjected to simulated seismic liquefaction. Participants must engineer a drainage or densification system within saturated granular media to prevent catastrophic bearing capacity failure during a sustained 60-second vibration test. Success is measured by minimizing total vertical settlement and relative tilt of the structural footing upon completion of the test cycle.
The Liquefaction Challenge
Design and build a foundation model that can support a heavy weight while subjected to simulated seismic vibration on a saturated soil bed. Participants must observe how water saturation levels affect the stability of their structure and refine their design to prevent settlement or tipping. The goal is to create the most stable foundation using varying soil compositions and structural support techniques.
