Geotechnical engineering at NGI
Geotechnical engineering is the branch of civil engineering concerned with the engineering behaviour of earth materials. Geotechnical engineering uses principles of soil mechanics and rock mechanics to investigate subsurface conditions and materials.
Geophysics, hydrogeology and geology are all complementary fields of expertise to geotechnical engineering. The core expertise at NGI is related to:
- Determine the relevant physical/mechanical and chemical properties of earth materials
- Evaluate stability of natural slopes and man-made soil deposits; assess risks posed by site conditions
- Design earthworks and structure foundations
- Monitor site conditions, behaviour of earthwork and foundation construction.
A typical geotechnical engineering project begins with a review of project needs to define the required material properties. Then follows a site investigation of soil, rock, fault distribution and bedrock properties on and below an area of interest to determine their engineering properties including how they will interact with, on or in a proposed construction.
Site investigations are needed to gain an understanding of the area in or on which the engineering will take place. Investigations can include the assessment of the risk to humans, property and the environment from natural hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, sinkholes, soil liquefaction, debris flows and rock falls.
Geotechnical engineering is used in the planning for roads and tunnels, and foundations for structures onshore and offshore. This includes expertise within numerical modeling and analysis, evaluation of slope stability of soil and rock, and bearing capacity and deformation of structures.
Research and development within geotechnics include improvement and development of:
- Equipment and methods for site investigations
- Equipment and methods for investigation and testing of soil and rock samples in the laboratory
- Methods to predict and analyze how soil and rock behave during different loading conditions in relation to the construction of structures, bridges, dams, offshore platforms, tunnels, rock caverns, roads, railroads etc.
- Methods to instrument, measure and monitor, and thereby document, if the behavior of structures and construction works after completion are according to the design.
NGI conducts research and development within all the areas mentioned above, partly funded by The Research Council of Norway. The major part of NGI's assignments comes directly from the industry, both research oriented and consultancy and design assignments. The following markets are covered:
Soil mechanics as a science was primarily developed by Karl Terzaghi from Austria in the first part of the 20th century. He became professor at the University in Vienna, and thereafter at Harvard University in the USA. Prior to his death in 1963, he donated all of his scientific and engineering material and archives to NGI. All this material is presented in the Terzaghi Library at NGI, opened in 1967.
Education in soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering is a branch of civil engineering. In Norway the primary educational institution is Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim. At The Institute for geosciences of the University of Oslo one may also graduate with a major in geotechnics.