Structural Integrity At A Glance

By Author: William Hauselberg
Total Articles: 816
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Who looks for structural integrity of the ground?

Geotechnical engineers, which are a branch of civil engineers, are responsible for understanding the engineering behavior of the earth. This may include soil, rocks, or any other natural items found on the ground. Geotechnical analysis is used in civil planning of cities and communities as well as by the military and corporations involved in mining or petroleum excuvation. A key component of geotechnical analysis is to evaluate the stability of the earth materials and to assess if there are any risks in building at that location. Without this analysis, serious damage could happen during the construction of a project, or after it is complete, potentially putting people at risk. The use of geotechnical monitoring instruments enable these engineers to accurately understand what condition the ground is in and determine an appropriate course of action. In some cases this is building up the ground, in others it is determining how to make a building stable in the event of an earthquake at that location.

What properties of the Earth can affect structural integrity?

Geotechnical ...
... monitoring instruments are looking for the properties of soil. These properties are sometimes referred to as soil mechanics. In general, soil is made up of three phases, the particles we associate with being soil and spaces in between the soil which are filled with air or water. Geotechnical analysis of a sample will take into consideration properties like the unit weight of the sample, which is just the weight of a whole sample. Porosity, which is the ratio of space in a sample to the whole sample, and compressibility which measures the volume change of a sample with added stress.

Each of these properties can have an enormous impact on the structural integrity of a building, rig or mine. If soil is incredibly porous, issues may arise with runoff in heavy rains, a soil that compresses easily may lead to sink holes under foundations. A thorough plan with a geotechnical engineer will not include knowing issues in the ground but also design the proper foundation for the area. Getting the proper foundation is critical since it will be transferring weight from the building onto the ground. If changes in the earth impact this capacity the whole building is at risk.

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