Geotechnical engineering education – removing the barriers

Abstract

Degree programmes in civil engineering usually separate teaching of structural mechanics, hydraulics, soil mechanics. Educationally this carries three dangers. Firstly, the teaching diverges: common ground between the separate areas becomes difficult to identify. Secondly, it leaves the impression that the behaviour of soils is completely different from the behaviour of any other material that civil engineers will encounter. Thirdly, it ignores the fact that many of the challenges of geotechnical engineering arise from inter- action - soil-structure interaction; erosion and scour. However, introductory soil mechanics can instead present soil as one of many civil engineering materials. In understanding stiffness and strength the key feature is that soil contains voids. A 'critical state soil mechanics' framework in which stresses and density are considered in parallel will be helpful.