Geotechnical Engineering
Geotechnical engineering is the branch of engineering dealing with the analysis, design and construction of foundations, slopes, retaining structures and other systems that are made of or are supported by soil or rock. The research ranges in nature from analytical and numerical analysis of geotechnical problems to constitutive modeling, experimental modeling and design-oriented research. Historically, the Geotechnical Faculty have continuously maintained a balance between theoretical, experimental and design-oriented research, and this tradition remains true today.
The Geotechnical Engineering area in Civil Engineering is relatively unstructured and provides freedom for students and their graduate committees to develop a plan of study that will meet individual goals. A broad range of courses are available in the areas of geotechnical engineering as well as other areas of civil engineering. Additionally, it is possible for students to take courses in geology, mathematics, chemistry, agronomy and other engineering disciplines. The Geotechnical Facilities provide means for undergraduate and graduate students to examine the nature and validity of strength and compressibility theories and their application to stability and settlement analysis. The Purdue Geotechnical Society enhances the strong bond and working relationship among alumni, faculty, students, and staff of the Geotechnical Engineering group at Purdue University for the benefit of all.
Spotlights
August 3, 2006
Geotechnical Design has traditionally been done using working stress design (WSD), a design approach in which a factor
of safety is used to either magnify the applied loads or reduce the available resistance to ensure safety. In WSD,
all the uncertainties are lumped in the factor of safety. Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) is an approach in
which the uncertainties related to the imposed loads are accounted for by magnifying these loads, while the uncertainties
involved in reducing resistances are accounted for by reducing the resistances.
