ABSTRACT
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Geotechnical engineering is a branch of civil engineering in which technology is applied to the design and construction of structures involving earthen materials, and there are many branches of geotechnical engineering. Surficial earthen material consists of soil and rock; soil and rock mechanics are fundamental studies of the properties and mechanics of soil and rock. Foundation engineering is the application of
the principles of soil mechanics, rock mechanics, and structural engineering to the design of structures associated with earthen materials. It is generally observed that most common foundation types supported by intact bedrock present no compressibility problems; hence, when designing common foundation types, the foundation engineer’s primary concerns are the strength and compressibility of the subsurface soil and, whenever applicable, the strength of bedrock.
