Why is soil mechanics important?
Soil mechanics is important because it is necessary to understand the characteristics of soil. This is achieved by overlaying the general expenses of the project. We must ensure that the foundation has sufficient load-bearing capacity, which allows us to control the distortions that can occur. Soil mechanics is required for all types of construction, from houses to infrastructure.
Who needs it?
Professionals who want to build anything, from houses to commercial and vertical buildings. The project engineer defines the execution of the project, and construction engineers verify the state of the foundation due to changes or new conditions.
Soil mechanics is used for the construction of horizontal and vertical buildings, commercial buildings, and building construction.
When is it used?
During the pre-design stage to define the process and specific design process, during construction to identify the behavior of the soil or to study the situation due to changes in the project, and after construction to examine the behavior of the soil.
In this process, several tests are used, such as deep exploration drilling, surface sampling, open pit wells (PCA), deep drilling (SPT or SM), and standard penetration tests (SPT).
The more specialized tests are mechanical tests to determine the behavior of the soil in terms of shear strength and deformability. Theoretical and finite element analyses are also used. Ideal scenarios require sufficient field exploration and correct laboratory tests to feed geotechnical analyses.
What problems does soil mechanics solve?
A lack of knowledge about soil behavior can result in deformations due to lack of support in the soil and significant structural damage. These problems can manifest in damages to structures, such as cracking in floors, walls, etc. The most significant problems are severe structural damage to the construction. These problems can be very costly if not addressed, requiring structural reinforcement, recommendations, demolition of elements with severe damage, and subsequent reconstruction.
What solutions does soil mechanics provide?
During pre-construction, soil mechanics can define the executive project. During construction, it verifies the present conditions when there is a change in the project, and after construction, it verifies geotechnical solutions in existing buildings.
