Importance Of Geophysics In Engineering

ABSTRACT

Geophysical methods originally managed by geophysicists are becoming popular in the civil engineering field. In the past, most engineers applied their conventional method with rare to any other alternative method. This study describes some of the civil engineering applications discourse where the geophysical method is especially suitable in the preliminary stage of site assessment. Some of the geophysical method which can assist the civil engineering works is still rarely understood for several reasons. Hence, this study presents a resistivity and seismic refraction method applied in several civil engineering problems such as in geotechnical engineering, rock mechanics and engineering geology, water and environmental engineering and pavement engineering. The utilization of geophysical method can increase the effectiveness of civil engineering works since it can provide the information which the conventional civil engineering method was hard to determine due to the concern of money, time and quality. For example, the method helps to reduce the number of conventional drilling method and possibly decides a critical spot of interest which directly decreases the cost of the project. Some of the common earth materials and related parameter in civil engineering application that can be utilized by the geophysical method are minerals, soils, rocks, water, subsurface layers, thickness and depth. The results produced by the geophysical survey increase the awareness of civil engineers of their wide area of applications. The utilization of this method have been successfully used in the civil engineering field and has the potential to be integrated with a conventional method to produce reliable information thus enhance the project effectiveness especially during the design and construction stages.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COVER PAGE

TITLE PAGE

APPROVAL PAGE

DEDICATION

ACKNOWELDGEMENT

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE

• INTRODUCTION
• BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
• PROBLEM STATEMENT
• AIM AND OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
• SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT
• LIMITATION OF STUDY
• SCOPE OF THIS STUDY

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

• OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY
• DEFINITION OF GEOPHYSICS
• GEOPHYSICAL EXPLORATION
• HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF GEOPHYSICS
• GEOPHYSICAL MEASUREMENTS METHODS
• RESISTIVITY THEORY
• SEISMIC REFRACTION THEORY

CHAPTER THREE

3.1      METHOD AND MATERIALS

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1      RESULT ANALYSIS

CHAPTER FIVE

• CONCLUSION
• REFERENCES

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                                   INTRODUCTION

1.1                                     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

In this multidisciplinary era, most of the science and technology researchers diversify their research area with the application of alternative method beyond their own conventional method. The alternative method is to increase the cost, time efficiencies, and the quality of their researches.

Civil engineering is a broad field which covers several disciplines, such as structural engineering, environmental engineering, transportation engineering, geotechnical engineering, water resources engineering, material engineering, municipal or urban engineering, coastal engineering, survey and construction engineering. Most of these disciplines have the potential to include for the application of an alternative method such as the geophysical method. Geophysical techniques offer the chance to overcome some of the problems inherent in more conventional ground investigation techniques [Clayton, 2015].

Geophysical method applies the principles of physics is studying the earth. Some of the geophysical methods which are commonly used are resistivity, seismic, gravity, magnet, electromagnet and radiometry. According to Clayton [2015], geophysical techniques offer the chance to overcome some of the problem inherent in more conventional ground investigation techniques. In most equipment testing, the geophysical methods apply a non destructive testing which can reduce cost and time of the project. Geophysical techniques also can be of help in locating cavities, backfilled mineshafts and dissolution features in carbonate rocks and can be extremely useful in determining the stiffness properties of the ground [Clayton, 2015]. Geophysical methods are generally less expensive, less invasive and less time consuming. They provide a large-scale characterization of the physical properties under undisturbed conditions [A. Godio, 2015].

Since such potential of geophysics in engineering are yet to be realized, the application of these techniques are still not being fully utilized. Problems may arise during the applications when the geophysical methods are not being fully explored by the civil engineers due to their lack of exposure and expertise in this field. According to Clayton [2015], some of the reasons are due to poor planning of geophysical survey by engineers whom are ignorant of the techniques, and over optimistic geophysicist leading to poor reputation of the available techniques. Hence, this paper presents several case studies regarding the studies of resistivity and seismic method, which can be adopted and applied in civil engineering works.

1.2                                            PROBLEM STATEMENT

Construction engineering involves the designing, planning, construction, and management of physical infrastructure, which may include roads, bridges, buildings, dams and utilities. All of these types of facilities have a physical footprint that requires some type of modification of the ground, whether that involves the insertion of anchors, ground compaction or excavation. They are also subject to potential geohazards including, seismic, landslide and flooding hazards.

Most construction engineering projects generally require information on subsurface ground conditions to maximum depths of only 50 metres (m) or so below the ground surface. This zone can encompass soil, groundwater, unconsolidated sediments, weathered rock, and competent bedrock. It can also contain products of our own invention, including utilities, buried waste, and contaminants. Typical parameters of interest to designers and engineers are the thickness and extent of layers, the physical properties of layers and any variability within them, and any structures within the ground. Having an understanding of what lies beneath before breaking ground can save significant costs to a construction project. Geophysical measurement is used to carry out the non-invasive investigation of subsurface conditions in the Earth through measuring, analyzing and interpreting physical fields at the surface. Some studies are used to determine what is directly below the surface

1.3                                               AIM OF THE STUDY

The main aim of this work is to show how geophysics is used in engineering by discussing some of the applications of geophysics in engineering.

1.4                                     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research work will throw more light on how geophysics is used in engineering field and also demonstrates how engineering geophysics is able to provide solutions for determining subsurface properties of the soil before foundation of the building is made.

1.5                                   LIMITATION OF STUDY

As we all know that no human effort to achieve a set of goals goes without difficulties, certain constraints were encountered in the course of carrying out this project and they are as follows:-

1. Difficulty in information collection: I found it too difficult in laying hands of useful information regarding this work and this course me to visit different libraries and internet for solution.
2. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

• Time Constraint: The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.6                                            SCOPE OF THIS STUDY

This study describes some of the civil engineering applications discourse where the geophysical method is especially suitable in the preliminary stage of site assessment. In this work, the combination of geophysical data and geotechnical measurements may greatly improve the quality of buildings under construction in civil engineering.