Geotechnics

Tips for complex analytical modelling in civil engineering

Si Shen

Jul 133 min read

Tips for complex analytical modelling in civil engineering

This blogpost shares a few tips about modelling from personal experience

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Si Shen

Jan 242 min read

Demystifying the observational method

Explaining the observational method in plain and understandable language

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Si Shen

Jul 3, 20221 min read

Engineering properties of Peat

Peat is generally considered as highly problematic and one of the least wanted soil types you want your foundation to be in. It is an...

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The ‘reverse’, ‘sideways’ and ‘inclined’ bearing capacity problems

Si Shen

Mar 18, 20221 min read

The ‘reverse’, ‘sideways’ and ‘inclined’ bearing capacity problems

This blog post explains the ‘reverse’, ‘sideways’ and ‘inclined’ bearing capacity problems.

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Si Shen

Feb 17, 20223 min read

Simulating ground water

Ground water is a matter unique to geotechnical engineers

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Consolidation settlement and heave of clay

Si Shen

Nov 26, 20212 min read

Consolidation settlement and heave of clay

soil acts as a sponge, in that it pushes out water when squeezed, and sucks in water when let go

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Si Shen

Oct 11, 20213 min read

How does a foundation fail

the ultimate failure of foundations is a lot more complicated to understand

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Instrumentation and monitoring - an overview

Si Shen

Aug 9, 20214 min read

Instrumentation and monitoring - an overview

Instrumentation and monitoring is an essential link of risk management in the cycle of design and construction

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Mohr-Coulomb model for soil – when not to use it

Si Shen

Jul 4, 20212 min read

Mohr-Coulomb model for soil – when not to use it

The Mohr-Coulomb theory is perhaps the most widely used model in practical engineering for simulating soil behaviour

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Ground water in underground construction

Si Shen

Jun 7, 20213 min read

Ground water in underground construction

groundwater is a thorny problem for almost all underground constructions

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Si Shen

Feb 15, 20212 min read

Premortems in engineering design

the ‘premortem’ is an extremely useful management tool that can be equally applied to the way of us approaching engineering issues

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A structural engineer’s understanding of rock engineering

Si Shen

Nov 29, 20202 min read

A structural engineer’s understanding of rock engineering

Rock is a natural material and its behaviour isn’t as easy to grasp as an engineered material with well-defined properties such as...

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Si Shen

Nov 12, 20202 min read

Selection of foundation type

Whether the small and shallow foundation gives the design a ‘pass’ or not depends mainly on two criteria: resistance and settlement.

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Atterberg limits – a theory to describe how watery the soil is

Si Shen

Oct 19, 20202 min read

Atterberg limits – a theory to describe how watery the soil is

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What structural engineers need to know about waterproofing membrane

Si Shen

Aug 26, 20201 min read

What structural engineers need to know about waterproofing membrane

the membrane is a delicate thing and requires a lot of careful detailing and handling.

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Soil structure interaction (2) – lateral earth pressure

Si Shen

Feb 24, 20203 min read

Soil structure interaction (2) – lateral earth pressure

this blog continues on the thread to talk about lateral earth pressure

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Foundation settlement – ground consolidation and creep

Si Shen

Feb 13, 20202 min read

Foundation settlement – ground consolidation and creep

What causes the foundation of a structure to settle? This blog explains the reasons from a soil engineering perspective.

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Si Shen

Jan 28, 20203 min read

Reliability

Reliability is the consistency in performance. This is typically a much desired thing generally in life

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Soil structure interaction (1) – what interaction?

Si Shen

Jan 13, 20203 min read

Soil structure interaction (1) – what interaction?

The design of underground structures, requires a process called ‘soil-structure interaction’.

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Si Shen

Dec 14, 20193 min read

Universal engineering principles

I believe it is essential for engineers to develop the habit of zooming out from their routine designs and re-think at a higher level of...

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The Si-Eng

Si's civil engineering blog
All original by Si Shen.

All posts are personal opinions only.