5-Day Short Term Training Program

on

Geotechnical Investigation for Infrastructure Development (GIID-2018), March 19-23, 2018

(Sponsored by Directorate of Technical Education, Government of Gujarat)

A 5-day Short Term Training Program (STTP) on “Geotechnical Investigation for Infrastructure

Development (GIID-2018)” was organised during 19-23 March, 2018 by Department of Civil

Engineering, IITRAM. The delegates for the STTP were sponsored by Directorate of Technical

Education (DTE), Government of Gujarat. Total 24 faculty members from various Government

Polytechnics / Government Engineering Colleges in Gujarat participated in the program. The various

sessions for the STTP focused on Laboratory and In-situ Geotechnical Investigation for obtaining soil

properties (including dynamic properties of soil). Hands on laboratory sessions were also conducted

during afternoon session in Geotechnical Laboratory, IITRAM for providing insight to the

participants on sample preparation, testing and interpretation of laboratory test results. The STTP

aimed at dissemination of latest knowledge and technical know-how in above areas by various

experts from premier academic institutions as well as IITRAM faculty.

The STTP ‘Geotechnical Investigation for Infrastructure Development (GIID-2018)’ and another

STTP ‘Evolutionary Trends in Signal Processing and Wireless Communication (ETSPWC-2018)’

organised by Department of Electrical Engineering, IITRAM were jointly inaugurated by Prof. S. R.

Gandhi, Director, SVNIT, Surat by lighting the lamp followed with prayer by Mr. Archan

Bhangaonkar (M. Tech 1st year Civil Engineering Student). The coordinators of both STTPs briefed

the participants about the theme of the programs and the sessions planned during 5 days of the

program. Dr. A. U. Digraskar, Director, IITRAM gave the inaugural speech and briefed the

participants about the institute and objective behind organising such interactive Short Term Training

Programs at IITRAM. Prof. Shiva Prasad, Director General, IITRAM shared words of motivation

with the participants and wished them a great learning experience at IITRAM during the STTP. Prof.

S. R. Gandhi also shared his experiences on benefits of STTPs as a knowledge sharing platform.

After the inauguration, participants of both STTPs went to different seminar rooms for attending the

technical sessions of their respective STTPs.

For GIID-2018, expert lectures were delivered by Prof. S. R. Gandhi, Director, SVNIT, Surat; Prof.

Amit Prashant, Professor, IIT Gandhinagar; Dr. Tejas Thaker, Assistant Professor, PDPU,

Gandhinagar. Dr. Trudeep Dave, Dr. Veerbhadra Rotte and Dr. Kannan Iyer (Faculty, Department of

Civil Engineering, IITRAM) also delivered lectures on various aspects related to the theme of the

STTP. The technical sessions included interactive deliberations on Importance of Geotechnical

Investigation, Challenges during Geotechnical Investigation, Laboratory and In-situ Geotechnical

Investigations, Dynamic Soil Properties, Seismic Microzonation of Cities, etc. Lab sessions were

conducted during afternoon on first four days of the program, which included hands on sessions on

various soil parameters/properties such as Particle size distribution (including hydrometer analysis),

Atterberg limits (liquid, plastic and shrinkage limits), Soil compaction, Consolidation test, Relative

density test, etc.

Overall, the sessions were very interactive. The participants shared their experiences and learnings

from the STTP. Prof. A. U. Digraskar, Director, IITRAM interacted with the participants during

Valedictory function. The participants also shared their suggestions and feedback about the STTP.

Acknowledgement:

On behalf of IITRAM family, we express sincere thanks to Directorate of Technical Education,

Government of Gujarat for sponsoring participants for the STTP. Department of Civil Engineering,

IITRAM expresses sincere gratitude to Prof. Shiva Prasad, Director General, IITRAM; Prof. A. U.

Digraskar, Director, IITRAM and Dr. N. N. Bhuptani, Registrar, IITRAM for their motivation,

guidance and continuous support at various stages of organising the STTP. We also thank Prof.

Shanti Prassana, Dean, IITRAM and Dr. Yogesh Shah, Coordinator, Department of Civil

Engineering, IITRAM for their guidance and support during organising of the STTP. We also thank

the faculty members of Civil Engineering Department for their continuous support. Special thanks are

extended to non-teaching staff of Department of Civil Engineering, Mr. Ankit, Ms. Poonam and Mr.

Chintan for their support during the STTP, especially during the registration process and support for

conducting the laboratory sessions. Thanks are also extended to Mr. Arvind for his support during the

STTP. We express thanks to M. Tech 1st year Civil Engineering students for their support and help

for successfully organising the program. We express our sincere gratitude to Prof. Manisha Mehta,

Mr. Vijay Parmar, Mrs. B. N. Patel and other administration staff of IITRAM for their continuous

support at various stages of organising the program. Thanks are also extended to Dr. Abhisheik

Rawat, Dr. Manish Sharma and Dr. Shiva Reddy from Department of Electrical Engineering,

IITRAM for their support during the program. We thank all the participants for their active

participation during the STTP.

Inauguration of STTPs with Lamp Lighting

by Prof. S. R. Gandhi

Prayer at Inauguration Function

Participants attending the inauguration function Prof. S. R. Gandhi addressing the participants

during inauguration function

Photographs of Inauguration Function of the STTPs

Technical Details of the Short Term Training Program

Day-01:

The inaugural expert lecture was delivered by Prof. S. R. Gandhi, Director, SVNIT, Surat on the

theme ‘Sub-surface Exploration’. Various concepts and issues such as importance of geotechnical

investigation, planning of geotechnical investigation scheme for small and large scale projects, extent

of investigation, brief overview of methods of in-situ geotechnical investigations, precautions

required during in-situ investigations, etc. were covered during the session. The insights provided by

Prof. Gandhi on various practical aspects were appreciated by all.

Dr. Trudeep Dave (Faculty, IITRAM) delivered lecture on ‘Basic Soil Properties’. The session

covered an overview of various basic soil properties such as Specific gravity, Particle size

distribution, Atterberg limits, etc. The importance of these properties and the laboratory methods for

determination of these properties were discussed in detail. The session provided conceptual

background to the participants before the laboratory session in the afternoon.

During the laboratory session on Day-1, the methodology for obtaining the Particle size distribution

of soil was explained. Hydrometer test was performed for determining particle size distribution of

fine fraction (silt and clay). The shrinkage limit test was also performed to provide the participants

hands on experience on determination of water content at shrinkage limit for soil samples. The

various technical queries raised by the participants were answered by IITRAM faculty.

Day-02:

The first session on Day-2 was delivered by Dr. Veerbhadra Rotte on the topic ‘Soil Compaction and

Consolidation Characteristics’. The importance of soil compaction for Infrastructure projects was

explained during the session. The session also provided insights to the participants on consolidation

settlement in soil and techniques to accelerate the consolidation process. Further, laboratory

determination of compaction and consolidation parameters was discussed in detail during the session.

Prof. S. R. Gandhi delivering expert lecture

on Sub-surface exploration

Dr. Yogesh Shah felicitating Prof. S. R. Gandhi

Dr. Trudeep Dave delivering lecture

on Basic soil properties

Shrinkage Limit Test performed during Laboratory Session

Hydrometer Test performed during

Laboratory Session Group Photograph of participants with Chief Guest Prof. S. R.

Gandhi, Director, SVNIT, Surat; Prof. Shiva Prasad, Director

General, IITRAM and Prof. A. U. Digraskar, Director, IITRAM

Photographs of Day-1 of the STTP

Dr. Trudeep Dave (Faculty, IITRAM) delivered the second technical session on the topic ‘Soil Shear

Strength Parameters’. The importance of shear strength parameters of soil for determining various

aspects of soil behaviour such as shear strength, bearing capacity, slope stability, etc. were explained

to the participants. The laboratory methods of determining shear strength of coarse- and fine-grained

soil such as Direct shear test and Triaxial test were also discussed with emphasis on selecting the

correct method of testing to simulate the field conditions in soil expected during life cycle of the

infrastructure project.

During the laboratory session on Day-2, the analysis of Hydrometer test performed on Day-1 for

obtaining particle size distribution for finer fraction of soil (< 75 ) was explained to the participants.

Further, Liquid limit test and Plastic limit test for soil was also demonstrated during the session. The

relative density test for sand was also performed during the session and its importance was discussed.

The participants had hands on experience during the session. The various technical queries raised by

the participants were answered by IITRAM faculty.

Day-03:

On 3rd Day of the STTP, Prof. Amit Prashant (Professor, IIT Gandhinagar) delivered two expert

lectures on the topics ‘Introduction to Soil Dynamics’ and ‘Dynamic Soil Properties’. In the first

session, the concepts of degree of freedom, dynamic equilibrium, free and forced vibrations, damped

and un-damped systems, etc. were elaborated. Various aspects of soil dynamics such as seismic

ground motion and effect of machine vibration on soil and foundation were also discussed. During

the second session, important dynamic soil parameters such as shear modulus and importance of

damping in soil response were explained. The various tests performed for determination of dynamic

soil properties such as Cyclic triaxial test, Cyclic simple shear test, Bender element system, Resonant

column test, etc. were discussed. Insights were also provided on sand behaviour during slow loading

(drained condition) and fast load (un-drained condition, e.g. liquefaction phenomena). Overall the

sessions were delivered with very good practical examples and provided an excellent overview to the

participants on the concepts of soil dynamics and determination of dynamic properties of soil.

In the afternoon session on Day-3, a visit was arranged to Siemens Centre of Excellence at IITRAM

for sharing with the participants the various advanced instruments and machinery in Rapid Photo-

typing lab (3-d printing facility), CIMS lab and CNC programming lab. Subsequently, Soil

compaction test was performed in Geotechnical laboratory. The details of precautions to be taken

during the test and different types of soil compaction tests that can be performed in laboratory as well

as field were also shared with the participants.

Day-04:

Two technical sessions were delivered by Dr. Tejas Thaker (Assistant Professor, PDPU,

Gandhinagar) on the topics ‘Soil Exploration: Indian and Global Practices’ and ‘Seismic Site

Characterization and Microzonation of Indian Megacities’. During the first session, the economic

aspects of Geotechnical Investigation for Infrastructure projects, benefits of a good Geotechnical

Investigation, the aspects to be considered for planning an Geotechnical Investigation program were

elaborated. The various phases of Geotechnical Investigation such as Desk study, Preliminary

reconnaissance and site visit as well as Detailed soil investigation were explained. The need for soil

identification in field through observation and quick tests was highlighted. Insights were provided on

Dr. Veerbhadra Rotte delivering lecture

during Day-2 of the STTP

Relative density test being performed

during Laboratory session on Day-2

Prof. Amit Prashant delivering expert lecture

during Day-3 of the STTP

Dr. Mahesh Mungule felicitating Prof. Amit Prashant

Dr. Tejas Thaker delivering expert lecture

during Day-4 of the STTP

Dr. Mamta Sharma felicitating Dr. Tejas Thaker

care required during boring and other field investigations, Geophysical methods of investigation and

their importance was highlighted. During the second session, the concept of Seismic site

characterization and Microzonation were explained in Indian context. The need and ongoing efforts to

prepare detailed Seismic Microzonation map for various cities in India were highlighted. Case study

of Seismic Microzonation of Surat city was also discussed in detail. The sessions provided a very

good understanding to the participants on need and methodology adopted for Microzonation study for

cities through a well-planned Geotechnical Investigation program.

In the afternoon session on Day-4, Soil Consolidation test was demonstrated to the participants. Also

the various parameters obtained from Soil Consolidation test were explained along with their

relevance for estimating settlement and rate of settlement for Infrastructure projects.

Day-05:

Dr. Kannan Iyer (Faculty, IITRAM) delivered two lectures on ‘Geotechnical Investigation

Challenges’ and In-situ Geotechnical Investigation for Infrastructure Development’. During the first

session, various causes of Geotechnical failures were discussed and the importance of Geotechnical

Investigation for development of Critical Infrastructure such as roads, railways, airports, seaports,

bridges, tunnels, power and communication systems / plants, hydraulic structures, buildings, etc. were

highlighted. The various types of challenges experienced during investigation for different soils such

as expansive soil, corrosive soil, dispersive soil, soft and sensitive soil, liquefaction prone soil,

organic soil and frozen soil were discussed. Also the challenges in Geotechnical Investigation for

landfills, nuclear waste disposal site and oil & gas extraction regions were discussed. During the

second session, deliberations were focussed on the expected outcome from Geotechnical

investigation and the methods of In-situ Geotechnical Investigation. Various In-situ methods such as

Standard penetration test (SPT), Cone penetration test (CPT) including piezo-cone and electric-cone

penetration tests, Field vane shear test, Pressuremeter test, Dilatometer test, Plate load test, In-situ

permeability tests, Down-hole and Cross-hole tests for dynamic soil properties were discussed.

The various questions raised by the participants were addressed during the discussion session. Finally

Valedictory session was held on Day-5 where relieving letter and participation certificate were

awarded to the participants by Prof. A. U. Digraskar, Director, IITRAM. Prof. Digraskar also

addressed the participants and obtained their feedback about the STTP.

Photographs from Valedictory Function of the STTP

From Coordinators, GIID-2018

(Dr. Trudeep Dave, Dr. Kannan Iyer and Dr. Veerbhadra Rotte, Faculty IITRAM)

All photographs courtesy: (M. Tech 1st year Civil Engineering Students)

Newsletter Edited by: Dr. Kannan Iyer