Geotechnical Engineering Areas of Activities

The in-situ Geotechnical investigations are an essential and integral part for the design of any engineering structure. Geotechnical engineering department with its experienced manpower and state of the art equipment is actively involved in numerous projects both in India and its neighbouring countries. Around 250 sponsored projects in different areas of construction viz., hydroelectric, irrigation, railway, mining, petroleum, atomic and nuclear sectors were completed in the last 36 years of the establishment of this Division at NIRM. The in-situ geotechnical investigations carried out are viz., In-situ stress parameters determined by Hydrofracturing technique (HTPF method); In-situ deformability parameters determined by Plate load test method and Plate jacking method as per ISRM and ASTM standards; In-situ deformability parameters determined by Goodman jack and Dilatometer methods inside the boreholes; Plate bearing capacity and Foot load tests as per ISRM and IS standards; Modulus of Subgrade Reaction of Soil as per ISRM standards; Acoustic Borehole Tele viewer to scan the boreholes upto the depth of 600 m for studying the various features of rock mass. The Geotechnical Engineering Department has also contributed its data towards the preparation of a world stress map. The stress map of India data is helpful for academics and present geodynamics on a global scale. Dr DS Subrahmanyam, Scientist-V & Head, Geotechnical Engineering Department has been awarded with patent from Intellectual Property India, Patent Office, Government of India for his invention titled "In-situ stress measurements in fractured rock mass by using high flow rate technique" on 12/4/2024.