The special field of Geotechnical Engineering
In civil engineering, geotechnics is a specialist field that deals with interdisciplinary subsoil issues concerning both structural engineering as well as hydraulic engineering and transportation infrastructure construction. In all this subject areas it provides practicable solutions.
Modern geotechnics as an independent engineering discipline is based in particular on the scientific theories and experiments for soil consolidation, earth pressure, bearing capacity and stability of the soil of Karl von Terzaghi, documented for instance in his standard work "Earthwork mechanics based on soil physics" (1925).
As in many areas of engineering, nowadays numerical modeling and simulation are also standard tools in geotechnical engineering.
Theory is the language by means of which lessons of experience can be clearly expressed.
Karl von Terzaghi
Fields of activity
- soil and rock mechanics
- shallow and pile foundations
- earth works embankment constructions
- Rock and tunnel constructions
- transportation infrastructure construction
- Special Foundation engineering
- Environmental Engineering, landfill construction
- near-surface geothermal energy
- Geotechnical exploration in the field and in the lab
Geotechnics at the University of Stuttgart
The Institute of Geotechnical Engineering (IGS) represents the entire spectrum of geotechnical tasks at the University of Stuttgart. Organizationally, the IGS is assigned to Fakultät 2: Bau- und Umweltingenieurwissenschaften.
Christian Moormann
Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil.Head of institute