Abstract
The present paper summarizes previous studies on the characteristics and soil properties of Red Sea water and how it is impacting civil engineering infrastructures; the review also looks at various geotechnical parameters. Seawater may have negative effects on soil as well as on infrastructures such as airports, seaports, highways, and buildings. The average value of salinity (psu) is 40.60 +/- 0.10 with significant positive or negative differences among years, months, and depths. However, along the northern coast of the Red Sea, turbidity is in the range of 1 to 3 Formazin Nephelometric Units (FNU). Moreover, while surface average pH is 8.1 +/- 0.02 during winter, higher values occur in the north due to lower temperatures. Similarly, during the summer, average Red Sea surface pH is 8.07 +/- 0.03, with higher values occurring in the north due to temperature differences. The water pH at Gulf of Aqaba fluctuates around 8.3. The mean value of Red Sea temperature is 27.88 +/- 2.14 degrees C. The average value of dissolved oxygen is 6.77 +/- 0.41 mg/L. During the present work, the geotechnical parameters are investigated. In general, salts decrease the plasticity index, soil compressibility, swelling characteristics, and optimum moisture content while increasing the permeability, maximum dry density, shear strength, and bearing capacity of soil.