The repack usually contains 20+ pages of foldable geological maps. Print pages 312–332 in grayscale. Annotate them with colored pens for strike and dip symbols.
For civil engineers appearing for GATE or IES, the section on "Rock Mass Rating (RMR)" and "Tunnel Supports" is worth its weight in gold. The repack’s OCR allows you to search "RMR" instantly.
Folds and faults are the nightmares of tunnelers. Varghese provides lucid diagrams showing:
Let’s be direct: Most free repacks available on public sites are unauthorized copies. Copyright law grants exclusive rights to the publisher (often PHI Learning or Eastern Economy Editions). The repack usually contains 20+ pages of foldable
However, there are nuanced positions:
| Option | Cost | Legality | Quality | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | PHI Learning Official E-book | ₹300–400 | Legal | High, OCR intact | | Amazon Kindle Edition | $9–15 | Legal | High, reflowable text | | University Library Digital Loan | Free | Legal | Variable | | Pirated Repack (Web source) | Free | Illegal | High (optimized) |
Recommendation: Use the repack only as a temporary reference if you already own a physical copy. Better yet, buy the official e-book—it often costs less than a pizza and supports future editions. Folds and faults are the nightmares of tunnelers
For civil engineers, the ground beneath our feet is not merely dirt; it is the foundation upon which the safety and longevity of every skyscraper, bridge, dam, and tunnel rest. Ignoring geology in civil engineering is akin to building a castle on sand—literally.
One textbook has stood as a beacon for undergraduate and postgraduate students in India and across Asia for nearly two decades: "Engineering Geology for Civil Engineers" by P.C. Varghese. Recently, a buzzword has emerged in engineering forums and digital libraries—the "PDF Repack."
This article provides a comprehensive review of Varghese’s masterpiece, explains why the "repack" version is trending, and guides students on leveraging this resource effectively for exams and professional practice. Recommendation: Use the repack only as a temporary
Even in a repacked PDF, these sections deserve priority:
Each chapter includes solved numerical problems (e.g., dip calculations, aquifer yield) that are often poorly scanned in raw PDFs but perfectly rendered in good repacks.
Before discussing the repack, it is essential to understand the authority behind the text. P.C. Varghese is a revered name in Indian civil engineering education. Author of multiple bestsellers like Building Materials and Limit State Design of Reinforced Concrete, his writing style is known for:
The book Engineering Geology for Civil Engineers specifically covers: