Soil Mechanics

EG2204CE
Year-II
Semester-II
Syllabus
Theory
Unit 1: Introduction: [2 Hours]
1.1 Definition of soil
1.2 Soil mechanics
1.3 Objective of soil mechanics
1.4 Formation of soil and their types
Unit 2: Basic Terminology and Interrelations: [4 Hours]
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Phase diagrams
2.3 Void ratio, porosity, degree of saturation, unit weight, density, air content and
percentage air voids
2.4 Interrelations
Unit 3: Index properties of Soil: [6 Hours]
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Specific gravity
3.3 Water content
3.4 Particle size distribution
3.5 Consistency of soils
3.6 Determination of field density
Unit 4: Soil Classification: [6 Hours]
4.1 Purpose of soil classification
4.2 M.I.T classification system
4.2 Textural soil classification of soil
4.3 Unified soil classification of soil
4.4 Field identification of soil
Unit 5: Soil Water and Effective Stress : [9 Hours]
5.1 Types of soil water
5.2 Water table
5.3 Permeability
5.4 Seepage through soils
5.5 Darcy’s Law
5.6 Determination of coefficient of permeability: laboratory methods
5.7 Principle of effective stress
5.8 Quick sand condition
5.9 Approximate stress distribution method for loaded areas
Unit 6: Compaction: [4 Hours]
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Standard proctor test
6.3 Field compaction methods
6.4 Factors affecting compaction
6.5 Compaction control
Unit 7: Consolidation: [9 Hours]
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Primary and secondary consolidation
7.3 Settlement 7.4 The spring analogy
7.5 The standard one-dimensional consolidation test
7.6 Pressure-void ratio curves
7.7 Co-efficient of compressibility
7.8 Co-efficient of volume change
7.9 Computation of consolidation settlement
Unit 8: Shear Strength of Soils: [6 Hours]
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Principle plane and principle stress
8.3 Mohr’s circle for two dimensional stress system
8.4 Mohr-Coulomb failure theory
8.5 Determination of shear strength parameter
8.6 Direct shear test
8.7 Unconfined compression test
Unit 9: Earth Pressure Theory: [5 Hours]
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Different types of lateral earth pressures
9.3 Rankine’s earth pressure theory
9.4 Types of retaining walls
9.5 Principles of the design of retaining walls
Unit 10: Bearing Capacity: [9 Hours]
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Types of foundation
10.3 Basic definition
10.4 Gross and net foundation pressure
10.5 Terzaghi’s bearing capacity theory
10.6 Bearing capacity of footing with finite dimensions
10.7 Effect of water table on bearing capacity
10.8 Settlement of foundation
Practical (Laboratory) [15 Hours]
1. Perform sieve analysis of Coarse grained soil (1 session)
2. Determine specific gravity by Pycnometer method(1 session)
3. Determine liquid limit and plastic limit(1 session)
4. Determine field density by Sand replacement method and Core cutter method(1
session)
5. Perform compaction test: Standard proctor test(1 session)
6. Perform direct shear test(1 session)
7. Perform unconfined compression test(1 session)
Text books:
K.R Arora,“Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering” ,Standard Publishers
Distributors, Nai-sarak, New Delhi, 2005
References:
V.N.S Murthy “A Text Book of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering in SI
Units “UBS Distributors Ltd. Fourth Edition,1993
Prof.T.N Ramamurthy, Prof.T.G Sitaram “Geotechnical Engineering, Soil
Mechanics” S.Chand Publishing, New Delhi, Revised Edition, 2000
Dr. Sehgal “A text book of soil mechanics” S.B CBS Publishers and Distributors,
New Delhi,1988
Theory
Unit 1: Introduction (2 Hours)
• 1.1 Definition of soil
-soil is the upper layer of earth in which plants grow, a black or dark brown
material typically consisting of a mixture of organic remains, clay, and rock
particles.
-The powdered like granular heterogeneous earth material of size less
than 4.75mm can be categorized as soil.
- soil has different color texture and properties according to the mineral
compositions.
-soil is also a widely used construction material.
-unlike other construction materials such as cement, steel, plastics, glass,
etc. soil is rather complicated in its composition and nature.
-Soil is made by the process of erosion of rocks by various weathering
agent such as water, ice, wind, sun, mechanical action of humans, animals,
plants, etc.
1.2 Soil Mechanics
Soil mechanics is one of the youngest disciplines in Civil engineering
In this stream, we study physical properties of soil, behavior of soil when
subjected to static or dynamic loading condition, effect of water, ice,
temperature, etc. both experimentally and in theory.
We also require some other knowledge of mechanics, hydraulics and
thermodynamics
Terzaghi (1925): “ Soil mechanics is the application of the laws of
mechanics and hydraulics to engineering problems dealing with
sediments and other unconsolidated accumulations of solid particles
produced by the mechanical and chemical disintegration of rocks
regardless of whether or not they contain an admixture of organic
constituents.”
The purpose of soil mechanics is to study soil on a scientific basis. Soil
Mechanics supplements/replaces/modifies the empirical methods of
design applied in foundation engineering by scientific methods.
1.3 Objective of soil mechanics
• 1 To perform engineering soil surveys.
• 2 To develop rational soil sampling devices and soil sampling
methods.
• 3 To develop suitable soil testing equipment and soil testing
methods
• 4 To investigate physical properties of soil by means of field and
laboratory test.
• 5 To analyze and interpret soil test data and classify soil.
• 6 To understand the effect of various factors on soil such as static
and dynamic loads, ice, water and temperature.
• 7 To solve the practical engineering problem by applying the
principles of Soil Mechanics.
• 8 To supply the empirical methods of design used in foundation
engineering in the past by modern scientific techniques.
1.4 Formation of Soil and their types
• 1.4.1 Weathering of Rocks
soil is formed from rocks by weathering. Weathering is a destructive process
by which the exposed rock surface to the atmosphere is broken down to smaller
particles. The size of particles varies from a large boulder to a small crystal of clay.
1.4.2 Types of Weathering
Rock may weather either physical or chemically.
In the physical process a rock may weather by the action of wind, water, glaciers or
disintegrate by alternate freezing and thawing in the cracks of the rocks. The
resulting soil particle has the same composition as that of parent rock. The
particles formed are approximately equi-dimensional, the particles may be angular,
sub angular or rounded.
In the chemical weathering, structural arrangement of the minerals of the parent
rock is changed partially or completely. Water, Oxygen, and CO2, are
predominating agents and they play an important role in the process. The process
results in formation of group of crystalline particles of colloidal size known as clay
minerals. The various process by which chemical weathering takes place are
oxidation(addition of oxygen), hydration(addition of OH- group), hydrolysis
(reaction with water) and leaching(loss of water).
• 1.4.3 Residual and Transported Soil
1. If the product of the weathering remain at their original place of
formation, they are known as residual soil.
2. If the weathered products are transported and deposited in different
locations, they are termed as transported soil.
The media of transportation may be gravity, wind, water and glacier.
• During transportation, the size and shape of the particles are sorted into a
range of different sizes.

S.N. Transporting medium/ Place of deposition Nomenclature

1. Transported by water Alluvial
2. Transported by wind Aeolian
3. Transported by glaciers Glacial
4. Deposited in lakes Lacustrine
5. Deposited in sea Marine
6. Transported by gravity Colluvial
• 1.4.4 Board Soil Types in Civil Engineering
Different soil type as per particle size (in mm)

Clay Silt Sand Gravel Cobble Boulders

/
Fine Medium Coarse Fine Medium Coarse Pebbles

0.006 0.02 0.425 2.00 4.75 75 200

0.002 0.075

• In a given soil if the proportion of sand size particles is less

than clay size particles, the soil may be described as sandy
clay. All clay size particles are not necessarily clay mineral
particle, i.e. the finest rock flour particle may be of clay size.
• The behavior of gravel and sand sized particles is entirely
different from those of clay and silt particles. Hence, in civil
engineering, gravels and sands are referred to as coarse
grained or cohesion less soils and silts and clays are referred
to as fine grained or cohesive soils.