Soil Mechanics

DESCRIPTION COURSE CATALOG
Soil mechanics is the geotechnical engineering branch of civil engineering dealing with the engineering properties of soil and its behavior under stress and strain. It applies principles of solid mechanics and fluid mechanics.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
After completing the course, the student must be able to:
I. Identify the origin and processes of soil formation, their mineral composition and structure.
II. Apply the weight- volume ratio in determining the physical properties of soils and interpreting the meaning of index properties.
III. Classify soils by USC and AASHTO systems, and understand their meaning.
IV. Know the concepts of water flow in soils, effective and total stress and their application in undrained-drained processes. Stress distribution due to point load.
V. Understand and apply the concepts of compressibility and consolidation as well as the shear strength of soils in engineering problems.
VI. Determine earth pressures upon structures, by using the Rankin and Coulomb theory. Understand the concept of slope stability.
VII. Conduct laboratory and field testing (gradations, Atterberg limits, moisture, density, shear strength and consolidation) to determine the physic-mechanical properties of soils.

TOPICS COVERED

• Soils: Origins and formation
• Weight-volume ratio, granulometry, plasticity and other index properties
• Soils Classification
• Soils compaction, moisture-density ratio
• The principle of effective stress
• Determine total and effective stress, undrained-drained processes
• Stress distribution due to point load
• Compressibility and consolidation of soils
• Shear strength under drainage. Stress trajectory
• Earth pressure theories. Concept of slope stability