soil mechanics

CE 480

SOIL MECHANICS

                                                                                                      

 Prerequisite

CE 381 (Engineering Properties of Soils and their Measurements) and

CE 303 (Properties And Testing Of Materials)

Course Syllabus

1.         Introduction

            Soil Classification and Physical Properties

            and General Mechanical Behavior of Soil

 2.         Permeability and Seepage

            Coefficient of Permeability

                        Constant Head Permeability Test

                        Falling Head Permeability Test

                        Field Permeability Test

            Equation of Continuity

            Flow Net and Rate of Flow

            Uplift Pressure

 3.         Stress in a Soil Mass

            Normal and Shear Stresses Along a Plane

            Principal Stress and Principal Plane

            Stress Due to a Point Load

            Stress Due to a Live Load

            Stress Due to a Strip Load

            Stress Due to a Circular Load

            Vertical Stress Caused by Rectangular Load

            New Mark Channel

            Approximate Method

 4.         Compressibility of Soil

            Consolidation Settlement

            Consolidation Test

            Normally Consolidation and Over Consolidation Clays

            Rate of Consolidation, Terzaghi Theory of Consolidation

            Secondary Compression

            Flexible and Rigid Foundation

 5.         Shear Strength of Soil

            Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion

            Determination of Shear Strength Parameters

            Direct Shear Test, Triaxial Compression Test

            Unconfined Test

            Stress Path

            Field Shear Test (Vane Shear Test, Penetration Test)

 6.         Lateral Earth Pressure

            Earth Pressure At-Rest

          Active Earth Pressure

            Passive Earth Pressure

            Rankine's Theory

            Coulomb's Earth Pressure Theory

            Graphic Solution of Coulomb's Method

            Retaining Walls, Pressure Distribution and Stability of Retaining Wall

 7.         Slope Stability

            Stability of Infinite Slopes

            Finite Slopes

            Circular Failure Surface

            Stability Chart

 

Topics Covered

1. Seepage Theory

2. Total and Effective Stresses in Soils

3. Stress Analysis in Soils Using the Elastic Theory Consolidation of soils

4. Settlement of Structures

5. Shear Strength of Soils

6. Stability of Slopes

7. Earth Pressures Theories

8. Excavation and Bracing

9. Site Investigation

Course learning Objectives

Students completing this course successfully will be able to

a. Understand basic behavior of soil (seepage, soil stresses, settlement)

b. Understand the theories of total -effective stress principle and lateral earth

pressure.

c. Determine the stability of slope and excavation.

d. Improve the communication skills, including reading, writing.

Class/ tutorial Schedule

Three lecture sessions and one tutorial session per week (50 minute each

session)

Contribution of Course to Meeting the Professional Component

1. Students learn the analysis process to be involved in calculating settlement of

foundation on different soils.

2. Students improve their writing, communication and presentation skills.

3. Students recognize the role of professional societies in developing

specification requirements and control tests.

Relationship of Course to Program Outcomes

1. Students apply principles of soil mechanics.

2. Students are able to apply knowledge in mathematics, physics, and

engineering science to civil and engineering problems.

3. Students are able to design experiments and analyze data.

4. Students are able to identify and formulate an engineering problem and to

develop a solution.

5. Students are encouraged to improve their writing, communication and

presentation skills.

Textbook(s) and/or Other Required Material

1. Principles of Geotechnical Engineering by Das, B.M., PWS-Kent.

2. Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering, by Holtz and Kovacs, Prentice-

Hall,Inc.

Grade Distribution

Mid Term Exam 30%

Homework 10%

Quizzes and Attendance 10%

Final Exam 50%

References

 There are several books which can be use as an alternative text book or reference book in geotechnical engineering.