Soil Mechanics T. William Lambe + Robert V. Whitman Massachusetts Iastiute of Technoiogy a {outst wa TN & SUNK, New ¥ork + Chichester «HesKARL TERZAGHI Karl Terzaghi, born October 2, died October 25, 1963 in Winchester, Massachu generally recognized as the Father of Soil Mechanics. His early professional life was spent in a search for @ rational approach to earthwork engineering problems. His efforts were rewarded with the publication in 1925 of his famous book on soil mechanics: this publication is now credited as being the birth of soil mechanics, Between 1925 and 1929, Terzaghi was at M.LT initiating the first U.S. program in soil mechanics and causing soil mechanics to be widely recognized as an important discipline in civil engineering. In 1938 he joined the faculty at Harvard University where he developed and gave his course in engineering geology. Terzaghi’s amazing career is well documented in the book From Theory 10 Practice in Soil Mechanics (Wiley, 1960). All of Terzaghi’s publications through 1960 (256) are listed in this book. Terzaghi won many honors, including the Norman Medal of the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1930, 1943, 1946, and 1955, Terzaghi was given nine honorary doctorate degrees coming from universities in eight different countries. He served for many years as President of the Inter- national Society of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering. Not only did Terzaghi start soil mechanics but he exerted a profound influence on it until his death. Two days before he died he was diligently working on a professional paper. Terzaghi's writings contain signi- ficant contributions on many topics, especially con- solidation theory, foundation design and construction, cofferdam analysis, and landslide mechanisms. Probably ‘Terzaghi’s most important contribution to the profession was his approach to engineering problems, which he taught and demonstrated, ‘To commemorate Terzaghi’s great work, the American Society of Civil Engineers created the Terzaghi Lecture and the Terzaghi Award.PREFACE Soil Mechanicg is designed as a text for an introductory course in soil mechanics. An intensive effort was made to identify the truly fundamental and relevant principles of soil mechanics and to present them clearly and thoroughly. Many numerical examples and problems are included to illus- trate these key principles. This text has been used successfully both in an introductory undergraduate course and in an introductory graduate course. Although Soi! Mechanics has been written principally for the student, practicing engineers should find it valuable as a reference document. ‘The book is divided into five parts. Part I describes the nature of soil problems encountered in civil engineering and gives an overall preview of the behavior of soil. Part If describes the nature of soil, especially the transmission of stresses between soil particles. Part III is devoted primarily to dry soil since many aspects of soil behavior can best be understood by considering the interaction of soil particles without the presence of water. Part IV builds upon the principles given in Parts 11 and 111 to treat soils in which the pore water is either stationary or flowing under steady conditions, Part V considers the most complex situation in soil mechanics, that wherein pore pressures are influenced by ‘applied loads and hence the pore water is flowing under transient conditions. This organization of the book permits the subject matter to be presented in sequential fashion, progressively building up to the more complex principles. : Parte HL IV; and V al have the stme genera form, Firs there are several chapters that set forth the basic principles of soil behavior. Then follow several chapters in which these principles are applied to the practical analysis and design of earth retaining structures, earth slopes, and shallow foundations, For example, chapters concerning shallow foundations appear in Part JII, Part IV, and Part V. ‘Special chapters on deep foundations and soil improvement appear at the end of Part V. These problem-oriented chapters illustrate the blending of theory, laboratory testing, and empirical evidence from past experience to provide practical but sound methods for analysis and design. Soi! Mechanics does not attempt to cover al the details of these practical problems; numerous references are provided to guide the student in additional study. Soil Mechanics deliberately includes far more material than can or should be covered in a single introductory course, thus making it possible for the instructor to choose the topics to be used to illustrate the basic principles. We have found that numerical examples of practical problems should be introduced very early-in an introductory course in soil mechanics—preferably within the first eight periods. Thus we organize the early portion of oir courses as follows 1. Prt Lis covered in two lectures, giving students motivation forthe study of soil mechanics and an understanding of the organization of the course. 2. Chapter 3 is covered in detail, but Chapters 4 to 7 are surveyed only hastily. As questions arise later in the course, reference is made to the material in these chapters. 3. Chapter 8 describes several basic methods for calculating and displaying the stresses; students rust master these techniques. Chapters 9 to 12 contain certain key concepts concerning soil behavior plus descriptive matter and tables and charts of typical values. ‘These chapters may be covered rapidly, stressing only the key concepts. Then the student is ready for an intensive study of retaining structures (Chapter 13) and shallow foundations (Chapter 14). Three or four periods may profitably be spent on each chapter. Chapter 15 serves to introduce the increasingly important problem of soil dynamics, and serves as supplementary reading for an introductory course. 4. In Chapter 16 the definition and manipulation of effective stress is emphasized and the me- chanistic interpretation of effective stress serves as supplementary reading. The depth of study of vii