1.

Define and Discuss

Soil Mechanics

Soil Mechanics is the study of the physical properties and utilization of soils, especially used in
planning foundations for structures and subgrades for highways.

Geotechnical Engineering

Merriam Webster defines geotechnical engineering as the science that deals with the
application of geology to engineering, while Mcgill define it as the study of the behaviour of soils
under the influence of loading forces and soil-water interactions. This knowledge is applied to
the design of foundations, retaining walls, earth dams, clay liners, and geosynthetics for waste
containment. The goals of geotechnical engineers could range from the design of foundations
and temporary excavation support, through route selection for railways and highways, to the
increasingly important areas of landfill disposal of wastes and groundwater contamination

2. Enumerate and discuss sources of soils

Soils are formed from weathering of rocks. This process involves integration or alteration or
rocks in its natural or original position at or near the Earth’s surface through physical, chemical,
and biological processes induced or modified by wind, water, and climate.

TYPES OF WEATHERING
1. Physical weathering – causes the disintegration of rock by mechanical processes and
therefore depends on the application of force. The principal sources of physical weathering are
thermal expansion and contraction of rock, pressure release upon rock by erosion of overlaying
materials, the alternate freezing and thawing of water between cracks and fissures within rock,
crystal growth within rock, and the growth of plants and living organisms in rock.
2. Chemical weathering – causes both change in size and chemical alteration in the mineral
composition of rocks. The rock minerals are exposed to solution, carbonation, hydration, and
oxidation by circulating waters.

3. Enumerate and discuss Categories of Soil

CATEGORIES OF TRANSPORTED SOILS
● Glacial soils – are soils that are transported and deposited by glaciers.

● Alluvial soils or fluvial soils – are soils that are transported by water and deposited
along streams.

● Lacustrine soils – are soils that are formed by deposition in quiet lakes.

● Marine soils – are soils that are formed by deposition in the seas.

● Aeolian soils – are soils that are transported and deposited by wind.

● Colluvial soils – are soils formed by movement of soils by gravity.

Soils that remain at site of weathering are called residual soils.
4. Enumerate and discuss major soil types
TYPES OF SOILS
The major types of soil are sand, silt, clay, and loam. But, most soils are composed of a
combination of the different types. How they mix will determine the texture of the soil, or, in
other words, how the soil looks and feels.

1. Sand within soil is actually small particles of weathered rock. Sand is fairly coarse and loose
so water is able to drain through it easily.

2. Silt

Silt is another type of soil. Silt can be thought of as fine sand, and it will hold water better than
sand. If you were to hold a handful of dry silt in your hand, it would feel almost like flour. If you
were to add water to the silt in your hand, it would do a fair job of holding the water and feels
slick and smooth. These soils differ from sand soils by having a greater tendency to form a
crust, which is often very hard. If they are over-tilled, they can become compact and this
decreases their ability to infiltrate water in wet periods.

3. Clay 

is very fine-grained soil. Its particles are even smaller than silt, so there is very little space
between the fine grains for air or water to circulate. If you were a farmer, you would not want
your field to be mostly clay. However, if you were a potter, you would think clay was the best
type of soil. When moisture is added to clay, it can be molded into shapes, such as a pottery
bowl or a building brick.

4.Loam , Loam soils generally contain more nutrients, moisture, and humus than sandy soils,
have better drainage and infiltration of water and air than silt and clay-rich soils, and are easier
to till than clay soils.