CE 324-18/ CE 423 – Soil Mechanics (Lec)

Introduction to Soil Mechanics

Learning Outcomes:

1. Understand the importance of geotechnical engineering.

2. Discuss Basic Geology and Composition of soil.
3. Enumerate types the soil.

Lesson 1: The Hidden Truth

 The work that geotechnical engineers do is often invisible once construction is completed
 If the foundations, which are invisible, on which these structures stands were not satisfactorily
designed then these structures would not exist.
 A satisfactory foundation design requires,
 The proper application of soil mechanics principles
 Accumulated experiences, and
 Good Judgment
 The stability and life of any structure – (buildings, airports, roads, dams, natural slopes, power
plants – depend on…
 The stability,
 Strength, and
 Deformation of soils

Thus, successful civil engineering projects are heavily dependent on geotechnical engineering

Lesson 2: Basic Geology

Knowledge of geology is important for the successful practice of geotechnical engineering

Earth Profile

Primary task of Geotechnical Engineer is to understand the characteristics of the soil at the site.

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CE 324-18/ CE 423 – Soil Mechanics (Lec)

Composition of Earth’s Crust

Sedimentary rocks are of particular importance to engineers because they cover about 75% of the
earth’s surface.

Lesson 3: Composition of soil

Soil Formation
Soil Type
Soil Structure
Soil Water

Soil Formation

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CE 324-18/ CE 423 – Soil Mechanics (Lec)

Physical – disintegration or mechanical weathering

 The minerals constituent of soils is same as parent’s rock

Chemical – weathering
 The minerals constituent differ from the parent’s rock

Residual (sedentary) Soil – if the soil stays at the place of its formation just above the parent rock.
Transported Soil – if the soil has been deposited at a place away from the place of its origin.

Types of Soil

1. Alluvial Soil – Deposited from suspension in flowing water

2. Lacustrine Soil – Most silts and clays deposited in lake water

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CE 324-18/ CE 423 – Soil Mechanics (Lec)

3. Marine Soil – Mainly confined along a narrow belt near the coast, marine deposits have very low
shearing strength are highly compressible. It contains a large amount of organic matter.

4. Black Cotton Soil – High plasticity, high shrinkage and swelling characteristics.

5. Laterite Soil – Residual soil formed on tropical regions from basalt. Soft when freshly cut but become
hard after long exposure. The hardness due to cementing action of iron oxide and aluminum oxide.
Presence of iron oxide give these soils the characteristics red or pink color.

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CE 324-18/ CE 423 – Soil Mechanics (Lec)

6. Aeoline Soil – soil transported by wind

7. Glacial Soil – soil transported by glacier. As the glacier grow and move, they carry with them soils
varying in size from fine grained to huge boulders. Soil gets mixed with the ice and transported far away
from their original position.
 Drift – is a general term used for the deposits made by glaciers directly or indirectly.
 Till – deposits directly made by malign of glaciers.

8. Collovial Soil – Also known as talus. Transported through short distance under the combine action of
gravity and water. Consist or irregular coarse grained particles.

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CE 324-18/ CE 423 – Soil Mechanics (Lec)

9. Loam Soil – It is mixed of sand, silt and clay. This type of soil is suited to tilling operation.

10. Loess Soil – Wind-blown deposit of silt. It consists of quartz and feldspar particles, cemented with
calcium carbonate or iron oxide.

11. Marl Soil – Mud cemented by calcium carbonate or lime. Generally formed due to decomposition of
bones and shell mass of aquatic life.

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CE 324-18/ CE 423 – Soil Mechanics (Lec)

12. Bentonite Soil – It’s a type of clay with very high percentage of clay mineral. It is a highly plastic clay,
resulting from decomposition of volcanic ashes. Use as a lubricant in drilling of pile foundation.

Soil Structure

Soil composed of particles.

Gravitational Force
Surface Electric Force

Soil Water

1. Ground water
2. Adsorbed water
3. Structural water

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CE 324-18/ CE 423 – Soil Mechanics (Lec)

4. Capillary water
5. Contact moisture

Ground water (Gravity water)

 Sub-surface water
 Fills the void of the soil continuously up to the ground level
 Subjected to gravitational force only
 Obeys all laws of hydraulics

Adsorbed water
 Hygroscopic water
 Film water

Specific surface
area

 Clay –
16% -17%
 Silt – 6% -
7%
 Sand <
1%

Structural water

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CE 324-18/ CE 423 – Soil Mechanics (Lec)

Capillary water

 Lifted by surface tension forces above the free water surface level

Contact moisture

 Capillary water held by surface tension at the point of contact between two soil solids.

 Apparent cohesion
Sand may acquire tensile and compressive strength

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CE 324-18/ CE 423 – Soil Mechanics (Lec)

Activity:

1. Discuss the importance of geotechnical engineering.

2. Illustrate the Basic Geology and Composition of soil.
3. Show additional pictures of different types the soil.

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