UNIVERSITY OF LIBERIA

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CENG 401: FUNDAMENTALS OF FOUNDATION

ENGINEERING

REVIEW OF SOIL MECHANICS

 LECTURE-#1
1 INTRODUCTION: REVIEW OF SOIL MECHANICS
1.1 Definition:
Soils are materials derived from the weathering of rocks. There are two kinds of weathering:
Mechanical/Physical and Chemical Weathering of rocks.

Physical Weathering involves reduction of the size of the parental rock but without change to its
original composition. The main agents of physical weathering are: exfoliation, unloading, erosion,
freezing and thawing. Chemical Weathering involves both reduction in the size and chemical
composition of the original parental rock. Its main agents are hydration, carbonation and oxidation.

Meanwhile, Residual Soils retain most of the elements of the parent rock while, Alluvial soils
(Fluvial Soils) are soils transported by the rivers and streams. Contrary to residual soils, the
composition of Alluvial soils are different from the parent rocks and are often determined by the
environment and condition under which they were transported.

2 Soil Fabric
The particles of soils are assumed to the rigid. However, during depositions the structure which
soils are formed is called soil fabric/structure.

Two types of soil fabric: Flocculated and Dispersed. Flocculated structure which is associated
with fine-grained soils (see Figure 1), can be formed in saltwater environment (parallel orientation
of particles) and freshwater environment (perpendicular orientation of particles). Dispersed
Structure are formed with many particles orient parallel to one another (see Figure 2).

Figure 1: Flocculated Structure of fine-grained soils in salt water (left) and fresh water (right)

Figure 2: Dispersed Structure

1
3 Surface Forces and Absorbed Water
Fine-grained soils tend to have larger surface area than coarse-grained soil. That is, for example,
if an object is subdivided, the ratio of its surface area increases compared to its original volume
which remains constant. This is means, fine-grained soils have large surface area, and thus their
behavior are largely influenced by surfaces forces compared to coarse-grained soils.

NOTE: Aside the mineralogy of Clay (Kaolinite, Illinite and Monmorillonite) and structure of clay
which make clay to keep water, the negative charge of its body is another contributing factor for
which clay soils keep water. That is, the surface of clay has is a negative charge (anions) which
attracts the positive charge (cations) of H20.

4 Soil Classification: Particles Size (ASTM D 422)

Three basic classification of soils based on particle size: Unified Soil Classification System
(USCS), American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and American Association for State
Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHATO)

For Coarse-grained soils, determination of the particles size is called mechanical sieving. It is done
by screening a weight of the soil through a stack sieves of different opening or sizes of sieves.

% retained in the sieve =Wi/W*100

Table 4-1:Soil Types and Average Grain Size (ASTM D 2487)

No. Soil Type Average Grain Size

1 Gravel Coarse: 19-75mm
Fine:4.75-19mm
2 Sand 0.075-4.75mm
3 Silt 0.002-0.075mm
3 Clay Less than 0.002mm

For fine-grained Soils, mechanical sieving does not work due to the fineness of the particles. Thus,
the test used to determine particles sizes for fine-grained soil is the Hydrometer Test. It is involves
mixing the small measure of the soil with a deflocculating agent and observe the settlement of the
particles with time; bigger particles settle first, followed by smaller particles; after which the
hydrometer is placed in the water and balances with buoyancy to measure the weight of the
suspended particles.

5 Soil Properties
Phase Relationships: Soils is made of solids, liquids (water) and gases (air).

 Solid Phase: minerals, organic substance or both

 Liquid Phase: predominantly water
 Gas(air): spaces between the solid particles

2
Figure 3: Phases of Soils

5.1 Index Properties: Those properties of soil which are used in the identification and
classification of soil
 Water Content: Mass of water to mass of solid
 Void Ratio: volume of void to total volume of solid
 Porosity: volume of void to total volume of soil
 Degree of saturation: volume of water to volume of void
 Saturated Unit Weight: weight of saturated soil per unit volume
 Dry Weight: weight of dry soil per unit volume
 Relative Density: is an index that quantifies the degree of packing between the loosest and
densest state of the coarse-grained soils
 Liquid Limit: water content at which the soil changes from plastic to liquid state (ASTM
D 4318)
 Plastic Limit: water content at which a soil changes from semisolid to plastic (ASTM D
4318)
 Shrinkage Limit: water content at which a soil changes from solid to semisolid (ASTM D
427 and D 4943)
 Specific Gravity: weight of the soil solids to the weight of the water of equal volume

5.2 Mechanical Properties:

 Shear Strength: Shear strength is a term used in soil mechanics to describe the magnitude
of the shear stress that a soil can sustain. The shear resistance of soil is a result of friction
and interlocking of particles, and possibly cementation or bonding at particle contacts.
Useful for the calculation of bearing capacity, slope stability, etc.

 Compressibility: Measure of Consolidation and Compaction.

 Consolidation: Measure of the magnitude and rate of settlement of structures and earthfills.
Estimates of this type are of key importance in the design of engineered structures and the
evaluation of their performance.

3
  Permeability: refers to the ease with which water can flow through a soil.

 Erodibility: Measure of Soil Loss

 Corrosivity: geologic hazard that affects buried metals and concrete that is in direct contact
with soil or bedrock.

References
Alpha, S. A. (2015). Principles of Foundation Engineering. 7th Edition.
Braja M. Das. Principles of Foundation Engineering. 4th Edition.
Donald P. Coduto (2001). Foundation Design: Principles and Practices. 2nd Edition
Joseph E. Bowles. Foundation Analysis and Design. 4th Edition.
Munu, B., (2011). Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering. 3rd Edition.