CVNG 2009

SOIL MECHANICS II

Lecture 4
Soil Behavior in Shear

Craig’s Soil Mechanics

by J.A. Knappett & R.F. Craig, 9th ed, Spon Press, 2020
 Soil Behavior in Shear
Main Goals: In this chapter we understand how soil may be
modelled as a continuum, and how its mechanical behavior
(strength and stiffness) may be adequately described using
constitutive models
Course Outcomes:
- Understand how soil may be modelled as a continuum,
and how its mechanical behavior (strength & stiffness)
may be adequately described using elastic & plastic
material (constitutive) models
- Understand the method of operation of standard laboratory
testing apparatus & derive strength & stiffness properties
of soil from these tests for use in subsequent geotechnical
analyses
 Soil Behavior in Shear
Course Outcomes (continue):
- Appreciate different strength characteristics of soils
- Understand the critical state concept
- Use simple empirical correlations to estimate strength
properties of soil based on the results of index tests (Ch.1 )

Contents
1. Introduction to Continuum Mechanics
2. Simple Models of Soil Elasticity and Plasticity
3. Laboratory Shear Tests
4. Shear Strength of Coarse-grained & Fine-grained Soils
5. Critical State Framework
6. Estimating Strength Parameters from Index Tests
 Introduction to Continuum Mechanics
• Equation of equilibrium
• Equation of compatibility
• Stress-strain relationship (constitutive model)
 Simple Models of Soil Elasticity
• Linear elasticity

- Shear modulus

- Hooke’s law
• Non-linear elasticity
 Simple Models of Soil Plasticity
• Soil as a frictional material
• The Mohr-Coulomb model

c΄: cohesion intercept

ϕ΄: angle of shearing resistance
- The Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion