SOIL MECHANICS

Construction Technology 4 September 10, 2008

Definition
The geologist defines soil as an altered rock. The geotechnical engineer defines soil as the material that supports or loads a structure at its base. It denotes all the unconsolidated or fragmented material in the crust of the earth. It describes material ranging from sand and gravel to fine-grained clays.

Definition
Soil is probably the most important of all building materials; it is certainly one of the most interesting, since it underlies most building sites. It permits the landscaping that adds so much to the appearance of building projects, supports most roadways and airport runways, and is the material of which embankments are constructed.

Definition
Builders should develop an appreciation of the importance of soil in their operations since knowledge of the type to be encountered on a building site is essential for work planning and cost estimating.

Soil Mechanics
Soil mechanics is defined as the application of the laws and principles of mechanics and hydraulics to engineering problems dealing with soil as an engineering material.

Soil Properties Important in Engineering

Density Internal Friction Cohesion Compressibility Permeability Organic Matter Water Table Level

Density
The amount of solid material in a unit volume is called the dry density. For granular soils and fibrous organics, dry density is the most important factor controlling their engineering properties. One such property is the degree of compaction.

Internal Friction
Pure friction corresponds to the theory of elasticity. The value increases with increasing density, angularity, and graduation; decreases if mica is present; is relatively unaffected by rate of loading and grain size; and may either increase or decrease under repeated loading.

Cohesion
This is the maximum tensile strength of the soil. It results from a complicated interaction of many factors, such as colloidal adhesion of the grain covering, capillary tension of the moisture films, electrostatic attraction of charged surfaces, drainage conditions, and stress history.

Compressibility
This property defines the stress-strain characteristics of the soil. Application of added stresses to a soil mass results in volume changes and associated displacements. Such displacement at the foundation level lead to foundation settlements. Limitations of settlements to allowable values often controls foundation design, particularly for granular soils.

Permeability
This is the ability of the soil to conduct fluid flow under a unit of hydraulic gradient. In foundation design, only permeability under saturated conditions usually is needed. It is controlled by the size and continuity of the pore space and consequently by the grain size.

Organic Matter
The free vegetable refuse in the soil affect the fixity of any properties induced by treatment. Soils very heavy in rotted vegetation, contains tannic acid that are not suitable for cement stabilization.

Water Table Level

Soils with large amounts of limestone-dust content can be weakened by water flowing through the mass or disintegrated by percolating water and other waste liquor.

Soil Formation
Soil formation is the process by which rocks are broken down into progressively smaller particles and mixed with decaying organic material. Bedrock begins to disintegrate as it is subjected to weathering (physical and chemical).

Soil Formation

Soil Formation
The rock breaks down into parent material, which in turn breaks into smaller mineral particles. II. The organisms in an area contribute to soil formation by facilitating the disintegration process as they live and adding organic matter to the system when they die. As soil continues to develop, layers called horizons form III. The A horizon, nearest the surface, is usually richer in organic matter, while the lowest layer, the C horizon, contains more minerals and still looks much like the parent material. The soil will eventually reach a point where it can support a thick cover of vegetation and cycle its resources effectively IV. At this stage, the soil may feature a B horizon, where leached minerals collect. I.

 Weathering the physical breakdown (disintegration) and chemical alteration (decomposition) of rock at earths surface

Weathering
Mechanical Weathering
Breaking of rocks into smaller pieces Types of mechanical weathering
Frost wedging Unloading Thermal expansion Biological activity

Weathering
Chemical weathering
Breaks down rock components and internal structures of minerals Most important agent is water
Responsible for transport of ions and molecules involved in chemical processes

Weathering
Major processes of chemical weathering
Dissolution
Aided by small amounts of acid in the water

Oxidation
Any reaction when electrons are lost from one element

Hydrolysis
The reaction of any substance with water Hydrogen ion attacks and replaces other ions

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Weathering
Alterations caused by chemical weathering
Decomposition of unstable minerals Formation or retention of stable materials Physical changes such as the rounding of corners or edges

Rates of weathering
Factors affecting weathering
Surface area Rock characteristics
Rocks containing calcite (marble and limestone) readily dissolve in weakly acidic solutions Silicate minerals weather in the same order as their order of crystallization

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Rates of weathering
Climate
Temperature and moisture characteristics Chemical weathering is most effective in areas of warm, moist climates

Differential weathering
Rocks do not weather uniformly due to regional and local factors Results in many unusual and spectacular rock formations and landforms

Soil
The soil profile
Soil forming processes operate from the surface downward Vertical differences are called horizons zones or layers of soil
O horizon organic matter A horizon organic and mineral matter High biological activity O and A horizons make up the topsoil

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Soil
Soil profile
E horizon little organic matter Zone of eluviation and leaching B horizon zone of accumulation C horizon partially altered parent material

Collectively the O, A, E, and B horizons = solum, or true soil

Idealized soil profile

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Soil profile showing different horizons

General Classification
Residual
Forms in situ by chemical weathering or rocks. Physical weather also occurs on a minute basis in comparison to the chemical activities. Never been disturbed by soil movement. Retains minor geological features of the parent material.

Sedimentary
Physical weathering dominates in the transportation and deposition by the action of rivers, seas, glaciers, and wind. Chemical weathering also occurs on a minute scale. The mode of deposition controls the grain size, its variation in profile and the uniformity of the soil units or horizons.

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