Geotechnical Engineering

Chapter 1
 Formation of Soil
 Soil is generally formed by disintegration and
decomposition (weathering) of rocks through the action
of physical (or mechanical) and chemical agents which
break them into smaller and smaller particles.
Different stages of
weathering of rocks and
formation of soil.
 Types of Soil
 Soil types, based on geological and
engineering view points, are separately
discussed below:
1. Geological consideration:
Geologist classify soil into two major
categories: residual soils and transported soil
i. Residual Soils:
When the rock weathering is faster than the
transport process induced by water, wind and gravity,
much of the soil remains in place. It is known as
residual soil.
 Types of Soil
1. Geological consideration:
ii. Transported Soil:
i. Glacial Soil: This type of soil is developed, transported and
deposited by the actions of glaciers. These deposits
consists of rocks fragments, boulders, gravels, sand, silt
and clay in various proportions (i.e., a heterogeneous
mixture of all sizes of particles).
ii. Alluvial Soil: This type of soil (also known as fluvial soil or
alluvium) is transported and deposited to their present
position by streams and rivers.

Coarser or Higher
Heavier
Particles Reaches

Fine Particles
Lower
Reaches
 Types of Soil
1. Geological consideration:
ii. Transported Soil:
iii. Aeolian Soil: The soil transported by geological agent
‘wind’ and subsequently deposited is known as wind blown
soil or Aeolian Soil.
iv. Colluvial Soil: A colluvial soil is one transported downslope
by gravity. There are two types of downslope movement –
slow (creep – mm/yr) and rapid (e.g., landslide)
v. Lacustrine and Marine Soil:
i. Lacustrine Soil is deposited beneath the lakes.
ii. Marine Soil is also deposited underwater i.e., in the
Ocean.
 Types of Soil
2. Engineering consideration:
 Types of Soil
2. Engineering consideration (MIT):
i. Clay: ( < .002mm)
 In moist condition, clay becomes sticky and can be rolled into threads.
 High dry strength, low erosion, low permeability, good workability and
compaction under moist condition. Also susceptible to shrinkage and
swelling.

ii. Silt: (.002mm < Size < .06mm)

 High capillarity, no plasticity and very low dry strength
 It possesses properties of both clay and sand.

iii. Sand: (.06mm < Size < 2mm)

 Particle shape varies from rounded to angular
 No plasticity, considerable frictional resistance, high permeability and
low capillarity
 Abundant quantities of sand are available in deserts and riverbeds
 Types of Soil
2. Engineering consideration (MIT):
iv. Gravels: (2mm < Size < 60mm)
 They form a good foundation material.
 The gravels produced by crushing of rocks are angular in shape
while those taken from riverbeds are sub-rounded to rounded.
v. Cobbles and Boulder:
 Particles larger than gravels are commonly known as cobbles and
boulders.
 Cobbles generally range in size 60mm t0 200mm.
 The materials larger than 200mm is designated as boulders.
Some soil types