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Lecture1 - Introduction To Soil Mechanics

This document provides an introduction to soil mechanics. It discusses that soil mechanics is a branch of civil engineering that deals with the behavior of earth materials. The key topics covered include the branches of geotechnical engineering, the definition and importance of studying soil mechanics, the formation and types of soils based on geological and engineering considerations, and an overview of course-grained, fine-grained, and organic soils.

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Wilfred Mfinanga
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
45 views

Lecture1 - Introduction To Soil Mechanics

This document provides an introduction to soil mechanics. It discusses that soil mechanics is a branch of civil engineering that deals with the behavior of earth materials. The key topics covered include the branches of geotechnical engineering, the definition and importance of studying soil mechanics, the formation and types of soils based on geological and engineering considerations, and an overview of course-grained, fine-grained, and organic soils.

Uploaded by

Wilfred Mfinanga
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SOIL MECHANICS

LECTURE 1: INTRODUCTION TO
SOIL MECHANICS

NAME; Dr. John Elvis


Department: TGE
TR 635 University Lectures
INTRODUCTION
Geotechnical Engineering
 Branch of civil engineering dealing with behaviour
of earth materials.
 Principles of Soil mechanics + Rock Mechanics
 Wide range of applications in structures used in
Military: Underground bunkers
Mining: Excavation of coal mines
Oil and natural gas exploration: Underground drilling
Transportation: Roads, Railway lines including tunnels
esp. on hilly terrains.
22
INTRODUCTION
Geotechnical Engineering
It contains:
 Soil Mechanics (Soil Properties and Behaviour)
 Soil Dynamics (Dynamic Properties of Soils,
Earthquake Engineering, Machine Foundation)
 Foundation Engineering (Deep & Shallow
Foundation)
 Pavement Engineering (Flexible & Rigid Pavement)
 Rock Mechanics (Rock Stability and Tunneling)
 Geosynthetics (Soil Improvement)
33
INTRODUCTION
Geotechnical Engineering
Branches of Geotechnical Engineering
 Soil Mechanics
 Rock Mechanics
 Foundation Engineering
 Geoenvironmental Engineering
 Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering
 Geological Engineering
44
INTRODUCTION
Soil Mechanics
 Soil Mechanics is defined as the branch of
engineering science which enables an engineer to
know theoretically or experimentally the behaviour
of soil under the action of:
Loads (static, cyclic or dynamic)
Gravitational forces,
Water and,
Temperature.
 Simply speaking it is the knowledge of engineering
55 science which deals with properties, behaviour
INTRODUCTION
WHY WE STUDY SOIL MECHANICS?
1. Foundation to support Structures and
Embankments
2. Construction Material
3. Slopes and Landslides
4. Earth Retaining Structures
5. Special Problems
INTRODUCTION
WHY WE STUDY SOIL MECHANICS?
1. Foundation to support Structures and
Embankments
a. Effects of static loading on soil mass
 Shear failure of the foundation soil
 Settlement of structures
b. Stability criteria (Solution)
 There should be no shear failure of the foundation soil.
 The settlement should remain within permissible limits.

Note: Firm Soil -> Spread Footing (Spread


Foundation)
INTRODUCTION
WHY WE STUDY SOIL MECHANICS?
2. Construction Material
• Subgrade of highway pavement
• Land reclamation
• Earthen dam
INTRODUCTION
WHY WE STUDY SOIL MECHANICS?
3. Slopes and Landslides
(a) Major cause is the moisture variation resulting
in;
• Reduction of shear strength
• Increase of moisture
• Increase in unit weight
(b) Excavation of trenches for buildings require
braced excavation.
INTRODUCTION
WHY WE STUDY SOIL MECHANICS?
3. Slopes and Landslides
INTRODUCTION
WHY WE STUDY SOIL MECHANICS?
4. Earth Retaining Structures
Constructed to retains (holds back) any material
(usually earth) and prevents it from sliding or
eroding away.
INTRODUCTION
WHY WE STUDY SOIL MECHANICS?
5. Special Problems
(i) Effects of river water on soil mass
a) Scouring
Causes:
 Increased flow velocity due to obstruction
 Fineness of riverbed material
b) Stability criteria:
 The foundation of pier must be below the scour depth
(ii) Land Erosion
SOIL AND ITS TYPE
INTRODUCTION

A. What is Soil?
B. Formation of Soil
C. Types of Soil
a) Geological
Consideration
b) Engineering
SOIL & ITS TYPE
INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS SOIL?
Soil is the material, naturally obtained from
weathering, decomposition or disintegration of
rocks OR it is uncemented deposits of minerals and
organic particles covering large portion of earth
crust
Soil Mechanics is the branch of civil engineering
which deals with the properties, behaviour and
performance of soil as structural materials.
The purpose of this branch is:
 Replace old method of construction
SOIL & ITS TYPE
INTRODUCTION
SOIL FORMATION
Engineering soils are formed from the physical and
chemical weathering of rocks.
It may also
contain
organic
matter
from the
decomposi
tion of
plants and
animals.
SOIL & ITS TYPE
INTRODUCTION
SOIL FORMATION

Different stages of
weathering of rocks and
formation of soil.
SOIL & ITS TYPE
INTRODUCTION
SOIL TYPE
The type of soil can be described as follows:
a. Geological consideration
 The history of formation of a soil deposit, greatly
influence its properties and behaviour.
 The properties of soil highly depend on the
process through which the soil deposits have
been developed.
 Following are the types of soil based on the
geological agents
SOIL & ITS TYPE
INTRODUCTION
SOIL TYPE
Sol types based on geological consideration:
Glacial Soil:
This type of soil is developed, transported and
deposited by the actions of glaciers. The deposits
consists of rocks fragments, boulders, gravels, sand,
silt and clay in various proportions (i.e., a
heterogeneous mixture of all sizes of particles).
Residual Soil:
This type of soil is found on flat rock surfaces where
the weathering action has produced a soil with no
SOIL & ITS TYPE
INTRODUCTION
SOIL TYPE
Sol types based on geological consideration {cont.
….}:
Alluvial Soil: are fine sediments that have been
eroded from rock and transported by water, and
have settled on river and streambeds.
Calcareous soil: contains calcium carbonate and
effervesces when treated with hydrochloric acid.
Caliche: consists of gravel, sand, and clay
cemented together by calcium carbonate.
Colluvial soils: are soils found at the base of
SOIL & ITS TYPE
INTRODUCTION
SOIL TYPE
Sol types based on geological consideration {cont.
….}:
Aeolian soils: are sand-sized particles deposited by
wind.
Loam: a mixture of sand, silt, and clay that may
contain organic material.
Loess: is a wind-blown, uniform, fine-grained soil.
Marine soils: are sand, silts, and clays deposited in
salt or brackish water.
Mud: is clay and silt mixed with water into a
SOIL & ITS TYPE
INTRODUCTION
SOIL TYPE
The type of soil can be described as follows:
b. Engineering consideration
This type depend on the particle size, divided into
three groups:
i. Course grain (Cohesionless soil)
The particles has a larger size and do not have any
intermolecular attractive forces. It can be seen with
naked eye without using instrument. It is divided into
three:
gravel grain – particle size larger than 2 mm {up to
SOIL & ITS TYPE
INTRODUCTION
SOIL TYPE
The type of soil can be described as follows:
b. Engineering consideration
This type depend on the particle size, divided into
three groups:
i. Course grain (Cohesionless soil)
gravel grain – particle size larger than 2 mm (up to 60
mm)
Cobbles and Boulders:
Particles larger than gravels. Cobbles generally range
in size from
SOIL & ITS TYPE
INTRODUCTION
SOIL TYPE
b. Engineering consideration (con…)
ii. Fine grain (Cohesive soil)
The particles has a smaller size and have
intermolecular attractive forces. It can not
observed with naked eye only by instrument. It
is divided into two:
Silt - particle size smaller than 0.075 mm,
greater than 0.002 mm
Clay - particle size smaller than 0.002 mm
SOIL & ITS TYPE
INTRODUCTION
SOIL TYPE
b. Engineering consideration (con…)
iii. Organic Soil
Formed by decomposition of organic matter
such as vegetable and animals.
 Poor soil with low bearing capacity
 Not good for construction purpose but useful
in agriculture
 Example is peat soil
SOIL & ITS TYPE
INTRODUCTION
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