CE-205 SOIL MECHANICS - 1 • Instructor: Dr. S. Muhammad Jamil

Office: Room # 6, NICE Building Phone: 051-90854685/ 0333-5201578

email: smuhammadjamil@ymail.comSchedule: 15Feb 10 to 18 Jun 10

• Office Hours: Open door policy• Credit Hours: 3 (2+1)• Pre-requisite(s): Nil• Description: Basic Properties of Soil, Soil Classification, Soil Exploration,

Soil Compaction, Soil water, Permeability and Seepage, Shear Strength of Soil.• Teaching Objective: “To teach Soil Mechanics through integrated lectures, assignments, and

laboratory testing”. • Reference Books

– Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering by Braja M. Das.– An Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering, Holtz & Kovac.– Basic Soil Mechanics by R. Whitlow.– Geotechnical Engineering by Cernika.– Theoretical Soil Mechanics by Terzaghi, Peck and Mesri.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES  1. To develop an appreciation soil as a vital construction material, and of

soil mechanics in the engineering of civil infrastructure.

2. To develop an understanding of the relationships between physical characteristics and mechanical properties of soils.

3. To understand and experience experimental measurement of the physical and mechanical soil properties commonly used in engineering practice.

4. To understand and be able to apply the modeling and analysis techniques used in soil mechanics: (a) Darcy's Law and flow-nets for seepage; (b) consolidation models for load-time-deformation responses of soils; (c) Mohr-Coulomb models for shear strength behavior of soils.

5. To develop good technical reporting and data presentation skills.

EXPECTED COURSE OUTCOMES Upon successfully completing this course in Soil Mechanics, it is

expected that students will be able to:

1. Understand the significance of the basic physical and mechanical properties of soils, and also the experimental methods used to measure them.

 2. Recognize and be able to apply fundamental soil mechanics

principles underlying common Civil Engineering applications.  

3. Understand both the applications and limits of engineering methods commonly used to solve soil mechanics problems in Civil Engineering. Also to be aware of more advanced techniques that are available for unusual problems.

 4. Recognize the importance of good written communication skills,

and know how to write professional, clear, concise technical reports and letters to clients and colleagues.

Topics:

1. Basic Properties of Soil• Introduction.

• Soil formation and nature of soil constituents.

• Physical properties of soil including void ratio, porosity degree of saturation, water content, specific gravity, density, soil texture, particle sizes, particle shapes and sol structure.

• Mechanical analysis of soil (sieve analysis and hydrometer analysis).

• Consistency of soil (Atterberg limits).

• Field identification tests.

2. Soil Classification Systems

• The AASHTO soil classification system.

• The unified soil classification system (USCS).

• Comparison between AASHTO and USCS classification systems.

• ASTM classification, MIT soil classification.

3. Soil Exploration

• Methods of soil exploration and their importance; probing, test trenches and pits, auger boring, wash boring, rotary drilling and geophysical methods. In-situ tests (SPT, CPT&PLT).

• Planning the exploration program.

• Soil boring.

• Types of soil samples, samplers and soil sampling.

• The soil report. To be adjusted in evening classes by instructor concerned. 

4. Soil Compaction

• Theory of Compaction; Moisture density relationships.

• Properties and structures of compacted soils; factors effecting compaction.

• Laboratory methods of Compaction; Std proctor and modified.

• Field Compaction, compaction equipment, field control and measurement of In-situ density.

5. Soil Water

• Occurrence of water in soil.

• Effective and Neutral Stresses.

• Capillarity, shrinkage and swelling.

• Frost heave and collapsible soils.

6. Permeability and Seepage

• Hydraulic gradients, Darcy’s law.

• Coefficient of permeability and its determination in the lab.

• Factors effecting permeability.

• Permeability of stratified soils.

• Field determination of permeability.

7. Shear Strength of Soil

• Concept of Shear Strength; normal and shear stresses along a plane.

• Analysis of stress using Mohr Circle; Pole method of finding stress along a plane.

• Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria, shear strength parameters.

• Shear strength of cohesive and non cohesive soils, effect of stress and strain on shear strength. Determining shear strength parameters from direct shear test, tri-axial compression test and unconfined compression test.

• Vane shear test.

• Sensitivity of Clays.

8. Recommended Books

• Introduction to Soil Mechanics by Baraja M.Das.

• An Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering by Holtz and Kovac.

• Basic Soil Mechanic by R. Whitlow.

•

Geotechnical Engineering by Cernika.Theoretical Soil Mechanics by Terzaghi et al.

9. Soil Mechanics – 1 PracticalsSieve analysis.

Hydrometer analysis.Specific gravity.

Moisture content determination.Atterberg limits.

Field identification tests.Permeability by constant and variable head.

AASHO and modified AASHO test.Density in situ by sand replacement and rubber

balloon method. Direct shear test.

Unconfined compression test.Triaxial test.

LABORATORY PROJECTS Laboratory experiences are designed to clarify lecture material.

Eleven experiments are performed throughout the semester and are written up as four extensive group reports in which experiment results are used to address realistic geotechnical consulting type questions. Projects are as follows:

1. Measuring grain properties and size distributions; Atterberg

limits; and classification. 2. Permeability tests; seepage computations (using FEM

software) and measurement of pore pressures, seepage forces, and liquefaction.

3. Confined compression; direct shear; and triaxial compression of soils (dry sands).

4. Compaction studies.

Contribution to Outcome

ABET Outcomes Course Activity Material to be Collected

●They will have the ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering in their chosen fields.

The students complete about one homework assignment per week, some of which require application mathematics, physics, and principles of mechanics.

Homework and exams (high, low, & typical)

●They will have the ability to design and conduct engineering experiments, and to analyze and interpret experimental results.

Students conduct experiments, interpret their data, and answer basic engineering practice type questions.

Laboratory assignments and student reports (high, low, & typical)

They will have the ability to design systems, components, or processes to meet specified objectives in their chosen fields.

None None

○They will have the ability to work as members of multidisciplinary project and/or research teams, and have an understanding of leadership in teams and organizations.

Students perform lab experiments and write their reports as groups. This involves learning to work well in a group environment.

Laboratory assignments and student reports (high, low, & typical)

●They will have the ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.

Several homework assignments and a exam questions require ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.

Homework & exams (high, low, typical)

They will have an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility and the value of mentoring and peer support.

None None

●They will have the ability to communicate effectively in written form.

Student lab write-ups are graded in part based on clarity and effectiveness of their reports and letters.

Laboratory write-up guidelines and graded write-ups (high, low, typical).

They will have the ability to communicate effectively in oral form.

None None

○ They will have the ability to communicate effectively in graphical form.

In laboratory write-ups, students are expected to present their data graphically. Write-ups are graded, in part, based on the clarity and effectiveness of the graphical communications.

Laboratory write-up guidelines and graded write-ups (high, low, typical).

They will have an education that is supportive of a broad awareness of the diversity of the world and its cultures, and that provides an understanding of the impact of engineering practice in the global community.

None None

○They will understand the importance of updating and maintaining their technical skills and continuing their education throughout their professional careers.

The importance of lifelong learning and awareness of new developments is stressed in lectures.

EASY survey questions.

They will have knowledge of contemporary issues. None None

○They will have the ability to use the principles, techniques, skills and modern engineering tools necessary for successful engineering practice and/or research in their chosen fields.

Students are exposed to modern computing techniques through two lab assignments which require them to use FEM software to solve two engineering problems.

Computer assignments and student write-ups.