Course : Soil Mechanic

Year
: 2014
Lecturer :Erol ADOLU

CONTENT
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

FORMATION OF SOIL
BASIC PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL
CLASSIFICATION OF SOILS
GROUNDWATER
SOIL PERMEABILITY
WATER FLOW IN SOIL
COMPACTION OF SOIL
STRESSES IN A SOIL MASS DUE TO APPLIED
LOADING

SESSION 1

FORMATION OF SOILS

CRUST

The crust is the

outermost solid shell
of the Earth. The crust
of
the
Earth
is
composed of a great
variety of igneous,
metamorphic,
and
sedimentary rocks.

IGNEOUS ROCKS

Igneous rocks; formed by cooling from hot molten

material within or on the surface of the Earth crust e.g.
Granite, basalt, dolarite, etc.

Sedimentary Rocks

Sedimentary rocks; formed in layers from sediments

settling in bodies of water such as seas or lakes, e.g.
Limestone, sandsrone, mudsrone conglomorate, shale.

Metamorphic Rocks

Metamorphic rocks; formed by alteration of existing

rocks due to
a) Extreme heat e.g. Matble, quartzite
b) Extreme pressure e.g. slate, schist

DEFINITION OF SOIL

To the civil engineer, soil is uncemented or weakly

cemented accumulation of mineral particles
formed by the weathering of rocks, the void space
between the particles containing water and/or
air.
The processes that conver solid rocks into soils
take place at or near the Earths surface.

Bina Nusantara

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Geotechnical engineering is the branch of civil

engineering concerned with the engineering
behavior of earth materials.

Geotechnical engineering includes investigating
existing subsurface conditions and materials;
assessing risks posed by site conditions; designing
earthworks and structure foundations; and
monitoring site conditions, earthwork and
foundation construction.

SOIL MECHANIC

Soil mechanics is the application of the laws of

mechanics and hydraulics to engineering problems
dealing with sediments and other unconsolidated
accumulations of solid particles regardless of
whether or not they contain an admixture of organic
constituents.

SOIL FORMATION
Weathering is the process of the breaking down rocks. Weathering embraces a number
of natural surface processes which result from the single or combined actions of such
agencies as wind, rain, frost, temperature change and gravity.
There are two different types of weathering. Physical weathering and chemical
weathering.

Physical weathering involves break down of rocks and soils through direct contact
with atmospheric conditions such as heat, water, ice and pressure.

STAGE 1

STAGE 2

STAGE 3

STAGE 4

SOIL FORMATION
Chemical weathering involves the direct effect of atmospheric chemicals or
biologically produced chemicals in the breakdown of rocks, soils and minerals.
CO2 + Raining> Chemical weathering
Dimensions of soil particles changes from 100 mm to 0.000001 mm
0.002 mm> clay chemical weathering

STAGE 1

STAGE 2

STAGE 3

STAGE 4

SOIL PROFILE

SOIL PROFILE

SOIL TYPES
SOIL TYPES

RESIDUAL SOILS

Soils that have remained at their parent site are termed as
residual soil

SOIL TYPES
SOIL TYPES

TRANSPORTED SOILS
Soils that have been
transported by rivers,
winds, glaciers, and gravity.


SHAPE OF SOIL PARTICLE


STRUCTURE OF SOIL PARTICLE

LOOSE SAND

DENSE SAND


BASIC PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL

The basic physical properties of a soil are those required to define its

physical state. For the purposes of engineering analysis and design, it is

necessary to quantify the three constituent phases (solid, liquid, and
gas) and to be able to express relationships betweeen them in numerical
terms.


BASIC PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL

In a typical soil, the solid, liquid and gaz are naturally intermixed, so

that relative proportions are difficult to realize. It is therefore

convenient to consider a soil model in which three phases are separated
into distinct amounts.
PHASE DIAGRAM

Mass
Air

Water

Mw
M

Soil

Ms


BASIC PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL

The amount of volume in soil not occupied by solids is termed the voids

volume (Vv).

In a perfectly dry soil, there is no water and the void space is entirely air.
In a saturated soil the void space is full of water
PHASE DIAGRAM

Mass
Air

Water

Soil

VOID RATIO; e : The ratio of void volume (Vv) to soil volume (Vs)

e=

Vv
Vs

0<e<

POROSITY ; n : The ratio of void volume (Vv) to total volume (V)

0n1

V
n= v
V

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VOID RATIO AND POROSITY

n
e=
1 n

or

e
n=
1+ e

WATER CONTENT; : The ratio of the amount of water (Ww)to the soil (Ws)
and expressed as a percentage

Mw
x100%
=
Ms

0% < <

DEGREE OF SATURATION ; S : The ratio of water volume air (Vw) to void

volume (Vv) and expressed as a percentage

S=

Vw
x100%
Vv

0% S 100%

BULK (NATURAL) DENSITY: The ratio of total mass to total volume

M total
Ms + M w
n =
=
Vtotal Vs + VW + Va

DRY DENSITY; : The ratio of mass of solids to total volume

dry

Ms
Ms
=
=
Vtotal Vs + Va

SATURATED DENSITY

M total M s + M w
sat =
=
Vtotal
Vs + Vv

GRAIN (PARTICLE) DENSITY:

Ms
S =
Vs

DRY DENSITY; : The ratio of mass of solids to total volume

dry

Ms
Ms
=
=
Vtotal Vs + Va

SATURATED DENSITY

M total M s + M w
sat =
=
Vtotal
Vs + Vv

GRAIN (PARTICLE) DENSITY:

Ms
S =
Vs

SPECIFIC GRAVITY; GS : The ratio of unit weight of soil to unit weight of

water

GS =

RELATIVE DENSITY; Dr :

Dr =

Bina Nusantara

s
w

emax eo
x100%
emax emin

Granular soils are qualitatively described according to their

relative densities as shown below

The use of relative density has been restricted to granular soils

because of the difficulty of determining emax in clayey soils.
Liquidity Index in fine-grained soils is of similar use as Dr in
granular soils.

Bina Nusantara

Air

If given e, assume Vs =1

e
Mw=w s

Mw

Water

Ms=
s

Ms

Solids

If given n, assume Vtotal =1

1+e
1

Air
n
Mw

Mw=(1-n) w s

Water

Mw+Ms
Ms=(1-n)
s

Ms

Solids

1-n


RELATIONSHIP OF SOIL PARAMETERS

n =

Mn
= (1 n)s + (1 n)s w
Vtotal

dry = (1 n)s
sat = (1 n)s + n w

Bina Nusantara

SESSION 2

Determination of Basic Physical Properties

Soil Sampling

Disturbed

In situ structure not retained

Water content, classification, compaction

Undisturbed

In situ structure almost retained

Shear strength, consolidation, permeability

Disturbances

Shearing and compression

In situ stress release

Drying

Vibrations
32

Determination of Basic Physical Properties

Cylindrical Sample Method (The cone cutter method):

This method is suitable for fine grained soils free of

stones and consists of driving a steel cylinder with a
hardened cutting edge into the ground using a specially
designed steel rammer and a wood head.
Since volume of the tube is known
and the contained mass of soil can
be found by weighing and the bulk
density easily be determined.Small
samples can be taken form either to
determine water content.

Determination of Basic Physical Properties

The sand replacement method

This method is suitable for granular soils and involves the

use of a sand pouring cylinder as shown in the Figure.

Determination of Basic Physical Properties

The sand replacement method

Firstly, sample hole is dug about 100 mm in diameter and

not more than 150 mm in depth and the soil removed
carefully and weighed. The volume of the hole is than
determined by pouring sand into it from the pouring
cylinder. The sand pouring cylinder is weighed before and
after this operation, and the mass of sand filling the hole
determined. Since the density of sand is known, the
volume of the hole can be determined and hence bulk
density of in situ soil.

M hole
M sand
n =
Vhole =
Vhole
sand

Determination of Basic Physical Properties

Rubber Baloon Method

This method is similar to Sand

Replacement Method. Only
difference is that Vhole is
determined by pumping a rubber
balloon.

M hole
M sand
n =
Vhole =
Vhole
sand

Determination of Basic Physical Properties

Immersion in Water Method

This method is suitable for cohesive and stabilized soils

where an irregular shaped intact lump of soil has been
obtained. The lump sample is weighed (Mn) and after
cooling with wax weighed again (Mn+p). The volume of
waxed soil sample is found by lowering it into a container
of water

M hole
M sand
n =
Vhole =
Vhole
sand

Determination of Basic Physical Properties

Immersion in Water Method

This method is suitable for cohesive and stabilized soils

where an irregular shaped intact lump of soil has been
obtained. The lump sample is weighed (Mn) and after
cooling with wax weighed again (Mn+p). The volume of
waxed soil sample is found by lowering it into a container
of water
M = M n + p M n
Vp =

M
paraffin

Vsoil = V2 V1 Vp
n =

Mn
Vsoil

Determination of Basic Physical Properties

Determination of water content

A sample of soil is placed in a container that is weighed before

(M2). Mass of the sample and the container is determined(M1).
The soil sample is placed in an oven and dried between 105 C
and 110 C to a constant mass. After drying, the container is
removed from the oven and allowed to cool. The mass is
determined again (M3).
M1 = M c + M w + M s
M2 = Mc
M3 = Mc + Ms
M w M1 M 3
w=
=
Ms M3 M 2

Determination of Basic Physical Properties

Determination of particle density

A soil sample is dried in an oven. Then, the weight of soil

used for determination of particle density is recorded
(Mdry). A Pynometer filled with water is weighed (M1) and
then the suspension of water and soil filled in a pynometer
is weighed again (M2).
s=Mdry/[Mdry-(M2-M1)] /water

Determination of Basic Physical Properties

Determination of emax

A mould filled with soil in the loosest state by pouring

gently. Then, the mass of soil in the mould is recorded.
From the volume of mould and the mass of soil dry(min) is
evaluated.
dry(min)=s/(1+emax)

Determination of Basic Physical Properties

Determination of emin

The mould is filled with the soil by compacting or vibrating

in three layers of equal thickness.
dry(max)=Msoil/Vmould=s/(1+emin)