Handout 1| CE 4101A Geotechnical Engineering 1

SOIL
Defined as an uncemented aggregate of mineral grains and decayed organic matter (solid particle)
with liquid and gas in the empty spaces between the solid particles.
It is used as a construction material in various civil engineering projects and it supports structural
foundation.
Thus, civil engineers must study the properties of soil, such as its origin, grain-size distribution,
ability to drain water, compressibility, shear strength and load-bearing capacity.

SOIL MECHANICS
It is the branch of science that deals with the study of the physical properties of soil and the
behavior of soil masses subjected to various types of forces.

SOIL ENGINEERING
It is the application of the principles of soil mechanics to practical problems.

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
It is defined as the sub discipline of civil engineering that involves natural materials found close to
the earth. It includes the application of the principles of soil mechanics and rock mechanics to the design
of foundations, retaining structures and earth structures.

ROCK CYCLE

The basic types of rock that form the earth’s crust are the rock-forming minerals, and the
weathering process. On the basis of their mode of origin, rocks can be divided into three basic types:
igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.

Igneous Rock resulted from the cooling and hardening of molten rock called magma, which
originated deep within the earth.

Sedimentary Rock are formed from accumulated deposits of soil particles or remains of certain
organism that have become hardened by pressure or cemented by minerals.

Metamorphic Rock results when any type of existing rock is subject to metamorphism, the
changes brought about by combinations of heat, pressure and plastic flow so that the original rock
structure and mineral composition are changed.

Weathering is the process of breaking down rocks by mechanical and chemical processes into
smaller pieces. Mechanical weathering may be caused by the expansion and contraction of rocks from the
continuous gain and loss of heat, which results in ultimate disintegration while in Chemical weathering,
the original rock minerals are transformed into new minerals by chemical reaction.

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 Handout 1| CE 4101A Geotechnical Engineering 1

THE ORIGIN OF SOIL

Soil comes from a big stone and with the aid of other factors like erosion it was formed.

Three Phases of Soil

1. Solid – consist of the solid materials. It can be dense or hard materials. It has no pours.
2. Liquid – consist of water and various amount of dissolved electrolytes.
3. Gas – typically composed of air.

Categories of Soil
1. Residual Soils have formed from the weathering of rock or accumulated of organic material and
remain at the location of their origin. Usually this due to the process of sedimentation and
filtration.
2. Transported Soils are those materials that have been moved from their place of origin. It is
transported by means of wind and water.

Classification of Transported Soils

1. Glacial soils - formed by transportation and deposition of glaciers.
2. Alluvial soils - transported by running water and deposited along streams
3. Lacustrine soils - formed by deposition in quiet lakes
4. Marine soils - formed by deposition in the seas
5. Aeolian soils - transported and deposited by wind
6. Colluvial soils - formed by movement of soil from its original place by gravity, such as during
landslide

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 Handout 1| CE 4101A Geotechnical Engineering 1

Soil-Particle Size
Soils generally are called gravel, sand, silt, or clay, depending on the predominant size of particles
within the soil.
Gravels are pieces of rocks with occasional particles of quartz, feldspar, and other minerals.
Sand particles are made of mostly quartz and feldspar. Other mineral grains also may be present
at times.
Silts are the microscopic soil fractions that consist of very fine quartz grains and some flake-
shaped particles that are fragments of micaceous minerals.
Clays are mostly flake-shaped microscopic and submicroscopic particles of mica, clay minerals,
and other minerals.

Classes of Soil
1. Course Soils – Gravel and Sand
2. Finer Soils – Silt, Clay, Mud and Colloidal Material

Grain Shape Characteristics

1. Rounded Particles – from streams which under gone wearing way.
2. Flat and Flaky – does not undergone in any wearing way. It is flat and flaky because its surface is
exposed from weathering.
3. Angular or Roughly Cubical – produced by means of crushing.

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