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1 Principles of Soil Mechanics: CE 304-CE31S8 - Geotechnical Engineering 1

1.1 Principles of Soil Mechanics

  
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Principles of Soil Mechanics
Introduction to the Topic:

Soil Mechanics is an in depth study of characteristics of soil as an important aspect in the construction of engineering structures (horizontal and
vertical). It describes the behavior of soils. The particles of soils usually consist of gravel, sand, clay and silt with some organic solids or other. Soil
mechanics is used to understand and examine the flow of fluids in natural structures and in man-made structure.
 

Intended Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the session the students should be able to:

1. familiar with Soil Mechanics Principles and Definition; and

2. review previous topic about soil in Engineering Geology.

 
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SOIL MECHANICS

Terzaghi defined Soil Mechanics as follow:

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 produced by the mechanical and chemical disintegration of rocks regardless of whether or not
they contain an admixture of organic constituents.  
 

DEFINITION OF SOILS

Soils - refer to all solid particles with or without organic constituents, which are produced by the disintegration of rock and found overlying the solid rock
crust of the earth, sand, gravel, and even the very soft materials found in swampy areas are considered as soil.

Soils - are materials that are derived from the weathering of rocks.
 

SOIL FORMATION

Soil and its constituents, weathering of rocks and types of soils. Description and Identification of soil (Visual-Manual Procedure), Mineralogy of soil
solids.
 

SOIL FORMATION

Erosion

Transportation

Deposition

Upheaval

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GEOLOGICAL BASIS

1. Organic Origin

Organic Soils

2. Physical Weathering of Rocks

Parent Rock because of Air and Water breakdown to Gravel and Sand

    Chemical Weathering of Rocks

Decomposed by Oxidation, Hydration. Carbonation and Bleaching by organic acid form to Silts and Clays
 

From Grain Size

Gravel - Largest grain size

Sand - Small grain size

Silts - smaller grain size

Clay - Smallest grain size

 

Residual Soils - when the soil was remain where they are form

Transport Soils - transported or deposited by the action of wind, water and ice or any.

Examples: 

Alluvial Soils - from running water like lakes and rivers

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Lacustrine Soils -  from suspension of sea and fresh water lakes

Marine Soils - from suspension in Sea Water

Aeolian Soils - from suspension of  wind

Glacial Soils - from suspension of Ice Glaciar

 

ROCK CYCLE AND THE ORIGIN OF SOIL

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SOILS EXERTS THE MAJOR LOADS ON SOME STRUCTURE LIKE: 

1. Retaining walls
2. Pipes
3. Culverts
4. Bridges
5. Airports

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6. Buildings
7. Ports/harbors

3 MAJOR GROUPS OF SOILS

1. Coarse-grained soils

Gravels
Sands
2. Fine-grained soils

Silts
Clays
3. Organic soils – are those which contains an appreciable amount of decayed animal and/or plant matter.

Peat- fibrous soil composed of decayed plant matter

Muck- contains more oxidized matter
Organic silts and clay – contain finely divided organic matter and are plastic.
 

ENGINEERING PROPERTIES

Coarse grained soils – have good load bearing qualities

Fine-grained soil – poor load-bearing qualities
Organic soils – poor load-sustaining qualities
 

SOIL-PARTICLE SIZE

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PARTICLE-SIZE CLASSIFICATIONS

Grain Size (mm)

Name of Organization
Gravel Sand Silt Clay

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) >2 2 to 0.06 0.06 to 0.002 < 0.002

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) >2 2 to 0.05 0.05 to 0.002 < 0.002

American Association of State Highway and

76.2 to 2 2 to 0.075 0.075 to 0.002 < 0.002
Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

(USCS) Unified Soil Classification System (US

Army Corps of Engineers; US Bureau of
76.2 to 4.75 4.75 to 0.075 Fines (Silts and Clays) < 0.075
Reclamation; American Society for Testing and
Materials)

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SOIL TYPE, DESCRIPTIONS AND AVERAGE GRAIN SIZE ACCORDING TO USCS

Soil type Description Average grain size

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Gravel Rounded and/or angular bulky hard rock Coarse: 75 mm to 19 mm

Fine:19 mm to 4 mm

Coarse: 4 mm to 1.7 mm

Sand Rounded and/or angular bulky hard rock Medium: 1.7 mm to 0.380 mm

Fine: 0.380 mm to 0.075 mm

Particles smaller than 0.075 mm, exhibit little or no

Silt 0.075 mm to 0.002 mm
strength when dried

Particles smaller than 0.002 mm, exhibit significant

Clay < 0.002 mm
strength when dried; water reduces strength

MODIFICATION OF THE USCS BY ASTM; ASTM-USCS

Soil type Description Average grain size

Coarse: Passes 3in. (76.2mm)Sieve and retained on 3/4in.

Rounded and/or angular bulky hard rock, coarsely (19.05mm)sieve
Gravel
divided
Fine: Passes 3/4in. and retained on No. 4 (4.75mm) sieve

Sand Rounded and/or angular hard rock, finely divided Coarse: Passes No.4 (4.75mm) sieve & retained on No.10(2mm)

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sieve

Medium: Passes No.10 sieve & retained on No.40(0.425mm)sieve

Fine: Passes on No.40 sieve & retained on No.200(0.075mm)sieve

Particle size between clay and sand, non plastic or very Passing No.200(0.075mm); smaller than 0.075mm and greater
Silt
slightly plastic, exhibiting little or no strength when dried than 0.005mm

Particles smooth & mostly clay minerals, exhibiting

Clay plasticity & significant strength when dried; water Passing No. 200 sieve; smaller than 0.005mm
reduces strength

End of Discussion.

See attached lecture: Principles of Soil Mechanics (https://tip.instructure.com/courses/24098/files/7871556/download?wrap=1)

(https://tip.instructure.com/courses/24098/files/7871556/download?download_frd=1)

PowerPoint Presentation: Lecture 1 - Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering.pdf (https://tip.instructure.com/courses/24098/files/7921379?wrap=1)

(https://tip.instructure.com/courses/24098/files/7921379/download?download_frd=1)  
 

Here are some links that might be useful for your studies:
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9/4/2021 1.1 Principles of Soil Mechanics: CE 304-CE31S8 - Geotechnical Engineering 1

Origin of Rocks and Soil (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_arD9SDTK74&list=PLzBZ3hmMnx1KUOu8ZQItF7J2Stdo0tjhG)

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_arD9SDTK74&list=PLzBZ3hmMnx1KUOu8ZQItF7J2Stdo0tjhG)

Soil Mechanics (https://www.aboutcivil.org/soil-mechanics.html)

Geotechnical Engineering (https://www.kau.edu.sa/Files/0001553/files/SoilMechBook.pdf)

Summary:  

3 MAJOR GROUPS OF SOILS

1. Coarse-grained soil (Gravels and Sand)

2. Fine-grained soils (Silts and Clays)
3. Organic soils – are those which contains an appreciable amount of decayed animal and/or plant matter. (Peat, Muvk and Organic silts and clay)

Reference:

Ishibashi, Isao (2015). Soil mechanics fundamentals and applications Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press

Das, Braja M. (2013). Fundamentals of geotechnical engineering New Zealand: Cengage Learning  

Murthy, V. N. S. (2002). Geotechnical engineering principles and practices of soil mechanics and foundation engineering: CRC Press

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For more references, kindly check TIP Online Resources

TIP Library (https://www.tip.edu.ph/library.html)

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