Introduction To Soil Mechanics

Introduction to Soil Mechanics
By:
Himanshu saini
Sec A
Outline of Topics
1. Soil Formations and Deposits
2. Phase Relationship
3. Index properties
4. Soil classification
SOIL MECHANIC/GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
A typical geotechnical engineering project begins with a site
investigation of soil, rock, fault distribution and bedrock properties
on and below an area of interest to determine their engineering
properties including how they will interact with, on or in a
proposed construction. Site investigations are needed to gain an
understanding of the area in or on which the engineering will take
place. Investigations can include the assessment of the risk to
humans, property and the environment from natural hazards such
as earthquakes, landslides, sinkholes, soil liquefaction, debris flows
and rock falls.
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 Formations and Deposits
Weathering is the process of the breaking down rocks. There are two different
types of weathering. Physical weathering and chemical weathering. In physical
weathering it breaks down the rocks, but what it's made of stays the same. In
chemical weathering it still breaks down the rocks, but it may change what it's
made of. For instance, a hard material may change to a soft material after
chemical weathering.
STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3
STAGE 4
Type of soil on the basis of origin
Residual soil
If the product of rock weathering are still located at the
place where they originated ,they are called residual soils.
Transported soil
Any soil that has been transported from place of its origin
by wind,water,ice or any other agent is called a
transported soil.
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 from suspension in still , fresh water of
lakes (e.g. soils in Taipei basin).
(4) Marine soils:formed by deposition from suspension in sea water (Hong

Kong).
(5) Aeolian soils: transported and deposited by the wind (e.g. soils in the loess
plateau, China).
(6) Colluvial soils: formed by movement of soil from its original place by gravity,
such as during landslide (Hong Kong).
Major soil deposits of India
1.Marine deposits : These deposits are found all along a narrow belt near
a coast. marine clay are very soft and may contain organic matter.
2.Lareritic soil: These soil are formed by decomposition of rocks ,removal
of bases and silica and accumulation of iron and alluminium oxide. This type
of soil exist in central southern and eastern area.
3.Black cotton soils : Large part of central India and part of southern india is
covered with black cotton soils this soil is quite suitable for growing
cotton.
black cotton soils are clay of high plasticity.
4.Alluvialsoil : A large part of north India is covered with alluvial deposit.
Distinct characteristic of alluvial soil is existing of alternatively layer of sand.
5.Desert soil : A large part of Rajasthan and adjoining state is covered with
sand dunes. As the sand in generally in loose condition it require densification
to increase its strenght.
BASIC DEFINITION AND PHASE RELATIONS
VOID RATIO ( e): The ratio of void volume (Vv) to
soil volume (Vs)
Vv
e
0<e< Vs
POROSITY ( n ): The ratio of void volume (Vv) to

total volume (V)
Vv
n
0n1 V
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VOID RATIO AND POROSITY
n e
e or or n
1 n 1 e
WATER CONTENT (w) : The ratio of the amount of water
(Ww) in the soil (Ws) and expressed as a percentage
Ww
  x100%
Ws
0% < w< 
DEGREE OF SATURATION (S) : The ratio of volume of water

(Vw) to volume of voids (Vv) and expressed as a percentage
Vw  S  100%
0%
S  x100%
Vv
UNIT WEIGHT : The ratio of weight of soil to its volume.
Ww Ws W
w  s   
Vw Vs V
SPECIFIC GRAVITY (GS) : The ratio of unit weight of soil to

unit weight of water.
s
GS 
w
Index properties
Those property which are used for identification and
classification of soil are called as index property. Such as
1. Water content
2. Consistency limit
3.Insitu density
4.Particle size distribution
5.Sesitivity
6.Activity
7.thixotrophy
SOIL CLASSIFICATION
• PURPOSE:
To classified the soil into a group according to
the soil behaviour and physical shape.
• TYPE OF CLASSIFICATION:
• AASHTO
• Uscs
• SOIL TESTS
• ATTERBERG LIMIT
• SIEVE ANALYSIS
Atterberg Limit
Based on water content
Consistency Limit :
Liquid Limit,
Plastic Limit
and Shrinkage Limit
Volume
Plasticity Index
PI
Solid Semi Solid Plastic Liquid
SL PL LL Water
content
Sieve Analysis
(Test Standard)
Sieves of varying sizes are arranged one over

the other with sve of larger size kept at top
and that of smallest size at the bottom.
The amount of soil retained on each sieve is

determined.
From this total percentage retained on each

sieve is calculated.
The testing should be only carried out once

for one sample.
THANKYOU

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Introduction to Soil Mechanics

STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3

(4) Marine soils:formed by deposition from suspension in sea water (Hong

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

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VOID RATIO AND POROSITY

DEGREE OF SATURATION (S) : The ratio of volume of water

SPECIFIC GRAVITY (GS) : The ratio of unit weight of soil to

Solid Semi Solid Plastic Liquid

Sieves of varying sizes are arranged one over

The amount of soil retained on each sieve is

From this total percentage retained on each

The testing should be only carried out once

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