Course prerequisites:PCCET205 or equivalent
Course Type: Theory
Course Credit:4
Course Objectives:
1. To understand the fundamental concepts of index and engineering properties of soil
2. To study laboratory methods to find soil characteristics
3. To study stress distribution in soil
4. To study shear, compaction and consolidation characteristic of soil
Course Outcomes:
CO1 Evaluate the basic soil properties based on tests and functional relationships (K3)
CO2 Classify soils based on index properties (K3)
CO3 Compute stresses developed in soil under different loading and hydraulic conditions (K3)
CO4 Identify and explain various tests to assess the engineering properties of soil. (K3)
Text books:
1 Dr. K. R. Arora, Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Standard Publishers and distributers, Seventh Edition, 2020
2 Rangan G. and A.S.R.Rao, Basic and applied soil mechanics, New Age International Private Limited, Fourth, 2022
3 Dr. B C Punmia, Er.Ashok Kumar, Dr. Arun Kumar Jain, Soil Mechanics and Foundations, Laxmi Publications(P) ltd
Eighteenth, 2015
4 Das B. M.,Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, Cengage India Pvt.Ltd.,2010
5 Venkatramaiah, Geotechnical Engineering, Universities Press, 2000
Reference books:
1 Purushothamaraj P., Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Dorling Indersley(India) Pvt. Ltd., 2013
2 A V Narasimha Rao and C Venkatramaiah, Numerical Problems, Examples and Objective questions in Geotechnical Engineering, Universities Press (India) Ltd., 2000
3 Terzaghi K. and R. B. Peck, Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice, John Wiley, 1967
4 Taylor D.W. ,Fundamentals of Soil Mechanics, Asia Publishing House , 1948
Courtesy
This e-learning material includes video content sourced from NPTEL (National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning).I gratefully acknowledge NPTEL and the authors of the text and reference books used in the preparation of this content. Used for educational purpose only.
Curriculum
- 4 Sections
- 4 Lessons
- 15 Weeks
- Module 1Nature of soil and functional relationships : Introduction to geotechnical engineering– Soil types – Major soil deposits of India - 3 phase system – Basic soil properties : Void ratio, porosity, degree of saturation, air content, water content, specific gravity, unit weight - Relationship between basic soil properties, Relative Density- Numerical problems. Determination of Water content by oven drying, Specific gravity using pycnometer & specific gravity bottle - Determination of Field density by sand replacement method and Core Cutter method - Numerical problems. Soil Structure and their effects on the basic soil properties –Basic structural units of clay minerals (introduction only)1
- Module 2Index properties: Sieve analysis, Hydrometer analysis-strokes law, calibration of hydrometer, corrections to hydrometer readings, gradation of soil, combined sieve and hydrometer analysis, limitations, [no derivation required for percentage finer and diameter]. Consistency – Atterberg Limits and indices – Plasticity charts – activity of soil-laboratory tests for Liquid Limit (Casagrande’s apparatus and cone penetrometer), Plastic Limit and Shrinkage Limit - Numerical problems IS classification of soil . Permeability of soils : Darcy’s law – Factors affecting permeability – Laboratory tests: Constant head and variable head permeability tests - Average permeability of stratified deposits - Numerical problems1
- Module 3Principle of effective stress - Total, neutral and effective stress – Pressure diagrams in layered soil with water table, saturated by capillary action, subjected to surcharge load – Numerical problems- Quick sand condition – Critical hydraulic gradient Stress distribution : Introduction - Boussinesq’s equations for vertical pressure due to point loads and line loads – Assumptions and Limitations - Numerical problems - Vertical pressure due to uniformly distributed loads beneath strip, circular [no derivation required] - Numerical problems. Vertical pressure due to loading on rectangular area and Fadum’s chart (Brief description only) Approximate methods for vertical stress: Equivalent Point Load method & 2:1 Distribution Method - Numerical problems - Pressure Isobars - Pressure bulbs. distribution of contact pressure beneath footings : Compaction Tests – OMC and MDD, Zero Air voids line, IS Light & Heavy- Factors affecting compaction-Numerical problems - Field compaction methods-compaction control –Proctor needle.1
- Module 4Consolidation - Definition – Concepts of Coefficient of compressibility and volume compressibility - e-log p curve - Compression index, Recompression index and Pre-consolidation Pressure - Normally consolidated, over consolidated and under consolidated soils - Terzaghi’s theory of onedimensional consolidation with its assumptions (no derivation required) - average degree of consolidation – Time factor - Coefficient of consolidation - Numerical problems - Laboratory consolidation test – Determination of Coefficient of Consolidation - Difference between consolidation and compaction . Shear strength of soils- Practical Applications - Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion - Mohr circle method for determination of principal planes and 10 stresses– relationship between shear parameters and principal stresses - Numerical problems - Brief discussion of Laboratory tests - Triaxial compression test - UU, CU and CD tests - Total and effective stress strength parameters - Unconfined compression test, Direct shear test and vane shear test1
