CE 411-

Geotechnical Engineering I
(Soil Mechanics)

Introduction
 Course Outline
Mid-term
Time Allotted Topic
Introduction
3 Weeks Weight-Volume Relationships,
Week 1 to Week 3 Plasticity, and Structure of Soil

2 Weeks
Engineering Classification of Soils
Week 4 to Week 6

1 Week
Week 7 to Week 8 Soil Compaction
 Course Outline
Final-term
Time Allotted Topic

2 Weeks Hydraulic Conductivity

Week 9 to Week 11

1 week
Stresses of Soils
Week 12 to Week 13

2 weeks One-Dimensional
Consolidation Settlement of
Week 14 to Week 15 fine-grained soils

3 weeks
Shear Strength of soils
Week 16 to Week 18
 Lab Schedule

Date Experiment
st
1 Week Sieve Analysis, Hydrometer Analysis
nd Determination of Moisture Content,
2 Week
Specific Gravity
rd Liquid Limit Test, Plastic Limit Test,
3 Week
Shrinkage Limit Test
Modified Proctor Compaction Test
th
4 Week Determination of Field Unit Weight of
Compaction by Sand Cone Method
th
5 Week Falling Head Permeability Test in Sand
th
6 Week Midterm
 Lab Schedule

Date Experiment
th
7 Week Unconfined Compression Test
th
8 Week Consolidation Test
th
9 Week Direct Shear Test on Sand
th
10 Week Revision - Problems Solving
th
11 Week Final Exam
 Assessment
LECTURE: 80%
Assignment 10%
Quiz 40%
Exam 50%

LABORATORY: 20%
Narrative Report 60%
Reporting 40%

Passing 50%
Questions?!
 Definitions

Soil mechanics
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.
 Definitions

Soils engineering
The application of the principles of soil
mechanics to practical problems.

Geotechnical engineering
The subdiscipline of civil engineering that
involves natural materials found close to the
surface of 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.
 Definitions

Soil for Engineering Purposes

The uncemented aggregate of mineral
grains and decayed organic matter (solid
particles) with liquid and gas in the empty
spaces between the solid particles.

Agronomy definition:
Soil consists of the thin layers of the
earth’s crust formed by surface weathering
that are able to support plant life.
 Soil Properties

Physical Properties Mechanical Properties

Gradation and Structure

Bearing Capacity

Soil-Water Relationships

Compressibility
Atterberg’s Limits

Shear Strength
Soil Compaction

Permeability
Laboratory #1:

1. Page 25, #2.2, 2.4, 2.6 and 2.8

2. Page 47, #3.4

Deadline: August 15, 2022

Phase Relations
 Three Phases in Soils
S : Solid Soil particle
W: Liquid Water (electrolytes)
A: Air Air
 Three Volumetric Ratios

(1) Void ratio e (given in decimal, 0.65)

Volume of voids (Vv )
e=
Volume of solids (Vs )

(2) Porosity n (given in percent 100%, 65%)

Vse e Volume of voids (Vv )
n= = n=
Vs (1 + e) 1 + e Total volume of soil sample (Vt )

(3) Degree of Saturation S (given in percent %)

Total volume of voids contains water (Vw )
S= 100%
Total volume of voids (Vv )
3.2.1 Engineering Applications (e)
Engineering 
Typical values applications:
Simple cubic (SC), e = 0.91, Contract

Cubic-tetrahedral (CT), e = 0.65, Dilate

Volume change ⚫
tendency

(Lambe and Whitman, 1979)

 Engineering Implications (e)(Cont.)
Hydraulic ⚫
conductivity SC
Which packing (SC  e = 0.91
or CT) has higher
hydraulic
conductivity?

CT
e = 0.65

The fluid (water) can flow more easily through the

soil with higher hydraulic conductivity
 Engineering Applications (e)(Cont.)
Filter
SC
e = 0.91

The finer particle cannot pass

Clogging through the void
CT
e = 0.65
 Engineering Applications (S)
Completely dry soil S = 0 %
Completely saturated soil S = 100%
Unsaturated soil (partially saturated soil) 0% < 
S < 100%
Total volume of voids contains water (Vw )
S= 100%
Total volume of voids (Vv )
3.2.2 Engineering Applications (S)
(Cont.)

80 % of landslides are due to erosion

and “loss in suction”
The slope stability is significantly
affected by the surface water.

(Au, 2001)
 3.3 Density and Unit Weight
Mass is a measure of a •
body's inertia, or its Density ,  =
Mass
"quantity of matter". Volume
Mass is not changed at Weight Mass  g
different places. Unit weight ,  = =
Volume Volume

Weight is force, the • g : acceleration due to gravity

force of gravity acting
on a body. The value is  =   g =   9.8 m 2
sec
different at various
places (Newton's second Water ,  = 9.8 kN 3
m
law F = ma) (Giancoli, 1998)
s s  g  s
The unit weight is • Gs = = =
w w  g  w
frequently used than the
density is (e.g. in
calculating the
overburden pressure).
 3.4 Weight Relationships
(3) Density of soil
(1)Water Content w 
a. Dry density
(100%)
Mass of soil solids (M s )
Mass of water ( M w ) d =
w= 100 % Total volume of soil sample (Vt )
Mass of soil solids ( M s )
b. Total, Wet, or Moist density 
 (0%<S<100%, Unsaturated)
For some organic soils 
Mass of soil sample(M s + M w )
w>100%, up to 500 % =
Total volume of soil sample (Vt )
For quick clays, w>100% 
c. Saturated density (S=100%, Va 
=0)
Mass of soil solids + water (M s + M w )
(2)Density of water  sat =
(slightly varied with Total volume of soil sample (Vt )

temperatures)
d. Submerged density (Buoyant 
w = 1g / cm = 1000 kg / m = 1Mg / m
3 3 3
' = sat − w density)
 3.4 Weight Relationships (Cont.)
Submerged unit 
weight:

Consider the 
buoyant force acting ' =  sat −  w
on the soil solids:

Archimede’s 
principle:
The buoyant force on a 
body immersed in a fluid is
equal to the weight of the
fluid displaced by that
object.
 3.4.1 Engineering Applications (w)
For fine-grained soils, water •
plays a critical role to their
engineering properties
(discussed in the next
topic).
For example, •
The quick clay usually 
has a water content w
greater than 100 % and a
card house structure. It will
behave like a viscous fluid
after it is fully disturbed.

(Mitchell, 1993)
 3.5 Other Relationships
Specific gravity (1) Proof:
s  s S  e = w  Gs
Gs = =
w w Vw Vv Vw
S e =  =
Vv Vs Vs
Ms
M w s M w Vs Vw
w  S  e = w  s w  Gs(2)
=  =  =
M s w M s M w Vs
S  e = w  Gs Vw
3.6 Typical Values of Specific
Gravity

(Lambe and Whitman, 1979)

(Goodman, 1989)
3.7 Solution of Phase Problems

Remember the following simple 

rules (Holtz and Kovacs, 1981):

Remember the basic definitions of .1

w, e, s, S, etc.
Draw a phase diagram. .2
Assume either Vs=1 or Vt=1, if not .3
given.
Often use wSe=ws, Se = wGs .4
Assignment 1:

1. Page 84, #4.6, 4.8, 4.10, 4.12 and

4.14

Deadline September 24, 2021 @

11:59 PM