Geotechnical Engineering 1

(SOIL MECHANICS)

1
Chapter 1: Index Soil Properties -1

TOPIC OUTLINE
1. Course overview - refer to the course
orientation topic in google classroom
2. Review on soil formation, deposition and
mineralogy
3. Soil Mechanics and its importance

2
 Intended Learning Outcomes

• Identified and explained the different

depositional formation of soils.
• Distinguished between residual and transported
soils
• Explained the decomposition grades of soils
• Explained the definition and importance of soil
mechanics.

3
Soil Formations and Deposits

4
 What is Soil?
is defined as the weathered and fragmented outer
layer (crust) of the earth’s terrestrial surface.1

• The term , according to engineering point of view, is

defined as the material by means of which and upon
which engineers builds their structures.2

• For engineering purpose is defined as the

uncemented aggregate of mineral grains and decayed
organic material (solid particle) with liquid and gas in
the empty spaces between the solid particles.3

5
Formation of Soil
is generally formed by disintegration and decomposition
(weathering) of rocks through the action of physical (or
mechanical) and chemical agents which break them into smaller
and smaller particles.

6
•Different
stages of
weathering of
rocks and
formation of
soil.

7
Rock Cycles

Soils The final products

due to weathering
are soils

(Das, 1998)
8
Weathering and Erosion

9
Weathering
· Chelation
1.3.1 Physical processes of weathering –Involves the complexing and
· Unloading removal of metal ions .
– e.g. uplift, erosion, or change in fluid · Cation exchange
pressure. – is important to the formation of
clay minerals
· Thermal expansion and contraction
· Oxidation and reduction.
· Alternate wetting and drying · Carbonation
· Crystal growth, including frost action –is the combination of carbonate
ions such as the reaction with CO2
· Organic activity
– e.g. the growth of plant roots. 1.3.3 Factors affect weathering
·Many factors can affect the
weathering process such as
1.3.2 Chemical Process of weathering climate, topography, features of
· Hydrolysis parent rocks, biological reactions,
– is the reaction with water and others.
–will not continue in the static water. · Climate determines the amount of
–involves solubility of silica and alumina water and the temperature.
(Mitchell, 1993)

10
 Weathering of Rocks

§ There are two main types of weathering processes:

§ Physical (or mechanical) Weathering
§ Chemical Weathering

§ Biological weathering is caused by activities of living

organisms - for example, the growth of roots or the
burrowing of animals. Tree roots are probably the most
occurring, but can often be by animals!
11
 Physical Weathering
is the
disintegration of rocks into smaller particles through
physical processes, including:
§ The erosive action of water, ice and wind.
§ Opening of cracks as a result of unloading due to
erosion of overlying soil and rock.
§ Loosening through the percolation and subsequent
freezing (and expansion) of water.
§ Thermal Expansion and contraction from day to
day and season to season.
§ Landslides and rockfalls.
§ Abrasion from the downhill movement of nearby
rock and soil.
12
 Chemical Weathering
§ Chemical Weathering is the disintegration of rock through
chemical reactions between the minerals in the rocks,
water, and oxygen in the atmosphere.

§ An example of the chemical weathering orthoclase to form

clay minerals, silica and soluble potassium carbonate
follows:1

H2O + CO2  H2CO3  H+ + (HCO3)-

2K(AlSi3O8) + 2H+ + H2O  2K+ + 4SiO2 + Al2Si5(OH)4
Orthoclase Silica Kaolinite
(Clay mineral)

13
Products of Weathering
Weathering produces regolith (“rock blanket”) which
is composed of small rock and mineral fragments.

When organic matter is mixed into this material it is

called soil.

14
15
16
17
Erosion Transport Agents or Forces

• Water
rain
streams and rivers
ocean dynamics
ice in glaciers
• Wind
• Gravity

18
 Streams
Flowing water will lift and carry small sediments such as
silt and sand.

19
 Stream Erosion and Deposition

Where water moves more swiftly

Where the water slows down, there will be more erosion.
sediments will be deposited.

20
21
 Ocean Dynamics
Tidal action and waves carry away weathered materials.

22
 Glaciers
Glaciers are large ice fields that slowly flow downhill over time.

23
 Glaciers

Glacial ice drags rocky material that scours the surface it flows
over . The glacier deposits debris as it melts.

24
 Wind Transport of Sediments

Wind will carry fine, dry sediments over long distances.

25
 Wind Transport of Dust

Photo shows Sahara Desert sand being transported over the Atlantic
Ocean.
26
 Transport by Gravity
When sediments are weathered they may be transported
downward by gravity. The general term for this is mass wasting.

•http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_wasting 27
 Deposition Formation

Transported sediments are deposited in layers and generate strata like

those found in the Grand Canyon.

28
Types of Soil

Geologist classify soil into two major categories:

residual soils and transported soil
i. Residual Soils:
When the rock weathering is faster than the transport
process induced by water, wind and gravity, much of the
soil remains place. It is known as residual soil.

29
30
 Residual
VI soils

Completely
V decomposed

Highly
IV decomposed

Moderately
III decomposed

II Slightly
decomposed

I Fresh
31
Types of Soil
1. Geological consideration:
ii. Transported Soil:
i. Glacial Soil: This type of soil is developed, transported and deposited
by the actions of glaciers. These deposits consists of rocks fragments,
boulders, gravels, sand, silt and clay in various proportions (i.e., a
heterogeneous mixture of all sizes of particles).
ii. Alluvial Soil: This type of soil (also known as fluvial soil or alluvium)
is transported and deposited to their present position by streams and
rivers.

Coarser or
Higher
Heavier
Particles Reaches

Lower
Fine Particles
Reaches
32
Types of Soil

ii. Transported Soil:

iii. Aeolian Soil: The soil transported by geological
agent ‘wind’ and subsequently deposited is known as
wind blown soil or Aeolian Soil.
iv. Colluvial Soil: A colluvial soil is one transported
downslope by gravity. There are two types of
downslope movement – slow (creep – mm/yr) and
rapid (e.g., landslide)
v. Lacustrine and Marine Soil:
i. Lacustrine Soil is deposited beneath the lakes.
ii. Marine Soil is also deposited underwater i.e., in the
Ocean.

33
Types of Soil
2. Engineering consideration: GCMFSCC

34
Types of Soil
2. Engineering consideration (MIT):
i. Clay: ( < .002mm)
– In moist condition, clay becomes sticky and can be rolled into threads.
– High dry strength, low erosion, low permeability, good workability and
compaction under moist condition. Also susceptible to shrinkage and swelling.

ii. Silt: (.002mm < Size < .06mm)

– High capillarity, no plasticity and very low dry strength
– It possesses properties of both clay and sand.

iii. Sand: (.06mm < Size < 2mm)

– Particle shape varies from rounded to angular
– No plasticity, considerable frictional resistance, high permeability and low
capillarity
– Abundant quantities of sand are available in deserts and riverbeds

35
Types of Soil
2. Engineering consideration (MIT):
iv. Gravels: (2mm < Size < 60mm)
– They form a good foundation material.
– The gravels produced by crushing of rocks are angular in
shape while those taken from riverbeds are sub-rounded to
rounded.
v. Cobbles and Boulder:
– Particles larger than gravels are commonly known as cobbles
and boulders.
– Cobbles generally range in size 60mm t0 200mm.
– The materials larger than 200mm is designated as boulders.

36
Soil Mechanics and Its Importance

37
38
 Soil GeoTech.
Civil Engg.
Mechanics Engg.

39
 So what is soil mechanics?

Soil Mechanics
– "the application of the laws of mechanics and hydraulics
to the mechanical problems relating to soils "

40
Why Soil Mechanics
Like other solid materials (e.g. metals, rock), soils
deform when they are exposed to forces.
•Force

•Unlike many other materials in

our environment , soils show a
wide range of possible mechanical
behavior which influences
considerably their use for …
41
 Why we study Soil Mechanics?
§ Virtually every structure is supported by soil or
rock.
§ Various reasons to study the properties of Soil:2
1. Foundation to support Structures and Embankments
2. Construction Material
3. Slopes and Landslides
4. Earth Retaining Structures
5. Special Problems

42
 Why we study Soil Mechanics?
§ Various reasons to study the properties of
1. Foundation to support Structures and
Embankments
• Effects of static loading on soil mass
• Shear failure of the foundation soil
• Settlement of structures
• Stability criteria (Solution)
• There should be no shear failure of the foundation soil.
• The settlement should remain within permissible limits.

• Firm Soil -> Spread Footing (Spread Foundation)

• Soft Soil -> Pile Foundation (Vertical members
transferring load of structure to ground i.e. rock)

43
 Why we study Soil Mechanics?
§ Various reasons to study the properties of
1. Foundation to support Structures and Embankments
• Effects of dynamic loading on soil mass
• For Design and construction of roads following must be considered:
• Compaction Characteristics
• Moisture Variation

44
 Why we study Soil Mechanics?
§ Various reasons to study the properties of
2. Construction Material
• Subgrade of highway pavement
• Land reclamation (Dubai Palm City)
• Earthen dam

45
 Why we study Soil Mechanics?
§ Various reasons to study the properties of Soil:
3. Slopes and Landslides
• Major cause is the moisture variation resulting in;
• Reduction of shear strength
• Increase of moisture
• Increase in unit weight
• Excavation of trenches for buildings require braced
excavation.

46
 Why we study Soil Mechanics?

Landslide of a
parking area at the
edge of a steep
slope, mainly due to
increase in moisture
content.

47
 Why we study Soil Mechanics?
§ Various reasons to study the properties of
4. Earth Retaining Structures
• Earth retaining structure (e.g., Retaining walls)are constructed to retains
(holds back) any material (usually earth) and prevents it from sliding or
eroding away.

48
 Why we study Soil Mechanics?
§ Various reasons to study the properties of Soil:
5. Special Problems
i. Effects of river water on soil mass
a) Scouring
Causes:
• Increased flow velocity due to obstruction
• Fineness of riverbed material
Stability criteria:
• The foundation of pier must be below the scour depth

ii. Land Erosion

49
 Why we study Soil Mechanics?
§ Various reasons to study the properties of
5. Special Problems
iii. Effects of frost action on soil mass
• Reduction Of Shear Strength
• Settlement Of Structure In Summer
• Lifting Up Of Structure In Winter
Causes:
• Heaving (due to formation of ice lenses)
• Increase of moisture due to thawing (MELTING)

50
• Engineering Soil Surveys
• Soil Sampling Devices and Methods
• Soil Testing Devices and Methods
• Physical Properties of Soil
• Evaluation and Interpretation of Test results
• Behavior under Loads and Forces
• Soil Conservation Techniques
• Sedimentation Control of Dam Reservoirs
• Design and Operation of Landfills
• and others

51
Importance of Soil Mechanics

Understanding soil deformation behavior

is crucial to:
• foundation design
•design slopes and retaining walls
• build tunnels in ‘soft’ rock
• assess hazards due to land slides
• prevent soil from compaction
• optimize soil management techniques

52
END

53