UCE501 SOIL MECHANICS

L T P Cr
Prerequisite(s): NIL 3 1 2 4.5
1. Introduction Soil formation, various soil types, applications of soil mechanics, soil as three phase system -
phase relationships, fundamental definitions.
2. Index properties and soil classification Moisture content, specific gravity, in-situ density, sieve &
hydrometer analysis, Atterberg’s limits, sensitivity, thixotropy. Soil classification systems – ISCS.
3. Clay mineralogy Soil structures, introduction to clay minerals & their characteristics.
4. Effective stress principle Types of head, capillarity, quick sand condition, critical hydraulic gradient.
5. Permeability and seepage Darcy’s law, seepage velocity, factors affecting permeability, laboratory and
field determination of permeability, anisotropy, permeability of layered soils. Seepage forces, Laplace
equation, flow net and its properties, methods of drawing flownet, seepage through earth dams, exit
gradient and seepage pressures, filter, phenomenon of piping & heaving.
6. Stresses in soils Boussinesq’s and Westergard’s formulae, pressure bulbs, Newmark’s influence chart.
7. Compaction Laboratory compaction tests, OMC & MDD, factors affecting compaction, compaction
control, field compaction equipment and their suitability.
8. Consolidation Terzaghi’s theory, time rate of consolidation, consolidation test, coefficient of volume
compressibility and consolidation, NC, OC soils, pre-consolidation pressure, settlement analysis, secondary
consolidation.
9. Shear strength Mohr-Columb strength theory, Mohr’s stress circle, direct, triaxial, un-confined and vane
shear tests. Drainage conditions, shear characteristics of normally consolidated, over consolidated clays and
dense and loose sands, residual strength, introduction to stress path.
List of Experiments
1. Determination of water content.
2. Determination of field density by (a) core cutter method and (b) sand replacement method.
3. Grain size analysis by (a) mechanical method and (b) hydrometer method.
4. Determination of specific gravity by pycnometer.
5. Determination of liquid limit, plastic limit and shrinkage limit.
6. Determination of permeability by (a) constant head method and (b) variable head method.
7. Unconfined compression test.
8. Light compaction test.
9. Direct shear test.
10. Consolidation test.
Text Books
1. Parshotham R., Geotechnical Engineering, Pearson Education (2009).
2. Punmia B.C., Jain A.K. and Jain A.K., Soil Mechanics and Foundations, Laxmi Publications (2011).
3. Ranjan G. and Rao A.S.R., Basic and Applied Soil Mechanics, New Age Publishers (2004)
4. Shamsher P. and Jain P.K., Engineering Soil Testing, Nem Chand and Bros (2002).
Reference Books
1. Coduto D.P., Geotechnical Engineering, Pearson Education (2007).
2. Das B.M., Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, Thomson Asia (2002).
3. Murthy V.N.S., A Text Book on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, C.B.S. Publisher (2008).
4. Robert D.H., William D.K. and Thomas C.S., An introduction to Geotechnical Engineering, Dorling
Kindersley India Pvt. Ltd./Pearson Education (2013).
Evaluation Scheme
Sl. No. Component Weightage Remark(s), if any
1. MST (24x1) 24 marks Syllabus coverage 40-50%
Syllabus coverage 100%
2. EST (36x1) 36 marks
(Pre-MST syllabus 30-40%)
3. Quizzes (5x2) 10 marks One before MST, One after MST
4. Tutorials 10 marks 05 marks test, 05 marks general assessment
Laboratory
One viva before MST
5. - Viva (7x2) 20 marks
One viva after MST
- General assessment (06)
Total 100 marks

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