Soil Mechanics

Introduction: Origin and formation of soils, soils-water-air voids relationship, soils grain and soils aggregate properties.  Index properties, including grain size distribution.  Identification of soils.  Clay mineralogy.  Permeability and capillarity of soils.  Effective stress law.  Seepage forces and quicksand phenomenon.  Compressibility and consolidation of soil, secondary consolidation and creep. Failure theories and shear strength characteristics of soils.  Stress history and its effects on soil behaviour.