Soil Mechanics

Soil Mechanics

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Description
Media
Resources
Selected Topics
External Resources

Soil mechanics is a scientific field of the civil engineering discipline that studies the mechanical behavior of soil. Soil mechanics is critical in civil engineering as it describes the principles that govern the way civil infrastructure projects such as buildings, bridges, tanks, embankments, dams, and tunnels, are supported by the soil.

Soil mechanics differs from classical fluid mechanics or solid mechanics as the soil is (a) a heterogeneous mixture of solid particles (gravel, rock, sand, silt, and clay), liquid, and gas (three-phase system), and (b) is a particulate material. Understanding and predicting soil’s behavior is complex as it is stress-dependent and nonlinear.

To derive soil’s mechanical properties, in-situ and laboratory testing are performed and analytical solutions or constitutive models are used to simulate its behavior.

In general, the purpose of using soil mechanics varies depending on the project, but broadly it aims to ensure soil’s stability and limit deformation while controlling groundwater flow.

Media

World-leading geotechnical engineer Professor John Burland introduces viewers to the world of soil mechanics.
Ove Arup Foundation

Introduction to Soil Mechanics - Basic Concepts and Index Properties
Elementary Engineering

Educational Resources

Clay Minerology Powerpoint Presentation. Prepared and donated by Professor Sivakugan, James Cook University, Australia.
Consolidation of Clays Powerpoint Presentation. Prepared and donated by Professor Sivakugan, James Cook University, Australia.
Effective Stresses and Capillary Chapter 6. Lecture Notes. Prepared and donated by Professor Sivakugan, James Cook University, Australia.
Permeability and Seepage Powerpoint Presentation. Prepared and donated by Professor Sivakugan, James Cook University, Australia.
Permeability and Seepage Chapter 7. Lecture Notes. Prepared and donated by Professor Sivakugan, James Cook University, Australia.
Soil Classification Powerpoint Presentation. Prepared and donated by Professor Sivakugan, James Cook University, Australia.
Soil Classification Chapter 3. Lecture Notes. Prepared and donated by Professor Sivakugan, James Cook University, Australia.