CEC502 Geotechnical Engineering-I

1. Engineering Properties and Classifications Laboratory and field identification of soils:
Determination of water content by oven drying – specific gravity
using Pycnometer and specific gravity bottle – grain size analysis
by sieveanalysis, hydrometer analysis and pipette analysis –
Atterberg limit and indices, sensitivity &thixotropy field density
by core cutter, sand replacement and wax coating
methods.Permeability: Definition - Darcy’s law - factors affecting
permeability – laboratorydetermination – permeability of stratified
soils. Classification of Soils: Necessity – Principles of
classification – I.S. classification – plasticitychart.

2. Stress Distribution in Soils
Stress distribution: Boussinesque’s and Westergaard’s
equations for vertical pressure due topoint loads and uniformly
distributed loads - assumptions and limitations - pressure bulb –
Newmarks` charts and their use

3. Compressibility of Soils
Consolidation: definition - concepts of coefficient of
compressibility - coefficient of volumechange and compression
index - e-log p curves - pre-consolidation pressure -
Terzaghi’stheory of one-dimensional consolidation - determination
of coefficient of consolidation -difference between consolidation
and compaction
Compaction: definition and objectives of compaction - proctor test
and modified proctor test- concept of OMC and maximum dry
density - zero air voids line - factors influencingcompaction - field
compaction methods - Proctor needle for field control

4 Shear Strength and Stability of Slopes:
Shear Strength: definition - Mohr’s strength and stress
circles - Mohr’s envelope – MohrCoulomb strength theory - direct,
triaxial and UCC tests - drainage conditions-UU, CU andCD tests -
vane shear tests - total and effective stress - strength parameters
Stability of slopes: slope failure, base failure and toe failure -
Swedish circle method -friction circle method - Taylor’s stability
number - stability charts

5. Retaining Walls :
Retaining walls, Active, neutral and Passive earth pressures
and their distributions, rigid and flexible retaining walls, Coulomb’s and Rankine’s earth pressure distribution, Tension
cracks, depth of tension cracks, Critical depth of excavation

6. Sub-surface Exploration :
Subsurface exploration and investigation: Preliminary and
detailed investigation, Soil sampling and various terms such as
clearance and recovery ratio, auguring and boring, Penetration
tests such as SPT, CPT, SCPT