1. Soil composition, mineralogy, soil phases, grain-size distribution, and plasticity.
2. Methods for soil identification and classification using standardized procedures.
3. Soil compaction. Relationship between dry unit weight and water content. Compaction methods.
4. General principles of soil mechanics.
5. Stress distribution within the soil mass. Theory of elasticity. Geostatic stresses. Stresses due to external loads.
6. Water in soils under static conditions. Principle of effective stress.
7. Steady-state seepage conditions. Darcy’s law. Soil permeability.
8. Two-dimensional flow through soils. Flow nets, pore water pressures, and discharge.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Describe and explain the physical and mechanical properties of soils and their significance in soil behavior.
• Apply standard laboratory and in-situ tests for the determination of soil properties.
• Classify soils using internationally recognized classification systems (e.g., USCS, AASHTO).
• Calculate stress distribution within the soil due to self-weight, external loads, and the presence of water.
• Analyze groundwater flow through porous media and determine soil permeability and discharge.
• Correlate laboratory and field test results with the mechanical behavior of soils in practical geotechnical engineering problems.