Soil Mechanics

What this page covers

This unit sits in the Geotechnical Engineering strand of Civil engineering and construction. The resources follow a typical soil mechanics course. Early topics include soil classification and phase relations. Then come compaction, effective stress, flow of water and flow nets, stress distribution, settlement, consolidation and shear strength. Later ones reach bearing capacity, site investigation and liquefaction.

Where to start

If you are new to the topic, begin with the numbered mind maps. They run in order, from 1) Soils and their classification and 2) Soil Phase Relations through 3) Soil compaction, 4) Effective Stress and 6) Flow Nets to 11) Consolidation. Each one gives you a quick outline before you go deeper.

Flashcards for definitions and equations

Flashcards suit the terms you need to recall. Some useful decks:

• Ch. 7 - Permeability covers head, pressure head, elevation head, piezometers and Darcy's Law.
• Ch 9 - In situ stresses starts from total stress and how part of it is carried by water.
• Ch. 11 looks at types of settlement and the one-dimensional laboratory consolidation test.
• Bearing Capacity Definitions and Equations and Equations help with formulas.

Using quizzes with maps

Read a mind map first, then test yourself. The quiz Geotech II: Chapter 12 Quiz Questions opens with a true or false question on shear strength. The quiz Structures II - Exam I asks about the phases of soil and terms such as void ratio, porosity and degree of saturation. Go back to the map for any answer you miss, then try the quiz again.

For wider reading, there are maps on Terzaghi's Theory of Consolidation, ground improvement techniques, subsoil exploration and soil liquefaction. Teachers can pick a map or deck to share with a class.

Next step

Choose one topic, take a quiz on it, and then build your own flashcards from the gaps you find.