SOIL MECHANICS (E 3141)
Fall 2026

Tentative Schedule

Lectures (Monday, 16:10-18:40) CEPSER 414

Lab (Thursday, 10:00-12:00)

 

#

Date

Lectures

Assignments

Labs

1

9/14

Introduction

1. Basic Definitions
1.1 Soil Formation - Geology
1.2 Soil Sampling/Subsurface Exploration
1.3 Phase Diagram

1.4 Basic Definitions

 

 

2

9/21

1.4 Basic Definitions (cont)

1.5 Relations between Unit Weight and Other Basic Properties
1.6 Soil Mixtures

2. Index Properties and Their Measurements
2.1 Introduction

2.2 Grain Size Distribution/Gradation

Assign 1

9/24

Lab 1

3

9/28

2.3 Relative Density

2.4 Soil Consistency ˇV Atterbergˇ¦s Limits

     Liquid Limit Test, Plastic Limit Test, Plasticity Chart

2.5 Casagrande Plasticity Chart

3. Soil Classification Systems
3.1 US Dept of Agriculture System

3.2 Unified Soil Classification System
3.3 AASHTO Classification System

3.4 Burmister Soil Identification System

Assign 2

10/1

Lab 2

4

10/5

4. Soil Compaction
4.1 Soil Improvement/Modification
4.2 Process of Compaction

4.3 Compaction Tests
4.4  Factors Affecting Compaction

4.5 Soil Fabrics

4.6 Compacted Clay Liner

5. Effective Stress
5.1 Definition of Stress

5.2 In-Situ Stresses and Pore Water Pressure

Assign 3

10/8

Lab 3

5

10/12

5.2 In-Situ Stresses and Pore Water Pressure

5.3 Principle of Effective Stress

5.4 Stress Distribution

6. Stress States and Shear Strength of Soils

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Mohr's Circle

Assign 4

(Q1, 2, 3)

 

6

10/19

6.3 Pole Method

6.4 Stresses in a Plane

6.5 Shear Strength

6.6 Direct Shear Test and Coulomb Failure Criteria

Assign 5

Assign 4 (Q4)

10/22

Lab 4

7

10/26

 Exam 1

 

 

8

11/2

 Holiday

 

 

9

11/9

7 Triaxial Compression Test

7.1 Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criteria

7.2 Drained and Undrained Tests

7.3 Stress Path

7.4 Relationships between Principal Stresses and Strength Parameters

7.5 Strength Correlation with Index Properties

Assign 6

11/12

Lab 5

10

11/16

8. Flow of Water in a Soil Mass
8.1 Introduction

8.2 Hydraulic Head, Hydraulic Gradient

8.3 Darcyˇ¦s Law

8.4 Permeability Tests (lab and field)

8.5 Empirical Relationships, Factors Affecting Permeability

 

11/19

Lab 6

11

11/23

8.6 Flow in Multi-Layer Strata

8.7 Two-Dimensional Flow: Laplace Equation and Solution

8.8 Flow Net

Assign 7

 

12

11/30

9. Consolidation

9.1 Mechanism of Consolidation

9.2 Consolidation Test

9.3 e-log p curve

9.4 Preconsolidation

9.5 Stress Increments due to Surface Loading
  Point Load, Uniformly Distributed Load...Boussinesq Solution,

 

12/3

Lab 7

 

13

12/7

ˇK (cont) Newmarkˇ¦s Chart, Osterbergˇ¦s Chart, 2:1 method

9.6 Consolidation Settlement

Assign 8

 

14

12/14

9.7 Terzaghi's Theory of consolidation

9.8 Degree of Consolidation

 

 

15

12/21

Exam 2