SOIL MECHANICS

REFERENCE: Essential of Soil Mechanics by

MC Carthy

DETERMINATION OF GRADES
QUIZZES:
TERM EXAMINATION:
SEATWORK/ASSIGNMENT:
ATTENDANCE/RECITATION:

PASSING:

40%
40%
10%
10%
100%
60%

CHAPTER 1
Origin and Characteristics
of Soil Deposits

SOIL is define as the unconsolidated sediments and deposits of solid particles that have
resulted from the disintegration of rock.
ROCK is a natural (deposits) aggregate of minerals that are connected by strong
bonding or attractive forces. For this reason, rock is often considered as a
consolidated materials.
TYPES OF ROCKS
1. Sedimentary Rocks
- are formed from accumulated deposits of soil particles or remains of certain
organism that have become hardened by pressure or cemented by minerals.
2. Metamorphic Rock
- results when any type of existing rock is subjected to metamorphosis that changes
brought about by the combination of heat, pressure and plastic flow so that the
original rock structure and minerals composition change. It can be good material for
construction.
3. Igneous Rock
-resulted from the cooling and hardening of molten rock called magma.

TYPES OF IGNEOUS ROCK

1. Basalt
2. Rhyolites
3. Andesites
4. Granites
5. Syenites
6. Diorites
TYPES OF SEDIMENATRY ROCK
7. Shale
8. Sandstone
9. Limestone
10. Polostones
TYPE OF METAMORPHIC ROCK
11. Limestone
12. Marble
13. Slate
14. Quartz
15. Schist

 Two Categories of Soil

1)Residual Soils (sedentary soils) have formed from the weathering of rock or
accumulation of organic material and remain at the location of their origin.
(see fig 1-3)
The weathering process may be attributed to:
(a) Mechanical weathering cludes the disintegration from the effect of wind, rain,
running water, ice frost wedging, tectonic forces (earthquakes)

(b) Chemical weathering is rock decomposition due to chemical reaction in te rock

minerals which occur from exposure to the atmosphere, temperature changes, water
or other minerals.
2) Transported Soils are materials that have been moved from their place of origin. It
may have resulted from the effects of gravity, wind, water, glacier or man.

River Deposits :
Flowing bodies of water are capable of moving considerable volumes of soil by carryng the
particles in suspension or by rolling, sliding and skipping them along the river bottom.
All soils carried and deposited by rivers are classifieds as alluvial deposits. However, glacial
soils carried by rivers created from melting glacial waters and subsequentenly sorted and
dropped according to size to create deposits of stratified glacial drift reffered to as glacio
fluvial deposits or stratified drift. (Discussthe effects in Engg ex. Dagupa 1990 Earthquake)

Beach Deposits:
Ocean beach deposits are predominantly sand materials and are constantly being
changed by the erosive and redistributing effect of currents and wave action. These
current and wave action keep silt and clay areas, where eventually settle out.
Types of Sand bar deposits along a shoreline
(1)Barrier Bar (2)Submerged Sand Bar (3) Spit

Swamp and Marsh Deposits

Swamp and marsh deposits developed in stagnated areas where limited depth of
water accumulate or where periodic inundation and drying occurs because of flu action
in the ground water level and where vegetation has the chance to grow.This swamp is an
accumulation of decomposed or partially decomposed aquatic plants in swamp or marsh
areas. Termed muck or peat

Plate Tectonics
The theory of plate tectonics deals with the development, formation and changes
occurring to the earths land and ocean areas on a long term, large scale basis. Plate
tectonics relates to the recent recognition that the outer shell of the earth is comprised of
a small number large thick plates which mess together like a gigantic puzzle, but which
also move somewhat independently of each other. (THEY ARE FLOATING)

Effect on Design and Construction

A residual soil formation may be covered by a transported soil, or reduced by
erosive and other transportive forces.
With these matter the type and condition of soil deposits underlying any proposed
construction site must be an important consideration to the engineering and
construction personnel concerned with the project, for it is the soil or rock that provides
the support of the structure. Proper design for a structure includes investigation and
evaluation of soil conditions underlying the proposed structure.

CHAPTER 2
Soil Composition

COMPOSITION OF SOIL

Soil deposits compressed the accumulated solid particles as the other material plus void
spaces that exists between particles.

WTOTAL = WV+WS

MT =MH20 + MS

Since WAIR = 0
WT = WH20 + WS

WH20 = VH20 (G x H20

MASS = VGW
M = VGS W
Where:
WS = weight of substance
V = volume
G = specific gravity
= unit weight ( lb/ft3 ), (N/m3 ), ( Pa/m )
M = mass
= unit density (kg/m3 ), (gm/cm3 )
wet

= WT / VT

wet

= (WS + WH20)/ VT

wet

= MT / VT = ( MS + MH20) / VT

dry

= WS / V T

dry

= MS / V T

WATER CONTENT
w = WH20 / WS x 100%

WH20 = WS + W

w= MH20 / MS x 100%

MH20 = W + MS

WT = WS + WH20
= WS + WSW%
WT = WS + (1+W%)

e = VOID RATIO
e = VV / VS = Vvoids / Vsoil
WV = eVS

MT = MS + MSW%
MT = MS ( 1+W%)
POROSITY (n)
NOTE:
n% = volume of voids / VT = VV / VT x 100% - Partially Saturated Soil voids are air
and water
n = Evs / VS + VH20
- Fully saturated Soil void is only
water
e = (n%/100%) / (1- (n%/100%)) = e / (1+e) - Dry Soil void is only air

CHAPTER 3
Soil types and
Soil Structure