Geotechnical Engineering I

INTRODUCTION / SOIL TECTURE &

STRUCTURE

Instructor: Syed Zishan Ashiq

Week No.2
13 / 14 March, 2017

Department of Civil Engineering

Mirpur University of Science and Technology Mirpur
 (c)2001 Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning is a trademark used herein under license.

Mechanical erosion due to ocean waves and wind at Yehliu, Taiwan

 (c)2001 Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning is a trademark used herein under license.

(c)2001 Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning is a trademark used herein under license.

Mechanical erosion due to ocean waves and wind at Yehliu, Taiwan

 (c)2001 Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning is a trademark used herein under license.

(c)2001 Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning is a trademark used herein under license.

Mechanical erosion due to ocean waves and wind at Yehliu, Taiwan

 Formation of Soil
Soil is generally formed by disintegration and decomposition
(weathering) of rocks through the action of physical (or mechanical)
and chemical agents which break them into smaller and smaller
particles.
Different stages of
weathering of rocks
and formation of soil.
 Types of Soil

Soil types, based on geological and engineering

view points, are separately discussed below:
1. Geological consideration:
Geologist classify soil into two major categories: residual
soils and transported soil
i. Residual Soils:
When the rock weathering is faster than the
transport process induced by water, wind and
gravity, much of the soil remains in place. It is
known as residual soil.
 Types of Soil
1. Geological consideration:
ii. Transported Soil:
i. Glacial Soil: This type of soil is developed, transported and deposited by the
actions of glaciers. These deposits consists of rocks fragments, boulders,
gravels, sand, silt and clay in various proportions (i.e., a heterogeneous mixture
of all sizes of particles).
ii. Alluvial Soil: This type of soil (also known as fluvial soil or alluvium) is
transported and deposited to their present position by streams and rivers.

Coarser Higher
or
Heavier Reach
Particles es
Lower
Fine
Particles Reach
es
Water Transport and Soil Development

Mountains
Coastline
River
valleys Lakes,
estuaries,
deltas
B, C Ocean
G
G
S

M = silts

C, O (organic)
 Types of Soil

1. Geological consideration:
ii. Transported Soil:
iii. Aeolian Soil: The soil transported by geological agent wind and subsequently
deposited is known as wind blown soil or Aeolian Soil.
iv. Colluvial Soil: A colluvial soil is one transported downslope by gravity. There
are two types of downslope movement slow (creep mm/yr) and rapid (e.g.,
landslide)
v. Lacustrine and Marine Soil:
i. Lacustrine Soil is deposited beneath the lakes.
ii. Marine Soil is also deposited underwater i.e., in the Ocean.
Types of Soil
 Types of Soil
2. Engineering Consideration:
 Types of Soil
2. Engineering consideration (MIT):
i. Clay: ( < .002mm)
In moist condition, clay becomes sticky and can be rolled into threads.
High dry strength, low erosion, low permeability, good workability and compaction
under moist condition. Also susceptible to shrinkage and swelling.

ii. Silt: (.002mm < Size < .06mm)

High capillarity, no plasticity and very low dry strength
It possesses properties of both clay and sand.

iii. Sand: (.06mm < Size < 2mm)

Particle shape varies from rounded to angular
No plasticity, considerable frictional resistance, high permeability and low capillarity
Abundant quantities of sand are available in deserts and riverbeds
 Types of Soil
2. Engineering consideration (MIT):
iv. Gravels: (2mm < Size < 60mm)
They form a good foundation material.
The gravels produced by crushing of rocks are angular in shape
while those taken from riverbeds are sub-rounded to rounded.
v. Cobbles and Boulder:
Particles larger than gravels are commonly known as cobbles and
boulders.
Cobbles generally range in size 60mm t0 200mm.
The materials larger than 200mm is designated as boulders.
 PART 2
SOIL TEXTURE
 What is soil texture?
Soil texture is the fineness or coarseness of a soil. It
describes the proportion of three sizes of soil particles.
The textures of soil include:
1. Sandlarge particle
2. Siltmedium-sized particle
3. Claysmall particle
Soil Particle Size
Soil Particle Size
 Sand
Sand is the largest particle in the soil. When you rub it, it feels
rough. This is because it has sharp edges. Sand does not hold
many nutrients.
 Silt
Silt is a soil particle whose size is between sand and
clay. Silt feels smooth and powdery. When wet it feels
smooth but not sticky.
 Clay
Clay is the smallest of particles. Clay is smooth when
dry and sticky when wet. Soils high in clay content are
called heavy soils. Clay also can hold a lot of nutrients,
but doesn't let air and water through it well.
 Why is soil texture important?
Texture is important because it affects:
1. Water-holding capacitythe ability of a soil to
retain water for use by plants
2. Permeabilitythe ease with which air and water
may pass through the soil
3. Soil workabilitythe ease with which soil may be
tilled and the timing of working the soil after a rain
4. Ability of plants to growsome root crops like
carrots and onions will have difficulty growing in a
fine-textured soil
 PART 3
SOIL STRUCTURE
 Definition
Soil structure is the arrangement of the primary soil particles
(sand, silt, and clay) and other soil materials into discrete
aggregates.
 Peds

1. Structural units are called peds, and have distinct

boundaries and well-defined planes of weakness
between the aggregates.
2. Peds consist of primary particles bound together
by cementing agents like organic matter, clay, and
hydrous oxides of iron and aluminum.
3. Peds can take several shapes.
 Ped Shapes
Granular
Blocky
Prismatic
Columnar
Platy
Single-grained
Massive
 Granular Structure

Resembles cookie crumbs and

is usually less than 0.5 cm in
diameter.
Commonly found in surface http://soil.gsfc.nasa.gov/pvg/granular.gif

horizons where roots have

been growing.

http://soils.usda.gov/technical/manual/images/fig3-30_large.jpg
 Blocky Structure

Irregular blocks that are usually 1.5 -

5.0 cm in diameter.
Can be sub-angular or angular blocky.

http://soil.gsfc.nasa.gov/
pvg/blocky.gif
http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/glenimages.nsf/I
mages/gl167_profile/$File/gl167_profile.jpg
 Prismatic Structure

Vertical columns of soil that might

be a number of cm long.
Usually found in lower horizons.

http://soil.gsfc.nasa.gov/
http://soils.usda.gov/technical/man
pvg/prismatic.gif
ual/images/fig3-27_large.jpg
 Columnar Structure

Vertical columns of soil that have a salt "cap" at the top.

Found in soils of arid climates.

http://soil.gsfc.nasa.gov
/pvg/columnar.gif
http://soils.usda.gov/technical/manual
/images/fig3-28_large.jpg
 Platy Structure

Thin, flat plates of soil that lie

horizontally.
Usually found in compacted soil.

http://soil.gsfc.nasa.gov/pvg/platy.gif http://soils.ag.uidaho.edu/soilorders/i/Arid_03.jpg
 Single-grained Structure

Soil is broken into individual particles that do not stick

together.
Always accompanies a loose consistence.
Commonly found in sandy soils.

http://soil.gsfc.nasa.gov/pvg/singlegrained.gif
 Massive Structure

Soil has no visible structure, is hard to break apart and

appears in very large lumps.

http://soil.gsfc.nasa.gov/pvg/massive.gif http://soils.usda.gov/technical/manual/images/fig3-31_large.jpg
 Grade of Soil Structure
The terms weak, moderate, or strong are used to describe the
grade or how stable the peds are and how hard they are to
break apart.
What do you think the grade would be for this picture?

http://soils.usda.gov/technical/manual/images/fig3-27_large.jpg