Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Understand the effect of applied stesses on soil physical and mechanical properties
2. Underststand the effect of different soil properties on the strength of soils and the variation of soil strength with soil water content.
3. Distinguishe the influence of the above mentioned on soil productivity.
4. Perform common methods for the determination of soil mechanical properties.
Course Content (Syllabus)
Distribution of external and internal stresses in the soil, Mohr circle. Neutral and active stresses. Soil deformation, plasticity and elasticity. Soil strength: theoretical strength, types and theories of rupture, methods of determination and factors determining soil strength. Effect of strength on erocivity and productivity of soils.
Soil compaction: precompaction stress and compressibility affecting factors. Compaction effects on soil properties, growth of plants and the environment. Evaluation of compaction and measures preventing it. Soil plasticity and consistency: consistency limits and volume changes.
Keywords
stress, soil strength, compaction, consistency, plasticity