Introduction

DEFINITION

In Agronomy soil means the upper layer of the earth that may be dug or plowed;
especially, the loose surface of the earth in which plants grow.
In Geology - earth's crust is assumed to consist of unconsolidated sediments called
mantle or regolith.

However, in geotechrical engineering, the term "soil" as defined by the agronoTist or the geologist
is known as top soil. This classification of soil consists of large quantity or organic matter hence, not
suitable as a construction material or as foundation for structures.

Soil is defined as the uncemented aggregate of mineral grains and decayed organic matter
(solid particles) with liquid and gas in the empty spaces belween the solid particles.

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 Definition of Soil Mechanics, Soil Engineering, and
Geotechnical Engineering
The term "SOIL MECHANICS" was coined by DR. KARL TERZAGHI in 1925
when his book "ERDBAUMECHANIC" on the subject was published in
GERMANY. According to TERZAGHI:

+Soil Mechanics is the application of the laws of mechanics and hydraulics to engineering
problems dealing with sediments and other unconsolidated accumulations of solid particles
produced by the mechanicals and chemical disintegration of rocks, regardless of whether they
contain an admixture or organic constituents.

+ Soil mechanics is the branch of science that deals with the study of the physical properties of
soil and the behavior of soil masses subjected to various types of forces.

+ Soils engineering is the application of the principles of soil mechanics to practical problems.

+ Geotechnical engineering is the subdiscipline of civil engineering that involves natural materials
found close to the surface of the earth.

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Famuus exanples ot problems relatod to sol-bearinp

The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy

"Famous examples of problems related to soil-bearing capacity in the

construction of structures prior to the
18th century

"Construction of the tower began in 1173 A.D. when the Republic of Pisa
was flourishing and continued in various stages for over 200 years

"The structure weighs about 15,700 metric tons and is supported by a

circular base having a diameter of 20 m

"The tower has tilted in the past to the east, north, west, and finally, to the
South.

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 Geotechnical Engineering: The Four Major Periods

Based on the emphasis and the nature of study in the area of geotechnical eng1neering
the time span extending from 1700 to 1927 can be divided into four major periods
(Skempton, 1985):
A. Preclassical (1700 to 1776 A.D.)
B. Classical soil mechanics- -Phase I (1776 to 1856 A.D.)
C.Classical soil mechanics -Phase Il (1856 to 1910 A.D.)
D. Modern soil mechanics (1910 to 1927 A.D.)

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 Geotechnical Engineering: The Four Major Periods

A. Preclassical (1700 to 1776 A.D.)

(This period concentrated on studies relating to natural slope and unit weights of
various types of soils, as well as the semiernpirical earth pressure theories.)

Henri Gautier (1660-1737)

O aFrench royal engineer

Ostudied the natural slopes of soils in 1717
OThe natural slope is what we now refer to as the angle
of repose.
OAccording to this study, the natural slope of clean dry
sand and ordinary earth were 31° and 45°,
respectively.
O Also, the unit weight of clean dry sand and ordinary
earth were recommended to be 18.1 kN/m3 and 13.4
KN/m(85 lb/ft), respectively.
ONo test results on clay were reported.
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 Geotechnical Engineering: The Four Major Periods

A. Preclassical (1700 to 1776 A.D.)

(This period concentrated on studies relating to natural slope and unit weights of
various types of soils, as well as the semiempirical earth pressure theories.)

Bernard Forest de Belidor (1671-1761)

O published a textbook for military and civil engineers in France

O In the book, he proposed a theory for lateral earth

pressure on retaining walls that was a follow up to
Gautier's (1717) original study.
Table 1: Unit weight of various type of soil
Classification Unit Weight (KN/m)
Rock
Firm or hard sand 16.7
Compressible sand 18.4
|Ordinary earth (as found in dry locations) 13.4
Soft earth (primarily silt) 16.0
-A MAEISpresentng Clay 18.9
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 Geotechnical Engineering: The Four Major Periods

B. Classical Soil Mechanics-Phase I (1776-1856)

(During this period, most of the developments in the area of geotechnical engineering
came from engineers and scientists in France. In the preclassical period, practically
all theoretical considerations used in calculating lateral earth pressure on retaining
walls were based on an arbitrarily based failure surface in soil.)

Charles Augustin Coulomb (1736-1806)

O French scientist

D used the principles of calculus for maxima and minima to

determine the true position of the sliding surface in soil behind a
retaining wall.

D In this analysis, Coulomb used the laws of friction and cohesion

for solid bodies.

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 Geotechnical Engineering: The Four Major Periods

B.Classical Soil Mechanics-Phase I(1776-1856)

(During this period, most of the developments in the area of geotechnical engineering
came from engineers and scientists in France. In the preclassical period, practically
all theoretical considerations used in calculating lateral earth pressure on retaining
walls were based on an arbitrarily based failure surface soil.)

Gaspard Clair Marie Riche de Prony (1755-1839)

O French civil engineer

Oincluded Coulomb's theory in his leading textbook,Nouvelle

Architecture Hydraulique (Vol. 1) in 1790

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 Geotechnical Engineering: The Four Major Periods

C. Classical soil mechanics-Phase ll(1856 to 1910 A.D.)

(Several experimental results from laboratory tests on sand appeared in the literature
in this phase)

George Howard Darwin (1845-1912)

Oprofessor of astronomy
O Conducted laboratory tests to determine the overturning moment on a
hinged wall retaining sand in loose and dense states of compaction.

Joseph Valentin Boussinesq (1842-1929)

O He developed the theory of stress distribution under loaded bearing
areas in a homogeneous, semi-infinite, elastic, and isotropic medium in
1885.

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 Geotechnical Engineering: The Four Major Periods

D. Modern Soil Mechanics (1910-1927)

(ln this period, results of research conducted on clays were published in which the
fundamental properties and parameters of clay were established)

Albert Mauritz Atterberg (1846-1916)

Oa Swedish chemist and soil scientist
OHe defined clay-size fractions as the percentage by weight of particles
smaller than 2 microns in s0ze.

D He realized the important role of clay particles in a soil and the plasticity
thereof.

D In 1911, he explained the consistency of cohesive soils by defining liquid,

plastic, and shrinkage limits.

OHe also defined the plasticity index as the difference between liquid limit
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 Geotechnical Engineering: The Four Major Periods

D. Modern Soil Mechanics (1910-1927)

(ln this period, results of research conducted on clays were published in which the
fundamental properties and parameters of clay were established)

Arthur Langley Bell (1874-1956)

Ocivil engineer from England
Oworked on the design and construction of the outer seawallat Rosyth Dockyard.

OBased on his work, he developed relationships for lateral pressure and resistance in clay as
well as bearing capacity of shallow foundations in clay
OHe also used shear-box tests to measure the undrained shear strength of undisturbed clay
specimens.

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 Geotechnical Engineering after 1927
(The publication of Erdbaumechanik auf Bodenphysikalisher Grundlage by
Kart Terzaghi in 1925 gave birth to a new era in the development of soil
mechanics.)
Karl Terzaghi (1883-1963)
father of modern soil mechanics
was born on October 2, 1883 in Prague, which was then the capital of the
Austrian province of Bohemia.
- In 1904 he graduated from the Technische Hochschule in Graz, Austria, with an
undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering. After graduation he served one
year in the Austrian army.
Following his army service, Terzaghi studied one more year, concentrating on
geological subjects. In January 1912, he received the degree of Doctor of
Technical Sciences from his alma mater in Graz. In 1916, he accepted a teaching
position at the Imperial School of Engineers in Istanbul. After the end of World
War I, he accepted a lectureship at the American Robert College in Istanbul
(1918-1925). There he began his research work on the behavior of soils and
settlement of clays and on the failure due to piping in sand under dams. The Kurl Terzaghl: Faunder of Modern
publication Erdbaumechanik is primarily the result of this research. Geoteknolngy. Phuto courtesy of
The M r Nuseum

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