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CEE 4441 - Lecture 01

The document discusses soil mechanics, focusing on the composition, formation, and classification of soils. It describes soils as a three-phase material consisting of solid, liquid, and gaseous components, formed through geological processes like weathering and transportation. Various classification criteria are outlined, including origin, grain size, and cohesive properties, with detailed descriptions of inorganic and organic soils.

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16 views10 pages

CEE 4441 - Lecture 01

The document discusses soil mechanics, focusing on the composition, formation, and classification of soils. It describes soils as a three-phase material consisting of solid, liquid, and gaseous components, formed through geological processes like weathering and transportation. Various classification criteria are outlined, including origin, grain size, and cohesive properties, with detailed descriptions of inorganic and organic soils.

Uploaded by

hasankhan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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CEE 4441: Soil Mechanics

Prof. Dr. H. M. Shahin


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Soil Composition
➢ Soils are 3 phase material
Soil skeleton＋Water＋Air
Solid Liquid Gaseous

air

water
➢ Heterogeneous

Solid

Soil MechanicsI Prof. Dr. H. M. Shahin


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Formation, type and identification of soils

Soil Mechanics Prof. Dr. H. M. Shahin


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Definition of Soils
➢ The term soil is considered to include all naturally occurring loose or soft
deposit overlying the solid base rock.
➢ It is formed by disintegration and decomposition of rocks. It can also be
formed by decomposition of organic matter.

Formation of Soil
There is a geological cycle continually taking place on the face of the earth
which results in the formation of soil. The cycle of event consist of weathering,
transportation, deposition, upheaval and again followed by weathering.

Weathering
Upheaval

Transportation Weathering
Deposition

Geological cycle

Soil Mechanics Prof. Dr. H. M. Shahin


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Formation of Soil
Weathering
1. Physical or Mechanical Weathering
2. Chemical Weathering
3. Biological Weathering

Aspects of Weathering
1. Periodical temperature changes
2. Wedge action of ice
3. Spreading of roots of plants
4. Abrasion action of water and ice
Chemical Weathering
1. Oxidation
2. Hydration
3. Carbonation
4. Leaching action

Soil Mechanics Prof. Dr. H. M. Shahin


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Classification of Soils
➢ There are many ways of soil classification. The main classification criterion
are based on -
1. Origin (deposit)
2. Individual grain size
3. Cohesive properties
4. Use
5. Texture
1. Classification based on Origin
1) Inorganic soil
2) Organic soil
1) Inorganic soil is also classified into - (i) Residual soil (ii) Transported soil
i) Residual soil – it is formed by disintegration of rocks and used to stay with
its parents rock. It can be divided into-
a) Black cotton soil – here, the weathered materials do not leach out,
weathered in alkaline condition
b) Lateritic soil – some weathered materials are leached out. It is red soil
produced by rock decay. It contains high ferric and aluminum oxides.

Soil Mechanics Prof. Dr. H. M. Shahin


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Classification of Soils
ii) Transported soil – it may be transported by
a) Water, b) Glacier, c) Wind, and d) Gravity

a) Water transported soil – mainly four types.


(1) Alluvial soil – deposited in running water condition, example – river bed soil.
(2) Lacustrine soil – deposited in stagnant water condition, example –soil near lake.
(3) Marine soil – deposited in saline water condition, example –soil at coastal area.
(4) Marl or Marlstone –is a calcium carbonate or lime-rich mud or mudstone
which contains variable amounts of clays and silt. The dominant mineral in most
marls is calcite (calcium carbonate), used as a fertilizer for soils deficient in lime.

Reddish and greenish marls of the


Headon Hill Formation, England Grey-colored marl soil

Soil Mechanics Prof. Dr. H. M. Shahin


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Classification of Soils
b) Glacier transported soil – mainly four types.
(1) Moraine – accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris (soil and rock),
ranging in size from silt-sized glacial flour to large boulders.

Terminal moraine of a small glacier Moraine in Rocky Mountain


on Baffin Island, Canada National Park, Canada
(2) Drift – superficial material of rock debris of any sort transported by glacier
and deposited either directly by ice or melt water.

(3) Tilt – unstratified, heterogeneous mixture of clay, silt, sand and gravel or
boulders directly deposited by ice without transporting or sorting by water. It
contains high proportion of boulder and clay.
(4) Hard pan –glacier deposited hardened to offer great resistance to the
penetration of drilling tool.

Soil Mechanics Prof. Dr. H. M. Shahin


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Classification of Soils
c) Wind transported soil – mainly three types.
(1) Dune – fine to medium sand.

(2) Loess – typically in the 20–50 micrometer size range,


twenty percent or less clay and the balance equal parts
sand and silt that are loosely cemented by calcium
carbonate. On saturation loess deposit become soft and
lose their stability. Such material is termed as collapsible
soil.

(3) Tuft– it is a fine grained soil ejected from volcanoes


during explosion. Wind carries soil contain volcanic gas.

d) Gravity transported soil – colluvium soil (loose, unconsolidated sediments).

Soil Mechanics Prof. Dr. H. M. Shahin


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Classification of Soils
2). Organic soil – mainly two types.
i) Peat – partially decomposed. It is spongy and light in nature. Void ratio 5 – 15.
Natural water content 15 to 1000%.
ii) Muck– fully decomposed. Relatively dense.

Soil Mechanics Prof. Dr. H. M. Shahin

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