Civil Engineering


318. Soil Mechanics Laboratory. Soil description and classification systems. Methods for obtaining soil samples. Index property tests for water content, particle-size distribution, and plasticity characteristics. Engineering parameter tests for permeability, one-dimensional compressibility, shear strength, compaction characteristics, and California Bearing Ratio.

Three-hour laboratory. Spring  (Cr.1) 

Corequisite: CIVL 308.

 

Course Goals:

  1. Introduce the student to the visual appearance and basic behavior of particulate materials, and illustrate key behavioral differences between particulate and solid materials.

  2. Introduce the student to the use of soil as a civil engineering material.

  3. Illustrate various abstract theoretical concepts such as fluid flow and development of a quick condition, one-dimensional compressibility and shear strength that are presented in the co-requisite lecture course (CIVL 308 - Soil Mechanics).

  4. Educate students about the role that geotechnical laboratory testing plays in geotechnical engineering design practice and engineered construction quality control and assurance.

  5. Educate students how to prepare one type of civil engineering professional work product (laboratory report).

Course Objectives:

 

The student will be able to:

  • Perform index-property tests on a soil specimen and use the results to classify the soil in the AASHTO and USCS systems and describe it using the Modified Burmister method.

  • Calculate the coefficient of permeability from physical testing.

  • Plot and interpret oedometer-test data for compressibility characteristics (RR, CR), yield stress and coefficient of consolidation.

  • Plot and interpret simple triaxial-test data for drained and undrained Mohr-Coulomb shear-strength parameters.

  • Plot and interpret Proctor compaction test data for maximum dry unit weight and optimum water content.

  • Plot and interpret CBR test data for CBR.

 

Course Syllabus

 

Textbook:  Bowles, Joseph E., Engineering Properties of Soils and Their Measurement , 4th Edition, McGraw-Hill, 1992.

 

Reference:  Coduto, D. P., "Geotechnical Engineering; Principles and Practices", PrenticeHall,  1999

 

Topics:

  1. Soil identification (description and classification)  3 labs

  2. Sieve and Hydrometer Analyses (Lab Report No. 1)  1 lab

  3. Atterberg Limits (Lab Report No. 2)  1 lab

  4. Site characterization; soil and rock sampling  1 lab

  5. Constant Head Permeability Test (Lab Report No. 3)  1 lab

  6. Oedometer Test (Lab Report No. 4)  1 lab

  7. Triaxial Test (coarse-and fine-grained soils; lab report Nos. 5 and 6)  2 labs

  8. Proctor Compaction Test (Lab Report No. 7)  1 lab

  9. CBR Test (Lab Report No. 8)  1 lab

  10. In-situ Testing  1 lab

  11. Examinations (midterm and final)  2 hours

Computer Usage:  None required. Student initiative to use commercially available spreadsheet and mathematical software for plotting encouraged.

 

Laboratory Reports:  A total of eight laboratory reports as indicated above are required for the tests performed.

 

ABET category content as estimated by faculty member who prepared this course description:  Engineering Science: 1 credit (100%)

 

Prepared by:    Prof. John S. Horvath, Ph.D., P.E.      Date: April 29, 2001