Ian Veryl G.
Malaza
Stephanie E. Mejia
BSCE-3B
“GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 1 (SOIL MECHANICS)”
Self- Evaluation
Direction: Check your knowledge gained in this topic if you can still remember important
concepts and application of Soil Mechanics and geotechnical engineering in your chosen field.
4.) List down at least 3 important role or contributions of Soil mechanics in Geotechnical
Engineering. Why?
- By offering a solid foundation for comprehending soil behavior, a critical component
of safe and effective construction Soil mechanics plays a critical role in geotechnical
engineering. In order to guarantee the stability of foundations and earth structures, it
first aids in assessing the soils' load-bearing capacity and forecasting how they will
react to structural loadings. In addition, it makes it possible to identify troublesome
soils, like loose sands or expansive clays, and offers ways to enhance their qualities
for building. Furthermore, by taking into account the strength, compressibility, and
drainage characteristics of the soil, all crucial for reducing the likelihood of failures.
Soil mechanics aids in the design and analysis of earth constructions such as slopes
and embankments. These contributions are essential to guaranteeing the stability,
longevity, and economy of structures.
5.) Why it is that geotechnical engineers will review first the information on the geologic history
and other factors that influence the formation of soil deposits prior to any testing and
explorations?
- To comprehend the characteristics and possible behavior of soil deposits,
geotechnical engineers must first research their geologic history and formation
processes. The grain size, composition, and strength of the soil are influenced by the
parent rock type, weathering processes, and depositional environment. By looking
over this data, engineers can foresee issues that could jeopardize the stability of a
foundation, like the existence of expanding soils, loose deposits, or groundwater
effects. By minimizing uncertainties and guaranteeing precise analysis of soil
behavior under loading, this pre-assessment enables appropriate planning of field
investigations and testing technique selection. Ignoring these elements may result in
poor designs and expensive mistakes.
6.) If you happen to encounter fine grained and coarse-grained soils what can you recommend in
your report on how to deal with these soil?
- Because of their double-layer structure and water retention, fine-grained soils like
clays and silts are extremely compressible and prone to settling. It is advised to
strengthen these soils with drainage systems in order to eliminate surplus water and
lessen settlement over time. Additionally, its load-bearing capacity can be increased
through stabilization with cement or lime. Conversely, coarse-grained soils, such as
gravel and sand, are less compressible and depend on frictional resistance for
stability. Ensuring adequate compaction is essential to maximizing their efficiency in
order to reduce void areas and boost density. To ensure that foundations stay solid
and structures function as intended, both soil types require in-depth geotechnical
analysis to customize solutions.
POST TEST
Concept Recall List down the following:
1-3 Major Types of Rocks
- Igneous Rock
- Sedimentary Rock
- Metamorphic Rock.
4-7 four types of soil according to sizes and texture
- Gravel
- Sand
- Silt
- Clay
8-17 Types of soil deposits according to origin
- Alluvial Soils(Fluvial Soils)
- Glacial Soils
- Marine Soils
- Collovial Soils (Talus Soils)
- Eolian or Loess Soils
- Expansive Soils
- Gypsum
- Lacustrine Soils
- Lateritic Soils
- Loam
18-22 Environmental Factors influencing formation of soil
- Climate
- Topography
- Time
- Geologic History
- Rock Type
23-25 Type of clay minerals
- Kaolinite
- Illite
- Montmorillonite
