UAA Civil Engineering

CE 435 Soil Mechanics

3.0 Semester Credit Hours - Offered every Fall Semester - Required Course   

Course Description

Soil formation, identification and classification; physical and mechanical properties of soil, seepage, drainage and frost action; subsurface investigation; lateral earth pressure and stability of slopes.

Course Objective

This course is designed to give senior civil engineering students the ability to analyze properties of soils and soil's behavior under stress and strain in idealized conditions. 

Prerequisite(s)

ES 331 Mechanics of Materials and CE 334 Properties of Materials

Textbook(s) and/or Required Material

Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, Das, B.M., Thomson/Brooks/Co.

Expected Outcomes

At a conclusion of this course, students will have:

1. Ability to analyze soil composition based on weight and volume
   relationships.
2. Ability to classify soils.
3. Ability to predict effect of compaction on soil properties.
4. Ability to evaluate permeability of soils and calculate the amount of
   water flow in the soil.
5. Ability to determine total, effective and neutral stresses in the
   soil.
6. Ability to estimate the magnitude and rate of settlement of soils.
7. Ability to determine the shear strength of soils under certain
   conditions.
8. Ability to calculate lateral earth pressure against retaining walls.
9. Ability to analyze factor of safety against soil slope failures.
10. Understanding of frost action in soils.
11. Improved ability to conduct experiments, and analyze and interpret
    data.
12. Improved ability to function on teams.
13. Improved ability to communicate effectively in written form.

Topics Covered

Introduction to soil formation; soil particle size/soil composite; classification of soils and soils review; soil exploration; flow of water in soils; consolidation settlement; slope stability; lateral earth pressure; laboratory projects include:  moisture content of soils, particle size distribution by sieve analysis, particle size distribution by hydrometer, liquid and plastic limits of soil, classification of soils, hydraulic conductivity, moisture density relationship of soils (Proctor's Test), unconfined compressive strength, consolidation characteristics, direct shear strength, triaxial strength.

Class/Laboratory Schedule

1. Lecture hours per week:  2
2. Laboratory hours per week:  3
3. Hours expected outside of class:  90

Course Contribution

Course Relationship to Program Outcomes