SF4101 Properties and Behaviour of Soils Syllabus:

SF4101 Properties and Behaviour of Soils Syllabus – Anna University PG Syllabus Regulation 2021

OBJECTIVES:

 To impart knowledge on the various factors governing the Engineering behaviour of soils and the suitability of soils for various Geotechnical Engineering applications.

UNIT I ORIGIN OF SOILS AND CLAY MINERALS

Formation of soils – different soil deposits and their engineering properties – Genesis of clay minerals – classification and identification – Anion and Cation exchange capacity of clays – specific surface area – index properties – bonding in clays.

UNIT II PHYSICAL AND PHYSIO CHEMICAL BEHAVIOUR OF SOILS

Physical and physio chemical behaviour of soils – diffused double layer theory – computation of double layer distance – effect of ion concentration, ionic valency, pH, dielectric constant, temperature on double layer – stern layer – attractive and repulsive forces in clays – types of soil water – mechanism of soil – water interactions – soil fabric and structure.

UNIT III SWELL – SHRINK AND COMPACTION BEHAVIOUR OF SOILS

Swelling and shrinkage behaviour of soils – mechanisms, Causes and consequences – factors influencing swell – shrink characteristics – swell potential ––swell pressure –and measurements – sensitivity, thixotrophy of soils – soil suction – soil compaction – factors affecting soil compaction – case studies.

UNIT IV COMPRESSIBILITY, SHEAR STRENGTH AND PERMEABILITY BEHAVIOUR OF SOILS

Engineering properties – Compressibility, shear strength and permeability behaviour of fine and coarse grained soils – mechanisms and factors influencing engineering properties – basics of soil liquefaction – causes and consequences – case studies.

UNIT V CONDUCTION PHENOMENA AND PREDICTION OF SOIL BEHAVIOUR

Conduction in soils – hydraulic, electrical, chemical and thermal flows in soils – applications – coupled flows – Electro-kinetic process – thermo osmosis – electro osmosis – prediction of engineering behaviour of soils using index properties – empirical equations and their applicability.

OUTCOMES:

On completion of the course, the student is expected to be able to
CO1 Classify of soil based on index properties
CO2 understanding of the clay mineralogy and its intricacies and consequences.
CO3 Understand the volume change with response to compaction and seasonal moisture variations.
CO4 interpret the engineering behaviour of soils such as compressibility, permeability and shear strength with index properties so as to design the safe foundation system.
CO5 understand the various geotechnical applications of conduction phenomenon which are of great significance in the case of ground contamination and decontamination, ground improvement methods and land reclamation projects

REFERENCES:

1. Mitchell, J.K., Fundamentals of Soil Behaviour, John Wiley, New York, 1993.
2. Yong, R.N. and Warkentin, B.P., Introduction to Soil Behaviour, Macmillan, Limited, London, 1979.
3. Coduto, D.P., Geotechnical Engineering – Principles and practices, Prentice Hall of India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 2002.
4. Perloff, W.H. and Baron, W, Soil Mechanics, The Ronal Press Company, 1976.
5. Van Olphen, H., Clay colloid Chemistry, John Wiley, 1996
6. Grim, R.E., Applied Clay Mineralogy, McGraw Hill, New York, 1966.
7. Lambe, T.W. and Whitman, R.V. Soil Mechanics, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1979.
8. Das, B.M.,Principles of Geotechnical Engg, PWS Publishing Comp, Boston, 1998
9. McCarthy D.F., Essentials of Soil Mechanics & Foundations, Prentice-Hall, 2002.
10. Robert D. Holtz and William D. Kovacs, “An Introducion to Geotechnical Engineering”, Prentice Hall (UK) International, London, 1981.
11. Gopal Ranjan and A.S.R Rao, ‘Basic and Applied Soil Mechanics’, New Age International (P) Limited, New Delhi, 2000.
12. Knappett J.A. and R.F. Craig, ‘Craig’s Soil Mechanics’, Span Press, 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, 2012