Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Review

This set of flashcards includes key terminology and definitions related to soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering, vital for exam preparation.

Degree of consolidation

The extent to which soil settles over time under load, proportional to time and inversely proportional to drainage path.

Angle of internal friction

The angle representing the frictional resistance of soil due to its internal cohesion.

Cohesion

The force that causes soil particles to stick together, contributing to the soil's shear strength.

Permeability

The ability of soil to transmit water and is influenced by the soil's voids structure.

Ultimate strength

The maximum stress a soil can withstand before failure.

Degree of saturation (S)

Defined as a percentage that indicates how much of the void space in soil is filled with water.

Liquid limit

The water content at which soil changes from a plastic state to a liquid state.

Liquid state

The state of soil where it can flow and is influenced by water content.

Plasticity index (PI)

The range of water content between the plastic limit and liquid limit of a soil.

Effective stress

The stress that contributes to soil strength and stability, influenced by pore water pressure.

Triaxial shear test

A lab test to measure the strength of soil under controlled conditions while allowing drainage.

Void ratio

The ratio of the volume of voids to the volume of solids in a soil mass.

Unconfined compressive strength test

A laboratory test used to determine the compressive strength of a soil without any lateral restraints.

Bearing capacity

The ability of soil to support loads applied to the ground.

Coefficient of consolidation

A parameter that indicates how quickly a soil consolidates under loading.

Plastic limit

The moisture content at which soil can no longer be rolled into threads without crumbling.

Effective angle of shearing resistance

The angle that characterizes the shear strength of soil under effective stress conditions.

Uniformity coefficient

A measure of the particle size distribution in a soil sample.

Specific gravity of soil

The ratio of the density of soil solids to the density of water.

Consolidated undrained test

A method of testing soil to determine its strength without allowing drainage.

Compaction

The process of densifying soil to improve its engineering properties.

Hydraulic conductivity

A measure of a soil's ability to transmit water through its pore spaces.

Soil classification

The categorization of soil types based on their physical and chemical properties.

Effective unit weight of soil

The weight of soil per unit volume, considering the buoyancy effect of water.

Over-consolidated clay

Clay that has been subjected to higher pressures in the past than its current in-situ pressure.

Saturation state

The condition where soil's void spaces are filled with water, affecting its strength and stability.

Pore water pressure

The pressure exerted by fluids within soil pores, which influences the effective stress.

Shear strength of soil

The ability of soil to resist sliding along a failure plane.