Questions and Answers
Soil Mechanics is the branch of science that deals with the study of the physical properties of soil and the behavior of soil masses subjected to various types of ______.
forces
Soil is defined as the uncemented aggregate of mineral grains and decayed organic matter with liquid and gas in the empty spaces between the solid ______.
particles
Geotechnical Engineering is the sub discipline of civil engineering that involves natural materials found close to the surface of the ______.
earth
The most famous example of problems related to soil bearing capacity in the construction of structures is the Leaning Tower of ______.
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Construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa began in ______ AD and continued for over 200 years.
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The four major periods in geotechnical engineering are Pre classical, Classical Soil Mechanics - Phase 1, Classical Soil Mechanics - Phase 2, and ______.
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Ancient civilizations flourished along the banks of significant rivers like the Nile, Tigris, Euphrates, Huang Ho, and ______.
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There is no evidence that measures were taken to stabilize the ______ or check erosion caused by flood.
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Henri Gaulter studied the natural slopes of soils in ______ for designing retaining walls.
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Bernard Forest de Belidor published a textbook in ______ proposing a theory for lateral earth pressure.
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Francois Gadroy reported the first laboratory model test results on retaining walls in ______.
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Charles Augustin Coulomb used calculus in ______ to determine the sliding surface behind retaining walls.
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Jean Victor Poncelet extended Coulomb's theory in ______ by providing a graphical method.
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William John Macquorn Rankine published a notable study on earth pressure in ______.
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Sir George Howard Darwin conducted laboratory tests to determine overturning moments on a hinged wall in ______.
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Joseph Valentin Boussinesq published the theory of stress distribution in ______.
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Osborne Reynolds demonstrated the phenomenon of dilatency in sand in ______.
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The modern soil mechanics period spanned from ______ to 1927.
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Study Notes
Definition of Terms
- Soil: Uncemented aggregate of mineral grains and decayed organic matter, containing liquid and gas in voids.
- Soil Mechanics: Study of physical properties and behavior of soil masses under various forces.
- Soil Engineering: Application of soil mechanics principles to solve practical problems.
- Geotechnical Engineering: Civil engineering sub-discipline focused on natural materials near the earth's surface; involves soil and rock mechanics in foundation and earth structure design.
Geotechnical Engineering Prior to the 18th Century
- Recognition of geotechnical concepts began in the 18th century.
- Ancient civilizations (Nile, Tigris, Euphrates, Huang He, Indus) showed no foundation stabilization measures for flood erosion control.
- The Leaning Tower of Pisa (Italy) exemplifies soil bearing capacity issues; construction spanned from 1173 AD for over 200 years.
Major Periods in Geotechnical Engineering
- Pre-classical (1700 to 1776): Focus on natural soil slopes and empirical earth pressure theories.
- Classical Soil Mechanics - Phase 1 (1776 to 1856): Introduction of calculus and exploration of earth pressure theories.
- Classical Soil Mechanics - Phase 2 (1856 to 1910): Development of theories on stress distribution and clay properties.
- Modern Soil Mechanics (1910 to 1927): Establishment of fundamental clay properties.
Pre-Classical Soil Mechanics (1700 - 1776)
- Studies on natural slopes and soil unit weight led to advancements in retaining wall design.
- Henri Gaulter: In 1717, investigated natural soil slopes for retaining wall designs.
- Bernard Forest de Belidor: Published a 1729 textbook proposing lateral earth pressure theory.
- Francois Gadroy: Reported first laboratory model tests on retaining walls in 1746, identifying soil slip planes at failure.
- J.J. Mayniel: Summarized Gadroy’s findings, enhancing the understanding of retaining wall stability.
Classical Soil Mechanics - Phase 1 (1776-1856)
- Charles Augustin Coulomb: In 1776, employed calculus to find sliding surfaces behind retaining walls, reinforcing friction and cohesion laws.
- Jacques Frederic Francais & Claude Louis Navier: Expanded on Coulomb's work in 1820, focusing on specific cases of backfill support.
- Jean Victor Poncelet: Extended Coulomb's theory in 1840, introducing graphical methods for lateral earth pressure and the soil friction angle symbol "f".
- Alexandre Collin: Analyzed deep slips in clay slopes and embankments in 1846.
- William John Macquorn Rankine: Published in 1857 a significant theory on earth pressure, simplifying Coulomb’s findings.
Classical Soil Mechanics - Phase 2 (1856-1910)
- Henri Philibert Gaspard Darcy: In 1856, investigated sand filter permeability, contributing to hydraulic principles.
- Sir George Howard Darwin: Conducted laboratory tests on hinged walls for sand retention, examining overturning moments.
- Joseph Valentin Boussinesq: In 1885, developed a stress distribution theory under loaded areas in elastic media.
- Osborne Reynolds: Demonstrated sand dilatency phenomena in 1887, influencing understanding of soil behavior under loading.
Modern Soil Mechanics (1910-1927)
- Research focused on the fundamental properties of clay, shaping contemporary soil mechanics theory.
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Description
Explore the foundational concepts of Geotechnical Engineering, including essential definitions such as soil, soil mechanics, and soil engineering. This quiz will enhance your understanding of these vital terms and their historical significance in the field. Test your knowledge and prepare for advanced studies in soil science.
