Soil mechanics for geophysics

Abstract

Fundamentals of soil mechanics including key processes: classification, site investigation, stresses and their distribution in soils, influence of groundwater in soils and on structures, piping, erosion and filters, stress-strain relationships, stress history, stiffness, strength, settlement calculations, consolidation, slope stability, mechanical compaction.

Objective

Fundamentals in soil mechanics and geotechnics will be presented in order to: * understand soil as a multi-phase hydro-mechanical system * obtain parameters essential for classification and description of soil * recognise key aspects of soil behaviour and the implications of this for obtaining and characterising the stress-strain response and deriving associated parameters (stiffness and strength).

Content

Introduction, basic terms, classification, site investigation Total and effective stresses, stress distribution in soils Influence of groundwater in soil, water pressure on structures, hydraulic fracture (piping), erosion and filters Stress-strain relationships, stress history, stiffness, strength, settlement calculations, time dependency, consolidation Limit equilibrium, slope stability (infinite slope, slip circles, slip surfaces) Mechanical compaction

Resources