TOPIC 1

INTRODUCTION
 SOIL MECHANICS
“ Soil Mechanics is the application of laws of
mechanics and hydraulics to engineering
problems dealing with sediments and other
unconsolidated accumulations of soil particles
produced by the mechanical and chemical
disintegration of rocks regardless of whether
or not they contain an admixture of organic
constituent.”
Terzaghi (1948)
ROCK – THE SOURCES
OF SOIL
Soils are formed by the weathering of rock.
Three bacis groups of rock :
Igneous
Sedimentary
Metamorphic
 IGNEOUS ROCKS
Igneous rocks are formed from molten magma.
The magma solidifies after cooling down to from
igneous rocks.
Good Construction material
There are two basic types :
Intrusive igneous rocks – such as diorite, gabbro,
granite that solidify below Earth’s surface.
Extrusive igneous rocks – such as andesite, basalt,
obsidian that solidify on or above Earth’s surface.
 Extrusive Rocks
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obsidian

Intrusive Rocks

Diorite Granite
 SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
The most common types of rock found on
the earth surface.
They were formed when mineral particles,
fragmented rock particles and remains of
certain organisms were transported and
deposited in layers to from sediments.
The most common types are limestone,
sandstone, shale and dolomite.
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PROCES OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

 Limestone
Limestone is composed of
calcium carbonate.
It was hardened by
cementation action rather
than by pressure.
The strength of limestone
varies from soft (weak) to
hard (strong and durable)
depending on the rock
texture and the degree of
cementation.
 Shale
Shale is formed through
the consolidation of clay
or silts.
Its strength varies from
weak to hard.
Siltstone
Shale is referred to as
claystone if it is made of
clay and siltstone if it
made of silt
Claystone
 Sandstone
Sandstone consists
primarily of quartz and is
formed through pressure
and the cementation of
silica, calcite, iron oxide or
clay.
The strength and durability
of sandstone depends on
many factors such as the
cementing material, degree
of cementation and the
applied pressure
 Dolomite
Dolomite is composed
of calcium carbonate
interbonded with
magnesium.
The grain structure
and colour are similar
to those of limestone
 METAMORPHIC ROCKS
Produced when igneous and sedimentary
rocks were subjected to intense pressure,
heat and shear.
The rocks changed their texture, structure,
mineral and chemical composition.
Example : Granite – gneiss, shale – slate,
limestone – marble.
The rocks can be very strong if
unweathered and can be used as building
material.
Rock Cycle :
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THE ROCK CYCLE

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 FORMATION OF SOIL
Soil are formed through a geological cycle
of weathering, transportation and
deposition.
The weathering process can be identified
as :
Mechanical weathering
Chemical weathering
 Mechanical Weathering
Mechanical weathering
is the fragmentation of
rock due to physical
forces such as
temperature induced
stresses in rock.
The surface of a rock
to crack
 Chemical Weathering
Is the result of the attack
on rock minerals by
oxygen or soil water.
The soil water may be
alkaline or acid
depending on the
dissolved matter.
Carbon dioxide & organic
matter may make the soil
water acidic.
Clay minerals are the
After the fragmentation of rock (weathering),
some soil stay where they are formed and
cover the rock surface.
These soils are called residual soil while
others are transported and deposited at the
new location by wind, water or glacier.