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DEFINITION OF SOIL

Soil is a natural body comprised of solids (minerals and


organic matter), liquid, and gases that occurs on the land
surface, occupies space, and is characterized by one or both
of the following: horizons, or layers, that are distinguishable
from the initial material as a result of additions, losses,
transfers, and transformations of energy and matter or the
ability to support rooted plants in a natural environment.

Soil is formed over a long period of time.


The formation of soil happens over a very long period of time.
It can take 1000 years or more. Soil is formed from the
weathering of rocks and minerals. The surface rocks break
down into smaller pieces through a process of weathering
SOIL FORMATION

Weathering is the process of the breaking down rocks. There are two different types
of weathering. Physical weathering and chemical weathering. In physical weathering
it breaks down the rocks, but what it's made of stays the same. In chemical
weathering it still breaks down the rocks, but it may change what it's made of. For
instance, a hard material may change to a soft material after chemical weathering.

Bina Nusantara
SOIL PROFILE

Bina Nusantara
Why mechanics of soils?
Like other solid materials (e.g. metals, rock), soils deform
when they are exposed to forces.

Force

Unlike many other materials in our


environment , soils show a wide range of
possible mechanical behavior which
influences considerably their use
WJM Rankine
1820-1872 A.Casagrande
C.A.Coulomb
Karl Terzaghi 1736-1806 1902-1981
1883-1963

L. Bjerrum A.W.Skempton G.F.Sowers G.A. Leonards


1918-1973 1914- 1921-1996 1921-1997
Why mechanics of soils?
Understanding soil deformation behavior is crucial to:
 design slopes and retaining walls
 build tunnels in ‘soft’ rock
 assess hazards due to land slides
 prevent soil from compaction
 optimize soil management techniques
Typical Geotechnical Project

Geo-Laboratory Design Office


~ for testing soil properties ~ for design & analysis

construction site 7
Shallow Foundations
~ for transferring building loads to underlying ground
~ mostly for firm soils or light loads

firm ground

bed rock
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Shallow Foundations
Deep Foundations
~ for transferring building loads to underlying ground
~ mostly for weak soils or heavy loads

P
I
L
E
weak soil

bed rock
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Deep Foundations

Driven timber piles, Pacific Highway


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Earth Dams
~ for impounding water

reservoir
clay
core shell

soil

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Concrete Dams

reservoir
concrete dam

soil

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Concrete Dams

Three Gorges Dam, Hong Kong

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Earthworks
~ preparing the ground prior to construction

Roadwork, Pacific Highway


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Geofabrics
~ used for reinforcement, separation, filtration and
drainage in roads, retaining walls, embankments…

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Reinforced Earth Walls
~ using geofabrics to strengthen the soil

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Ground Improvement

Impact Roller to Compact the Ground

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Ground Improvement

Sheepsfoot Roller to Compact Clay Soils

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Ground Improvement

Smooth-wheeled Roller

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Ground Improvement
Big weights dropped from 25 m,
compacting the ground.

Craters formed in compaction


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Instrumentation
~ to monitor the performances of earth and
earth supported structures

~ to measure loads, pressures, deformations,


strains,…

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Soil Testing

Vane Shear Test Standard Penetration Test

More Field Tests


Soil Testing

Triaxial Test on Soil Sample in Laboratory


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Soil Testing

Variety of Field Testing Devices


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Petronas Tower, Malaysia

Tallest building in the


world

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Monuments

and….

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THANK YOU

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