Soil mechanics is a fundamental course for civil engineering students to understand the general physical and mechanical behavior of soils. The objectives of this course are: (1) to introduce the subject of soil mechanics to civil engineering students; (2) to introduce the basic physical and engineering properties of soil to students; (3) to teach students how to solve certain fundamental problems related to soil classification, permeability, consolidation, shear strength; (4) to familiarize students with relevant terms and soil tests so that they can work effectively with specialists in geotechnical engineering; and (5) to provide those students who will go on to take more geotechnical relevant courses with the background needed for further study.

In this course, you will learn what soils are, how they are derived, and how they are identified and classified for engineering purpose. You will also learn the principles that govern flow of water in soils, deformation and shear strength of soils. We will discuss actual field problems during the semester and show you how the concepts that are taught in class can be applied to understand and solve real engineering problems.