CE25402 Soil Mechanics – Semester IV – Civil – R-2025

Subject Code & Name: CE25402 – Soil Mechanics

Regulation: R-2025

Semester: IV (Fourth Semester)

Branch: B.E. Civil Engineering (Civil)

Credits / L-T-P: 3 Credits | L-T-P: 3-0-0

Course Objectives

• To enable the students to acquire the essential knowledge about the index and engineering properties of soils and their practical relevance.
• Soil Classification Soil formation, structure, clay minerals, phase relationships, index properties, classification of soils (BIS, Unified).

Full Unit-wise Syllabus

Unit I – Soil Classification

Soil formation, structure, clay minerals, phase relationships, index properties, classification of soils (BIS, Unified).

Activities: Collect soil samples and perform visual identification.

Unit II – Soil Compaction

Theory, Laboratory and field tests – Field Compaction methods – Factors influencing compaction of soils.

Unit III – Effective Stress, Permeability

Soil water - Effective stress, capillarity, Darcy’s law, hydraulic conductivity, laboratory and field permeability tests, seepage, quicksand, and flow nets.

Activities: Review of Competitive Exam questions related to simple flow nets for sheet pile or weir problems.

Unit IV – Stress Distribution

Stress distribution in homogeneous and isotropic medium – Boussinesq theory – (Point load, Line load and udl) - Use of New marks influence chart.

Unit V – Consolidation Settlement

Terzaghi’s one dimensional consolidation theory – Computation of rate of settlement - √t and log t methods– e-log p relationship.

Activities: Quiz on stress distribution

Unit VI – Shear Strength

Shear strength of soils, Mohr–Coulomb theory, shear tests (direct shear, triaxial, UCC, vane shear), pore pressure parameters, liquefaction.

Activities: Poster on shear strength tests and applications.

Unit VII – Slope Stability

Infinite slopes and finite slopes – Total stress analysis for saturated clay – Friction circle method – Use of stability number – Method of slices – Fellenius method - Slope protection measures.

Activities: Case study on slope failure and mitigation.

Course Outcomes (COs)

• CO1: Explain soil properties, classification and compaction characteristics to assess their suitability for engineering applications.
• CO2: Apply effective stress, permeability, and seepage concepts to analyze soil–water interaction and groundwater flow problems.
• CO3: Analyze stress distribution, consolidation behavior, and settlement of soils under various loading conditions.
• CO4: Evaluate shear strength and slope stability of soils using appropriate theories, laboratory parameters, and analytical methods.

Assessment Pattern (Quick Note)

• Weightage: Continuous Assessment 40% | End Semester Examinations 60% Methodology for Continuous Assessment: Quiz - 10%, Poster presentation - 15%; Seminar report – 10%; Model making – 15%; Internal Examinations – 50% References 1. Murthy V.N.S., Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, CBS Publishers Distribution Ltd., New Delhi. 2020. 2. Gopal Ranjan and Rao, A.S.R., Basic and Applied Soil Mechanics, New Age Ltd. International Publisher New Delhi (India) 2020. 3. Coduto, D.P., Geotechnical Engineering – Principles and Practices, Prentice Hall of India Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 2015. 4. Das, B.M., Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, Cengage Learning India Private Limited,8th Edition, 2017. 5. Punmia, B. C. Ashok Kumar Jain and Arun Kumar Jain, Soil Mechanics and Foundations, 18th Edition, Laxmi Publications Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 2024. 6. IS 1498:1970 Classification and Identification of Soils for General Engineering Purposes. E-resources 1. NPTEL web courses on Soil Mechanics - https://nptel.ac.in/courses/105101084 2. NPTEL web courses on Geotechnical Engineering - https://archive.nptel.ac.in/courses/105/101/105101201/ 3. https://smfe-iiith.vlabs.ac.in/

Source: Official Anna University – B.E. Civil Engineering R-2025 Syllabus
Last Updated: October 2026