ER25401 Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering – Semester IV – Civil(Env) – R-2025

Subject Code & Name: ER25401 – Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering

Regulation: R-2025

Semester: IV (Fourth Semester)

Branch: B.E. Civil Engineering (Environmental Engineering) (Civil(Env))

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 soil exploration, index, and engineering properties of soils, types of foundations, and their carrying capacity.

Full Unit-wise Syllabus

Unit I – Soil Exploration and Classification

Methods of exploration - Auguring and boring - Wash boring and rotary drilling - Sampling methods - Split spoon sampler, thin wall sampler, Stationary piston sampler - Penetration tests (SPT and SCPT) - Index properties and phase relations - BIS classification system.

Activities: Visit to a nearby soil exploration site/virtual demonstration

Unit II – Stresses and Settlement

Effective stress concepts in soils – Total, neutral and effective stresses – Stresses due to applied loads - Stress distribution in homogeneous and isotropic medium – Boussinesq theory – (Point load and udl) - Computation of total settlement and time rate of settlement using Terzaghi’s one dimensional consolidation theory.

Activities: Review of GATE questions on stress distribution and consolidation settlement

Unit III – Effective Stress, Permeability

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

Activities: Flow Net Drawing Exercise

Unit IV – Foundations

Types - Functions and requisites – Contact pressure distribution of Footings and Rafts - Piers and Caissons – Classification - Functions – Carrying capacity of piles - Static formula – Selection Factors – Choice of foundation based on soil condition.

Activities: Model making on types of foundations

Unit V – Shear Strength and Bearing Capacity

Shear strength of cohesive and cohesionless soils – Measurement of shear strength - Direct shear, Triaxial compression, UCC and Vane shear tests – Evaluation of Bearing capacity of shallow foundation using BIS formula.

Activities: Quiz on shear strength of soil.

Course Outcomes (COs)

• CO1: Describe soil exploration methods, sampling techniques, and classify soils using the BIS system.
• CO2: Analyze stress distribution in soils and evaluate settlement using consolidation theory.
• CO3: Assess permeability characteristics and seepage behavior in soils using laboratory and analytical methods.
• CO4: Evaluate shear strength and bearing capacity of soils and select appropriate foundation systems based on soil conditions.

Assessment Pattern (Quick Note)

• Weightage: Continuous Assessment 40% | End Semester Examinations 60% Methodology for Continuous Assessment : Quiz-10%, Poster presentation-15%; Case Study report -15%; Assignment – 10%, 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. Relevant Indian Standards • IS 2720, Indian Standards on methods of test for soils, Bureau of Indian Standards. E-Resources 1. NPTEL web courses on Geotechnical Engineering – 1 and 2 byDr.D. N. Singh, IIT Bombay 2. https://archive.nptel.ac.in/courses/105/101/105101201/ PO

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