Geotechnical Engineering

Understanding the three-phase system of soil: solids, water, and air, and their volumetric and weight relationships.

Systems for categorizing soils based on particle size and plasticity, including USCS and AASHTO.

Methods to increase soil density, including Proctor tests and field compaction control.

Flow of water through soil, Darcy's Law, and seepage analysis.

Graphical representation of groundwater flow through soil media using flow nets.

The principle of effective stress and its importance in soil strength and deformation.

Calculation of stresses in soil due to self-weight and applied surface loads using Boussinesq, Westergaard, and Fadum's Chart.

Soil settlement analysis, one-dimensional consolidation theory, and time rate of settlement.

Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion, shear strength parameters, and laboratory testing methods.

Site investigation methods, boring techniques, and field testing (SPT, CPT, PMT).

Calculation of lateral forces on retaining structures using Rankine, Coulomb, and Culmann theories.

Design and stability analysis of gravity, cantilever, and sheet pile retaining walls.

Analysis of slope failure mechanisms using infinite slope and method of slices.

Estimation of the ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations using Terzaghi's and general equations.

Design considerations for isolated, combined, and mat foundations, including structural design and settlement checks.

Introduction to pile foundations, load transfer mechanisms, and pile capacity calculations.

Techniques for enhancing soil properties, including preloading, grouting, and reinforcement.

Understanding the behavior of soils under dynamic loading and the phenomenon of liquefaction.