Information Package / Course Catalogue
Soil Mechanics
Course Code: CE303
Course Type: Required
Couse Group: First Cycle (Bachelor's Degree)
Education Language: English
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 2
Prt.: 2
Credit: 3
Lab: 0
ECTS: 5
Objectives of the Course

Information will be given on the formation and classification of soils and their engineering behavior in order to provide capability of developing adequate solutions to problems that may be encountered in civil engineering practice.

Course Content

Definition of soil aggregate. Determination of soil composition. Physical and index properties of soil. Atterberg limits. Classification of soil. Water area in soil. permeability and seepage. Two dimensional seepage problems and solutions. Definition of effective stress, total stress and pore water pressure. Stress in soil mass, consolidation settlement and sudden settlement. Theory of consolidation. Settlement boundaries for structures. Soil mechanics laboratory tests.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Prof. Selman SAĞLAM
Learning Outcomes
1.Ability to calculate total, effective and pore pressures sustained in the soils
2.Comprehend the theory of consolidation in the soils
3.Ability to calculate compression and settlement in the soils
4.Comprehend concept of the soil strength
5.Gain knowledge in the fundamental principles of soil mechanics
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Soil Mechanics R. F. Craig
2.An Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering, Holtz R.D. and Kovacs W.D
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
Introduction to Soil Mechanics, Basic Characteristics of Soils, Formation of soils
Week 2 - Theoretical
Index properties of soils, grain shape and grain size distribution, consistency limits
Week 3 - Theoretical
Weight-volume relationships, problem session
Week 4 - Theoretical
Soil classification
Week 5 - Theoretical
Flow of water in soil: capilarity and permeability (hydraulic conductivity)
Week 6 - Theoretical
Flow of water in soil: Seepage analysis and flow nets, Problem session.
Week 7 - Theoretical
Stresses in a soil mass: total and effective stresses in soil
Week 8 - Theoretical
Stress increases in soil masses due to surface loading, Problem session
Week 9 - Theoretical
Compressibility of soils: consolidation and settlements, rate of settlements and its calculations, oedometer test, determination of settlement parameters
Week 10 - Theoretical
Settlement calculations, basics of consolidation theory, settlement-time behavior, problem session
Week 11 - Laboratory
Laboratory Session
Week 12 - Laboratory
Laboratory Session
Week 13 - Laboratory
Laboratory Session
Week 14 - Theoretical
General Assessment
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Midterm Examination1%40
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory143498
Midterm Examination19312
Final Examination19312
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)122
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
PÇ-1
PÇ-2
PÇ-3
PÇ-4
PÇ-5
PÇ-6
PÇ-7
PÇ-8
PÇ-9
PÇ-10
PÇ-11
OÇ-1
3
3
3
OÇ-2
3
3
3
3
OÇ-3
3
3
OÇ-4
4
3
3
4
OÇ-5
5
4
4
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026