Information Package / Course Catalogue
Advanced Soil Mechanics II
Course Code: MCE542
Course Type: Area Elective
Couse Group: Second Cycle (Master's Degree)
Education Language: English
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 3
Prt.: 0
Credit: 3
Lab: 0
ECTS: 8
Objectives of the Course

The main objective of the course is to provide an in depth knowledge about the shear strength of cohesionless and cohesive soils under drained and undrained loading conditions. The level of the material requires an audience with fundamental knowledge in undergraduate soil mechanics classes, and builds new information referring to that stage. Special emphasis is given on deformation characteristics of different types of soils under various loading conditions and critical state soil mechanics concepts. Yielding criteria other than Mohr-Coulomb criterion are also introduced

Course Content

1. Concept of failure, 2. Failure theories. 3. Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. 4. Shear resistance between soil particles. 5. Shear testing methods. 6. Pore pressure parameters. 7. Shear strength of cohesionless soils. 8. Shear strength of cohesive soils. 9. Types of stability analysis.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Prof. Selman SAĞLAM
Learning Outcomes
1.The students will be able to have a detailed idea of how soils behave under various loading types
2.The students will be able to decide on the loading history of soil and the associated stress/strain paths based on supplied data
3.The student will comprehend the steps required to assess shear strength parameters and pore pressure parameters in triaxial testing, under Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion; and calculate the shear strength of soils using laboratory test results
4.The students will have introductory knowledge in ciritical state soil mechanics
5.The students will also have knowledge about failure criteria other than Mohr-Coulomb criterion
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Holtz R. D. And Kovacs W. D. (1981), An introduction to Geotechnical Engineering, Prentice Hall, New Jersey, USA.
2.Lambe W., and Whitman R. V. (1979) Soil Mechanics. John Wiley & Sons
3.Parry, R. H. G. (1995). Mohr Circles, Stress Paths and Geotechnics. E&FN SPON
4.Atkinson (1993). An Introduction to Mechanics of Soils and Foundations. McGRAW HILL
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
Failure concept and failure in soils
Week 2 - Theoretical
Failure theories
Week 3 - Theoretical
Mohr-Coulomb Failure criteria
Week 4 - Theoretical
Shear resistance in soils
Week 5 - Theoretical
Shear resistance in soils
Week 6 - Theoretical
Shear strength tests
Week 7 - Theoretical
Shear strength tests
Week 8 - Theoretical
Pore pressure parameters
Week 9 - Theoretical
Shear strength in cohesionless soils
Week 10 - Theoretical
Shear strength in cohesionless soils
Week 11 - Theoretical
Shear strength in cohesive soils
Week 12 - Theoretical
Shear strength in cohesive soils
Week 13 - Theoretical
Types of stability analysis
Week 14 - Theoretical
Types of stability analysis
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Midterm Examination2%50
Final Examination1%30
Assignment5%20
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory1453112
Assignment501575
Midterm Examination23210
Final Examination1325
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)202
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
PÇ-12
PÇ-13
OÇ-1
5
5
5
4
4
5
4
5
4
5
4
5
4
OÇ-2
4
5
4
5
4
5
4
5
4
5
5
4
4
OÇ-3
5
4
5
4
5
4
5
4
5
4
5
5
4
OÇ-4
4
5
4
5
4
5
4
5
4
5
4
5
4
OÇ-5
5
4
5
4
5
4
5
4
5
4
5
5
4
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026