Synopses & Reviews
Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering takes intensive research and observation in the field and the laboratory which have refined and improved the science of foundation design and presents them in a simple and concise form. This non-calculus based text is primarily designed for classroom instruction in civil engineering technology programs where soil mechanics and foundation engineering are combined into one course. It is also a useful and convenient reference tool for civil engineering practitioners as minimal supplementary material is necessary for its use.
Review
The case studies are excellent! They enable the students to immediately see where the concepts being learned are applied in practice. I cannot think of any other text that does that.
Review
I believe the book does a very nice job presenting at a level our students can understand. The re-arrangement of material of this edition compared to the earliest editions has developed concepts for the students at an appropriate pace.
About the Author
Dr. Braja Das is Dean Emeritus of the College of Engineering and Computer Science at California State University, Sacramento. He received his M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Iowa and his Ph.D. in the area of Geotechnical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin. He is the author of several geotechnical engineering texts and reference books and has authored more than 250 technical papers in the area of geotechnical engineering. His primary areas of research include shallow foundations, earth anchors, and geosynthetics. He is a Fellow and Life Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Life Member of the American Society for Engineering Education, and an Emeritus Member of the Chemical and Mechanical Stabilization Committee of the Transportation Research Board of the National Research Council (Washington D.C.). Dr. Das has received numerous awards for teaching excellence, including the AMOCO Foundation Award, AT&T Award for Teaching Excellence from the American Society for Engineering Education, the Ralph Teetor Award from the Society of Automotive Engineers, and the Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching Excellence from the University of Texas at El Paso.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction Soil:Particle Size / General Soil Deposits / Some Local Terms for Soils / References 2. Weight-Volume Relationships Volume Relationships / Weight Relationships / Specific Gravity of Soil Solids / Relationships among Unit Weight, Void Ratio, Moisture Content, and Specific Gravity / Relationships among Unit Weight, Porosity, and Moisture Content / Relative Density / Problems / References 3. Grain Size Analysis, Plasticity, and Soil Classification Grain Size Analysis / Grain Size Distribution Curve / Consistency of Soils:Atterberg Limits / Liquid Limit (LL) / Plastic Limit (PL) / Shrinkage Limit (SL) / Engineering Classification of Soil / AASHTO Soil Classification System / Unified Soil Classification System / Problems / References 4. Permeability and Capillarity Darcy's Law / Hydraulic Conductivity / Laboratory Determination of Hydraulic Conductivity / Relationships for Hydraulic Conductivity: Granular Soils / Relationships for Hydraulic Conductivity:Cohesive Soils / Permeability Test in the Field by Pumping from Wells / Capillary Rise in Soils / Problems / References 5. Stresses in a Soil Mass Effective Stress Concept: Stresses in Saturated Soil without Seepage / Stresses in Saturated Soil with Upward Seepage Vertical Stress Increase Due to Various Types of Loading: Stress Caused by a Point Load / Vertical Stress below the Center of a Uniformly Loaded Circular Area / Vertical Stress Caused by a Rectangularly Loaded Area Problems / References 6. Consolidation Fundamentals of Consolidation / One-Dimensional Laboratory Consolidation Test / Void Ratio:Pressure Plots / Normally Consolidated and Overconsolidated Clays / Effect of Disturbance on Void Ratio-Pressure Relationship / Calculation of Settlement from One-Dimensional Primary Consolidation / Compression Index (Cc ) and Swell Index (Cs ) / Settlement from Secondary Consolidation / Time-Rate Consolidation / Coefficient of Consolidation / Problems / References 7. Shear Strength of Soils Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criteria / Direct Shear Test / Triaxial Shear Test / Consolidated-Drained Test / Consolidated-Undrained Test / Unconsolidated-Undrained Test / Unconfined Compression Test on Saturated Clay / Problems / References 8. Subsurface Exploration Subsurface Exploration Program / Exploratory Borings in the Field / Procedures for Sampling of Soil / Observation of Water Levels / Vane Shear Test / Cone Penetration Test / Coring of Rocks / Preparation of Boring Logs / Subsurface Exploration Report / Problems / References 9. Lateral Earth Pressure: At-Rest, Rankine and Coulomb At-Rest, Rankine and Passive Pressures / At-Rest Lateral Earth Pressure: Earth Pressure at Rest / Earth Pressure at Rest for Partially Submerged Soil Rankine's Earth Pressure: Rankine Active Pressure / Rankine Active Pressure:Partially Submerged Cohesionless Soil (c´= 0) with Backfill Supporting a Surcharge / Rankine Active Pressure with Inclined Granular Backfill (c´= 0) / Rankine Passive Earth Pressure Coulomb's Earth Pressure Theory: Coulomb's Active Pressure / Coulombs Passive Pressure Problems / References 10. Shallow Foundations - Bearing Capacity and Settlement Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations: General Concepts / Ultimate bearing Capacity Theory / Modification of Bearing Capacity Equations for Water Table / The Factor of Safety / Eccentrically Loaded Foundations Settlement of Shallow Foundations: Types of Foundation Settlement / Elastic Settlement / Range of material Parameters for Computing Elastic Settlement / Field Load Tests / Elastic Settlement Based on Standard Penetration Resistance in Sand / Primary Consolidation Settlement Mat Foundations: Common Types of Mat Foundations / Bearing Capacity of Mat Foundations / Compensated Foundations Problems / References 11. Deep Foundations Pile Foundations: Pile Foundation:General / Types of Piles and their Structural Characteristics / Estimation of Pile Length / Installation of Piles / Ultimate Load Carrying Capacity of Piles in Sand / Ultimate Load carrying Capacity of Piles in Clay (ø = 0 condition) / Pile Driving Formulas / Pile Driving Formulas / Pile Load Tests / Group Piles:Efficiency / Consolidation Settlement of Group Piles / Elastic Settlement of Group Piles Drilled Shafts: Drilled Shafts:General / Types of Drilled Shafts / Construction Procedures / Estimation of Load-Bearing Capacity / Allowable Load-Bearing Capacity Based on Settlement Problems / References 12. Retaining Walls Introduction / Gravity and Cantilever Walls: Proportioning Retaining Walls / Application of Lateral Earth Pressure Theories to Design / Stability of Retaining Walls / Check for Overturning / Check for Sliding along the Base / Check for Bearing Capacity Failure / Drainage from the Backfill of the Retaining Wall / Provisions for Joints in the Retaining Wall Construction Problems 13. Slope Stability Factor of Safety / Culmann's method for Stability Analysis / Factor of Safety along a Plane / Analysis of Slopes with Circular Failure Surfaces:General / Mass Procedures:Slopes in Homogeneous Clay Soil with ø = 0 / Mass Procedure:Slopes in Homogeneous c´- ø´ Soil / Ordinary Method of Slices / Problems / References 14. Soil Compaction Compaction:General Principles / Standard Proctor Test / Factors Affecting Compaction / Modified Proctor Test / Effect of Compaction on Cohesive Soil Properties / Pile Compaction / Specifications for Field Unit Weight of Compaction / Problems / References Answers to Selected Problems