MOHAWK VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
UTICA AND ROME, NEW YORK
CENTER FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS
COURSE OUTLINE
I. CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
CT222 Soil Mechanics & Foundations C-3, P-2, Cr-4
An introduction to geotechnics and its application to the problems encountered in Civil Engineering. The major topic of study includes the flow of water through soils, soil strength/compressibility, and the effect of water on these properties. The theories of soil mechanics are applied to the design of foundations, retaining walls and earth structures, and the study of slope stability. Methods of performing field explorations are discussed. Laboratory tests commonly used to evaluate the engineering properties of soils are studied and performed.
Co-requisite: CT 221 Strength of Materials: Civil
II. MATERIALS:
Text: Essentials of Soil Mechanics & Foundations:
Basic Geotechnics – Seventh Edition
David F. McCarthy, P.E., Prentice Hall
Lab Manual: Soil Mechanics Laboratory Manual: Eighth Edition Braja M. Das
III. COURSE OBJECTIVES:
This course introduces soil mechanics and its application to engineering design and construction. Laboratory work is devoted to performing tests in accepted use for determining soil properties, and familiarizing students with use of lab and field testing equipment. The foundation portion familiarizes the student with the procedures to design building foundations and earth structures utilizing soil mechanics principles.
IV. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Students will be able to conduct standard soil field and laboratory tests. (c,k)
2. Students will work in teams to conduct, analyze and interpret various laboratory tests used in the soils field. (d)
3. Student will prepare detailed computer generated reports and grafts of basic soil laboratory tests.
4. Student will conduct research of the cause of a soil related failure and present the finding in an oral presentation. (f)
5. Students will be able to classify soils based on classification tests and index properties.
6. Students will apply knowledge and principals to solve soil mechanics problems; water movement through soil based on hydrogeology, subsurface flow, permeability and capillarity. Also the practical effects of the movement of water through soil such as seepage, drainage and frost heave. (b)
7. Students will be introduced to the theory of combined stresses in subsurface soil masses and perform calculations of stress at a point and theory of shear strength in soils.
8. Students will understand and perform calculations of settlement in regards to soil compression, volume distortion and consolidation. (b)
9. Students will understand and perform calculations of the design considerations and methods of foundations. Also, pertaining to lateral earth pressures and earth retaining structures. (e)
() Indicates ABET assessment criteria
V. MAJOR TOPICS:
WEEK LECTURE ASSIGNMENT
1 Introduction to geotechnical engineering and soils
Soil & Rock of planet Earth Chapter 1
2 Soil Types and Soil Structures Chapter 2
3 Soil Composition, Terms and Definitions Chapter 3
4 Index Properties and Classification tests Chapter 4
Site Investigations Chapter 5
5 Soil permeability, Capillarity Chapter 6
Movement of Water: Chapter 7
6 Combined Stress in Soil Mass Chapter 8
Subsurface Stresses Chapter 9
7 Settlement: Soil Compression, Consolidation Chapter 10
8 Shear Strength Theory Chapter 11
Earthquakes & liquid faction Chapter 12
9 Foundation Introduction Chapter 13
10 Foundation Design Chapter 14
11 Foundation Design Chapter 14
12 Site Improvements Earth Moving Chapter 15
13 Stability of Unsupported Slopes Chapter 16
14 Lateral Earth Pressures Chapter 17
Retaining Walls
CT 222 Course Outline Page 1 of 4
Outline Updated December 16, 2014
DATE FACULTY NAME CHANGE INPUT MEASUREMENT ASSESSMENT ACTION
02/27/15 / Brittany Fuller / Edited to match formatCT 222 Course Outline Page 1 of 4
Outline Updated December 16, 2014