Soil Mechanics Lab Manual

Soil Mechanics Lab Manual prepares readers to enter the field with a collection of the most common soil mechanics tests. The procedures for all of these tests are written in accordance with applicable American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards.

Video demonstrations for each experiment available on the website prepare readers before going into the lab, so they know what to expect and will be able to complete the tests with more confidence and efficiency. Laboratory exercises and data sheets for each test are included in the Soil Mechanics Lab Manual.

1. Introduction.

2. Measurement of Moisture Content.

3. Measurement of Specific Gravity of Soil Solids.

4. Measurement of Liquid Limit and Plastic Limit.

5. Analysis of Grain Size Distribution.

6. Laboratory Classification of Soil.

7. Field Classification of Soil.

8. Laboratory Soil Compaction.

9. Field Measurement of Dry Unit Weight and Moisture Content.

10. Measurement of Hydraulic Conductivity of Granular Soil Using a Fixed-Wall Permeameter.

11. One-Dimensional Consolidation Test of Cohesive Soil.

12. Direct Shear Strength Test of Granular Soil.

13. Unconfined Compressive Strength Test of Cohesive Soil.

14. Unconsolidated-Undrained Triaxial Shear Strength Test of Cohesive Soil.

Appendix A. Laboratory Data Sheets.

Michael Kalinski is an Assistant Professor of Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Kentucky. His research areas of interest include engineering geophysics, geotechnical site characterization, landfill geotechnology, earthquake engineering, and vibration monitoring and mitigation.