NUST Institute of Civil Engineering Form UG-OBE-01

Date of
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Issue

Course Outline Pages No 1 of 4

COURSE CODE: CE- 222

COURSE NAME: Soil Mechanics - I
CREDIT HOURS: Theory = 2
Practical = 1
Total = 3
CONTACT HOURS: Theory = 32
Practical = 48
Total = 80
PREREQUISITES: Nil
MODE OF TEACHING:
Instruction: Two hours of lecture per week 66%
Practical/ Laboratory Demonstration: Three hours of Lab work per week 33%
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course provides an elementary introduction to Soil Mechanics, and provides the basic mechanics
necessary for the detailed study of Geotechnical Engineering. This course aims to provide an
understanding of the nature of soils as engineering materials; common soil classification schemes; the
importance of water in the soil and the effects of water movement; and the stress-strain-strength response
of soils.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
To attain an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the various types of soils, their classifications and
engineering properties.
RELEVANT PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES (PLOs):
The course is designed so that students achieve following PLOs:

1 Engineering Knowledge: 7 Environment and Sustainability:

2 Problem Analysis: 8 Ethics:
3 Design/Development of Solutions: 9 Individual and Team Work:
1
4 Investigation: Communication:
0
1
5 Modern Tool Usage: Project Management:
1
1
6 The Engineer and Society: Lifelong Learning:
2
 NUST Institute of Civil Engineering Form UG-OBE-01
Date of
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Issue

Course Outline Pages No 2 of 4

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLOs):

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
S.N Taxonomy
CLO Domain PLO
o Level
Categorize soil based on standard classification
1 Cognitive 4 1
systems.
Analyze seepage conditions through various types of
2 Cognitive 4 1
soils.
Conduct laboratory and field tests to determine various
3 Psychomotor 4 4
properties of the soil.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS:
All structures that we see around us are founded on soil. This course aims to provide an understanding of
the nature of soils as engineering materials; common soil classification schemes; the importance of water
in the soil and the effects of water movement; and the stress-strain-strength response of soils. These all
factors combined forms the basis for design of shallow and deep foundations for building, roads, bridges
and any other civil engineering structure resting on ground.
TOPICSCOVERED WITH THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO PLOs:
Theory:
Week
Topics
/Lecture
1 Introduction
2 Soil Formation and Nature of Soil constituents
3 Mechanical analysis of soil (sieve analysis & hydrometer analysis)
4 Clay Soil Formation
5 Phase Relationships (Weight-Volume relationship)
6 Soil Plasticity
7 Soil Plasticity (Specific Gravity)
8 Soil Classification systems
9 Soil Compaction: Introduction, theory, and lab tests
10 Soil Compaction: Field Density Determination
11 Soil Permeability
12 Seepage and Flow Nets
13 Seepage Examples
14-15 In-Situ Stresses
16-17 Stresses in Soil
 NUST Institute of Civil Engineering Form UG-OBE-01
Date of
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Issue

Course Outline Pages No 3 of 4

Practicals:

No. Practicals
1 Sieve analysis.
2 Hydrometer analysis.
3 Specific gravity.
4 Moisture content determination.
5 Atterberg limits.
6 Field identification tests.
7 Permeability by constant and variable head.
8 AASHO and modified AASHO test.
9 Density in situ by sand replacement and rubber balloon method.
10 Relative density

TEXT AND MATERIAL:

Textbook (s)

1. Introduction to Soil Mechanics by Baraja. M. Das.

References Material:

1. An Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering by Holtz and Kovac.

2. Basic Soil Mechanic by R. Whitlow.
3. Geotechnical Engineering by Cernika.
4. Theoretical Soil Mechanics by Terzaghi.

ASSESMENT SYSTEM:

1. CLOs Assessment

Cognitive Psychomot Affectiv

or e
Spreadsheet Rubrics -

2. Relative Grading

Theoretical / Instruction 66%

Assignments 10%
Quizzes 10%
 NUST Institute of Civil Engineering Form UG-OBE-01
Date of
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Issue

Course Outline Pages No 4 of 4

OHT Exams 30%

End Semester Exam 50%
Practical Work 33%
Laboratory Work 70%
Laboratory Attendance 20%
Laboratory Report 20%
Laboratory Quiz 30%
Viva/Quiz 30%
Total 100%

Prepared By(Instructor) Dr. Kamran Akhtar

Reviewed By(LQEC) Dr. Rao Arsalan Khushnood
Approved By(Assoc Dean) Dr. Liaqat Ali