Department of Civil Engineering
College of Engineering
Syllabus for CE 281
Majmaah University
Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering
Ministry of Higher Education
Level 4, Semester 4
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------CE 281 Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering
Credits (2L, 1T/P, 0)
1.0 Definition of rock and soil. Types of rocks, Classification of rocks based on origin and strength.
2.0 Weathering processes. Origin and mineralogical composition of soils, residual and transported
soil. Identification of soil minerals. Tests for identification.
3.0 Three phase diagram for soils, Basic definitions like moisture content, void ratio, porosity, bulk
density, dry density, saturated density, submerged density, Specific Gravity, air content,
Percentage air voids and interrelationships. Problems on relationships.
4.0 Grain size scale. Field identification tests for coarse and fine grained soils.
5.0 Sieve Analysis and Atterberg Limits. Applications to engineering problems.
References:1. Fred, B. (1993), Engineering Geology, Blackwell Scientific Publication.
2. Karl Terzaghi and Ralph Peck, (1967), Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice, John Wiley and
Sons.
3. Peck R.B. Hansen, Thornburn, Foundation Engineering.
4. B.C. Punmia, A.K. Jain , and Jain (2003), “Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering”
5. Parbin Singh, “A Text Book of Engineering and General Geology”.
List of Experiments
1. Determination of Moisture Content of Soil – Oven drying method
2. Sieve analysis of soils (excluding hydrometer).
3. Specific Gravity of Soil by Pycnometer method
4. Liquid Limit and Plastic Limit of Soil
5. Simple tests for identifying coarse grained and fine grained soils
6. Identification of types of rocks- Two specimens from each- igneous, metamorphic and
sedimentary rock
7. Calculation of Core Recovery and RQD, core logging
8. Geological maps- two maps to explained and two similar exercise conducted.
Evaluation:-
1. Two in-semester tests each of 25 marks each of 1.0 hours
2. End semester examination 50 marks of 3 hours
3. Laboratory journal 25 marks. – Assessment on the journal (5 marks), quiz (10 marks), viva 10
marks.
Lecture Plan
Sr.
no.
1
2
3
4
5
Topic
Number of
Hours
Types of rocks, Classification of rocks based on 4
origin and strength.
Weathering
processes.
Origin
and 6
mineralogical composition of soils, residual Unit 1 and 2
and transported soil. Identification of soil for in-sem1
minerals Tests for identification.
Three phase diagram for soils, Basic 8
definitions like moisture content, void ratio,
porosity, bulk density, dry density, saturated Unit 3 for
density, submerged density, Specific Gravity, mid sem2
air content, Percentage air voids and
interrelationships
Grain size scale. Field identification tests for 4
coarse and fine grained soils.
Sieve Analysis and Atterberg Limits. 4
Applications to engineering problems.
Above lecture plan assumes 13 weeks of teaching and 1 week for in-semester tests along with 1
week for preparatory leave for end-semester.