The study of soil as an engineering material, and its use in earth structures (e.g. dams, road embankments), flow control, and compacted fills. Stability of natural and man made slopes, soil reinforcement and stabilization.
Theories of soil mechanics and their application. Drained and undrained stress-strain and strength behavior of soils. Lateral earth pressures, bearing capacity, slope stability, seepage and consolidation. Lab and insitu testing.
Study of the physico-chemical and mechanical behavior of soil. Topics include: soil mineralogy, formation, composition, concepts of drained and undrained stress-strain and strength behavior, frozen soils.