Specific Objectives for Chapter I

Fundamental

  • Define key soil mechanics terms and sources of shear strength in soils

  • Explain the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion and its role in determining soil shear strength.

  • Construct Mohr's Circle to analyze 2D stress states and identify principal stresses (σ₁, σ₃).

  • Determine shear strength parameters (c and φ) from laboratory test results.

  • Interpret stress-strain curves from triaxial tests to identify failure conditions.