,Principles of
Geotechnical Engineering
FIFTH EDITION
BRAJA M. DAS
California State University, Sacramento
Australia • Canada • Mexico • Singapore • Spain • United Kingdom • United States
, Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, Sixth Edition
by Braja M. Das
Associate Vice-President Production Services: Creative Director:
and Editorial Director: RPK Editorial Services Angela Cluer
Evelyn Veitch
Copy Editor: Interior Design:
Publisher: Patricia Daly Carmela Pereira
Chris Carson
Proofreader: Cover Design:
Sales and Marketing Manager: Erin Wagner Andrew Adams
John More
Indexer: Compositor:
Developmental Editor: Braja M. Das G & S Typesetters
Kamilah Reid Burrell
Production Manager: Printer:
Permissions Coordinator: Renate McCloy Quebecor World
Vicki Gould
COPYRIGHT © 2006 by Nelson, a ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part North America
division of Thomson Canada Limited. of this work covered by the copyright Nelson
herein may be reproduced, transcribed, 1120 Birchmount Road
Printed and bound in Canada or used in any form or by any means— Toronto, Ontario M1K 5G4
graphic, electronic, or mechanical, Canada
1 2 3 4 0 7 0 60 50 4 including photocopying, recording,
Asia
taping, Web distribution, or informa-
For more information contact Nelson, Thomson Learning
tion storage and retrieval systems—
1120 Birchmount Road, Toronto, 5 Shenton Way #01-01
without the written permission of the
Ontario, Canada, M1K 5G4. UIC Building
publisher.
Or you can visit our Internet site at Singapore 068808
http://www.nelson.com For permission to use material from Australia/New Zealand
this text or product, submit a request Thomson Learning
Library of Congress Control Number:
online at www.thomsonrights.com 102 Dodds Street
2005931497
Southbank, Victoria
Every effort has been made to trace
ISBN: 0-534-55144-0 Australia 3006
ownership of all copyright material and
to secure permission from copyright Europe/Middle East /Africa
holders. In the event of any question Thomson Learning
arising as to the use of any material, we High Holborn House
will be pleased to make the necessary 50/51 Bedford Row
corrections in future printings. London WC1R 4LR
United Kingdom
Latin America
Thomson Learning
Seneca, 53
Colonia Polanco
11560 Mexico D.F.
Mexico
Spain
Paraninfo
Calle/Magallanes, 25
28015 Madrid, Spain
, 1
Geotechnical Engineering—
A Historical Perspective
For engineering purposes, soil is defined as the uncemented aggregate of mineral
grains and decayed organic matter (solid particles) with liquid and gas in the empty
spaces between the solid particles. Soil is used as a construction material in various
civil engineering projects, and it supports structural foundations. Thus, civil engi-
neers must study the properties of soil, such as its origin, grain-size distribution, abil-
ity to drain water, compressibility, shear strength, and load-bearing capacity. Soil
mechanics is the branch of science that deals with the study of the physical proper-
ties of soil and the behavior of soil masses subjected to various types of forces. Soils
engineering is the application of the principles of soil mechanics to practical prob-
lems. Geotechnical engineering is the subdiscipline of civil engineering that involves
natural materials found close to the surface of the earth. It includes the application
of the principles of soil mechanics and rock mechanics to the design of foundations,
retaining structures, and earth structures.
1.1 Geotechnical Engineering Prior to the 18th Century
The record of a person’s first use of soil as a construction material is lost in antiquity.
In true engineering terms, the understanding of geotechnical engineering as it is
known today began early in the 18th century (Skempton, 1985). For years, the art of
geotechnical engineering was based on only past experiences through a succession
of experimentation without any real scientific character. Based on those experimen-
tations, many structures were built—some of which have crumbled, while others are
still standing.
Recorded history tells us that ancient civilizations flourished along the banks of
rivers, such as the Nile (Egypt), the Tigris and Euphrates (Mesopotamia), the Huang
Ho (Yellow River, China), and the Indus (India). Dykes dating back to about 2000 B.C.
were built in the basin of the Indus to protect the town of Mohenjo Dara (in what
became Pakistan after 1947). During the Chan dynasty in China (1120 B.C. to 249 B.C.)
many dykes were built for irrigation purposes. There is no evidence that measures
were taken to stabilize the foundations or check erosion caused by floods (Kerisel,
1
Geotechnical Engineering
FIFTH EDITION
BRAJA M. DAS
California State University, Sacramento
Australia • Canada • Mexico • Singapore • Spain • United Kingdom • United States
, Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, Sixth Edition
by Braja M. Das
Associate Vice-President Production Services: Creative Director:
and Editorial Director: RPK Editorial Services Angela Cluer
Evelyn Veitch
Copy Editor: Interior Design:
Publisher: Patricia Daly Carmela Pereira
Chris Carson
Proofreader: Cover Design:
Sales and Marketing Manager: Erin Wagner Andrew Adams
John More
Indexer: Compositor:
Developmental Editor: Braja M. Das G & S Typesetters
Kamilah Reid Burrell
Production Manager: Printer:
Permissions Coordinator: Renate McCloy Quebecor World
Vicki Gould
COPYRIGHT © 2006 by Nelson, a ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part North America
division of Thomson Canada Limited. of this work covered by the copyright Nelson
herein may be reproduced, transcribed, 1120 Birchmount Road
Printed and bound in Canada or used in any form or by any means— Toronto, Ontario M1K 5G4
graphic, electronic, or mechanical, Canada
1 2 3 4 0 7 0 60 50 4 including photocopying, recording,
Asia
taping, Web distribution, or informa-
For more information contact Nelson, Thomson Learning
tion storage and retrieval systems—
1120 Birchmount Road, Toronto, 5 Shenton Way #01-01
without the written permission of the
Ontario, Canada, M1K 5G4. UIC Building
publisher.
Or you can visit our Internet site at Singapore 068808
http://www.nelson.com For permission to use material from Australia/New Zealand
this text or product, submit a request Thomson Learning
Library of Congress Control Number:
online at www.thomsonrights.com 102 Dodds Street
2005931497
Southbank, Victoria
Every effort has been made to trace
ISBN: 0-534-55144-0 Australia 3006
ownership of all copyright material and
to secure permission from copyright Europe/Middle East /Africa
holders. In the event of any question Thomson Learning
arising as to the use of any material, we High Holborn House
will be pleased to make the necessary 50/51 Bedford Row
corrections in future printings. London WC1R 4LR
United Kingdom
Latin America
Thomson Learning
Seneca, 53
Colonia Polanco
11560 Mexico D.F.
Mexico
Spain
Paraninfo
Calle/Magallanes, 25
28015 Madrid, Spain
, 1
Geotechnical Engineering—
A Historical Perspective
For engineering purposes, soil is defined as the uncemented aggregate of mineral
grains and decayed organic matter (solid particles) with liquid and gas in the empty
spaces between the solid particles. Soil is used as a construction material in various
civil engineering projects, and it supports structural foundations. Thus, civil engi-
neers must study the properties of soil, such as its origin, grain-size distribution, abil-
ity to drain water, compressibility, shear strength, and load-bearing capacity. Soil
mechanics is the branch of science that deals with the study of the physical proper-
ties of soil and the behavior of soil masses subjected to various types of forces. Soils
engineering is the application of the principles of soil mechanics to practical prob-
lems. Geotechnical engineering is the subdiscipline of civil engineering that involves
natural materials found close to the surface of the earth. It includes the application
of the principles of soil mechanics and rock mechanics to the design of foundations,
retaining structures, and earth structures.
1.1 Geotechnical Engineering Prior to the 18th Century
The record of a person’s first use of soil as a construction material is lost in antiquity.
In true engineering terms, the understanding of geotechnical engineering as it is
known today began early in the 18th century (Skempton, 1985). For years, the art of
geotechnical engineering was based on only past experiences through a succession
of experimentation without any real scientific character. Based on those experimen-
tations, many structures were built—some of which have crumbled, while others are
still standing.
Recorded history tells us that ancient civilizations flourished along the banks of
rivers, such as the Nile (Egypt), the Tigris and Euphrates (Mesopotamia), the Huang
Ho (Yellow River, China), and the Indus (India). Dykes dating back to about 2000 B.C.
were built in the basin of the Indus to protect the town of Mohenjo Dara (in what
became Pakistan after 1947). During the Chan dynasty in China (1120 B.C. to 249 B.C.)
many dykes were built for irrigation purposes. There is no evidence that measures
were taken to stabilize the foundations or check erosion caused by floods (Kerisel,
1
