Courses

Soil mechanics Ι

General

Course Contents

Description of the fundamental principles of soil behavior and introduction to the topics of soil
stresses, soil deformations, and soil stability. Introduction to theoretical Soil Mechanics concepts
aimed at using appropriate soil parameters for each type of problem.
Content of theory lectures:
• Physical and mechanical properties of soils.
• Laboratory measurements and field tests.
• Water flow in porous soils and its effect on he mechanical behavior of the soil.
• Soil stresses and deformations.
• Shear strength of soil.
• Stability of soil slopes.
Content of laboratory exercises:
• Introduction to issues related to the control and testing of the physical and mechanical soil
properties.
• Laboratory determination of soil moisture content.
• Laboratory determination of soil specific weight and unit weight.
• Particle size analysis of soil.
• Laboratory determination of Atterberg limits (liquid limit, plastic limit, shrinkage limit).
• Soil Proctor compaction test.
• Determination of soil density.
• Unconfined compression test (determination of soil uniaxial compression strength).
• Direct shear test (determination of soil shear strength).

Educational Goals

The aim of the course is to help the student understand the basic principles of Soil Mechanics, to
consolidate knowledge regarding the behavior of the “soil” as a civil engineering material and to
develop the ability to computationally address basic problems in classic applications of Soil
Mechanics. Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
• Recognize, comprehend and be able to classify the basic physical and mechanical properties of soil.
• Distinguish and understand the parameters related to soil behavior.
• Calculate the stresses developing in the soil deposit due to the weight of the soil itself as well as
due to external loading, and also estimate the soil shear strength and the stability of soil slopes.
• Combine individual soil characteristics and be able to differentiate and adapt the assessment and
computation procedures based on the particular parameters of each case under consideration.

General Skills

The course contributes to the following skills:
• Search, analysis and synthesis of data and information
• Decision-making
• Working independently
• Project planning

Teaching Methods

Face to face.

Use of ICT means

Lecture presentations using computer and projector, in
person or by teleconference (remotely) if required.
Support of the learning process through the e-learning
platform and electronic communication with students
(online announcements and comments, e-mail,
announcements on the Department’s website etc.). If
required, support of students by using teleconference tools
and software.

Teaching Organization

ActivitySemester workload
Lectures26
Practice/exercises26
Project30
Individual Study40
TOTAL130
Total252

Students Evaluation

Final written exam that includes:
• Theoretical judgment questions on course subjects (short
answer questions and multiple-choice questions).
• Solving of theory problems-exercises.
• Solving of laboratory exercises.
Submission of assignments and oral examination that
includes:
• Laboratory exercises solving.
• Solving of theory problems-exercises.
• Examination of understanding of course basic concepts.

Recommended Bibliography

  • Barnes G.E. (2014), “Εδαφομηχανική: Αρχές και Εφαρμογές (3η έκδοση)”, Εκδόσεις
    Κλειδάριθμος, Αθήνα, ISBN: 978-960-461-578-0
  • Καββαδάς Μ. (2016), “Στοιχεία Εδαφομηχανικής (2η έκδοση)”, Εκδόσεις Τσότρας, ISBN:
    978-618-5066-62-8
  • Κολέτσος Κ., (2004), “Γεωτεχνική Μηχανική”, Εκδόσεις University Studio Press, ISBN: 978-
    960-12-1256-2
  • Γραμματικόπουλος Ι., Ανδρεάδου-Μάνου Ν., Χατζηγώγος Θ. (2015), “Εδαφομηχανική:
    ασκήσεις και προβλήματα (2η έκδοση)”, Αφοι Κυριακίδη, Θεσσαλονίκη, ISBN: 978-618-
    5105-87-7
  • Χρηστάρας Β., Χατζηαγγέλου Μ. (2011), “Απλά βήματα στην Εδαφομηχανική”, University
    Studio Press, Θεσσαλονίκη, ISBN: 978-960-12-1935-6
  • Budhu Μ. (2020), “Εδαφομηχανική και Θεμελιώσεις”, Εκδόσεις Gotsis, Πάτρα, ISBN: 978-
    960-9427-90-6
  • Das B.M. (2019), “Advanced Soil Mechanics” , Taylor and Francis (5th edition), New York.
  • Verruijt A. (2018), “An Introduction to Soil Mechanics”, Springer
  • ⦁ [In Greek] Barnes G.E. (2014), “Εδαφομηχανική: Αρχές και Εφαρμογές (3η έκδοση)”, Εκδόσεις
    Κλειδάριθμος, Αθήνα, ISBN: 978-960-461-578-0
    ⦁ [In Greek] Καββαδάς Μ. (2016), “Στοιχεία Εδαφομηχανικής (2η έκδοση)”, Εκδόσεις Τσότρας, ISBN:
    978-618-5066-62-8
    ⦁ [In Greek] Κολέτσος Κ., (2004), “Γεωτεχνική Μηχανική”, Εκδόσεις University Studio Press, ISBN: 978-
    960-12-1256-2
    ⦁ [In Greek] Γραμματικόπουλος Ι., Ανδρεάδου-Μάνου Ν., Χατζηγώγος Θ. (2015), “Εδαφομηχανική:
    ασκήσεις και προβλήματα (2η έκδοση)”, Αφοι Κυριακίδη, Θεσσαλονίκη, ISBN: 978-618- 5105-87-7
    ⦁ [In Greek] Χρηστάρας Β., Χατζηαγγέλου Μ. (2011), “Απλά βήματα στην Εδαφομηχανική”, University
    Studio Press, Θεσσαλονίκη, ISBN: 978-960-12-1935-6
    ⦁ [In Greek] Budhu Μ. (2020), “Εδαφομηχανική και Θεμελιώσεις”, Εκδόσεις Gotsis, Πάτρα, ISBN: 978-
    960-9427-90-6
    ⦁ Das B.M. (2019), “Advanced Soil Mechanics” , Taylor and Francis (5th edition), New York.
    ⦁ Verruijt A. (2018), “An Introduction to Soil Mechanics”, Springer.