GEOTECHENGG PRELIMS-MIDTERMS
Soil particles smaller than 0.001 mm sieve
Colloids
Soil transported and deposited by wind.
Aeolian
Molten rock located deep inside the Earth
Magma
Transitions from a solid to a semi-solid
Shrinkage Limit
Relative compactness of natural cohesionless soil
Density Index (Relative Density)
Density Index
Relative Density
Transitions from a plastic to a liquid
Liquid Limit
The ratio of the plasticity index to the flow index
Toughness Index
The ratio of the volume of voids to the volume of solids
Void Ratio
Ratio of weight of water to weight of solids
Water Content
The geological process in which earthen materials are worn away and transported by natural forces such as wind or water
Erosion
The largest earth dam in the world
Oroville Dam
Space no occupied by soil
Voids
The process of changing the composition and texture of rocks (without melting) by heat, pressure
Metamorphism
Particles passing 0.002 mm sieve but larger than 0.001 mm
Clay
Particles passing 0.075 mm (No. 200) sieve but are larger than 0.002 mm
Silt
Relative compactness of both cohesive and cohesionless soil
Relative Compaction
Father of modern soil mechanics
Karl Terzaghi
Ratio of volume of voids to the volume total
Porosity
Process of breaking down rocks by mechanical and
chemical processes into small pieces
Weathering
Refers to the ability of soil or rock to allow fluids to pass through its pores or fractures
Permeability
The tendency of soil to increase in volume when it absorbs water, critical for soils like clays
Swell Potential
A laboratory test to find the optimum moisture content at which soil can be compacted to its maximum density
Proctor Test
The soil's resistance to shearing forces, which cause layers to slide past one another
Shear Strength
A graph that shows the relationship between water content and dry density of soil
Compaction Curve
A law which governs the flow of fluid through porous media
Darcy's Law
A test that measures the mechanical properties of soil, including its strength and cohesion, under different conditions
Triaxial Test
Layers of sedimentary rock or soil with consistent characteristics that distinguish them from layers above or below
Strata
A ground improvement technique that densifies loose, granular soils by using a vibrating probe
Vibroflotation
Material used to refill an excavation, usually to support a structure or restore the original ground level
Backfill
The controlled use of explosives to break up rock or soil, commonly used in mining and construction to create foundations or tunnels
Blasting
The volume of fluid passing through a given area per unit time
Flow Rate
The process by which soils decrease in volume over time under sustained load, primarily due to the expulsion of water from pore spaces.
Consolidation
The ratio of the volume of voids to the volume of solids in a soil sample
Void Ratio
The proportion of different-sized particles in a soil sample
Grain Size Distribution
A test to determine the size distribution of fine-grained soils by measuring their settling velocity in water
Hydrometer Analysis
The ability of an aquifer to transmit water horizontally, depending on the permeability of the material and the thickness of the aquifer
Transmissivity
An empirical equation used to estimate the hydraulic conductivity of soils based on grain size distribution
Hazen's Formula
Fluid movement in parallel layers, with minimal mixing between the layers
Laminar Flow
A procedure used to determine the liquid limit of soils, which helps classify soil types and predict their behavior under load
Casagrande Method
Transitions from a semi-solid to a plastic state
Plastic Limit