Overview of Soil Mechanics

Sheet pile design depends on the soil, so this chapter gives an overview of the soil mechanics a designer needs. It covers soil types and classification, strength, unit weight, and how soil properties are determined from borings and tests.

It also covers subsurface exploration, logging, special materials and difficult soils, laboratory testing, and measurement of soil properties in the field. The emphasis is on choosing design values that are reasonable and defensible.

The chapter is a practical refresher for the engineer who is not a geotechnical specialist and a quick reference for the one who is.