Soil mechanics - Definition and Overview

The study of soil mechanics helps to understand the underlying mechanism for application in civil engineering. Karl von Terzaghi, who worked on a rational approach to soil engineering, is known as the Father of Soil Mechanics.

A civil engineer has many diverse and high importance encounters with soil. Soil is used as a foundation to support structures and embankments, as a construction material; Structures must be designed to retain soil from excavations and underground openings. Soil is encountered in a number of special problems.

See also

• geotechnical engineering
• Terzaghi, K., 1943, Theoretical Soil Mechanics, John Wiley and Sons, New York