"Review of soil properties, Site investigation methods, Bearing capacity of shallow foundations, Allowable bearing capacity and settlement analysis, Lateral earth pressures, Retaining wall design COURSE OBJECTIVES The main objectives of the course include: 1.Review key concepts of soil mechanics that are useful in the design of geotechnical structures. 2.Introduce students to various site investigation tools with particular emphasis on Standard Penetration Test. Focus is to teach students how they can be used in geotechnical engineering practice. 3.Enable students to understand general and local shear failure modes, Terzaghi’s & General bearing capacity equations, bearing capacity factors, effect of shape, and factor of safety. 4.Enable student to understand stress distribution theory and to estimate immediate (elastic) and primary consolidation settlements of shallow foundations. 5.Enable students to understand the definition of active, passive and at rest states, stress distribution diagrams and to determine the resultant pressures for various scenarios. 6.Enable students to design retaining walls by understanding design principles, proportioning of walls and to understand the stability of retaining walls for overturning, sliding and bearing capacity."