Includes index.

Geotechnical engineering : a historical perspective -- Origin of soil and grain size -- Weight-volume relationships -- Plasticity and structure of soil -- Classification of soil -- Soil compaction -- Permeability -- Seepage -- In situ stresses -- Stresses in a soil mass -- Compressibility of soil -- Shear strenght of soil -- Lateral earth pressure : at-reast, Rankine, and Coulomb -- Lateral earth pressure : curved failure surface -- Slope stability -- Soil bearing capacity for shallow foundations -- Subsoil exploration.

Offers an overview of soil properties and mechanics together with coverage of field practices and basic engineering procedure. Background information needed to support study in later design-oriented courses or in professional practice is provided through a wealth of comprehensive discussions, detailed explanations, and more figures and worked out problems than any other text in the market.