Soil Mechanics: Basic Concepts and Engineering Applications is primarily designed as a main text for university students taking first degree courses in civil engineering as well as environmental and agricultural engineering. Emphasis is placed on presenting fundamental behaviour before more advanced topics are introduced. The special structure of the book, embodied in each chapter, makes it possible to be used in two, three and four year undergraduate courses in soil mechanics. However, as new and advanced topics that extend beyond standard undergraduate courses are included, the book will also be a valuable resource for the practicing professional engineer. A problem solving approach is adopted through all chapters and 152 worked examples demonstrate the engineering applications, simulate problem solving learning and facilitate self-teaching. There are 113 unsolved problems with answers set for solution by students.

The term "soil" has many definitions, depending upon who is using the term. For example, to engineers "soil" is unconsolidated surficial material, whereas to many soil scientists it is mainly the medium for plant growth. A definition of soil that serves our purpose well is a slight modification of that given by Joffe'": a soil is described as a natural body consisting of layers or horizons of mineral and/or organic constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent material in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties and their biological characteristics; at least some of these properties are pedogenic (Fig. 1-1). Soil horizons generally are unconsolidated, but some contain sufficient amounts of silica, carbonates, or iron oxides to be cemented <...>

Over the years manufacturers have developed many generic forms of solid/liquid separator. The need to compete in the marketplace and gain a competitive edge, however, has led manufacturers to develop a plethora of variants. Rather than detailing all of these variants, this chapter attempts to give a descriptive overview of the generic equipment types and the main alternatives available to the design engineer (see Figure 1.1).

The Mississippi Valley-Type (MVT) Central and East Tennessee (TN) Districts contain economically significant lead-zinc deposits that occur in the Early Ordovician carbonates of the Knox Group. Although both districts share similar host rock, have similar temperatures of formation, and typically fill open spaces of collapse breccias or replace their host carbonates, previous studies may suggest that these ores did not form from the same mineralizing fluids and may have different Pb sources.