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Examine soil formation
Assessment Strategies
by scoring 70% or higher on exams
by scoring 70% or higher on quizzes
by completing homework assignments
Criteria
you explain the soil-rock cycle
you describe the relationship between rock color and mineral content
you explain the correlation between parent rock and resulting soil properties
you identify fundamental weathering mechanisms
you distinguish between residual and transported soils
you distinguish between organic and inorganic soils
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Examine subsurface investigation techniques
Assessment Strategies
by scoring 70% or higher on exams
by scoring 70% or higher on quizzes
by completing homework assignments
Criteria
you explain the purpose of subsurface investigation
you describe methods used to perform subsurface investigations
you identify equipment used to perform subsurface investigations
you identify sources of soil information
you explain methods for preserving soil samples
you describe common in-situ tests performed during a subsurface investigation
you explain the correlation between the standard penetration test and soil consistency
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Examine soil moisture
Assessment Strategies
by scoring 70% or higher on exams
by scoring 70% or higher on quizzes
by completing homework assignments
in lab performance
Criteria
you demonstrate proper procedure for performing a soil moisture test
you compute moisture content of a soil given laboratory test results
you identify fundamental soil moisture states
you explain correlation between soil moisture and construction properties
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Examine Atterberg Limits
Assessment Strategies
by scoring 70% or higher on exams
by scoring 70% or higher on quizzes
by completing homework assignments
in lab performance
Criteria
you explain the significance of the Atterberg limits (SL, PL, LL)
you explain difference between cohesive and non-cohesive soils
you explain the correlation between soil moisture and soil consistency
you demonstrate the proper procedure for determining the LL of a soil
you demonstrate the proper procedure for determining the PL of a soil
you compute the PL and LL given lab data
you compute the PI and LI given the Atterberg limits
you describe the consistency of a soil given the Atterberg limits and its natural moisture content
you identify common mistakes made in performing the Atterberg limits tests
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Examine grain size analysis
Assessment Strategies
by scoring 70% or higher on exams
by scoring 70% or higher on quizzes
by completing homework assignments
in lab performance
Criteria
you demonstrate proper procedure for mechanical sieve analysis of soil
you identify common mistakes made in performing a mechanical sieve analysis
you demonstrate proper procedure for hydrometer analysis of soil
you identify common mistakes made in performing a hydrometer analysis
you plot the combined grain size distribution curve for a soil given the test results
you distinguish between uniform, gap, and well graded soil distributions
you compute the coefficient of uniformity and coefficient of gradation given a grain size distribution curve
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Examine the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)
Assessment Strategies
by scoring 70% or higher on exams
by scoring 70% or higher on quizzes
by completing homework assignments
in lab performance
Criteria
you classify a soil using the USCS and results of lab tests on a soil
you identify the two main groups into which the USCS separates soils
you interpret USCS group symbols from soil boring logs
you identify the similarities and differences between the USCS and AASHTO classification systems
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Examine the AASHTO Classification System
Assessment Strategies
by scoring 70% or higher on exams
by scoring 70% or higher on quizzes
by completing homework assignments
in lab performance
Criteria
you classify a soil using the AASHTO system and results of lab test on a soil
you identify the major divisions into which AASHTO classifies soils
you interpret AASHTO group symbols from geotechnical reports
you explain the similarities and differences between the AASHTO and Unified Soil Classification Systems
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Examine the USDA Texture Classification System (USDA)
Assessment Strategies
by scoring 70% or higher on exams
by scoring 70% or higher on quizzes
by completing homework assignments
Criteria
you describe the texture classification of a soil using the USDA texture triangle
you explain the differences between the USDA texture system and the USCS and AASHTO systems
you identify the Munsell color of a soil
you identify oxidation/reduction reaction locations in a soil profile
you identify typical USDA soil horizons
you explain the correlation between soil color, mineral composition and soil moisture
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Examine field and lab compaction of soils
Assessment Strategies
by scoring 70% or higher on exams
by scoring 70% or higher on quizzes
by completing homework assignments
in lab performance
Criteria
you explain the differences between the standard and modified compaction tests
you explain why compaction of soil is important from an engineering standpoint
you explain why the modified proctor compaction test was developed
you demonstrate proper procedure for standard proctor compaction test on soil
you demonstrate proper procedure for modified proctor compaction test on soil
you explore three different methods for determining the in-situ density of soil
you compute the maximum dry density of a soil from lab test results
you plot the moisture density curve for a soil from lab test results
you compute relative compaction given field and lab test results
you explain how the compactability of a soil changes with moisture content
you identify typical compaction equipment used in heavy construction
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Examine shear strength of cohesionless soils
Assessment Strategies
by scoring 70% or higher on exams
by scoring 70% or higher on quizzes
by completing homework assignments
Criteria
you summarize shear
you explain how shear strength of soil impacts constructed facilities
you identify the primary generator of shear strength in cohesionless soils
you identify factors that influence the shear strength of cohesionless soils
you identify lab tests used to determine the shear strength of cohesionless soils
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Examine shear strength of cohesive soils
Assessment Strategies
by scoring 70% or higher on exams
by scoring 70% or higher on quizzes
Criteria
you identify the primary generator of shear strength in cohesive soils
you explain difference between drained and undrained shear strength
you identify lab and field tests used to determine shear strength of cohesive soils
you identify methods used to improve the shear strength of soils
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Examine soil permeability
Assessment Strategies
by scoring 70% or higher on exams
by scoring 70% or higher on quizzes
by completing homework assignments
Criteria
you identify factors that affect soil permeability
you identify laboratory tests used to determine soil permeability
you observe demonstration of lab permeability tests
you identify field tests used to determine permeability
you identify limitations of laboratory permeability tests
you calculate the coefficient of permeability for a soil given lab test results
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Examine soil erosion calculations
Assessment Strategies
by scoring 70% or higher on quizzes
by scoring 70% or higher on exams
by completing homework assignments
Criteria
you identify factors that influence soil erodibility
you compute soil erosion quantity using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE)
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Examine mechanisms used to reduce soil erosion
Assessment Strategies
by scoring 70% or higher on exams
by scoring 70% or higher on quizzes
by completing homework assignments
Criteria
you distinguish between erosion and sedimentation
you identify mechanisms used to limit soil erosion
you identify mechanisms used to limit sedimentation