What is the significance of soil mechanics in civil engineering?
Everything involving Civil Engineering is built on soil. From buildings, to roads, to bridges, to water treatment plants and dams.. Understanding soil mechanics enables the engineer to design a structure suitable for the soil it is proposed to sit on. Understanding soil mechanics can lead to decisions like which type of foundation to use, shallow or deep. It can also determine how much settlement the structure will induce on the soil, how much excavation is required before suitable material is achieved. It is also very important in slope stability, understand soil to soil interaction with the presence of water may lead to decisions about the safety of slope against failure. I hope this helps.
