Soil Mechanics Laboratory provides students with the fundamental practical skills essential to geotechnical engineering. It complements the theoretical knowledge delivered in lectures by engaging students in the physical characterization and mechanical behavior testing of soils. Through carefully structured experiments, students gain firsthand experience in evaluating the strength, compressibility, and permeability properties of soil, which are critical for the safe and efficient design of foundations and earthworks.
The laboratory includes a range of core geotechnical tests such as the Direct Shear Test for determining shear strength parameters, Oedometer Tests for measuring soil compressibility and consolidation characteristics, and CBR (California Bearing Ratio) Tests for assessing subgrade strength for pavement design. Students also conduct Triaxial Compression Tests (Unconsolidated Undrained - UU) to evaluate shear strength under simulated field stress conditions. Proctor Compaction device to evaluate soil compaction characteristics.
In addition, the lab is equipped with Casagrande devices (both manual and semi-automatic) for liquid limit determination, Sieve Shakers for particle size distribution analysis, and Constant Head Permeability apparatus for determining the hydraulic conductivity of coarse-grained soils.
The aim of the Soil Mechanics Laboratory is to build students' competence in using standard geotechnical equipment, interpreting data, and applying soil behavior theories to real-world problems. Students are actively involved in specimen preparation, apparatus setup, data collection, and result analysis. The experiments are performed in accordance with standard procedures and are closely aligned with classroom instruction, reinforcing learning through hands-on practice. Each session concludes with detailed technical reporting that strengthens the students’ ability to interpret soil behavior and communicate geotechnical findings effectively.
The laboratory has a size of 120 m2 with a capacity of 30 students.
Responsible Person: Dr. Bekir Salih FIRINCIOĞLU
Location: Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ground Floor
