K8170140 Soil Mechanics

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2026Year School/Graduate School School of Engineering

Lecture Code K8170140 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name 土質力学

Subject Name
（Katakana）ドシツリキガク

Subject Name in
English Soil Mechanics

Instructor KIDO RYUNOSUKE

Instructor
(Katakana) キド　リュウノスケ

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 2nd-Year,  Second Semester,  4Term

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (4T) Tues3-4,Fri3-4：ENG 102

Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details) Face-to-face

Lecture

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 4 Language of Instruction J : Japanese

Course Level 2 : Undergraduate Low-Intermediate

Course Area（Area） 25 : Science and Technology

Course Area（Discipline） 13 : Civil Engineering

Eligible Students The second year students in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Program

Keywords soil mechanics, engineering classification of soil, compaction  of soil, water flow in soil, compression and consolidation of soil, shear test of soil, shear strength of soil

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status
within Educational
Program
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students) This subject is related to (C) ability to understand the components of problems, and (D) ability to analyze, in the learning and educational goals of the program.
Criterion referenced
Evaluation
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students) Program of Civil and Environmental Engineering
（Abilities and Skills）
・Ability to structuralize problems

Class Objectives
/Class Outline For the construction and management of infrastructures, the knowledge on soil mechanics and foundation engineering is indispensable.  The students will study the fundamentals in this lecture and the exercise of soil mechanics.

Class Schedule lesson1 Overview of geotechnical phenomena and engineering problems related to soils; Basic physical properties of soils
lesson2 Soil classification, physical properties, and compaction characteristics
lesson3 Pore water pressure and the principle of effective stress
lesson4 One-dimensional seepage in soils
lesson5 Multi-dimensional seepage and piping failure in soils
lesson6 Consolidation settlement and calculation of settlement
lesson7 Comprehensive review of Lectures 1–6
lesson8 Midterm examination
lesson9 Prediction of consolidation settlement using the consolidation equation
lesson10 Shear and failure of soils; multi-dimensional stress states
lesson11 Failure criteria of soils
lesson12 Types of shear tests and deformation characteristics of soils
lesson13 Triaxial compression tests under various conditions
lesson14 Comprehensive review of Lectures 9–13
lesson15 Final examination

Text/Reference
Books,etc. 菊本統ら著　わかる土質力学　学芸出版社

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Handouts, Visual Materials, Microsoft Teams, moodle

(More Details) Handouts

Learning techniques to be incorporated Quizzes/ Quiz format

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review Preparation (Before the lecture)

Students are encouraged to purchase the reference textbook “Wakaru Soil Mechanics” by Osamu Kikumoto et al. (Gakugei Publishing) and review the relevant sections before each lecture.

Lecture materials will be posted on Moodle. Please check the materials before attending each lecture.

Review (After the lecture)

Review the lecture materials again.

Lecture videos will be uploaded to Moodle; please watch them after the lecture if necessary.

Requirements

Grading Method Students will be evaluated based on the following components: submission of solutions to exercises conducted during the lectures (20 points), a midterm examination (40 points), and a final examination (40 points), for a total of 100 points. A score of 60 points or higher is required to pass and receive course credit. However, students who fail to submit exercise solutions three or more times will not receive course credit. In addition, students who are absent from the midterm examination will not receive course credit.

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message Soil mechanics is a unique subject within the broader field of science and engineering, as it is rarely studied outside the discipline of civil and environmental engineering (although it is partially covered in architecture and agricultural engineering). Since it is also an important subject that frequently appears in civil service examinations and recruitment tests for private companies, students are expected to acquire a solid understanding of its fundamental concepts.

Other It is recommended that this course be taken together with Soil Mechanics Exercises. Even if students take only this course, studying the exercise problems from the companion course can be beneficial. Upon request, the exercise problems and their solutions from Soil Mechanics Exercises will be provided.

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2026Year	School/Graduate School	School of Engineering
Lecture Code	K8170140	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	土質力学
Subject Name （Katakana）	ドシツリキガク
Subject Name in English	Soil Mechanics
Instructor	KIDO RYUNOSUKE
Instructor (Katakana)	キド　リュウノスケ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	2nd-Year, Second Semester, 4Term
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(4T) Tues3-4,Fri3-4：ENG 102
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face
Lecture
Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week	4	Language of Instruction	J : Japanese
Course Level	2 : Undergraduate Low-Intermediate
Course Area（Area）	25 : Science and Technology
Course Area（Discipline）	13 : Civil Engineering
Eligible Students	The second year students in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Program
Keywords	soil mechanics, engineering classification of soil, compaction of soil, water flow in soil, compression and consolidation of soil, shear test of soil, shear strength of soil
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Educational Program (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)	This subject is related to (C) ability to understand the components of problems, and (D) ability to analyze, in the learning and educational goals of the program.
Criterion referenced Evaluation (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)	Program of Civil and Environmental Engineering （Abilities and Skills）・Ability to structuralize problems
Class Objectives /Class Outline	For the construction and management of infrastructures, the knowledge on soil mechanics and foundation engineering is indispensable. The students will study the fundamentals in this lecture and the exercise of soil mechanics.
Class Schedule	lesson1 Overview of geotechnical phenomena and engineering problems related to soils; Basic physical properties of soils lesson2 Soil classification, physical properties, and compaction characteristics lesson3 Pore water pressure and the principle of effective stress lesson4 One-dimensional seepage in soils lesson5 Multi-dimensional seepage and piping failure in soils lesson6 Consolidation settlement and calculation of settlement lesson7 Comprehensive review of Lectures 1–6 lesson8 Midterm examination lesson9 Prediction of consolidation settlement using the consolidation equation lesson10 Shear and failure of soils; multi-dimensional stress states lesson11 Failure criteria of soils lesson12 Types of shear tests and deformation characteristics of soils lesson13 Triaxial compression tests under various conditions lesson14 Comprehensive review of Lectures 9–13 lesson15 Final examination
Text/Reference Books,etc.	菊本統ら著　わかる土質力学　学芸出版社
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Handouts, Visual Materials, Microsoft Teams, moodle
(More Details)	Handouts
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Quizzes/ Quiz format
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	Preparation (Before the lecture) Students are encouraged to purchase the reference textbook “Wakaru Soil Mechanics” by Osamu Kikumoto et al. (Gakugei Publishing) and review the relevant sections before each lecture. Lecture materials will be posted on Moodle. Please check the materials before attending each lecture. Review (After the lecture) Review the lecture materials again. Lecture videos will be uploaded to Moodle; please watch them after the lecture if necessary.
Requirements
Grading Method	Students will be evaluated based on the following components: submission of solutions to exercises conducted during the lectures (20 points), a midterm examination (40 points), and a final examination (40 points), for a total of 100 points. A score of 60 points or higher is required to pass and receive course credit. However, students who fail to submit exercise solutions three or more times will not receive course credit. In addition, students who are absent from the midterm examination will not receive course credit.
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message	Soil mechanics is a unique subject within the broader field of science and engineering, as it is rarely studied outside the discipline of civil and environmental engineering (although it is partially covered in architecture and agricultural engineering). Since it is also an important subject that frequently appears in civil service examinations and recruitment tests for private companies, students are expected to acquire a solid understanding of its fundamental concepts.
Other	It is recommended that this course be taken together with Soil Mechanics Exercises. Even if students take only this course, studying the exercise problems from the companion course can be beneficial. Upon request, the exercise problems and their solutions from Soil Mechanics Exercises will be provided.
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

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