preface about the authors list of symbols introduction chapter 1 basic characteristics and engineering classification of soils 1.1 introduction 1.2 soil ition and phase relationshi 1.3 soil fabric 1.4 particle size analysis 1.5 density properties for granular soils 1.6 plasticity properties of soils 1.7 soil paction 1.8 engineering classification of soils exercises bibliography chapter 2 permeability of soil and seepage force 2.1 introduction 2.2 capillary phenomena 2.3 groundwater movement and darcys law 2.4 determination of permeability coefficient 2.5 flow s 2.6 seepage force 2.7 critical hydraulic gradient exercises bibliography chapter 3 stress distribution in soil 3.1 introduction 3.2 stresses due to self-weight 3.3 effective stress principle 3.4 contact pressure between the foundation and the ground 3.5 additional stress in ground base 3.6 additional stress in plane problem exercises bibliography chapter 4 pression and consolidation of soils 4.1 introduction 4.2 pressibility characteristics 4.3 calculation of settlement of foundation 4.4 one-dimensional consolidation theory exercises bibliography chapter 5 shear strength 5.1 shear resistance 5.2 mohr-coulomb failure criterion 5.3 shear strength tests 5.4 effective stress paths 5.5 characteristics of shear strength of cohesionless soil 5.6 characteristics of shear strength of cohesive soil exercises bibliography chapter 6 bearing capacity 6.1 introduction 6.2 critical edge pressure 6.3 prandtls bearing capacity theory 6.4 modification of prandtls bearing capacity theory 6.5 terzaghis bearing capacity theory exercises bibliography chapter 7 slope stability analysis 7.1 introduction 7.2 factors and engineering measures that influence soil slope stability 7.3 stability analysis of cohesionless soil slope 7.4 stability analysis of a cohesive soil slope 7.5 stability number method exercises bibliography chapter 8 earth pressure and retaining walls 8.1 introduction 8.2 earth pressure on the retaining wall 8.3 calculation of the at-rest earth pressure 8.4 rankines earth pressure theory 8.5 coulombs earth pressure theory 8.6 design of earth-retaining structures exercises bibliography appendix a: english-chinese translation of frequently used terminologies appendix b: answers to the exercises index