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𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗥𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗱 𝗗𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗶𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻👷🏻♂️🏗️
🔎𝑫𝒚𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒄 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: involves dropping heavy weights from significant heights onto the soil surface to densify loose granular soils. The repeated impact compacts the soil by rearranging the particles, reducing voids, and increasing density and stability.
🔎𝑹𝒂𝒑𝒊𝒅 𝑫𝒚𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒄 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: Similar to dynamic compaction, this method uses a series of quick, repeated impacts with a lighter weight. It is suitable for shallower depths and provides quicker, yet effective, compaction for less dense soils.
🔎𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝑹𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈: technique uses a non-cylindrical, heavy roller (often shaped like a sheep’s foot) to compact soil. The impact from the roller’s shape penetrates deeper than conventional rolling, creating a kneading action that compacts soils effectively.
🔎𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑹𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈: Utilizes smooth or padfoot rollers to compact soil through static weight and vibration. It is effective for surface layers and is widely used for compacting base layers in road construction and other projects, providing uniform density and smoothness.
The real problem with your soil? You can’t see it.
Because the most important part of your soil… isn’t physical.
It’s biological.
For years, we’ve treated soil as an inert medium.
Add NPK, irrigate, manage pH—done.
But here’s the truth:
Soil is alive.
And what lives within it defines how well your farm performs.
1.Over 50% of Malaysian agricultural soils show signs of biological decline.
2. Globally, topsoil is being lost 10x faster than it can be replenished.
And yet, we’re still trying to solve this with more inputs, not more biology.
Here’s what can’t be seen—but must be managed:
1. Microbial biomass.
2. Functional diversity.
3. Plant-microbe interactions.
These factors drive nutrient availability, carbon cycling, root development, and resilience to climate stress.
How microbes reshape the future of soil management:
1. Biological Fertility → Microbes convert unavailable nutrients into plant-ready forms.
2.Resilient Root Systems → Mycorrhizae and rhizobacteria increase drought and disease tolerance.
3. Natural Pest Control → Beneficial microbes outcompete pathogens in the rhizosphere.
4. Organic Matter Retention → Microbial activity stabilizes carbon in the soil long-term.
5. Reduced Input Dependency → Healthier microbiomes mean less need for synthetic fertilizers.
- In Malaysia, farmers using microbial inoculants report improved yields and lower fertilizer costs.
- In Brazil, microbial biostimulants are being adopted across 20+ million hectares of cropland.
- The Netherlands is now integrating microbial testing into precision ag systems.
So what if we’ve been asking the wrong question all along?
It’s not “What fertilizer do I need?”
It’s:
“What’s missing in my soil’s biology?”
Farmers, agronomists, researchers—how are you using microbial tools in your soil strategy?
Tag someone who’s working below the surface
#DrSuzie#SoilHealthExpert#Presica#GreenSoilSolution#CultivateAgri#SoilMicrobes#MicrobialFarming#Biofertility#SoilBiology#RegenerativeAgriculture#PrecisionAg#SmartFarming#SustainableFarming#FarmInnovation#ClimateSmartAg#AgTech
Dr Suzie
Soil Health Expert (SHE)
Imagine an olive grove for example. An agricultural set up that can either be a mono plantation constantly 'fighting' nature or a more biodiverse ecosystem looking to collaborate with nature.
Example 1:
Apply artificial fertilisers that disrupt the microbial-fungal exchange networks that understand and naturally build and balance soil life. The knock on effect is a reducing of natural fertility further and weakening of plant health.
Then the the application of herbicides to remove all vegetation, creating bare soil and denude biodiversity that supports natural predators and brings balance. Fungi become imbalanced and more aggressive as nature looks to counteract the poisoning.
Perhaps a bit of tilling now as well to help oxide the soil, expose any microbial soil life to harmful UV rays and make compaction and run off worse long term.
Next pesticides are used in theory to maintain quality and yield while systematically whipping out most if not all biodiversity and poisoning the host plants.
Then fungicidal use is needed to support trees now more susceptible to infections, killing any beneficial fungi that remain. This then leads to a fungi- bacteria imbalance and disease becomes inevitable as the more aggressive pathogens such as gram negative bacteria thrive and cause disease and dieback.
When it rains the flood / drought double sided coin comes into play and most water runs off the compacted soil and is lost.
Example 2:
Soil is kept permanently covered with diverse perennial and annual local grasses and forbs. Soil organic matter is slowly increased. The multi sized roots opening up the soil and aiding de-compaction while root exudates feed the soil biology. Leguminous species collaborate with nitrogen fixing bacteria to create nitrogen banks in the soil. The grasses are cut regularly to help build organic matter. When it rains the majority of the water is held in the soil and is there for slow release.
Non use of pesticides allow beneficial biodiversity to set up home and start to create balance. Spiders often being the key to biodiversity balance. Nature's natural predators bring balance.
By creating the right conditions for fungal species to proliferate, the fungal - bacterial balance is restored. Aggressive pathogen bacterial species tend to be kept in check and not spread into the realm of disease causing.
A bit simplified, but I know which example I would choose for the long term..
#biodiversity#miyawkimethod#ecosystem#ecosystemrestoration#nature#olivetree#olivegrove#nature#naturebasedsolutions#restoration#reforestation#gaia#permaculture#syntropic#biodynamic#organic
#Agronomy is the solution to clean water ! Water and soils are connected !
The illustration showcases a #slacktest:
We immerse aggregates from two types of soil and observe whether the soil withstands water.
Fertile and "living" soil resists water because biological porosity and organic matter help create a natural glue.
Dysfunctional and low-fertility soil disintegrates; its biological status is often degraded, and organic matter levels are low.
Soil that fails this test cannot withstand heavy rain.
It will compact, become impermeable, and be prone to erosion.
Here, two soils are compared:
The soil on the left uses no-till farming practices.
The soil on the right employs conventional techniques, including systematic tillage and plowing.
This simple test, which can be conducted on the farm, is valuable.
It highlights the agronomic quality of the soil as well as the interaction between farming practices and their impact on water quality.
The soil on the left will better retain water, recharge aquifers, and reduce sediment transfer to rivers, thanks to its resistance to erosion.
The soil on the right will lose silt and clay annually, reducing its potential and becoming a source of dysfunction in the local hydrosystem.
When repeated over large areas, the dominance of one practice will either contribute to regeneration or lead to degradation.
This is a significant responsibility for agriculture, which occupies between 50% and 90% of the land in a given territory.
Let us always remember this close relationship between soil quality, agricultural practices, and water quality.
These concepts go beyond the simple use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. They touch on biological activity and structural stability, both influenced by the management of organic matter and the intensity of soil tillage.
I am interested in your feedback and experiences on this topic to emphasize the importance of this issue and this perspective 🧭
#agroecology#regenerativeagricultureBIOSPHERES, Regenerative Agriculture
****Understanding Soil Models in Geotechnical Engineering****
In geotechnical engineering and geomechanics, a soil model refers to a mathematical representation or description of the mechanical behavior of soil materials under various loading and environmental conditions. These models are pivotal in predicting how soils will deform, settle, or respond to external forces and stresses. This understanding is crucial for the design of structures such as foundations, retaining walls, embankments, tunnels, and other geotechnical projects.
Soil models can be broadly categorized into two main types:
**Constitutive Models: These models describe the stress-strain behavior of soils based on fundamental soil properties and material behavior. Their goal is to capture the intricate mechanical behavior of soils, including their elastic, plastic, and time-dependent responses. Constitutive models often feature equations and parameters that encapsulate concepts of elasticity, plasticity, and creep. The types of soil constitutive models include:
1. Elastic Model
2. Linear Viscoelastic Model
3. Plastic Models
4. Modified Cam-Clay
5. Duncan-Chang Hyperbolic Model
6. Hyperplastic Model
7. Hypoelastic Model
8. Viscoplastic Model
9. Barcelona Basic Model
**Numerical Models: These models entail the numerical simulation of soil behavior using computational techniques such as the finite element method (FEM) or finite difference method (FDM). By dividing the soil into discrete elements or cells, these models apply mathematical equations to simulate the interaction and deformation of these elements under various loads. They can represent intricate geometries, boundary conditions, and loading scenarios, offering insights into stress distribution, deformation patterns, and potential failure mechanisms.
**Stay tuned as I delve deeper into each type of constitutive model in my upcoming posts, providing insights and detailed explanations.**
#civilengineering#geotechnicalengineeringlibrary#geotechnics#soilmechanics#soil#soilscience#plasticity#elasticity#foundation#retainingwall#tunneling#stress#strain#soilmodels#NumericalAnalysis#numericalmethods#mechanicsofmaterial#computationaltechnique#coulombcriterion#Loading#reloading#consolidation#clay#sand#cohesion#friction
2 soils, 2 completely different futures. 1 problem.
The left circle ➜ Degraded & compacted soil
✦ 74% sand, silt & clay (mineral particles)
✦ 15% water
✦ 10% air
✦ 1% organic matter
The right circle ➜ Healthy & well aggregated soil
✦ 30% sand, silt & clay
✦ 30% water
✦ 30% air
✦ 10% soil organic matter (SOM)
The difference is soil structure.
High organic matter creates micro and macro porosity that allows for balanced water and air movement.
❌ In degraded soil: Water either runs off or gets trapped. Air can't penetrate and roots really struggle.
✅ In healthy soil: Water infiltrates and is held when needed. Air moves freely and biology truly thrives.
But how do we get there? And quickly? (10x increase in SOM could take up to 100+ years at normal pace)
The answer:
👏🏼 Management approaches.
Prioritising regenerative practices that build structure and porosity VS conventional practices that reduce organic matter and compact soil.
That means focusing on:
👉 Soil coverage
👉 Diversified crop rotation
👉 Reduced tillage
👉 Nutrient cycling
👉 Integrated grazing
This is how people with land can transform big assets into profitable ones… while altering the Earth for the better.
Dynamic Compaction (DC) is a ground improvement technique used to enhance the bearing capacity and stability of weak or loose soils by increasing their density. It involves dropping a heavy weight (tamper) from a significant height onto the ground surface in a systematic pattern. The energy generated from the impact compacts the soil layers, reduces voids, and increases soil strength.
Why Dynamic Compaction is Needed
1. Improve Soil Strength:
DC increases the soil’s load-bearing capacity, making it suitable for supporting structures such as buildings, roads, and heavy equipment foundations.
2. Reduce Settlements:
By compacting the soil, DC minimizes future differential or total settlements, ensuring long-term stability for structures.
3. Mitigate Liquefaction Risks:
For areas prone to earthquakes, DC can densify loose, saturated sands, reducing the potential for soil liquefaction.
4. Cost-Effective Alternative:
Compared to other ground improvement methods like piling or replacing the soil, DC is often more economical.
5. Environmentally Friendly:
It reuses the existing soil on-site, minimizing the need for importing or disposing of materials.
6. Wide Range of Applications:
It is effective for various soil types, especially granular soils, and can also improve loose fills and reclaimed land.
Process of Dynamic Compaction
1. Weight Selection:
A tamper (typically 10–40 tons) is used.
2. Drop Height:
The tamper is dropped from heights ranging from 10 to 30 meters, depending on soil type and compaction requirements.
3. Grid Pattern:
The tamper is dropped repeatedly in a planned grid pattern to cover the entire treatment area.
4. Rest Periods:
The treated soil is allowed to rest and consolidate before subsequent passes.
Dynamic Compaction is crucial for improving soil properties in large-scale construction projects like industrial facilities, ports, airports, and residential developments.
Hello Civil Engineers!
📘 Sharing the Comprehensive Soil Mechanics Formula Notes
This is an essential resource meticulously curated for students, aspiring engineers, GATE aspirants, and professionals in the field of Geotechnical Engineering.
The PDF compilation encapsulates everything from foundational soil behavior to advanced topics like consolidation, shear strength, slope stability, and foundation design. It brings together the most critical concepts, equations, and field testing methods every civil engineer needs for exams and practice.
🔎 What the Soil Mechanics Formula Notes Cover
★ Foundational Principles:
▪ Three-phase system of soils
▪ Water content, void ratio, degree of saturation
▪ Bulk & dry unit weights
★ Laboratory & Field Methods:
▪ Oven drying, pycnometer, core cutter, water displacement
▪ Sand replacement, balloon method
★ Plasticity & Consistency Indices:
▪ Plasticity index, flow index, liquidity index
▪ Activity of clays, Atterberg limits
★ Permeability & Seepage:
▪ Darcy’s law, constant & falling head tests
▪ Pumping tests, horizontal & vertical flows, permeability stratification
★ Consolidation & Settlement:
▪ Terzaghi’s one-dimensional consolidation theory
▪ Coefficient of consolidation, time factor, settlement calculations
★ Shear Strength & Testing:
▪ Mohr’s circle representation
▪ Triaxial, vane shear, and unconfined compression tests
★ Slope Stability & Earth Pressure:
▪ Active, passive, and earth pressure at rest
▪ Slope stability factors
▪ Bearing capacity for shallow & deep foundations
★ Standard Field Tests:
▪ Standard Penetration Test (SPT)
▪ Plate Load Test
▪ Boring methods
★ Classification & Load Bearing:
▪ Pile classification & load transfer mechanisms
▪ Bearing capacity computations
★ Quick Reference Tables:
▪ Formula-based section for last-minute revision
✨ Features & Benefits
★ Exam-focused – Perfect for GATE, ESE, university exams, and interviews
★ Concise yet comprehensive – Ideal for quick revision
★ Expert-driven – Consolidates years of practical & theoretical knowledge
📌 How to Use These Notes
★ As a ready reckoner during exams & fieldwork
★ To strengthen fundamentals & bridge to advanced concepts
★ As a teaching aid for educators & mentors guiding civil and geotechnical students
👉youtube : https://lnkd.in/eB4_WAnn
🔖 hashtag#SoilMechanics hashtag#GeotechnicalEngineering hashtag#CivilEngineering hashtag#GATE hashtag#EngineeringExams hashtag#SoilTesting hashtag#FormulaSheet hashtag#LinkedInLearning
#Soil investigation doesn’t end in the field—once samples are retrieved from boreholes, the real detective work begins in the laboratory. Lab testing gives engineers the quantitative properties needed to evaluate soil behavior and design safe, cost-effective foundations.
1. Atterberg Limits Test
-Tests: Liquid Limit (LL), Plastic Limit (PL), and Plasticity Index (PI)
-Purpose: Determines fine-grained soils' consistency, plasticity, and behavior (clays and silts).
-Benefit: Helps classify soil types (CL, CH, etc.) and predict shrink/swell potential.
Video:https://lnkd.in/dWdfN4kA
2. Grain Size Distribution (Sieve and Hydrometer Analysis)
-Tests: Mechanical Sieve (for sands and gravels), Hydrometer (for silts and clays)
-Purpose: Measures the percentage of different particle sizes in the soil.
-Benefit: Critical for soil classification (e.g., GP, SM, CL) and assessing permeability.
Video:https://lnkd.in/dE_93UFf
3. Standard Proctor and Modified Proctor Compaction Tests
-Purpose: Determines the optimum moisture content and maximum dry density for soil compaction.
-Benefit: Vital for earthworks, roadbeds, and embankment design—ensures proper field compaction.
Video:https://lnkd.in/drii_FCm
4. Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) Test
-Purpose: Measures the compressive strength of cohesive soils (especially clay).
-Benefit: Provides a quick measure of shear strength,used in stability and bearing capacity calculations.
Video: https://lnkd.in/ddUxHSXk
5. Triaxial Shear Test (UU, CU, CD)
-Purpose: Simulates field stress conditions to measure shear strength under various drainage conditions.
-Benefit: Offers more accurate strength parameters (ϕ and c) for slope stability and foundation design.
Video:https://lnkd.in/d9aFgn29
6. Consolidation Test (Oedometer Test)
-Purpose: Measures the settlement behavior of soil under long-term loading.
-Benefit: Predicts how much and how fast the soil will compress under foundation loads—essential for buildings, tanks, and bridges.
Video:https://lnkd.in/dRQRJVkA
7. Permeability Test
-Tests: Constant Head (for coarse soils), Falling Head (for fine soils)
-Purpose: Measures the rate at which water flows through soil.
-Benefit: Crucial for drainage design, retaining structures, and seepage control.
Video:https://lnkd.in/dhKe9XtV
8. Specific Gravity Test
-Purpose: Measures the ratio of the unit weight of soil solids to that of water.
-Benefit: Important in calculating void ratio, porosity, and degree of saturation
Video:https://lnkd.in/dHeH7azw
9. Chemical Testing (pH, Sulfate, Chloride Content, Organic Matter)
-Purpose: Identifies aggressive soil conditions.
-Benefit: Protects foundations and underground utilities from chemical attack and corrosion.
Video:https://lnkd.in/d2Yzc43y#SoilInvestigation#LabTesting