An Inductive Method for Soil Mechanics

Abstract

Soil Mechanics, as one of the most important basic courses in civil engineering, hydraulic engineering and other courses, mainly analyzes the questions of deformation and stability of the soli body. The undergraduates begin to learn soil mechanics after finishing advanced mathematics, college physics, theoretical mechanics and mechanics of materials. The objects researched in the above-mentioned courses are idealised, so the rigorous mathematic deduction is feasible and only a few hypotheses are needed. Soil is different from other materials, so inevitably the methodology and thinking mode in soil mechanics are special compared with other mechanical courses, which makes students feel confused at the beginning stage of this course. It is necessary to let students know the teaching idea, research method, common problems during the instruction of soil mechanics, which is also helpful to their further studies and researches. Based on these factors, an inductive teaching method is put forward, which summarizes the essential ideas and important questions in soil mechanics.