This book is the outcome of the authors long teaching experience and has been designed to meet the needs of Civil Engineering curricula for the courses in Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering of Indian Universities. The book has been written mainly in the S.I. Units, although some problems and examples in the M.K.S. system have been included for convenience during the period of transition. The concepts have been developed systematically in lucid language, sufficient number of well-graded Numerical examples and problems for solution have been included, and the answers for the latter have been given at the end of the book. Summary of main points and chapter-wise references have been given at the end of each chapter. References are made to the relevant Indian standard at appropriate places. The book covers the syllabus in "Geotechnical Engineering" for the Degree and Diploma students in Civil Engineering and is designed to be useful to practicing Engineers as well. About The Author: C. Venkatramaiah , graduated in Civil Engineering from the Engineering College, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, in 1957, and obtained the postgraduate degree in Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering from the College of Engineering, Guindy, Madras, in 1961, as part of the Technical Teachers Training Programme of the Ministry of Scientific Research and Cultural Affairs, Govt of India. The author served on the faculty of the Engineering College, Kakinada, and the College of Engineering, Guindy, Madras, before joining the Sri Venkateswara University College of Engineering, Tirupati, in 1962. He rose to the position of Reader in 1964 and of Professor in 1976 and secured his Ph.D. Degree from the I.I.T. Madras. The author held various positions of ac