Projects in Soil Mechanics

Sample Software
Developed as Course Projects
by Undergraduate Students
Note: Feedback re. any of the programs herein is welcome

Bcap - by Nerses Ketcheji (1995)
Bearing Capacity of Shallow Isolated Footings. This is a windows based program which allows for the analysis or design of spread footings, given various conditions of footing shape, load inclination, load eccentricity, subsurface layers, layer inclinations, footing base inclination, and water table levels.

Geopac - by Anani S., Najjar N., Najjar S. and Ramadi R. (1998)
This is multi-purpose package which allows for the design and analysis of shallow foundations. It allows for the calculation of immediate settlements in sands, as well as immediate and consolidation settlements in clays. The background and theories are included within the package as help menus, along with a software manual.

FSett - by John Mike (1996)
Settlement of Shallow Isolated Footings on Sands. This is a comprehensive windows based program which allows for the evaluation of the immediate settlements of footings on sands using a number of approaches based on correlations, SPT or CPT field data.

EZ-Piles - by Jamil Bardawil and Gabriel Khoury (1997-8)
Capacity (vertical loads and uplift) and settlement of axially loaded single piles or pile groups. This is a comprehensive windows based program which allows for the analysis of piles based on a number of available analyses (Meyerhof, Vesic, Janbu, etc.). The background and theories are included within the package as help menus, along with a software manual, and context-sensitve help.

RetWall - by Abou-Jawdeh J., Abou-Zeid M. and Al-Haddad I. (1998)
Analysis of Gravity and Cantilever retaining walls. This is a windows based program which allows the user flexibility in selecting the desired methods of analysis (Rankine, Coulomb) and performs all the necessary stability checks (Bearing, Sliding, Overturning). In the case of cantilever concrete walls, it completes the structural design by producing the reinforcement details. Other options that the software provides are provisions for adding a surcharge behind the wall, a water table and a shear-key to the wall base.

Retain - by Anani S., Najjar N. and Ramadi R. (1999)
Design and Analysis of Reinforced Soil Walls. This is a comprehensive windows-based program which allows the user to design and/or analyze for the stability of reinforced soil walls. It includes a number of options such as a cost estimate module which provides the projected cost of various design combinations based on user specified unit rates. The software analyses for the safety factors against tie breakage, pullout, along with the traditional checks for overturning, bearing failure and sliding. It includes an option for adding an area surchage on the wall. Furthermore, the background and theories are included within the package as help menus, along with a software manual.

Soil Improvement - by Gabriel Khoury (1999)
This is a teaching and design-aid developed for selecting and identifying appropriate improvement alternatives given specific site conditions, levels and of types of modifications required. the software is structured as an expandable easy to access relational database. Various improvement techniques are included and classified based on suitability under given conditions, etc. A full help menu and manual is included for ease of use. This is an attempt at starting a process which will be further enhanced as the database is used, enlarged and modified. The user can customize the software at will and include their own experience, expertise, and local preferences as to soil-improvement techniques.

FleXim - by Rami Akik and Rami Jabakhanji. (1997)
Design and Analysis of Flexible Pavements using AASHTO. This is user-friendly windows-based tool allowing for the easy analysis and design of flexible pavement systems.