Types of Earth Retention Systems and How to Choose One
Soldier piles, sheet piles, secant piles, soil nails and slurry walls compared, with soil and groundwater limits, OSHA triggers, reported costs and a free selector.
Nov 6, 20269 min read
Soil Mechanics
Explore Soil Mechanics concepts—learn about soil properties, testing methods, bearing capacity, and the principles shaping safe and strong foundations.
32 articles in Soil Mechanics
Read MoreTypes of Earth Retention Systems and How to Choose One
Concrete, Soil and Asphalt Testing on Construction Sites: What Site Engineers Should Know
A practical guide to site testing of concrete, soil and asphalt: what slump, cube, Proctor, sand replacement, CBR, aggregate and bitumen tests tell you, and how to use the results.
Nov 3, 20268 min read
Retaining Wall Cost per Foot 2026: Block vs Poured Concrete vs Timber vs Stone
A retaining wall holds back soil so you can level a yard, stop erosion or make space for a driveway.…
Oct 10, 20264 min read
House Settlement Cracks: When to Worry & Who to Call (Structural Engineer vs Contractor)
Almost every house gets some cracks. Most are harmless. A few are early warnings of a foundation problem that gets…
Oct 10, 20265 min read
Foundation Repair Cost 2026: Types of Cracks, Repair Methods & Price Range (Engineer Explains)
A crack in the foundation is scary, and the first question is always the same: how much will this cost…
Oct 10, 20266 min read
Coulomb Earth Pressure Theory: Active & Passive Formula, Wall Friction & Worked Example
Coulomb earth pressure theory explained: Ka and Kp formulas with wall friction, Coulomb vs Rankine, a values table and a step-by-step 6 m wall example.
Sep 29, 20265 min read
Rankine Earth Pressure Theory: Active & Passive Pressure Calculation with Examples
Every retaining wall, basement wall, sheet pile, and braced excavation must resist lateral earth pressure — the horizontal force a…
Sep 17, 20265 min read
Consolidation of Soil: Terzaghi Theory, Settlement Calculation & Worked Example
When a saturated clay layer is loaded — by a new building, embankment, or fill — the applied stress is…
Sep 17, 20265 min read
Pile Foundation Design: Types, Load Capacity Formulas & When to Use Piles
When the soil near the surface is too weak to carry a structure’s load, engineers drive or bore piles —…
Sep 17, 20266 min read
Safe Bearing Capacity of Soil: Values Table, Formula & How to Calculate
Safe bearing capacity (SBC) is the maximum pressure the soil beneath a foundation can carry safely — without shear failure…
Aug 5, 20265 min read
Specific Gravity of Soil Solids: Why Gs = 2.65 Is Not Universal
Ask any engineering student what value to use for the specific gravity of soil solids, and the answer comes back…
May 17, 20264 min read
Unit Weight of Soil: Types, Formulas, Values, and Applications (kN/m³ Explained)
When an engineer designs a retaining wall, one of the first things calculated is the lateral earth pressure pushing against…
May 17, 202616 min read