A structure is erected on an impervious clay whose thickness is 12 m. Drainage is possible both at upper and lower surfaces. Coefficient of consolidation is 0.015 cm2 per minute. For attaining 50% consolidation with a time factor 0.20, the number of days required

Soil mechanics is the theory of mechanical properties of soils. Foundation engineering - the theory of stability of foundations and construction methods used for their production. This also includes predicting the deformation of the substrate.

The objectives of soil mechanics are (1) to study the physical and mechanical properties of soil, (2) to apply this knowledge for the solution of practical engineering problems, and (3) to replace by scientific methods the empirical ones of design used in foundation and soil engineering in the past.