The Division of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering is one of the oldest Postgraduate division in the country, which was established in the year 1958.. It has concentrated on various dimensions of Geotechnical problems. Through sustained research efforts, over a period of more than two decades, on residual soils and behaviour of lightly loaded structures, this division has established procedures to evaluate the behaviour of expansive soils, distress in buildings and remedial measure including guidelines to stabilise the expansive soils by Lime Slurry Pressure Injection Technique (LSPI).

This division is one among few departments in the country pioneered in the field of Geosynthetics and its Applications.

Currently this division concentrates more on the field of Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering and is trying to establish Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering lab.

Brief Write up of Most Successful Research Projects:

This Division carried out a project on “Instability problem of slopes of Krishna Water Canal” sponsored by Public Works Departments, Government of Tamil Nadu. The length of the Canal is 25km and depth of cut varied from 3m to 7.5m with slope of 1.5:1 and 1:1 in immature clay shale deposit. On execution of the work, collapse of slope at several locations was reported. A detailed study was conducted and reasons for collapse of slope were brought out. Suitable remedial measures were recommended. The slopes were reformed based on our recommendations and restored slopes are functioning without any problem for the past 8 years.