IS 7717:1996 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for glossary of terms relating to soil mechanics and foundation engineering. This standard serves as a comprehensive glossary, defining the terminology used in the fields of soil mechanics and foundation engineering. It establishes standardized definitions for terms related to soil properties, classification, site investigation, and foundation design concepts to ensure clarity and consistency in communication.
Defines important terms and concepts used in the fields of soil mechanics and foundation engineering.
BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.
| Parameter | IS Value | International | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definition of 'Clay' | An aggregate of microscopic and sub-microscopic particles derived from the chemical decomposition of rock constituents... with particle size less than 2 microns. | Soil passing a No. 200 (75-µm) sieve that can be made to exhibit plasticity... For classification, a clay is a fine-grained soil... with a plasticity index equal to or greater than 4, and the plot of plasticity index versus liquid limit falls on or above the 'A' line. | ASTM D653-22 |
| Structure of Terminology | Terms are grouped into 11 thematic sections (e.g., Soil Properties, Foundation Engineering). | Terms are listed in a single alphabetical order, not grouped by theme. | ASTM D653-22 |
| Definition of 'Bearing Capacity' | The load per unit area which the soil or rock can carry without yielding or displacement. | The standard explicitly defines sub-types like 'ultimate bearing capacity' and 'allowable bearing capacity', which are components of design equations. | EN 1997-1:2004+A1:2013 |
| Definition of 'Consolidation' | A gradual process of reduction in the volume of a soil mass of low permeability, resulting from an increase in compressive stress. | Defines 'consolidation' and also provides separate, distinct definitions for 'primary consolidation' and 'secondary consolidation (secondary compression)'. | ASTM D653-22 |
| Terminology for 'Geosynthetics' | Terms related to geosynthetics (geotextiles, geogrids) are largely absent. | Contains a comprehensive list of definitions for various geosynthetics and their functions (e.g., 'geocomposite', 'geogrid', 'geonet', 'geotextile', 'reinforcement'). | ASTM D653-22 |
| Term for 'Factor of Safety' | Defined as the ratio of the ultimate load, or yield stress, to the working load, or working stress. | Eurocode 7 avoids the single 'Factor of Safety' concept, instead using 'partial factors' applied to actions (loads), material properties, and resistances. | EN 1997-1:2004+A1:2013 |