Phases of Soils1
Phases of Soils1
Phases of Soils1
Phase Relations of
Soil
Symbols for Phase Relations of soils
e Voids ratio.
GS Specific gravity of the solids of a soil.
n Porosity.
S Degree of saturation.
V Total volume (solids + water + air).
Va Volume of air.
VV Volume of voids (water + air).
VS Volume of solids.
VW Volume of water.
w Water content (also known as the moisture content).
WS Weight of solids.
WW Weight of water.
g Unit weight of the soil.
gd Dry unit weight of the soil.
gb Buoyant unit weight of the soil (same as g).
gSAT Unit weight of a saturated soil.
gW Unit weight of water
1
Basic Concepts and Formulas for the Phases of Soils.
1. - Voids
ratio e
e 2-1
V
V
V
S
2. -
Porosity n V
V
100%
n V
2
2 .2
ranges from 0% to 100%.
The interrelationship of the voids ratio and porosity are given by,
3
n e
e and n 2-3
1 n 1 e
3.- Saturation S
S x100 2-4
%
V
W
V
V
(B)Weight Relationships:
4. - Water
content w
WW
w 2-5
x100%
WS
WWSWW
2-6
VVSVWVA
The unit weight may range from being dry to being saturated.
Some engineers use bulk density to refer to the ratio of mass of the solids and water
3
contained in a unit volume (in Mg/m ). Note that,
W m
g g which is the equivalent of F 2-6
ma.
V V
WS 2-7
d
V 1 w
4
The soil is perfectly dry (its moisture is zero).
WW
w
where g (F ma)
VW
62.4 pcf 1g/ 1 kg / 3
w 9.81 kN / m
ml liter
5
Note that the above is for fresh water. Salt water is 64 pcf, etc.
WS WW
SAT V V 0 2-8
S W
Typical Values for the Specific Gravity of Minerals in Soils and Rocks
Mineral Composition Absolute specific gravity Gs
Anhydrite CaSO4 2.90
Barites BaSO4 4.50
Calcite, chalk CaCO3 2.71
Feldspar KALSi3O8 2.60 to 2.70
Gypsum CaSO4 2H2O 2.30
Hematite Fe2O3 5.20
Kaolinite Al4Si4O10(OH)8 2.60
Magnetite Fe3O4 5.20
Lead Pb 11.34
Quartz (silica) SiO2 2.65
Peat Organic 1.0 or less
Diatomaceous earth Skeletons of plants 2.00
6
Other useful formulas dealing with phase relationships:
Se wGS
s
e 1
dry
1 wGs
SAT ' w
d
1 w s w
w
1 e (1 (S wGs )
e e)w
n
d SAT w SAT w
1 e
.
7
*Phases of soils-01: Convert from metric units to SI and US units.
(Revision: Oct.-08)
A cohesive soil sample was taken from an SPT and returned to the laboratory in a glass jar. It was
3
found to weigh 140.5 grams. The sample was then placed in a container of V = 500 cm and 423
3
cm of water were added to fill the container. From these data, what was the unit weight of the soil
3
in kN/m and pcf?
Solution.
Notice that the 140.5 grams is a mass. Therefore, the ratio of mass to volume is a density ,
m 140.5 g g
f f
3
1.82 3
V (500 423)cm cm
g 1 kg m 2
3
1 10 cm kN
f f kN
g 1.82 9.806 17.9 (SI units)
3 3 2 3 3
cm 10 g f sec 10 N 1m m
8
*Phases of soils02: Compaction checked via the voids ratio.
(Revision: Sept.- 08)
A contractor has compacted the base course for a new road and found that the mean value of the
3
test samples shows w = 14.6%, GS = 2.81, and = 18.2 kN/m . The specifications require that e
0.80. Has the contractor complied with the specifications?
Solution:
G 1 w G 1 w
S W
S W
1 e 1 e
kN
2.81 9.81 1 0.146
m3 1.74
1 e
18.2 kN
m3
e 1.74 1 0.74
9
*Phases of soils03: Value of the moisture when fully saturated.
(Revision: Oct.-08)
Solution:
(1) In a fully saturated soil the relation, Se wGS becomes simply e wGs
e n
because S 1 or GS w w n
sat sat 1
but sat w 1 n n
GS
n n
rearranging sa
t 1 n GS n 1 n n n
w
wsat (1 n) wsat
n n
or sat therefore wsa w
wsa t sat n w
n t
w
wVV VV VV VS VV V S VS
w
VS
sat w w w
WS W S WS WS WS
1 1
or wsat w
d S
10
*Phases of soils04: Finding the wrong data.
(Revision: Oct.-08)
A geotechnical laboratory reported these results of five samples taken from a single boring.
Determine which are not correctly reported, if any.
3 3
Sample #1: w = 30%, d = 14.9 kN/m , s = 27 kN/m ; clay.
3 3
Sample #2: w = 20%, d = 18 kN/m , s = 27 kN/m ; silt.
3 3
Sample #3: w = 10%, d = 16 kN/m , s = 26 kN/m ; sand.
3 3
Sample #4: w = 22%, d= 17.3 kN/m , s = 28 kN/m ; silt.
3 3
Sample #5: w = 22%, d= 18 kN/m , s = 27 kN/m ; silt.
Solution:
VV
wsat e VV w VV w VS VV
w VV VS VS
w
GS VS V S 1 WS WS WS w
WS
S
wsat VV VS 1 1
w w
VS
WS WS d S
The water content is in error if it is greater than the saturated moisture, that is,
1 1
w wSAT w
d S
1 1
1) wSAT
9.81 kN / m 14.9 3 27 30% w 30% GOOD
2) wSAT 3 1
9.81 kN / m 1 18.5% v w 20% WRONG
27
18
3) wSAT 3
9.81 kN / m 1 1 24% w 10% GOOD
16 26
4) wSAT 1 1
9.81 kN / 22.1% w 22% GOOD
3 17.3 28
m
5) wSAT 1 1
18.5% w 22% WRONG
18 27
9.81 kN /
3
m
11
*Phases of soils05: Increasing the saturation of a soil.
(Revision: Sept.-08)
A soil sample has a unit weight of 105.7 pcf and a saturation of 50%. When its saturation is
increased to 75%, its unit weight raises to 112.7 pcf.
Determine the voids ratio e and the specific gravity Gs of this soil.
Solution:
W GS Se
1 e
62.4(GS 0.50e)
105.7 pcf (1)
1 e
62.4(GS 0.75e)
and 112.7 pcf (2)
1 e
12
*Phases of soils06: Find d, n, S and Ww.
(Revision: Sept.-08)
3
The moist unit weight of a soil is 16.5 kN/m . Given that the w = 15% and Gs = 2.70, find:
(1) Dry unit weight d,
Solution:
kN
a) = = 16.5 = 14.3
d 3
(1 + w) (1 + 0.15) m
b) From the table of useful relationships,
Gs Gs 2.70 9.81
w w
1.85 e 0.85
d 1 e
d 14.3
1 e
e 0.85
n 1 e 1 0.85 100% 46%
13
*Phases of soils07: Use the block diagram to find the degree of saturation.
(Revision: Sept.-08)
A soil has an in-situ (in-place) voids ratio eo 1.87, 60%, and 2.75 . What are the
wN GS
moist and S? (Note: All soils are really moist except when dry, that is when w = 0%).
3 3
Solution: Set VS = 1 m (Note: this problem could also be solved by setting V = 1.0 m ).
VV 1.87 3
eo 1.87 V VS 1 1.87 2.87 m
VS 1
VV
The "natural" water content is w Ww
0.60 W 0.60W
N w s
Ws
Ws
Vs 13 2.75 9.81 kN /
G s W V G 3 26.98 kN
m m
s s s S w
w w
V 2.87 m
3 m3
Ww 16.19
Vw 9.81 88.2%
S w
VV VV 1.87
14
*Phases of soils08: Same as Prob-07 but setting the total volume V=1 m3.
(Revision: Oct.-08)
A soil has an in-situ (in-place) voids ratio eo 1.87, 60%, and 2.75 . What are the
wN GS
moist and S? (Note: All soils are really moist except when dry, that is when w = 0%).
3 3
Solution: Set V = 1 m (instead of Vs = 1 m used in Phases-07).
VV
but e 1.87 but 13 V V V 1.87V 2.87V V 0.348 and V 0.652
V m
o S V S S S S V
VS
The "natural" water content is w Ww
0.60 W 0.60W
N w s
Ws
Ws
3
G s W V G 0.348 m 2.75
3 9.81 kN / 9.39 kN
Vs m
s s s S w
w w
15
*Phases of soils09: Same as Problem #5 with a block diagram.
(Revision: Sept.-08)
A soil sample has a unit weight of 105.7 pcf and a water content of 50%. When its saturation is
increased to 75 %, its unit weight raises to 112.7 pcf. Determine the voids ratio e and the specific
gravity Gs of the soil. (NB: This is the same problem as Phase06, but solved with a block
diagram).
Solution:
Set V 3
1 ft
2 1 112.7 105.7 7 lbs are 25% of water
.0
21 .0 lbs are 75% of water
WS 112.7 20.8 91.9 lb
Ww 20 lb
V 0.333 ft 3
.8 pcf
w
w
62.4
1
V 0.111 ft V V V 0 .111 0 .333 0 .444
3
V
a w v a w
3
Vs 1 Vv 1 0.444 0.556
VV 0.444
e 0.80
VS 0.556
WS 91 .9 lb
and GS S
0.556 (62 .4) 2.65
V
w S w
16
*Phases of soils10: Block diagram for a saturated soil.
(Revision: Sept.-08)
A saturated soil sample has a unit weight of 122.5 pcf and Gs = 2.70. Find dry , e, n, and w.
Solution:
1 WS
V VS Vw Ww 1
GS
w
W WS Ww
122.5 lb 2
Combining equations (1) and (2) yields
1 122.5 Ww
1 Ww
62.4 pcf 2.70
W 27.0 Ww
lb V 27.0 lb 0.433 ft
3
w w
w
62.4 pcf
W 95.5 WS
lb V 95.5 lb 0.567 ft
3
S S
GS w
2.70 (62.4 pcf )
WS 95.5 lb
95.5 pcf
3
dry
V 1 ft
VV 0.433
e VS 0.567 0.764
0.433 n 43.3%
n 1 0.433
Ww 27
w 0.283 w 28.3%
WS 95.5
17
*Phases of soils11: Find the weight of water needed for saturation.
(Revision: Sept.-08)
Determine the weight of water (in kN) that must be added to a cubic meter of soil to attain a 95 %
3
degree of saturation, if the dry unit weight is 17.5 kN/m , its moisture is 4%, the specific gravity of
solids is 2.65 and the soil is entirely made up of a clean quartz sand.
Solution:
kN kN
18.2
17.5 1 w 1 0.0
d
m m3
4
3
W 18. WS Ww W wW (1 . 0 4 ) W S
2 S S
Se 0.95 0.49
w 0.17
GS 2.65
Ww wW
( 0 . 1 7 ) (1 7 . k N ) 2.98 kN
S
5
already have W 0.70 kN
w
18
3
Answer: Add 2.28 kN of water per m .
19
*Phases of soils12: Identify the wrong piece of data.
(Revision: Sept.-08)
A project engineer receives a laboratory report with tests performed on marine marl calcareous
silt). The engineer suspects that one of the measurements is in error. Are the engineers suspicions
correct? If so, which one of these values is wrong, and what should be its correct value?
Solution:
wGS w 26.1
S
w 0.4 1.06 Therefore, these four are correct.
9.81
The only possibly incorrect value is . Assume that V = 1 m3 .
V 1 Va Vw VS 1
3
m
but e 1.12 0 V V 1.12V 2
VV
V
a w S
S
3
V 0.472 m , 0.528 but V 0.95 0.502 m
3
V m
3
V
S V w V
3
V 0.026 m
a
kN
WS VS 26.1 0.472 12.3 kN
S
3 3
m m
Ww wWS kN
0.40 12.3 4.9 kN
3
m
W 12.3 4.9 17.2 kN
kN kN
20
Therefore, the actual unit weight of the soil is,
W 17.2 kN kN kN
3 17.2 18.4
V 1m
m3 m3
21
*Phases of soils13: The apparent cheapest soil is not!
(Revision: Sept.-08)
6 3
You are a Project Engineer on a large earth dam project that has a volume of 5x10 yd of select
fill, compacted such that the final voids ratio in the dam is 0.80. Your boss, the Project Manager
delegates to you the important decision of buying the earth fill from one of three suppliers. Which
one of the three suppliers is the most economical, and how much will you save?
3
Supplier A Sells fill at $ 5.28/ yd with e = 0.90
3
Supplier B Sells fill at $ 3.91/ yd with e = 2.00
3
Supplier C Sells fill at $ 5.19/ yd with e =
1.60
Solution:
Without considering the voids ratio, it would appear that Supplier B is cheaper than Supplier A by $1.37
3
per yd .
3 3
Therefore: To put 1yd of solids in the dam you would need 1.8 yd of soil.
3 3
For 1yd of solids from A you would need 1.9 yd of fill.
3 3
For 1yd of solids from B you would need 3.0 yd of fill.
3 3
For 1yd of solids from C you would need 2.6 yd of fill.
The cost of the select fill from each supplier is (rounding off the numbers):
$
1 .9 6
10 yd 3 5.28 $ 27, 900, 000
A 1 .8 5 yd 3
1$
3.0 6 3.9 $ 32, 600, 000
1.8 5 10 yd
3
B yd 3
22
*Phases of soils14: Number of truck loads.
(Revision: Sept.-08)
Based on the previous problem (Phases13), if the fill dumped into the truck has an e = 1.2, how
3
many truck loads will you need to fill the dam? Assume each truck carries 10 yd of soil.
Solution:
VV VV
Set VS 1 e 3 3
1.2 which means that there is 1 yd of solids per 1.2 yd of voids.
VS
1
VV
3 3
2.2 yd of soil for each 1 yd of solids.
10 yd 3
3 of soil for each x yd in a truck load
x 4.54 3
yd of solids per truck trip.
The required volume of solids in the dam is,
23
*Phases of soils15: How many truck loads are needed for a project?
(Revision: Sept.-08)
You have been hired as the Project Engineer for a development company in South Florida to build
610 housing units surrounding four lakes. Since the original ground is low, you will use the
limestone excavated from the lake to fill the land in order to build roads and housing pads. Your
3
estimated fill requirements are 700,000 m , with a dry density equivalent to a voids ratio e = 0.46.
The in-situ limestone extracted from the lakes has an e = 0.39, whereas the limestone dumped
3
into the trucks has an e = 0.71. How many truckloads will you need, if each truck carries 10 m ?
Solution:
VV
Assume: 1 e= V 3
3
Therefore, the 700,000 m of fill have 479,400 m3 of solids
3
Each truck carries 1.71 m of fill per 1 m3 solids
3
In order for the trucks to carry 479,000 m of solids they must carry 820,000 m3 of fill
3
Since each truck carries 10 m of fill,
3
820, 000 m
The number of truck-loads = 3
= 82,000 truck-loads.
10 m
24
*Phases of soils16: Choose the cheapest fill supplier.
(Revised: Sept.-08)
A large housing development requires the purchase and placement of the fill estimated to be
200,000 cubic yards of lime-rock compacted at 95% Standard Proctor with an OMC of 10%. Two
lime-rock suppliers offer to fill your order: Company A has a borrow material with an in-situ =
115 pcf, w = 25%, GS = 2.70; Standard Proctor yields a maximum d = 112 pcf; at a cost of
3 3
$0.20/yd to excavate, and $ 0.30/yd to haul. Company B has a borrow material with an in-situ =
3
120 pcf, w = 20%, GS = 2.70; Standard Proctor yields a maximum d = 115 pcf; a cost of $0.22/yd
3
to excavate, and $ 0.38/yd to haul.
(1) What volume would you need from company A?
(2) What volume would you need from company B?
(3) Which would be the cheaper supplier?
Solution:
3 3
(1) The key idea: 1 yd of solids from the borrow pit supplies 1 yd of solids in the fill.
3 3
(2) Pit A: WS = 92 lb, WW = 23 lb VW = 0.369 ft , VS = 0.546 ft , Va = 0.085
3
ft
0.454 3 3
e 0.83 1.83 yd of soil contains 1.0 yd of
solids. 0.546
V
V
V
S
3 3 3
Pit B: WS = 100 lb, WW = 20 lb, VW = 0.321 ft , VS = 0.594 ft , Va = 0.08 ft
0.401 3 3
e 0.68 1.68 yd of soil contains 1.0 yd of
solids. 0.594
V
V
V
S
V
S
3
200, 000 yd of 3
Site B requires 130, 000 yd of solids
fill
1.54
26
(4) a) Cost of using Company A:
CostA $0.50
125,800 yd 1.83 $ 115,100
3
3
yd
CostB $0.60
130, 000 yd 1.68 $ 131,100
3
3
yd
27
*Phases of soils17: Use a matrix to the find the missing data.
(Revision: Sept.-08)
3
A contractor obtains prices for 34,000 yd of compacted borrow material from three pits: Pit #3
is $11,000 cheaper than Pit #2 and $39,000 cheaper than Pit #1. The fill must be compacted down
3 3
to a voids ratio of 0.7. Pit #1 costs $ 6.00/yd and Pit #3 costs $ 5.50/yd . Pits #2 and #3 reported
their voids ratios as 0.88 and 0.95 respectively. Use a matrix to find,
a) The missing unit cost C2 for Pit #2;
b) The missing voids ratio e for Pit #1;
c) The missing volume of fill V required from each pit; and
d) The amount paid by the contractor for each pit.
Solution:
A summary of the data provided is herein shown in matrix form,
3
The volume of solids Vs contained in the total volume of fill V = 34,000 yd can be found from,
28
V V V
0.7V V V 0.7 1 34, 000 yd
3
V 34, 3
20, 000 yd of solids
000
V S S S S S
1.7
At Pit #3,
V3 1 e V V 1 e 20,
3 000 yd 1 0.95
3
39, 000 yd of soil
V 3 3 S 3
S
The total cost of Pit #3 is TC3 39, 000 yd $ 5.50 / yd $ 214, 500
3 3
At Pit #2:
V2
3
1 e V V 1 e 20,
3 000 yd 1 0.88 37, 600 yd of soil
V 2 2 S 2
S
But, the total cost of Pit #2 is TC2 $ 11, TC3 $ 214, TC2 $ 225, 500
000 500
At Pit #1:
V
TC TC2 28, 000 225, 500 28, 3
42, 250 yd of soil
1 000
1
$ 6.00 / yd $ 6.00 / yd $ 6.00 / yd
3
3 3
But, V V 1 e 3
20, 000 yd 1 e 42,
3 250 yd e 1.11
1 S 1 1 1
29
**Phases of soils18: Find the voids ratio ofmuck (a highly organic soil).
(Revision: Sept.-08)
You have been retained by a local municipality to prepare a study of their muck soils. Assume
that you know the dry unit weight of the material (solids) sm and the dry unit weight of the
organic solids so. What is the unit weight s of the combined dry organic mineral soil whose
organic content is M0? (The organic content is the percentage by weight of the dry organic
constituent of the total dry weight of the sample for a given volume.) What is the voids ratio e of
this soil if it is known that its water content is w and its degree of saturation is S?
Solution:
Ws 1
Set Ws = 1 unit and s = =
Vs (Vso + Vsm )
(a) Assume Mo = Wo for a unit weight of the dry soil
Therefore 1 - Mo = Wm
M
o
= volume of organic Vso solids
so
(1 - Mo )
= volume of mineral Vsm solids
sm
Therefore S 1 = so sm
Mo 1 - Mo Mo sm - so )+ so
so + sm
w
wS 1
w
Therefore e = 1 - Mo sm so
Mo sm w S Mo sm so so
so
30