Soil Phase

Relati onshi p
B Y: E NGR . JOHN MARK ABLITER
 01 W E I G H T - V O L U M E R E L AT I O N S H I P

TO PIC S
TO BE 02 M A S S - V O L U M E R E L AT I O N S H I P

DISCUSSED
03 SAMPLE PROBLEMS
W eight-V olume
Relationship
Weight-Volume Relationship
Partially saturated soil (three-phase soil) is
composed of solids (soil particles), liquids (usually water),
and gases (usually air). The spaces between the solids are
called voids. The soil water is commonly called pore
water and it plays a very important role in the behavior
of soils under load. If all voids are filled with water, the
soil is saturated (two-phase). Otherwise, the soil is
unsaturated. If all the voids are filled with air, the soil is
said to be dry (two-phase).
Weight-Volume Relationship
 Weight-Volume Relationship
The total volume of a given soil sample can be expressed as

V= Vs + Vv = Vs+ Vw+ Va
where
Vs = volume of soil solids
Vv = volume of voids
Vw = volume of water in the voids
Va =volume of air in the voids

Assuming that the weight of the air is negligible, we can give the total weight of the sample as:

W= Ws + W w The volume relationships commonly

where: used for the three phases i n a soil
element are as follow :
Ws = weight of soil solids
void ratio
Ww = weight of water
por osi t ydegr ee
saturation.
 Weight-Volume Relationship
Void ratio (e)

Porosity (n)

Degree of saturation (S)

From the previous equations,

Also,
Weight-Volume Relationship
The common terms used for weight relationships are:
moisture content
unit weight

Moisture content (w)

Unit weight ( γ )

From the previous equations,

Weight-Volume Relationship
Dry unit weight, 𝛾𝛾𝑑𝑑

From previous equations,

Sometimes it is convenient to express soil densities in terms of

mass densities (ρ).
Weight-Volume Relationship
We can write the density equations as:

and
where:
ρ = density of soil (kg/m3)
𝜌𝜌𝑑𝑑= dr y densi ty of soi l (k g/m 3)
M = total mass of the soil sample (kg)
Ms = mass of soil solids in the sample (kg)
Relationships among Unit Weight, Void Ratio,
Moisture Content and Specific Gravity
 The weights of soil solids and water
can be given as:
Ws= Gs γ w
W w = wWs = wGs γ w
where:
Gs = specific gravity of soil solids
w = moisture content
γw = unit weight of water

Now, using the definitions of unit weight and dry unit weight,
we can write:

and or
The volume occupied by water is

Hence, from the definition of degree of saturation

This equation is useful

for solving problems
involving three-phase
relationships.
The relationship for
saturated unit weight (γsat)
can be derived in a similar
manner:

Also, from the previous equation with S=1:

Due to the convenience of working with densities in the
SI system, the following equations, will be useful:

where:
ρw = density of water = 1000 kg/m3.
Mass-V olume
Relationship
Mass-Volume Relationship
 The moisture content has been defined in the previous
equations as
where:
M w = mass of water
Ms= mass of soil solids

Since the mass of soil in the element is

equal to Gs ρ w, then:
Various Unit-Weight Relationships
 SUMMARY OF FORMULAS:
PROPERTIES OF SOIL:
1. Void Ratio (e): 8. Submerged/Buoyant Unit Weight (𝛾𝛾𝛾):
𝑉𝑉𝑣𝑣 𝛾𝛾 ′ = 𝛾𝛾𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 − 𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤
𝑒𝑒 =
𝑉𝑉𝑠𝑠 9. Bulk Specific Gravity
2. Porosity (n): 𝛾𝛾
𝐺𝐺 =
𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉 𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤
𝑛𝑛 = 10.Specific Gravity of Solids:
𝑉𝑉
3. Degree of Saturation (S): 𝛾𝛾𝑠𝑠
𝐺𝐺 =
𝑉𝑉𝑤𝑤 𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤
𝑆𝑆 = 11.Air Content:
𝑉𝑉𝑣𝑣
4. Water/Moisture Content (w): 𝑉𝑉𝑎𝑎
𝑎𝑎𝑐𝑐 = = 𝑛𝑛(1 − 𝑆𝑆)
𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊 𝑀𝑀𝑤𝑤 𝑉𝑉
𝑤𝑤 = = 12.Air Void Ratio:
𝑊𝑊𝑠𝑠 𝑀𝑀𝑠𝑠
𝑉𝑉𝑎𝑎
5. Dry Unit Weight (𝛾𝛾𝑑𝑑 ): 𝑛𝑛𝑎𝑎 = = 1 − 𝑆𝑆
𝑊𝑊𝑑𝑑 𝑉𝑉𝑣𝑣
𝛾𝛾𝑑𝑑 = 13.Critical Hydraulic Gradient:
𝑉𝑉
6. Moist Unit Weight (𝛾𝛾𝑚𝑚 ): 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐺𝐺𝑠𝑠 − 1
𝑖𝑖𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 = =
𝑊𝑊𝑚𝑚 𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤 1 + 𝑒𝑒
𝛾𝛾𝑚𝑚 =
𝑉𝑉
7. Saturated Unit Weight (𝛾𝛾𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 ):
𝑊𝑊𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
𝛾𝛾𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 =
𝑉𝑉
CRITICAL HYDRAULIC GRADIENT
It is defined as the hydraulic gradient, where
particles start to outflow from soil samples

Effective Stress = 0:
𝛾𝛾𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝐿𝐿 − 𝛾𝛾𝑊𝑊 𝐿𝐿 + ℎ = 0
𝛾𝛾𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝐿𝐿 − 𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤 𝐿𝐿 − 𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤 ℎ = 0
𝛾𝛾𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 − 𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤 𝐿𝐿 − 𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤 ℎ = 0
′
𝛾𝛾 𝐿𝐿 − 𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤 ℎ = 0

𝒉𝒉 𝜸𝜸′ 𝑮𝑮𝒔𝒔 − 𝟏𝟏
𝒊𝒊 = = =
𝑳𝑳 𝜸𝜸𝒘𝒘 𝟏𝟏 + 𝒆𝒆
 SUMMARY OF FORMULAS:
WEIGHT-VOLUME RELATIONSHIPS:
𝐺𝐺𝑠𝑠
a. 𝛾𝛾𝑑𝑑 = 1+𝑒𝑒 𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤
b. 𝛾𝛾𝑚𝑚 = 𝛾𝛾𝑑𝑑 1 + 𝑤𝑤
𝐺𝐺𝑠𝑠 +𝐺𝐺𝑆𝑆 𝑤𝑤
c. 𝛾𝛾𝑚𝑚 = 1+𝑒𝑒
𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤
𝐺𝐺𝑠𝑠 +𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆
d. 𝛾𝛾𝑚𝑚 =
1+𝑒𝑒
𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤
𝐺𝐺𝑠𝑠 +𝑒𝑒
e. 𝛾𝛾𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 =
1+𝑒𝑒
𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤
′ 𝐺𝐺𝑠𝑠 −1
f. 𝛾𝛾 =
1+𝑒𝑒
𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤
𝑒𝑒
g. 𝑛𝑛 =
1+𝑒𝑒
h. 𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 = 𝑤𝑤𝐺𝐺𝑠𝑠
PROBLEM 1:
The sample of soil weighing 30.6 kg had a volume of 0.0183 m3. The sample is allowed to dry in
an oven and the weight was reduced to 27.2 kg. The specific gravity of the solids was found to
be 2.65. Determine the following:
1. Moist unit weight of soil in kN/m3
2. Dry unit weight of soil in kN/m3
3. Moisture content
4. Void ratio
5. Porosity
6. Degree of saturation
SOLUTION:
PROBLEM 2:
The soil sample in natural state having a volume of 0.0012 m3 weights 1.73 kg. The degree of
saturation being 61.6%. After drying in an oven the final weight of sample was 1.44 kg.
Determine the following:
1. Specific gravity of solid
2. Void ration
3. Critical hydraulic gradient
SOLUTION
PROBLEM 3:
The moist soil having a volume of 0.0154 m3 has a unit weight of 16.5 kN/m3 and a moisture
content of 15%. IF the specific gravity of solid is 2.7. Determine the following:
1. Degree of Saturation
2. Volume of air in the original sample
3. Weight of water to be added to reach full saturation
SOLUTION
PROBLEM 3:
The moist soil having a volume of 0.0154 m3 has a unit weight of 16.5 kN/m3 and a moisture
content of 15%. IF the specific gravity of solid is 2.7. Determine the following:
1. Degree of Saturation
2. Volume of air in the original sample
3. Weight of water to be added to reach full saturation
SOLUTION