BASIC OF SOIL MECHANICS Three Phases in Soils

1. Origin of Soil
2. Three Phase Diagram
3. Important Terms
4. Phase Relationships

ORIGIN OF SOILS

• Soils are formed by weathering of rocks due to

mechanical disintegration or chemical decomposition.
• Exposed rocks are eroded and degraded by various
physical and chemical processes.
• The products of erosion are picked up and transported to
some other place by wind water etc.
• This shifting of material disturbs the equilibrium of forces
on the earth and causes large scale movements and
upheavals.

TYPE OF SOILS

(1) Glacial soils: formed by transportation and deposition of

glaciers.
(2) Alluvial soils: transported by running water and deposited
along streams.
(3) Lacustrine soils: formed by deposition in quiet lakes (e.g.
soils in Taipei basin)
(4) Marine soils: formed by deposition in the seas
(Hongkong).
(5) Aeolian soils: transported and deposited by the wind (e.g.
soils in the loess plateau, China)
(6) Colluvial soils: formed by movement of soil from its
original place by gravity, such as during landslide
(Hongkong)
 Volumetric Ratios

Void Ratio e
𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝑽𝒗
𝒆= 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒔
= 𝑽𝒔

Porosity n%
𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝑽𝒗
𝒏= = 𝒙 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝑽𝒔

Degree of Saturation S% (0-100%)

𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑽𝒘
𝑺= = 𝒙 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
PHASE DIAGRAM 𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝑽𝒗

For purpose of study and analysis, it is convenient to

represent the soil by a PHASE DIAGRAM, with part of the diagram
representing the solid particles, part representing water or liquid,
and another part air or other gas.
WEIGHT RATIOS SPECIFIC GRAVITY, 𝑮𝒔

The ratio of the weight of solid particles to the weight of

an equal volume of distilled water at 4⁰C
𝑾𝒔
𝑮𝒔 =
𝑽𝒔 + 𝜸𝒘
i.e., the specific gravity of a certain materials is ratio of
the unit weight of that material to the unit weight of water at 4⁰C.

The specific gravity of soil solids is often needed for various

Water Content w% calculations in soil mechanics
𝑾𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑾𝒘 𝜸𝒔
𝒘= = 𝒙 𝟏𝟎𝟎% 𝑮𝒔 =
𝑾𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝑾𝒔 𝜸𝒘
SOIL UNIT WEIGHTS Expected Value of Gs
• Dry Unit Weight
𝑾𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝑾𝒔
𝜸𝒅 = =
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝑽𝒕

• Total, Wet, Bulk, or Moist unit weight

𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝑾𝒔 + 𝑾𝒘
𝜸= =
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝑽𝒕

• Saturated unit weight (considering S=100%, Va = 0)

𝑾𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒔 + 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑾𝒔 + 𝑾𝑾
𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 = =
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝑽𝒕
• Submerged unit weight
𝜸′ = 𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 − 𝜸𝒘
Note: The density/or unit weight are ratios which connects the
volumetric side of the PHASE DIAGRAM with the mass/or weight
side.
Relationships Between Various Physical Properties RELATIONSHIP among e, S, w, and Gs

All the weight-volume relationships needed in soil

mechanics can be derived from appropriate combinations of six
fundamental definitions. They are:

1. Void Ratio
2. Porosity
3. Degree of Saturation
4. Water content
5. Unit Weight
6. Specific gravity

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN e and n RELATIONSHIP among 𝜸, e, S and Gs

METHOD TO SOLVE PHASE PROBLEMS

 REMARKS
• The range of values of Dr may vary from a minimum of zero
RELATIVE DENSITY for very LOOSE soil to a maximum of 100% for a very DENSE
soil.
• The relative density is the parameter that compare the
• Because of the irregular size and shape of granular
volume reduction achieved from compaction to the
particles, it is not possible to obtain a ZERO volume voids.
maximum possible volume reduction
• Granular soils are qualitatively described according to their
• The relative density Dr, also called density index is relative densities as shown below
commonly used to indicate the IN SITU denseness or
looseness of granular soil.

• The use of relative density has been restricted to granular

Dr can be expressed either in terms of void ratios or soils because of the difficulty of determining 𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒙 in clayey
dry densities. soils. Liquidity Index in fine-grained soils is of similar use as
Dr in granular soils.