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Three Phases in Soils

S : Solid

Soil particle

W: Liquid
A: Air

Water (electrolytes)
Air

Three Volumetric Ratios

Void ratio, e

Volume of voids (Vv )

Volume of solids (Vs )

Porosity, n

Volume of voids (Vv )

Total volume of soil sample (Vt )
Vse
e
n

Vs (1 e) 1 e

Degree of Saturation S
S

Total volume of voids contains water (Vw )

100%
Total volume of voids (Vv )

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Degree of Saturation (S)

Completely dry soil S = 0 %
Completely saturated soil S = 100%
Unsaturated soil (partially saturated soil)
0% < S < 100%

Total volume of voids contains water (Vw )

100%
Total volume of voids (Vv )

Engineering Applications (e)

Simple cubic (SC), e = 0.91,

Contract

Cubic-tetrahedral (CT), e = 0.65,

Dilate

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Density and Unit Weight

Mass is a measure of a
body's inertia, or its
"quantity
of
matter".
Mass is not changed at
different places.

Mass
Volume
Weight Mass g
Unit weight ,

Volume Volume
Density ,

g : accelerati on due to gravity

g 9.8 m 2
sec
kN
Water , 9.8
m3

Weight is force, the force

of gravity acting on a
body. The value is
different
at
various
places
The unit weight is
frequently used than the
density.

Gs

s s g s
Ws

w w g w Vs .

Gs: Specific Gravity of Soil

Weight Relationships

Water Content w
w

Mass of water ( M w )
100%
Mass of soil solids ( M s )

For some organic soils w>100%, up to 500 %

For quick clays, w>100%

Density of water (slightly varied with temperatures)

w 1g / cm3 1000 kg / m3 1Mg / m3

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Weight Relationships
DENSITY of SOIL

a. Dry density

b. Bulk, or Moist density (0%<S<100%, Unsaturated)

Mass of soil solids(M s )

Total volume of soil sample (Vt )

c. Saturated density (S=100%, Va =0)

sat

Mass of soil sample(M s M w )

Total volume of soil sample (Vt )

Mass of soil solids water(M s M w )

Total volume of soil sample (Vt )

d. Submerged density (Buoyant density)

' sat w

Phase Diagrams and Relationships

Volume

Vv

Mass
Va

air

Vw

water

Ma 0
Mw

Vt
Mt
Vs

soil

Ms

Void ratio

e = Vv/Vs

Porosity

n = Vv/Vt

Saturation

s = Vw/Vv

Water content

w = Mw/Ms

Solid density

s = Ms / Vs

Total density

t = Mt / Vt

Specific gravity G = s / w

Unit weight

=*g

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Solution of Phase Problems

Remember the following simple rules
Remember the basic definitions of w, e, s, S, etc.
Draw a phase diagram.
Assume either Vs=1 or Vt=1, if not given.

Other Relationships
Specific gravity

Gs

s s

w w

w S e w s
S e w Gs

Proof:
S e w Gs
S e

Vw Vv Vw

Vv Vs Vs

Ms
M w s M w
Vs Vw
w Gs

M s w M s M w
Vs
Vw

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(1 na )G w
1 wG

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Determination of Specific Gravity of Soil

Pycnometer

Determination of Specific Gravity of Soil

Gs

Weight of soil solids

Weight of water of volume equal to that of solids

Gs

W2 W1
W2 W1

(W2 W1 ) (W3 W4 ) (W4 W1 ) (W3 W2 )

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w [

(W2 W1 ) Gs 1
(
) 1] 100 %
(W3 W4 ) Gs

W1 = empty pycnometer weight.

W2 = pycnometer + wet soil weight.
W3 = pycnometer + wet soil + water weight.
W4 = pycnometer + water weight.

Typical Values of Specific Gravity

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Relative Density Dr or Density Index ID

Dr

emax eo
( )
d ( d ) min
x 100% d max x
x 100%
emax emin
d
( d ) max ( d ) min

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Relative Density or Density Index

Relative Density or Density Index

10

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Relative Density (Dr)or Density Index ID

Dr

emax eo
( )
d ( d ) min
x 100% d max x
x 100%
emax emin
d
( d ) max ( d ) min

11

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23

For medium size sand

(2 mm to 0.425 mm)

EC-7-Part2-2007

24

12

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In-Situ Density Using

SAND REPLACEMENT METHOD and CORE CUTTER

Calculation of in-situ stresses.

Calculation of relative density.
Correlations with other soil properties such as
dry density, void ratio, bearing capacity, earth
pressure, slope stability etc.
Compaction control in field.

In-Situ Density Using SAND REPLACEMENT METHOD

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In-Situ Density Using SAND

REPLACEMENT METHOD
Clean, uniformly graded
natural sand passing the
1mm IS Sieve and retained
on the 600 micron IS Sieve
shall be used. It shall be free
from organic matter, and
shall have been oven dried
and stored for a
suitable period to allow its
water content to reach
equilibrium with atmospheric
humidity

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CalibratingContainer,100mm inner dia and 125mm

to 150mm deep with flange 50mm wide.

Volume calibrating container = 1000 ml

Initial weight of the sand pouring
cylinder
= 12000 g
Final weight of the sand pouring cylinder
after pouring in calibrating container =
9550 g
Weight of sand filling cone only= 420 g
Weight of sand in calibrating container =
(12000 - 9550) 420 = 2030 g
Density of sand =

16

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Metal Tray with Hole - 300 mm square and 40 mm

deep with a 100 mm hole in the centre.

Metal Tray with Hole - 300 mm square and 40 mm

deep with a 100 mm hole in the centre.

Weight of excavated soil from field=840 g

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Weight of excavated soil from field=840 g

. Initial weight of sand pouring cylinder=12000 g

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. Initial weight of sand pouring cylinder=12000 g

.Final weight of sand pouring cylinder after
pouring in excavated hole =10700 g.

Weight of sand in excavated hole

= (12000 - 10700) 420 = 880 g

Volume of hole =

Bulk density of soil =

19

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In-Situ Density Using CORE CUTTER METHOD

IS2720-part29

Cylindrical core cutter

100mm inner dia x 130mm
long with bevelled cutting
edge and having wall
thickness of 3 mm.

20

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