ESTIVEN M.

GIER
BSCE – 4A
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
PAIR:
MELGO, JOHN ROME C.
GIER, ESTIVEN M.
Set 1 – Index Properties
Instruction: Read chapter 3 of our reference textbook about the index properties of
soil such as moisture content, specific gravity, porosity, void ratio (maximum,
minimum and in-situ), degree of saturation, density, relative densities and unit
weights.
a. Define each of the index properties;

1. Moisture content (w) - is also known as water content, and it is defined as

the weight of water divided by the weight of solids in a given volume of soil
expressed as a percentage.

(eq. 1)
2. Specific gravity (Gs) - is defined as the ratio of the unit weight of a given
material to the unit weight of water. The specific gravity of soil solids is
often needed for various calculations in soil mechanics.
3. Porosity (n) - is defined as the ratio of the volume of voids to the total
volume, or is a measure of its ability to hold a fluid.
(eq. 2)

4. Void ratio (e) - is defined as the ratio of the volume of voids to the volume
of solids.

(eq. 3)
5. The degree of saturation (S) is defined as the ratio of the volume of water
to the volume of voids, or
(eq. 4)
6. Density (p) - is defined as the mass of the fluid over an
infinitesimal volume. Density is expressed in the British Gravitational (BG)
system as slugs/ft3, and in the SI
3
system kg/m .
Or (eq. 5)

7. Relative density is the ratio of the density (mass of a unit volume) of a

substance to the density of a given reference material. It is usually measured
at room temperature (20 Celcius degrees) and standard atmosphere
(101.325kPa). It is unitless. The term relative density is commonly used to
indicate the in situ
denseness or
looseness of
granular soil. It is
defined as

(eq. 6)

8. Unit weight (g) - is the weight of soil per unit volume. Thus,

(eq. 7)
 The unit weight can also be expressed in terms of the weight of soil solids, the
moisture content, and
the total volume.
(eq. 8)

Soils engineers sometimes refer to the unit weight defined as the moist unit
weight. Often, to solve earthwork problems, one must know the weight per unit
volume of soil, excluding water.This weight is referred to as thedry unit weight,

(eq. 9)
From the 2nd and 3rd equation, the relationship of unit
weight, dry unit weight, and moisture content can be given as
(eq. 10)

b. Define weight/mass relationships between index properties;

To develop the weight–volume relationships, we must separate the three phases
(that is, solid, water, and air) as shown in Figure 3.1b. Thus, the total volume of a
given soil sample can be expressed as
(eq. 11)
The volume relationships commonly used for
the three phases in a soil element are void ratio, porosity, and degree of
saturation.The relationship between void ratio and porosity can be derived from
Eqs. (3.1), (3.3), and (3.4)
from the reference book as
follows:
From Eqs. (3.10) and (3.11) of the reference book, the relationship of unit weight,
dry unit weight, and moisture content can be given as

To obtain a relationship among unit weight (or density), void ratio, and
moisture content, let us consider a volume of soil in which the volume of the soil
solids is one, as shown in Figure 3.2. If the volume of the soil solids is one, then
the volume of voids is numerically equal to the void ratio, e [from Eq. (3.3)] from
the reference book. The weights of soil solids and water can be given as

Now, using the definitions of unit weight and dry unit weight [Eqs. (3.9) and
(3.11)], we can write

Because the weight of water for the soil element under consideration is wG sgw, the
volume occupied by water is

Hence, from the definition of degree of saturation

If the soil sample is saturated—that is, the void spaces are completely filled with
water (Figure3.3)—the relationship for saturated unit weight (g sat) can be derived in a
similar manner:
Hence, the mass of soil solids, Ms, is equal to Gsrw. The moisture content has been
defined in Eq.
(3.8) as
c. Solve the problems at the end of the chapter by pair. (only one from the
group will submit)-Note: Surnames starting w/ A-M should solve even item
numbers, while surnames with letter N-Z must solve odd item numbers.
EVEN ITEM NUMBERS
PROBLEM 3.2 – 3.4.
PROBLEM 3.6
PROBLEM 3.8
PROBLEM 3.10
PROBLEM 3.10 CONTINUATION AND PROBLEM 3.12
PROBLEM 3.14 – 3.16
PROBLEM 3.18, 3.20 & 3.22
PROBLEM 3.24
d. Research on the ASTM standard procedure of each of the index properties,
download the procedure and make a summary of each of the procedure.

 ASTM D-854: Test Method for Specific Gravity of Soils

The specific gravity of soil solids is used to calculate phase relationships in soils
such as void ratio and saturation degree. These test techniques involve the use of a
water pycnometer to determine the specific gravity of soil particles passing through a
sieve. Organic soils, highly flexible fine-grained soils, tropical soils, soils containing
halloysite, and oven-dry specimens are among the wet specimens for which procedures
are offered. The apparatus includes a water pycnometer, which can be a stoppered
flask, stoppered iodine flask, or volumetric flask; a balance; a drying oven; a
thermometer; a dessicator; a system for entrapped air removal, which can be a hot plate
or Bunsen burner or a vacuum pump or water aspirator; an insulated container; a non-
corrosive smooth surface. The specific gravity of the soil solids at the test temperature
shall be calculated using the density of the soil solids and the density of water at the test
temperature, or the mass of the oven dry soil solids; mass of the pycnometer, water,
and soil solids at the test temperature; and mass of the pycnometer and water at the
test temperature.
 ASTM Designations D-4253 and D-4254 (2007) Standard Test Methods for
Laboratory Determination of maximum and minimum void ratio
The ASTM Test Designations D-4253 and D-4254 (2007) provide a method for
measuring the maximum and lowest dry unit weights of granular soils, which may then
be used to determine the relative density of compaction in the field. This technique uses
a mold with a capacity of 2830 cm3 for sands (0.1 ft3). Sand is poured loosely into the
mold from a funnel with a 12.7 mm ( in.) diameter spout to determine the minimum dry
unit weight. The sand fall into the mold is kept at a constant height of around 25.4 mm
(1 in.).
 ASTM C128 – 15 Standard Test Method for Relative Density (Specific
Gravity) and Absorption of Fine Aggregate
The relative density (specific gravity) and absorption of coarse aggregates are
determined using this test technique. A dimensionless quantity, relative density (specific
gravity), is represented as oven-dry (OD), saturated-surface-dry (SSD), or apparent
relative density (apparent specific gravity). After drying the aggregate, the OD relative
density is measured. After soaking the aggregate in water for a certain amount of time,
the SSD relative density and absorption are measured.
  ASTM D2216 – 19 Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of
Water (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass

Except as indicated in 1.4, 1.5, and 1.8, these test techniques address the laboratory
measurement of the water (moisture) content by mass of soil, rock, and similar
materials when the reduction in mass by drying is attributable to loss of water. For the
sake of clarity, the term "material" refers to soil, rock, or aggregate, whatever is most
appropriate.

 ASTM D7263 – 21 Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of

Density and Unit Weight of Soil Specimens

In the phase relations, phase connections, or mass-volume correlations of soil and

rock, density is an important factor (Appendix X1). Dry density may be used to compute
porosity and void ratio when particle density, that is, specific gravity (Test Methods
D854), is also known (see Appendix X1). Measurements of dry density can also be
used to determine the degree of soil compaction. Due to the changing nature of water
content, total/moist soil density is only helpful for estimating the weight of soil per unit
volume, such as grams per cubic centimeter, at the moment of sampling.
The technique for estimating the volume of wax coated specimens by calculating the
amount of water displaced is covered in Method A. This approach is only applicable to
specimens when the wax will not penetrate the specimen's exterior surface. Method B
refers to the technique of directly measuring the dimensions and mass of a specimen,
which is generally cylindrical in shape. This approach may be used to evaluate intact
and reconstituted/remolded specimens in combination with strength, permeability
(air/water), and compressibility measurements.