Chapter 4

Physical Soil States

Three Phases in Soils
S : Solid Soil particle
W: Liquid Water (electrolytes)
A: Air Air
Three Volumetric Ratios
(1) Void ratio e (given in decimal, 0.65)

Volume of voids (Vv )

e
Volume of solids (Vs )

(2) Porosity n (given in percent 100%, 65%)

Vse e Volume of voids (Vv )
n  n
Vs (1  e) 1  e Total volume of soil sample (Vt )

(3) Degree of Saturation S (given in percent 100%, 65%)

Total volume of voids contains water (Vw )
S 100%
Total volume of voids (Vv )
 Engineering Applications (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 )

S 100%
Total volume of voids (Vv )
Density and Unit Weight
• Mass is a measure of a body's Mass
inertia, or its "quantity of Density ,  
Volume
matter". Mass is not changed at
Weight Mass  g
different places. Unit weight,   
Volume Volume

• Weight is force, the force of

gravity acting on a body. The
value is different at various
places (Newton's second law F
= ma) (Giancoli, 1998)
g : acceleration dueto gravity
    g    9.81m 2
sec
Water ,   9.81kN 3
m

• The unit weight is frequently

s  g s
used than the density is (e.g. in Gs   s 
calculating the overburden w w  g  w
pressure).
 Weight Relationships
(1)Water Content w (100%)
Mass of water ( M w )
w 100%
Mass of soil solids( M s )
For some organic soils w>100%, up to
500 %
For quick clays, w>100%
(2)Density of water (slightly varied
with temperatures)
w  1g / cm3  1000 kg / m3  1Mg / m3
(3) Density of soil
a. Dry density
Mass of soil solids(Ms )
d 
Total volume of soil sample (Vt )
b. Total, Wet, or Moist density (0%<S<100%,
Unsaturated)
Mass of soil sample(Ms  M w )

Total volume of soil sample (Vt )
c. Saturated density (S=100%, Va =0)
Mass of soil solids  water (Ms  M w )
sat 
Total volume of soil sample (Vt )
d. Submerged density (Buoyant density)
'  sat  w
Weight Relationships (Cont.)

Submerged unit weight:  '   sat   w

Consider the buoyant force Ws  Vs   w Ws  (Vt  Vw )   w

 (S  100%)
acting on the soil solids: Vt Vt
Ws  Vt   w  Ww

Vt
Ws  Ww  Vt   w

Vt
Archimede’s principle:   sat   w
The buoyant force on a body immersed
in a fluid is equal to the weight of the
fluid displaced by that object.
Other Relationships

(1) Specific gravity Proof:

s  s S  e  w  Gs
Gs  
w  w S e 
Vw Vv Vw
 
Vv Vs Vs
Ms
(2) M w s M w Vs Vw
w  S  e  w  s w  Gs     
M s w M s M w Vs
S  e  w  Gs Vw
Some Thoughts about the Specific
Gravity (Gs) Measurement
Standards

Standards
 ASTM D854-92 Standard Test Method for Specific
Gravity of Soils

 ASTM C127-88 (Reapproved 1993) Test Methods for

Specific Gravity and Absorption of Coarse Aggregate.

 BS 1377: Part 2:1990

Alternatives
• If the soil contains soluble salts or can react with water,
an alternative liquid should be used such as kerosene
(paraffin) or white spirit. Note that the density of oil is
not equal to 1 g/cm3, L1 g/cm3 (Head, 1992).

(m 2  m1 )
Gs 
(m 4  m1 )  (m3  m 2 ) Weight of liquid displaced
L by the soil solid.

 L (m 2  m1 )

(m 4  m1 )  (m3  m 2 )
Average Specific Gravity Values
For example,
For soil particles larger than 2mm, the weight is W1 and the volume is V1.
For soil particles smaller than 2mm, the weight is W2 and the volume is V2.
( W1  W2 )
G s1  G s 2
1
G s avg  
(V1  V2 ) (V1  V2 )
( W1  W2 ) 2
1
G s avg 
W1 V1 W2 V2

( W1  W2 ) W1 ( W1  W2 ) W2
1
G s avg 
1 1
P1  P2 P is the weight fraction
G s1 Gs2
Solution of Phase Problems

Remember the following simple rules :

1. Remember the basic definitions of w, e, s, S,

etc.
2. Draw a phase diagram.
3. Assume either Vs=1 or Vt=1, if not given.
4. Often use wSe=ws, Se = wGs
Example
 Prove that:

Write down the basic equation to get the new form

of the equation:
 Prove that:

Start with the basic equation:

Manipulate the basic equation equations to get the

new form of the equation:
 Ws s
s  Gs 
Vs w

or
Sample Problem: The dry density of soil is 1750 kg/m3.
Given that Gs= 2.66. What is the moisture content of
the soil when it is saturated?
Solution:
Gs  w Gs  w
d  or  d 
1 e 1 e
2.66(1000)
1750 
1 e
e  0.52
Se  Gs
Se 1(0.52)
    0.1955
Gs 2.66
  19.55%
Exercise Problem:
The mass of a wet sample of soil and its container
is 0.33 kg. The dry mass of the soil and its container
is 0.29 kg. The mass of the container is 0.06 kg and
its volume is 0.15 x 10-3 m3. The specific gravity of
solids is 2.65. Determine the following.
(a) The bulk, dry, and saturated unit weights of the soil.
(b) The void ratio and the degree of saturation.
(c) How much air void is in the soil?
(d) The weight of water required to saturate 1 m3 of this
soil.