TUTORIAL EXAMPLE 1

In its natural condition, a moist soil sample has a mass of

2290 g and a volume of 1.15 x 10-3 m3. After being
completely dried in an oven, the mass of the sample is 2035 g.
The value of Gs for the soil is 2.68.
Determine the bulk unit weight, water content, void ratio,
porosity, degree of saturation and air content.
(Given g = 9.8 m/s2)
 DRAW THE BLOCK DIAGRAM

W = 2290 kg

W
V = 1.15 x 10-3 m3

W 2035 kg
ANSWER

a) Bulk Unit weight, 

= W/V = 2.290 x (9.81/1000) / 1.15 x 10-3
= 19.53 kN/m3

b) Water content, w
= [(2290-2035)/2035] x 100%
= 12.5%
ANSWER
c) Void ratio, e = Vv/Vs From Gs = Ws/Vsρw
= 3.91 x 10-4 / 7.59 x 10-4
Vs = Ws/Gsρw
= 0.51
= 2.035/2.68(1000)
= 7.59 x 10-4
And Vv = V-Vs
= 1.15 x 10-3 – 7.59 x 10-4

= 3.91 x 10-4
Also Vw = Ww/ ρw
= (2.290-2.035)/1000
= 2.55 x 10-4
ANSWER
d) Porosity, n = Vv/V
= 3.91 x 10-4 / 1.15 x 10-3
= 0.34

e) Degree of saturation, Sr = Vw/Vv

= 2.55 x 10-4 / 3.91 x 10-4
= 0.65 or 65%

f) Air content A = Va/V = (Vv-Vw) / V

= (3.91 x 10-4 - 2.55 x 10-4) / 1.15 x 10-3
= 0.119 or 11.9%
TUTORIAL EXAMPLE 2
In a natural state, a moist soil has a volume of 98.2 cm3 and has a
mass of 181.5 g. The oven dry mass of the soil is 170 g. If Gs is
2.67, using a phase diagram, calculate:

1. Moisture content (%)

2. Bulk unit weight (kN/m3)
3. Dry unit weight (kN/m3)
4. Void ratio
5. Porosity
6. Degree of saturation
ANSWER
1. Water content, w
= [(181.5-170)/170] x 100%
= 6.76%

2. Bulk unit weight, 

= W/V = 181.5 / 98.2 = 1.848 g/cm3
= 18.13 kN/m3

3. Dry unit weight, d

= Ws/V = 170 / 98.2
= 16.98 kN/m3
ANSWER
4. Void ratio, e = Vv/Vs From Gs = Ws/Vsρw
= 34.53/ 63.67 = 0.54 Vs = Ws/Gsρw
= 170/2.67(1)
= 63.67 cm3
And Vv = V-Vs
=98.2– 63.67
= 34.54 cm3
Also Vw = Ww/ ρw
= (181.5-170)/1
= 11.5 cm3
ANSWER
5. Porosity, n = Vv/V
=34.54/98.2
= 0.35
6. Degree of saturation, Sr = Vw/Vv
= 11.5/ 34.54
= 0.33
TUTORIAL QUESTION (TRY THIS!!)
Determine the bulk unit weight, dry unit weight, void ratio,
porosity, water content, and degree of saturation of a sample of
moist soil, which has a mass of 18.18 kg and occupies a total
volume of 0.009m3.

When dried in the oven, the dry mass is 16.13 kg. The specific
gravity of the soil solids is 2.70. Given g = 9.81 m/s2 .