Three Phases of Soils (final exam)

naturally occurred soils always consist of solid particles, water, and air, so that soil has three phases:
solid, liquid and gas.
Example:
• Determine moisture content, void ratio, porosity and degree of saturation of a soil
core sample. Also determine the dry unit weight, γd
Data:
• Weight of soil sample = 1013g
• Vol. of soil sample = 585.0cm3
• Specific Gravity, Gs = 2.65
• Dry weight of soil = 904.0g
Soil Properties:(exam question)
• Example:

An earth fill when compacted will occupy a net volume of 187,000 m3. The borrow material
which will be used to construct the fill is stiff clay. In its bank condition, the borrow material has
a wet unit weight of 1.85 t/m3, moisture content is 16.5% and an in place void ratio of 0.620.
The fill will be constructed in layers of 30 cm each with a compacted wet unit weight of 2.10
t/m3. Degree of saturation is 37%, specific gravity is 2.65, void ratio of 0.54. If the cost of the
borrow material is 7 LE/m3, estimate the cost of the constructed fill.
• For the borrow Pit:
• Void ratio (e) = 0.62
• Bulk unit weight = 1.85 t/m3
• Water content (W/C) = 0.165
• Dry unit weight = 1.85/(1+0.165) = 1.588 t/m3

• For the Fill material:

• Degree of saturation (s) = 0.37
• Bulk unit weight = 2.10 t/m3
• Water content (W/C) S* e/G = 0.37* 0.54/2.65= 7.54%
• Dry unit weight = 2.10/(1+0.0754) = 1.953 t/m3
Volume of the borrow material = 187,000 *
1.953/1.588 = 229,982 m3
• Cost of fill construction is 229,982 * 7 =1,609,874 LE

Example –

Calculation of Unit Weights

A soil has a voids ratio of 0.7. Calculate the dry and saturated unit weight of the material.
Assume that the solid material occupies 1 m3, then assuming Gs = 2.65 the distribution by
volume and weight is as follows.
Alternatively the unit weights may be calculated from the expressions given earlier which are

In planning or estimating a job, the engineer must use a consistent volumetric measure in any set
of calculations. The necessary consistency of units is achieved by use of shrinkage and swell
factors. The shrinkage factor is the ratio of the compacted dry weight per unit volume to the
bank dry weight per unit volume:
Table 4.3 gives representative swell values for different classes of earth. These values will vary
with the extent of loosening and compaction. If more accurate values are desired for a specific
project, tests should be made on several samples of the earth taken from different depths and
different location (within the proposed cut. The test can be made by weighing a given volume o~
undisturbed, loose, and compacted earth.

Example 1
An earth fill, when completed, will occupy a net volume of 187,000 cy. The borrow material that
will be used to construct this fill is a stiff clay. In its "bank" condition, the borrow material has a
wet unit weight of 129 Ib per cubic foot (cf) (1), a water content (w%) of 16.5%, and an in-place
void ratio (e) of 0.620. The fill will be constructed in layers of 8-in. depth, loose measure, and
compacted to a dry unit weight ('Yd) of 114 Ib per cf at a moisture content of 18.3%. Compute
the required volume of borrowpit excavation.

ROLLER PRODUCTION ESTIMATING

The compaction equipment used on a project must have a. production capability matched to that
of the excavation, hauling, and spreading equipment. Usually, excavation or hauling capability
will set the expected maximum production for the job. The production formula for a compactor
is

The computed production is in compacted cubic yards (ccy), so it will be necessary to apply a
shrinkage factor to convert the production to bank cubic yards (bcy), as that is how the
excavation and hauling production is usually expressed.
Example-1
A self-propelled tamping foot compactor will be used to compact a fill being constructed of clay
material. Field tests have shown that the required density can be achieved with four passes of the
roller operating at an average speed of 3 mph.
The compacted lift will have a thickness of 6 in. The compacting width of this machine is 7 ft.
One bank cubic yard equals 0.83 ccy. The scraper production, estimated for the project, is 510
bcy/hr. How many rollers will be required to maintain this production? Assume a 50-min hour
efficiency.