Chapter 3

Weight-Volume Relationships
Learning Objectives
• Define and develop non-dimensional volume relationships such as:
• Void ratio
• Porosity
• Degree of saturation
• Define and develop weight relationships such as:
• Moisture content
• Unit weight (dry, saturated, and moist)
• Define and develop weight relationships in combination with volume
relationships
Weight-Volume Relationships
• Soil consists of three
phases: solid, water, and
air
• To develop weight-volume
relationships, we must
separate the three phases
(Fig 3.1b)
Total Volume of a Soil Sample
𝑉 = 𝑉𝑠 + 𝑉𝑤 +𝑉𝑎
𝑉 = 𝑉𝑠 + 𝑉𝑣
Where:
 Vs = volume of soil solids
 Vv = volume of voids
 Vw = volume of water in the voids
 Va = volume of air in the voids
Three Main Volume Relationships
Void ratio (e): the ratio Vv
•
of the volume of voids to e=
the volume of solids Vs

• Porosity (n): the ratio Vv

of the volume of voids to n=
the total volume V

• Degree of saturation Vw
(S): the ratio of the S=
volume of water to the Vv
volume of voids
Total weight/mass of a Soil Sample
Assuming that weight of air is negligible

W = Ws +Ww M= 𝑀𝑠 + 𝑀𝑤
 Where:
 Where:
 Ws = weight of soil solids
 ms = mass of soil solids
 Ww = weight of water
 mw = mass of water
Two Main Weight Relationships
• Moisture content (w) (water content): the ratio
of the weight of water to the weight of solids in a
given volume of soil
Ww
w=
Ws
• Unit weight (γ): the weight of soil per unit
volume
W
g=
V
 Relationships:
Saturated Soil Sample
Fully saturated soil exists when void spaces
are completely filled with water
S= 𝑆𝑟 = 1 𝑜𝑟 100%

𝑉 = 𝑉𝑠 + 𝑉𝑤

Dry soil exists when void spaces are completely

filled air
S= 𝑆𝑟 = 0

𝑉 = 𝑉𝑠 + 𝑉𝑎
 Densities
𝑀
Bulk density = 𝜌𝑏𝑢𝑙𝑘 =
𝑉
𝑚𝑠
Dry density = 𝜌𝑑𝑟𝑦 =
𝑉
𝑚𝑠
Density of solids = 𝜌𝑠 =
𝑉𝑠
𝑚𝑤
Density of water = 𝜌𝑤 =
𝑉𝑤
𝑚𝑤 +𝑚𝑠
Saturated density= 𝜌𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 𝑉