University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines

Civil Engineering Department

Geotechnical Engineering
(Soil Mechanics)
Physical
Properties of
Soil Part 1:

By: CE Faculty
Weight – Volume Relationship

(a) Soil element in natural state; (b) three phases of the soil element
Weight – Volume Relationship

Assuming that the weight of

the air is negligible, we can
express the total weight of
sample as:

W = WS + WW

Where: WS = weight of soil solid

WW = weight of water

(a) Soil element in natural state; (b) three phases of the soil element
University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Civil Engineering Department

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
(SOIL MECHANICS)

Volumetric
Relationship
By: CE Faculty
The following five volumetric relationship are widely used
in soil engineering:

1. VOID RATIO (e)

- is defined as the ratio of the volume of voids to the volume of solids.

𝑉𝑣
𝑒=
𝑉𝑠

The Void Ratio is expressed as a

Decimal (such as 0.4, 0.5, etc.) For
coarse- grained soils, the void
ratio is generally smaller than
that for fined-grained soils.
The following five volumetric relationship are widely used
in soil engineering:
2. POROSITY (n)
- is defined as the ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume.

𝑉𝑣
𝑛=
𝑉

Porosity is generally expressed as a

percentage. The porosity of a soil cannot
exceed 100% as it would mean VV is greater
than V, which is absurd. In fact, it will have a
much smaller value. Porosity is also known
as percentage voids.
The following five volumetric relationship are widely used
in soil engineering:

Relationship between Porosity and Void Ratio

𝑉𝑣
𝑉𝑣 𝑉𝑣 𝑛 𝑉
𝑒= = = =
𝑉𝑠 𝑉 − 𝑉𝑣 1 − 𝑉𝑣 1−𝑛
𝑉

𝑒
𝑛=
1+𝑒
The following five volumetric relationship are widely used
in soil engineering:
3. DEGREE OF SATURATION (S)
- is defined as the ratio of the volume of water to the volume of voids.

𝑉𝜔
𝑆=
𝑉𝑣

Degree of saturation is generally

expressed as a percentage. It is equal to
zero when the soil is absolutely dry and
100% when the soil is fully saturated.
The following five volumetric relationship are widely used
in soil engineering:
4. PERCENTAGE AIR VOIDS (na)

- is the ratio of the volume of air to the total volume.

𝑉𝑎
𝑛𝑎 =
𝑉

5. AIR CONTENT (ac)

- is the ratio of the volume of air to the volume of voids.

𝑉𝑎
𝑎𝑐 =
𝑉𝑣
University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Civil Engineering Department

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
(SOIL MECHANICS)

Weight
Relationship
By: CE Faculty
The following five weight relationship are widely used in
soil engineering:
1. MOISTURE CONTENT (w)

- is also referred to as water content and is defined as the

ratio of the weight of water to the weight of solids in a given volume
of soil.

𝑊𝑤
𝑤=
𝑊𝑠
The water content is also known as the
moisture content. It is expressed as a
percentage. The water content of the sine-
grained soils (silts and clay) is generally more
than that of the coarse-grained soils (gravel
and sand). The water content of some of the
fine-grained soils may be even more than 100%,
which indicates that more than 50% of the total
mass that of water.
The following five weight relationship are widely used in
soil engineering:
2. UNIT WEIGHT (γ)

- is the weight of soil per unit volume.

𝑊
𝛾=
𝑉
The unit weight can also be expressed in terms of the weight of
soil solids, the moisture content, and the total volume:

𝑊𝑤
𝑊 𝑊𝑠 + 𝑊𝑤 𝑊𝑠 1 + 𝑊𝑠 1 + 𝑤
𝑊𝑠
𝛾= = = =
𝑉 𝑉 𝑉 𝑉
University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Civil Engineering Department

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
(SOIL MECHANICS)

Volume - Mass
Relationship

By: CE Faculty
The volume-mass relationship are in term of mass density:

1. BULK MASS DENSITY (ρ)

- is defined as the total mass (M) per unit total volume (V).

𝑀 The bulk mass density is also known as the wet

mass density or simply bulk density or density. It is
𝜌= expressed in kg/m3, Mg/m3 or gm/ml. 1Mg/m3 =
𝑉 1000 kg/m3 = 1 gm/ml

2. DRY MASS DENSITY (ρd)

- is defined as the mass of solids (Ms) per unit total volume (V)

𝑀𝑠
𝜌𝑑 =
𝑉
The volume-mass relationship are in term of mass density:

3. SATURATED MASS DENSITY (ρsat)

- is defined as bulk mass density of the soil when it is fully saturated

𝑀𝑠𝑎𝑡
𝜌𝑠𝑎𝑡 =
𝑉
4. SUBMERGED MASS DENSITY

- When the soil exists below water, it is in a submerged condition. When a volume of soil (V)
is submerged in water, it displaces an equal volume of water.

- Is defined as the submerged mass per unit of total volume.

𝑀𝑠𝑢𝑏
𝜌′ =
𝑉
The volume-mass relationship are in term of mass density:

5. MASS DENSITY OF SOLIDS (ρs)

- is equal to the ratio of the mass of solids to the volume of solids.

𝑀𝑠
𝜌𝑠 =
𝑉𝑠
University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Civil Engineering Department

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
(SOIL MECHANICS)

Volume-Weight
Relationship in
terms of Unit
Weights
By: CE Faculty
The volume-weight relationship are in term of unit weight:

1. BULK UNIT WEIGHT

- is defined as the total weight per unit total volume

𝑊 The bulk unit weight is also known as the total

𝛾= unit weight or the wet unit weight. It is expressed
𝑉 as N/m3 of kN/m3.

2. DRY UNIT WEIGHT

- is defined as the weight of solids per unit total volume.

𝑊𝑠
𝛾𝑑 =
𝑉
The volume-weight relationship are in term of unit weight:

3. SATURATED UNIT WEIGHT

- is defined as the bulk unit weight when the soil is fully saturated

𝑊𝑠𝑎𝑡
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 =
𝑉
4. SUBMERGED UNIT WEIGHT

-When the soil exists below water, it is in a submerged condition.

-Is defined as the submerged weight per unit of total volume.

𝑊𝑠𝑢𝑏
𝛾′ =
𝑉
′
𝛾 = 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 − 𝛾𝑤
The volume-weight relationship are in term of unit weight:

5. UNIT WEIGHT OF SOIL SOLIDS

- is equal to the ratio of the weight of solids to the volume of solids.

𝑊𝑠
𝛾𝑠 =
𝑉𝑠
University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Civil Engineering Department

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
(SOIL MECHANICS)

Relationships among
Unit Weight, Void
Ratio, Moisture
Content,
and Specific Gravity
By: CE Faculty
Relationships among Unit Weight, Void Ratio, Moisture Content, and Specific Gravity

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.

The weights of soil solids and water can be

given as:

𝑊𝑠 = 𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤
𝑊𝑤 = 𝑤𝑊𝑠 = 𝑤𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤
Where 𝐺𝑠 = specific gravity of soil solids
𝑤 = moisture content
𝛾𝑤 = unit weight of water
Relationships among Unit Weight, Void Ratio, Moisture Content, and Specific Gravity:

1 5
Specific gravity of soil solids (Gs)

𝑊𝑠
𝐺𝑠 =
6 𝑉𝑠 𝛾𝑤
Where 𝐺𝑠 = specific gravity of soil solids
3 7 𝑤 = moisture content
𝛾𝑤 = unit weight of water

4 8
Relationships among Unit Weight, Void Ratio, Moisture Content, and Specific Gravity:

Unit weight of soil:

𝑊 𝑊𝑠 + 𝑊𝑤 𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤 + 𝑤𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤 1 + 𝑤 𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤
𝛾= = = =
𝑉 𝑉 1+𝑒 1+𝑒

Dry unit weight of sol:

𝑊𝑠 𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑑 = =
𝑉 1+𝑒

Void ratio
𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤
𝑒= −1
𝛾𝑑
Relationships among Unit Weight, Void Ratio, Moisture Content, and Specific Gravity:

Because the weight of water for the soil

element under consideration is 𝑤𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤 ,
the volume occupied by water is

𝑊𝑤 𝑤𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤
𝑉𝑤 = = = 𝑤𝐺𝑠
𝛾𝑤 𝛾𝑤

Degree of saturation:
𝑉𝑤 𝑤𝐺𝑠
𝑆= =
𝑉𝑣 𝑒
or
𝑆𝑒 = 𝑤𝐺𝑠
This equation is useful for solving problems
involving three-phase relationships.
Relationships among Unit Weight, Void Ratio, Moisture Content, and Specific Gravity:

If the soil sample is saturated—that is,

the void spaces are completely filled
with water.

saturated unit weight (ysat):

𝑊 𝑊𝑠 + 𝑊𝑤 𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤 + 𝑒𝛾𝑤 𝐺𝑠 + 𝑒 𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = = = =
𝑉 𝑉 1+𝑒 1+𝑒

At S = 1

Void ratio
𝑒 = 𝑤𝐺𝑠
Relationships among Unit Weight, Void Ratio, Moisture Content, and Specific Gravity:

Densities

1 + 𝑤 𝐺𝑠 𝜌𝑤
𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 𝜌 =
1+𝑒
𝐺𝑠 𝜌𝑤
𝐷𝑟𝑦 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 𝜌𝑑 =
1+𝑒
𝐺𝑠 + 𝑒 𝜌𝑤
𝑆𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 𝜌𝑠𝑎𝑡 =
1+𝑒

where 𝜌𝑤 = density of water = 1000 kg/m3

University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Civil Engineering Department

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
(SOIL MECHANICS)
Relationships
among
Unit Weight,
Porosity, and
Moisture Content
By: CE Faculty
Relationships among Unit Weight, Porosity, and Moisture Content:

Porosity

𝑉𝑣
𝑛=
𝑉
The weight of soil solids (Ws)
and the weight of water (Ww)

𝑊𝑠 = 𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤 (1 − 𝑛)
𝑊𝑤 = 𝑤𝑊𝑠 = 𝑤𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤 (1 − 𝑛)
Relationships among Unit Weight, Porosity, and Moisture Content:

dry unit weight

𝑊𝑠 𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤 (1 − 𝑛)
𝛾𝑑 = = = 𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤 (1 − 𝑛)
𝑉 1

moist unit weight

𝑊𝑠 + 𝑊𝑤
𝛾= = 𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤 (1 − 𝑛)(1 + 𝑤)
𝑉
Relationships among Unit Weight, Porosity, and Moisture Content:

Soil sample that is saturated and has V = 1

Saturated unit weight

𝑊𝑠 + 𝑊𝑤 (1 − 𝑛)𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤 + 𝑛𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = = = (1 − 𝑛)𝐺𝑠 + 𝑛 𝛾𝑤
𝑉 1

Moisture content of a saturated sample

𝑊𝑤 𝑛𝛾𝑤 𝑛
𝑤𝑠𝑎𝑡 = = =
𝑊𝑠 (1 − 𝑛)𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤 (1 − 𝑛)𝐺𝑠
University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Civil Engineering Department

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
(SOIL MECHANICS)

Various Unit
Weight
Relationships

By: CE Faculty
Various Unit Weight Relationships
Various Unit Weight Relationships

Void Ratio, Moisture Content, and Dry Unit Weight for Some Typical Soils in a Natural State:
University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Civil Engineering Department

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
(SOIL MECHANICS)

Relative Density

By: CE Faculty
Relative Density
- commonly used to indicate the in situ denseness or looseness of granular soil.
It is defined as:

where
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑒
𝐷𝑟 = 𝐷𝑟 = relative density, usually given as a percentage
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛 e = in situ void ratio of the soil
emax = void ratio of the soil in the loosest state
emin = void ratio of the soil in the densest state

The values of 𝐷𝑟 may vary from a

minimum of 0% for very loose soil to a Qualitative Description of Granular Soil Deposits
maximum of 100% for very dense soils.
Soils engineers qualitatively describe
the granular soil deposits according to
their relative densities. In-place soils
seldom have relative densities less
than 20 to 30%. Compacting a
granular soil to a relative density
greater than about 85% is difficult.
Relative Density
The relationships for relative density can also be defined in terms of
porosity:
𝑛𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑛𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑛
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝑒=
1 − 𝑛𝑚𝑎𝑥 1 − 𝑛𝑚𝑖𝑛 1−𝑛

where nmax and nmin porosity of the soil in the loosest and densest conditions,
respectively. Substituting these equations, the Dr is:

1 1
(1 − 𝑛𝑚𝑖𝑛 )(𝑛𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑛) −
𝛾𝑑(𝑚𝑖𝑛) 𝛾𝑑 𝛾𝑑 − 𝛾𝑑(𝑚𝑖𝑛) 𝛾𝑑(𝑚𝑎𝑥)
𝐷𝑟 = 𝐷𝑟 = =
(𝑛𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑛𝑚𝑖𝑛 )(1 − 𝑛) 1 1 𝛾𝑑(𝑚𝑎𝑥) − 𝛾𝑑(𝑚𝑖𝑛) 𝛾𝑑
−
𝛾𝑑(𝑚𝑖𝑛) 𝛾𝑑(𝑚𝑎𝑥)
where
Yd(min) = dry unit weight in the loosest condition (at a void ratio of emax)
Yd = in situ dry unit weight (at a void ratio of e)
Yd(max) = dry unit weight in the densest condition (at a void ratio of emin)
University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Civil Engineering Department

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
(SOIL MECHANICS)

Sample problems

By: CE Faculty
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
For a moist soil sample, the following are given.

Total volume: V = 1.2 m3

Total mass: M = 2350 kg
Moisture content: w = 8.6%
Specific gravity of soil solids: Gs = 2.71

Determine the following.

a. Moist density
b. Dry density
c. Void ratio
d. Porosity
e. Degree of saturation
f. Volume of water in the soil sample
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
A saturated soil has a dry unit weight of 103 lb/ft3 . Its moisture content is
23%.

Determine:

a. Saturated unit weight, 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡

b. Specic gravity, 𝐺𝑠
c. Void ratio, 𝑒
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3
For a given sandy soil, 𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 0.75 and 𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 0.40. Let 𝐺𝑠 = 2.68. In the field,
the soil is compacted to a moist unit weight of 112 lb/ft3 at a moisture
content of 12%. Determine the relative density of compaction.
University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Civil Engineering Department

QUESTIONS?

By: CE Faculty
University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Civil Engineering Department

THANK YOU!

By: CE Faculty