PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

Department of Civil Engineering

CIV 0412
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 1 –
SOIL MECHANICS

ENGR. GECILLE R. MALLILLIN

THREE-PHASE SYSTEM OF SOIL
SOLIDS

VOIDS

Idealization

Soil mass Idealized soil

 Idealized Soil
Volumes Weights
𝑽𝑨𝑰𝑹 𝑾𝑨𝑰𝑹 ≈ 𝟎

𝑽𝑽𝑶𝑰𝑫𝑺
𝑽𝑾𝑨𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑾𝑾𝑨𝑻𝑬𝑹
𝑽𝑻𝑶𝑻𝑨𝑳 𝑾𝑻𝑶𝑻𝑨𝑳

𝑽𝑺𝑶𝑳𝑰𝑫𝑺 𝑾𝑺𝑶𝑳𝑰𝑫𝑺
Key Terms
WATER CONTENT (𝒘)
It is the ratio of the weight of water to the weight of solids.
VOID RATIO (𝒆)
It is the ratio of the volume of void spaces to the volume of solids.
POROSITY (𝒏)
It is the ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume of soil.
DEGREE OF SATURATION (𝑺)
It is the ratio of the volume of water to the volume of voids.
RELATIVE DENSITY (𝑫𝒓 )
It is an index that quantifies the degree of packing between the loosest and densest
state of coarse-grained soils.
Key Terms
BULK UNIT WEIGHT (𝜸)
It is the weight density, that is, the weight of a soil per unit volume.
SATURATED UNIT WEIGHT (𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 )
It is the weight of a saturated soil per unit volume.
DRY UNIT WEIGHT (𝜸𝒅 )
It is the weight of a dry soil per unit volume.
EFFECTIVE UNIT WEIGHT (𝜸′)
It is the weight of a saturated soil submerged in water per unit volume.
SPECIFIC GRAVITY (𝑮𝒔 )
It is the ratio of the weight of the soil solids to that of weight of water of equal
volume.
Void ratio, e
It is the ratio of the volume of void space to the volume of solids of the soil mass. The void ratio is
usually expressed as a decimal quantity.
Specific Volume, 𝑽′
It is the volume of soil per unit volume of solids.
Porosity, 𝒏
It is the ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume. Porosity is usually expressed as a
percentage.
Degree of Saturation, 𝑺
It is the ratio, often expressed as a percentage, of the volume of water to the volume of voids.
Void ratio and Porosity
Water content, 𝒘
It is the ratio, often expressed as a percentage, of the weight of water to the weight of solids.
Unit weight, 𝜸
It is the weight of a soil per unit volume. The terms bulk unit weight, moist unit weight, total unit
weight, and natural unit weight are also used to denote unit weight.
Dry unit weight, 𝛾𝑑
It is the weight of a soil solids per unit volume.
Density, 𝝆
It is the mass of a soil per unit volume.
Dry density, 𝜌𝑑
Specific gravity, 𝐺𝑠
It is the ratio of the weight of the soil solids to the weight of water of equal volume.
Specific gravity, 𝐺𝑠
Bulk specific gravity, 𝐺
𝑮𝒔 , 𝒘, 𝑺, and 𝒆
𝑮𝒔 , 𝒘, 𝑺, and 𝒆
𝑮𝒔 , 𝒘, 𝑺, and 𝒆
Saturated unit weight, 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡
Effective unit weight, 𝛾′
Effective/Buoyant/Submerged unit weight is the weight of a saturated soil, surrounded by water, per
unit volume of soil
Relative density, 𝐷𝑟
It is an index that indicates the degree of packing between the loosest and densest possible state of
coarse-grained soils as determined by experiments.
Relative density, 𝐷𝑟

Description of coarse-grained soils based on relative density and porosity

SAMPLE PROBLEMS
1. CE Board Problem: A sample of moist soil has water content of
18% and moist unit weight of 17.3 kN/m3. The specific gravity of
solids is 2.65. Compute the degree of saturation of the soil.
A sample of moist soil has water content of 18% and moist unit weight of 17.3 kN/m3. The specific gravity of solids is 2.65.
Compute the degree of saturation of the soil.
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
2. A compacted clay weighing 1.62 kg weighs 0.88 kg when
submerged in water. Determine the bulk specific gravity of the
clay.
A compacted clay weighing 1.62 kg weighs 0.88 kg when submerged in water. Determine the bulk specific gravity of the clay.
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
3. A hand-carved sample of soft saturated clay weighs 350 grams
and has a volume of 200 cc. After oven-drying, it weighs 240
grams. Calculate the (a) moisture content in percent; (b) specific
gravity of solids; (c) porosity in percent
A hand-carved sample of soft saturated clay weighs 350 grams and has a volume of 200 cc. After oven-drying, it weighs 240 grams.
Calculate the (a) moisture content in percent; (b) specific gravity of solids; (c) porosity in percent
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
4. A soil sample has a bulk unit weight of 19.62 kN/m3 at a water
content of 10%. Assuming Gs = 2.7, determine the percentage of
air in the voids.
A soil sample has a bulk unit weight of 19.62 kN/m3 at a water content of 10%. Assuming Gs = 2.7, determine the percentage of
air in the voids.
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
5. A cubic meter of soil in its natural state weights 17.5 kN. After
oven drying, the soil weighs 14.2 kN. Assume Gs = 2.70.
a) Calculate the void ratio of the soil.
b) Calculate the degree of saturation of the soil.
c) Calculate the saturated unit weight of the soil in kN/m3.
A cubic meter of soil in its natural state weights 17.5 kN. After oven drying, the soil weighs 14.2 kN. Assume Gs = 2.70. (a)
Calculate the void ratio of the soil. (b) Calculate the degree of saturation of the soil. (c) Calculate the saturated unit weight of the
soil in kN/m3.
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
6. The unit weights and degrees of saturation of a soil are given in
the following table:

Determine the (a) void ratio of the soil in percent; (b) specific
gravity of the soil solids; and (c) porosity of the soil in percent.
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
7. A cylindrical soil sample prepared for laboratory testing has a
diameter of 71mm, a height of 142 mm and weighs 10.675 x 10-3
kN. If the degree of saturation is 93% and the specific gravity of
soil solids is 2.71, determine:
a) Void ratio
b) Water content
c) Water content under fully saturated condition
A cylindrical soil sample prepared for laboratory testing has a diameter of 71mm, a height of 142 mm and weighs 10.675 x 10-3 kN.
If the degree of saturation is 93% and the specific gravity of soil solids is 2.71, determine: (a) Void ratio; (b) Water content; (c) Water
content under fully saturated condition
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
8. A sample of dry sand having a unit weight of 16.50 kN/m3 and
a specific gravity of 2.70 is placed in the rain. During the rain,
the volume is constant but the saturation has increased to 40%.
Determine:
a) Void ratio
b) Unit weight immediately after raining
c) Water content immediately after raining
A sample of dry sand having a unit weight of 16.50 kN/m3 and a specific gravity of 2.70 is placed in the rain. During the rain, the
volume is constant but the saturation has increased to 40%. Determine: (a) Void ratio; (b) Unit weight immediately after raining;
(c)Water content immediately after raining
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
9. A sample of saturated clay was placed in a container and they
weighed 6N. The clay was placed in the oven for 24 hours at
105°𝐶. The weight was then reduced to 5 N. The weight of the
container is 1 N and Gs = 2.70. Determine:
a) Water content of the soil
b) Void ratio
c) Effective unit weight
A sample of saturated clay was placed in a container and they weighed 6N. The clay was placed in the oven for 24 hours at
105°𝐶. The weight was then reduced to 5 N. The weight of the container is 1 N. Determine: (a) Water content of the soil; (b) Void
ratio; (c) Effective unit weight
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
10. CE Problem. A sample of moist sand taken from the field was
found to have a moisture content of 14% and a porosity of 38%.
In a laboratory test that simulates field conditions, it was found
that at its loosest state, its void ratio is 85% and at its densest
state its void ratio is 40%. Determine the relative density of the
sand.
A sample of moist sand taken from the field was found to have a moisture content of 14% and a porosity of 38%. In a laboratory
test that simulates field conditions, it was found that at its densest state, its void ratio is 85% and at its loosest state its void ratio
is 40%. Determine the relative density of the sand.