MODULE 1.

SOIL COMPOSITION
Unit Weight and Density of Water
Weight-Volume Relationship
Relationship among Unit Weight, Void Ratio,
Moisture Content, Specific Gravity
  𝑽 𝒔 =𝟏 . 𝟎
**Saturated Soil
Relationship among Unit Weight, Porosity, and
Moisture Content
  𝐕 =𝟏 . 𝟎
Relative Density
 The term relative density is commonly used to indicate
the “in situ” denseness or looseness of granular soil. It is
defined as:
Relative Density
 Other Formula: (In terms of Porosity and Unit Weight)
Relative Density
Qualitative Description of Granular Soil Deposits
Special cases
Saturated unit weight (S=1)
sat = (Gs + e) w /(1 + e)

Dry unit weight

d = Ws/V = (Gs )w /( 1+ e) = /(1 + w)

Effective or buoyant unit weight

’ = sat - w = (Gs – 1) w/( 1 + e)
 Specific Gravity (Gs)
Specific gravity of important minerals
Mineral Specific gravity, (Gs)
Quartz 2.65
Kaolinite 2.6
Illite 2.8
Montmorillonite 2.65-2.8
Halloysite 2.0-2.55
Potassium feldspar 2.57
Sodium and calcium feldspar 2.62-2.76
Chlorite 2.6-2.9
Biotite 2.8-3.2
Muscovite 2.76-3.1
Hornblende 3.0-3.47
Limonite 3.6-4.0
Olivine 3.27-3.37
Typical values of unit weight for soils

Soil type sat(KN/m3) d(KN/m3)

Gravel 20-22 15-17

Sand 18-20 13-16

Silt 18-20 14-18

Clay 16-22 14-21

DEFINITIONS OF KEY
TERMS
Water content (w) is the ratio of the
weight of water to the weight of solids.
Void ratio (e) is the ratio of the volume of
void space to the volume of solids.
Porosity (n) is the ratio of volume of void
to the total volume of soil.
Degree of saturation (S) is the ratio of
volume of water to the volume of void.
Bulk unit weight () is the weight density,
that is, the weight of soil per unit volume.
Saturated unit weight (sat) is the weight of a
saturated soil per unit volume.
Dry unit weight (d) is the weight of dry soil
per unit volume.
Effective unit weight ( ’) is the weight of
soil solids in a submerged soil per unit
volume.
Relative density (Dr) is an index that
quantifies the degree of packing between the
loosest and densest state of course-grained
Example 1:
A sample of soil in natural state having a
volume of 0.00934 cu.m. weighs 18.11 kg.
The sample is allowed to dry in an oven and
the weight was reduced to 15.68 kg. The
specific gravity of the solid was found to be
2.67. Determine the following:
a. Moist Unit Weight of soil
b. Dry Unit Weight of soil
c. Moisture Content
d. Void Ratio
e. Porosity
f. Degree of Saturation
Example 2:
The moist soil having a volume of 0.0154
cu.m. has a unit weight of 16.5 KN/m^3
and a moisture content of 15%. If the
specific gravity of solid is 2.7. Determine
the following.
a. Degree of Saturation
b. Volume of air in the original sample
c. Weight of water to be added to reach full
saturation
Example 3:
The saturated soil has a dry unit weight of
103 lb/ft^3. Its moisture content is 23%.
Determine:
a. Saturated Unit Weight
b. Specific Gravity
c. Void Ratio
Example 4:
For a given sandy soil, emax=0.75 and
emin=0.4. Let Gs=2.68. In the field, the soil is
compacted to a moist density of 112 lb/ft^3
at a moisture content of 12%. Determine the
relative density of compaction.