Lecture 2 - 22CIVIL05C - Soils Phase Relationship

Soil Mechanics -1
22CIVL05C
Dr. Salwa Yassin
BUE-23CIVIL05C-SM1-SY23 1
Lecture 2
Soil Three-Phase System
Soil 3-Phase System Analysis
Air
Water
Solid Particle
Soil Sample
Soil Sample
Air
Water
Solid Particles
Idealization for
Soil Sample
Soil Sample
components
Volume Weight
Va Air Wa=0
Vv
Vw Water Ww
VT WT
Solid Ws
Vs
Particle
Completely dry soil: Two phases(Solids + Air)

Saturated soil: Two phases(Solids + Water)
Partially saturated: Three phases (Solids + Water + air)
Soil 3-Phase System - Relationships
(1) Weight Relationships:
Where:
(%) = x 100% Water content = w
Weight of Solids = Ws
Weight of Water = Ww
Weight of Air = 0
(2) Volumetric Relationships:
Vv
Void Ratio , e 
Vs
Vv
Porosity , n(%)  100%
VT
Where:
Volume of Solids = Vs
Volume of Water = Vw
Volume of Air = Va
Volume of Voids (Vv) = Va + Vw
Vw
Degree of Saturation , S (%)   100%
VV
Where:
Volume of Water = Vw
Air Water
Volume of Air = Va
Volume of Voids (Vv ) = Va + Vw
Solid Particle Solid Particle
Dry Soil Fully Saturated

 Void Ratio (e): The void ratio is
the ratio between the volume of
voids and the volume of solid
particles
 Porosity (n) : The porosity is the

ratio between the volume of
voids to the total volume of soil.
 Relation between Porosity (n) and Void ration

(e)
¿
(3) Volume-Weight Relationships [Soil Unit weight]:
The unit weight is ratio/relation that connects the Volume side of the 3-PHASE
DIAGRAM with Weight side [Weight/Volume].
(1) Bulk, Wet, Total, or Moist unit weight
b = WT / VT
(2) Dry unit weight
d = Ws / VT
(3) Saturated unit weight
sat = Wsat / VT
(4) Submerged unit weight
sub = sat- w =
Specific Gravity – Gs
The specific gravity of a certain material/solid particles is the ratio between the unit
weight of that material/solid particles to the unit weight of water having the same
volume of the material/solid particles, and therefore it is a dimensionless value
Unit weight of Water at 4oC, w
w = 1.0 g/cm3
w = 9.81 kN/m3
Specific Gravity – Gs
Common Values of Gs for some types of soils
Soil 3-Phase System - Functional Relations
Notes:
1. Soil unit weight is expressed in gm/cm3 , kN/m3, or t/m3 .
2. Natural unit weight (from the filed) is the bulk unit weight of natural
soil, unless otherwise stated. .
3. Water density γw = 1 gm / cm3 (or 1 t/m3)
Example 1:
(1) The weight of a partially saturated soil sample is 600 gm and its volume is 365
cm3. After oven drying the weight of the sample reduces to 543 gm. Taking the
specific gravity of 2.67, find the water content, void ratio, and degree of
saturation. If the sample is saturated with water without a change in its volume,
find the saturated density.
Solution: Volume (cm3) Weights (gm)
Example 1: Cont.
Solution:
Volume (cm3) Weights (gm)
Example 2:
(2) An earth embankment is to be compacted to a dry density of 1.84 t/m3. The bulk
density and water content of the borrow pit are 1.77 t/m3 and 8 %, respectively.
Calculate the volume of excavation in the borrow pit which corresponds to 1 m3 of
the embankment.
Solution:
In transporting soil from the borrow pits to the embankment, the weight of the
solids remains unchanged.
Example 2: Cont.
Solution:
By solving the 3-phase diagram for 1 m3 of the embankment, then:
Embankment Borrow pit
Example 3:
(3) The bulk and dry densities of a soil sample are 1.77 and 1.5 t/m3, respectively. If the
degree of saturation is 60 %, what will be the specific gravity and porosity. Draw the 3-
phase diagram taking V = 1 m3. Check the obtained values of specific gravity and
porosity, then calculate the quantity of water added per unit volume for full saturation
(without change of volume).
Solution:
Volume – m3 Weight – t
V = 1 m3
W = 1.77 t Air
Ws = 1.5 t
Water
Ww = 1.77 – 1.5 = 0.27 t
Vw = 0.27 m3 Solid
Knowing Sr = 60 %
\ Vv = 0.27 / 0.6 = 0.45 m3
3-Phase diagram
\ Vs = 1-0.45 = 0.55 m3
Example 3: Cont.
Solution:
\ Gs = 1.5 /0.55 = 2.73
\ n = 0.45 / 1 = 0.45 = 45%
DWw = 0.45 -0.27 = 0.18 t
Checking:
gd = (Gs/(1+e)) . gw
gb = gd (1 +w)
1.5 = {[e x (0.6/0.18)] / (1+e)} x 1
1.77 = 1.5 ( 1 + w) \ e = 0.818
\ w = 0.18 \ Gs = 0.818 x (0.6/0.18) = 2.73
e . S = Gs . w n = e/ (1+e)
 n = 0.818 / (1+0.818) = 0.45 = 45%
\ e x 0.6 = Gs . 0.18
\ Gs = e x (0.6/0.18)
Units (for information)
 Mass is a property of matter. Mass
usually is measured in grams and
kilograms.
 Weight depends on the effect of

W=m∗g
gravity. Weight often is measured in Acceleration Due to Gravity (g)
newton's, unit of force.
Symbol g
 Weight is the measure of the amount of
Dimensional M0L1T-2
force acting on a mass due to Formula
acceleration due to gravity. Weight
usually is denoted by W. SI Unit ms-2
Formula g = GM/r2
 Weight is mass multiplied by the Values of g in SI 9.806 ms-2
acceleration of gravity (g).
Values of g in CGS 980 cm s-2
References and Further Reading:
- Craig Soil Mechanics book.

- Murthy, Geotechnical Engineering
Thank you

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Soil Mechanics -1

Dr. Salwa Yassin

Soil Three-Phase System

Completely dry soil: Two phases(Solids + Air)

Solid Particle Solid Particle

Dry Soil Fully Saturated

 Porosity (n) : The porosity is the

 Relation between Porosity (n) and Void ration

(1) Bulk, Wet, Total, or Moist unit weight

Unit weight of Water at 4oC, w

Common Values of Gs for some types of soils

Solution: Volume (cm3) Weights (gm)

Embankment Borrow pit

 Weight depends on the effect of

- Craig Soil Mechanics book.

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