Soil Mechanics

CE 12
2. Soil Properties
PRACTICAL APPLICATION

• The specific gravity of soil solid is used in calculating the phase

relationships of soils, such as the void ratio and the degree of
saturation.
• The specific gravity of soil solids is used to calculate the
density of the soil solids.
• GS is a significant parameter of soil mechanics since it can be
associated with the soil’s mineral composition and weathering.
• The moisture content of soil also referred to as water content, is an indicator of
the amount of water present in soil. Moisture content is the ratio of the mass of
water contained in the pore spaces of soil to the solid mass of particles in that
material, expressed as a percentage. A standard temperature of 110 ± 5°C is
used to determine the mass of the sample.
• Soils exhibit different states of consistency and stability depending on the
amount of water that they contain.
• Field water content has been used to assess the potential for volume change in
soils.
• Knowledge of the shrink/swell properties of soils is important. Jones and Holts
(1973) have estimated that shrinking and swelling soils were responsible for
more than twice the annual cost of damage from floods, hurricanes, tornadoes
and earthquakes combined.
• The effects of changes in water content on the stress state is determined so
strength and compressibility will be estimated.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION

•Almost all soil tests determine the natural moisture content of the soil, and it
is essential knowledge for all studies of soil mechanics. The natural moisture
content provides an idea of the state of the soil in the field.

•Moisture content is one of the most important index properties used for the
correlation of soil behavior and its index properties.

•The moisture content of the soil is used to express the phase relationships
of water, air, and solids in a given volume or weight of the material.

•For cohesive soil, the consistency of a given soil, along with its liquid and
plastic limits is used to express its relative consistency.
Water Content Test