Problem 11: Soil Mechanics, Weight-Volume Relationship (CE May 2003)

The following data was obtained from laboratory tests for a cohesive specimen: moisture
content, w, was 22.5%; G = 2.60; and to determine the approximate unit weight, a sample having
a mass of 224 g was placed in a 500 cm^3 container with 382 cm^3 of water required to fill the
container.
a. What is the total unit weight of the soil sample in kN/m^3?
b. What is the void ratio (e)?
c. What is the dry unit weight of the soil sample in kN/m^3?
Answers:

e = 0.678

Problem 10: Soil Mechanics, Weight-Volume Relationship (CE Nov 2002)

Given the following characteristics of a soil sample:
Volume = 0.5 cubic ft
Mass = 56.7 pound mass
The solids have specific gravity of 2.69. After oven drying, the mass of the soil was 48.7 pounds.
a. What is the density of the in-situ soil?
b. What is the porosity of the in-situ soil?
c. What is the degree of the saturation of the in-situ soil?
Answers:

n = 42%
S = 61.018%

Problem 9: Soil Mechanics, Weight-Volume Relationship (CE Nov 2001)

A 480 cc soil sample taken from the site weighs 850.5 grams. After oven drying it, it weighed
59.4 grams. If the specific gravity of solids is 2.72, determine the void ratio of the soil.
Answers:
e = 1.195

Problem 12: Soil Mechanics, Properties of Soil (CE May 2000)

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 stimulates field conditions, it was found that at its
densest state, its void ratio is 85% and at its looses state its void ratio is 40%. Determine the
relative of the sand.
Answers:
Physical Properties of Soil

Soil is composed of solids, liquids, and gases. Liquids and gases are mostly water and air,
respectively. These two (water and air) are called voids which occupy between soil particles. The
figure shown below is an idealized soil drawn into phases of solids, water, and air.

Weight-Volume Relationship from the Phase Diagram of Soil

total volume = volume of soilds + volume of voids

volume of voids = volume of water + volume of air

total weight = weight of solids + weight of water

Soil Properties
Void Ratio, e
Void ratio is the ratio of volume of voids to the volume of solids.

Porosity, n
Porosity is the ratio of volume of voids to the total volume of soil.

Degree of Saturation, S
Degree of saturation is the ratio of volume of water to the volume of voids.

Water Content or Moisture Content, w

Moisture content, usually expressed in terms of percentage, is the ratio of the weight of water to
the weight of solids.
Unit Weight, γ
Unit weight is the weight of soil per unit volume. Also called bulk unit weight (γ), and moist unit
weight (γm).

Dry Unit Weight, γd

Dry unit weight is the weight of dry soil per unit volume.

Saturated Unit Weight, γsat

Saturated unit weight is the weight of saturated soil per unit volume.

Effective Unit Weight, γ'

Effective unit weight is the weight of solids in a submerged soil per unit volume. Also called
buoyant density or buoyant unit weight (γb).

Specific Gravity of Solid Particles, G

Specific gravity of solid particles of soil is the ratio of the unit weight of solids (γs) to the unit
weight of water (γw).

Formulas for Properties of Soil

Symbols and Notations
= void ratio
= porosity
= moisture content, water content
= specific gravity of any substance
= specific gravity of solids
= degree of saturation
= volume of soil mass
= volume of air
= volume of water
= volume of solids
= volume of voids
= total weight of soil
= weight of water
= weight of solids
= relative density
= unit weight of soil mass, moist unit weight, bulk unit weight
= unit weight of soil solids
 = unit weight of water
= = buoyant unit weight, submerged unit weight
= = dry unit weight
= saturated unit weight
= liquid limit
= plastic limit
= liquidity index
= plasticity index
= group index

Basic Formulas
Unit weight,
Weight,

Specific gravity,

Physical Properties of Soil

Total weight,
Total volume,
Volume of voids,

Void ratio, , Note:

Porosity, , Note:

Relationship between e and n, and

Water content or moisture content, , Note:

Degree of saturation, , Note:

Relationship between G, w, S, and e,
Moist unit weight or bulk unit weight,

, also or

Dry unit weight, and

Saturated unit weight,

Submerged or buoyant unit weight, or

Critical hydraulic gradient, or

Relative Density, or

Atterberg Limits
Plasticity index,

Liquidity index,
Shrinkage index,

Activity of clay, , where = soil finer than 0.002 mm in percent

Other Formulas

Volume of voids,

Volume of solids,

Volume of water,

Weight of water,

Weight of soil,

Dry unit weight,

Relationship between specific gravity of solids, moisture content, degree of saturation, and
void ratio
The relationship between , , , and is given by the following

G = specific gravity of solid particles

w = moisture content or water content
S = degree of saturation
e = void ratio

The formula above can be derived as follows:

Thus, as stated above.

Relationship between void ratio and porosity

The relationship between and is given by

and
Derivation is as follows

→ void ratio

→ n = Vv / V

(okay!)

→ porosity

→ e = Vv / Vs