Soil Properties http://osp.mans.edu.eg/geotechnical/Ch1 A.
htm
Soil Aggregate
Soil are aggregates of mineral particles and together with air and water in the void
spaces. A large portion of the earth's surface is covered by soils. This chapter discusses the
weight volume relationships of soil aggregates, their structures and plasticity.
Weight Volume Relationships:
Basic Definition:
Figure (1) shows a soil mass that has a total volume VT and total weight WT. To
develop the weight volume relationships. The three phases of soil mass, soil [soil particles],
air and water, have been separated as shown in fig. (2)…
Fig. (3) show weight-volume relationship thus, the total volume of a given soil sample
can be expressed as VT
VT = VV + VS
VV = Va + VW
Where:
Va : Volume of air
VW : Volume of Water
1 of 9 28/5/2015 4:49 PM
Soil Properties http://osp.mans.edu.eg/geotechnical/Ch1 A.htm
VV : Volume of Voids
Vs : Volume of Solid particle
VT : Total Volume of Soil
· If the weight of air in soil is negligible, so
WT = WS + WW
Where:
WT : Total Weight of Soil
WS : Weight of Solid particle
WW : Weight of Water
If the weight of water equal zero, it mean that there is no water in soil and. i.e. The
soil is dry. Fig. (4).
But in case volume of air equal zero, it means that there is no air in soil and the
water full of void in soil. i.e. soil is saturated. Fig. (5).
Volumetric Relations:
I. Void ratio (e):
Void ratio is defined as the ratio of the volume of void on the volume of solid particles.
Thus
e=
II. Porosity (n) :
n=
2 of 9 28/5/2015 4:49 PM
Soil Properties http://osp.mans.edu.eg/geotechnical/Ch1 A.htm
Porosity is defined as the ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume.
n= = divided on VS =
III. Degree of Saturation (Sr):
Sr =
The degree of saturation is defined as the ratio of the volume of water to the volume
of voids, and commonly expressed as a percentage from this noted that if :-
1. VW = zero i.e. there is no water
Sr = 0 à it means that the soil is dry.
2. VW = VV i.e. water full of void
Sr = 100 % à it means that the soil is saturated
3. If 0 < Sr < 100 % à it means that the soil in the general case or partially
saturated and so called wet soil.
Weight Relations
The weight relations are used moisture content and unit weight. The moisture content
is also referred to as water content.
IV. Water Content (WC):
WC=
The water content is defined as the ratio of the weight of water to the weight of solid
particles. The water content is expressed as a percentage.
V. Unit Weight of Solid Particles ( gS):
Unit weight of g S is the ratio of the weight of solid particles to the volume of solid
3 of 9 28/5/2015 4:49 PM
Soil Properties http://osp.mans.edu.eg/geotechnical/Ch1 A.htm
particles
gS = =
VI . Specific Gravity of Solid particle:
GS = =
Specific gravity of soil (GS) is defined as the ratio of the unit weight of solid particles to
the unit weight of water at 4oC, specific gravity of soil particle equal from 2.60 to 2.70 .
Where:
gW = 1.00 gm/cm3
= 1.00 ton/m3
= 9.81 kN/m3
= 62.4 lb/ft3
Example : proof the relation
WC . GS = S . e
Solution :
WC . GS S.e
4 of 9 28/5/2015 4:49 PM
Soil Properties http://osp.mans.edu.eg/geotechnical/Ch1 A.htm
From (1) & (2) à WC . GS = S . e
This is a very useful relation for solving problems in valuing three phase relationships.
VII . Unit Weight of Soil:
In the general case in natural the soil is determined as partial saturated. Bulk or wet
soil it is mean the same case.
= à (1)
Divided on Vs
à (2)
Q WC . GS = Sr . e
à (3)
at saturated case the unit weight is called sat and in this case Sr = 1 or 100 %.
From equ. (2):
5 of 9 28/5/2015 4:49 PM
Soil Properties http://osp.mans.edu.eg/geotechnical/Ch1 A.htm
à (4)
From equ. (2):
à (5)
From equ. (3):
à (6)
At submerged case of soil the unit weight called submerged unit weight or effective
unit weight and sign as sub
γSub = -
= -
à (7)
Conclusion:
e =
n = =
6 of 9 28/5/2015 4:49 PM
Soil Properties http://osp.mans.edu.eg/geotechnical/Ch1 A.htm
e =
Sr =
GS =
WC =
γdry =
γSat =
γSub =
Example:
Partially saturated soil sample has moisture content 22 % and bulk density 2 gm/cc,
if the specific gravity of the solid particle is 2.65 and the density of water be taken as 1
gm/cc find out the degree of saturation, void ratio, prosity, saturated unit weight, and the
effective unit weight.
Solution:
= 2 gm/cc GS = 2.65 = 1 gm/cm3 WC = 22%
γdry = = = 1.639 gm/cm3 à (1)
1.639 = à 1.639 =
e = 0.6165 à (2)
7 of 9 28/5/2015 4:49 PM
Soil Properties http://osp.mans.edu.eg/geotechnical/Ch1 A.htm
WC . GS = Sr . e
Sr =
Sr = = 0.946 à (3)
n = = = 0.38 à (4)
γSat =
= = 2.021gm/cm3 à (5)
γSub = = =
= 1.21 gm/cm3 à (6)
Example:
A moist soil sample weight 3.52 N after dry in an oven its weight is reduced 2.9 N if the
specific gravity 2.65 and wet unit weight 18.5 KN/m3 determine…
WC , e , n , Sr , γdry , γSub , γSat .
Solution:
WW = WT - WS = 3.52 – 2.9 = 0.62 N
WC = = = 0.214
γdry = = = 15.24 KN/m3
γdry =
8 of 9 28/5/2015 4:49 PM
Soil Properties http://osp.mans.edu.eg/geotechnical/Ch1 A.htm
e = 0.706
n = = 0.414 = 41.4 %
Sr = = = 80.3 %
γSub = = = 9.49 KN/m3
γSat = = = 19.298 KN/m3
9 of 9 28/5/2015 4:49 PM
