I ndex Properties

of Soil
Reference:
Principles of Geotechnical Engineering 8th edition by B.M Das & K Sobhan
Basic Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering 5th edition by V. Besavilla Jr.

SOIL MECHANICS
HOLY ANGEL UNIVERSITY
 SOIL
1. SOLID

2. WATER

3. AIR
(a) Soil element in natural state (b) Three phases of the soil element
 𝐕 = 𝐕𝐒 + 𝐕𝐕
𝐕 = 𝐕𝐒 + 𝐕𝐖 + 𝐕𝐀
Where:
𝑉𝑠 = total volume of soil
𝑉𝑠 = volume of soil solids
𝑉𝑣 = volume of voids
𝑉𝑤 = volume of water in the voids
𝑉𝑎 = volume of air in the voids
 Void
A space containing no solid
matter
Volume Relationships
• Void Ratio

• Porosity

• Degree of Saturation
Volume Relationships
Void Ratio (e) - Ratio of the volume of the voids to
the volume of solids

𝑽𝒗
𝒆 =
𝑽𝒔
(a) Soil element in natural state (b) Three phases of the soil element
Volume Relationships
Air Void Ratio (avr) - Ratio of the volume of
air to the total volume

𝑽𝒂
𝒂𝒗𝒓 =
𝑽
(a) Soil element in natural state (b) Three phases of the soil element
Volume Relationships
Porosity (n) - Ratio of the volume of the voids to
the total volume

𝑽𝒗
𝒏 =
𝑽
(a) Soil element in natural state (b) Three phases of the soil element
Volume Relationships
Degree of Saturation (S) - Ratio of the volume of water
to the volume of voids

𝑽𝒘
𝑺 =
𝑽𝒗
(a) Soil element in natural state (b) Three phases of the soil element
Weight Relationships
• Moisture Content / Water Content

• Unit Weight
 𝐖 = 𝐖𝐬 + 𝐖𝐰

Where:
𝑊 = total weight of soil
W𝑠 = weight of soil solids
𝑊𝑤 = weight of water
Weight Relationships
Moisture Content (w) - Ratio of the weight of water
to the weight of soil solids

𝑾𝒘
𝒘 =
𝑾𝑺
(a) Soil element in natural state (b) Three phases of the soil element
Weight Relationships
Unit Weight (𝜸) – Weight of soil per unit volume

𝑾
𝜸 =
𝑽
 INDEX PROPERTIES OF SOIL

(a) Soil element in natural state (b) Three phases of the soil element
Weight Relationships
Dry Unit Weight (𝜸𝒅 ) – Weight of soil per unit volume,
excluding water (note: S = 0)

𝑾𝒔
𝜸𝒅 =
𝑽
 INDEX PROPERTIES OF SOIL

(a) Soil element in natural state (b) Three phases of the soil element
 Weight Relationships
Saturated Unit Weight (𝜸𝐬𝐚𝐭 ) – Weight of soil per unit volume
when it is saturated with water
(note: S = 100%)

𝑾𝒔𝒂𝒕
𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 =
𝑽
 INDEX PROPERTIES OF SOIL

(a) Soil element in natural state (b) Three phases of the soil element
 Weight Relationships
Unit Weight of Soil Solids (𝜸𝒔 ) – Weight of soil solids per unit
volume of soil solids

𝑾𝒔
𝜸𝒔 =
𝑽𝒔
 INDEX PROPERTIES OF SOIL

(a) Soil element in natural state (b) Three phases of the soil element
 Weight Relationships
Unit Weight of Water (𝜸𝒘 ) – Weight of water per unit volume of water

𝑾𝒘
𝜸𝒘 =
Constant Value of
𝑽𝒘
9.81 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3

62.4 𝑙𝑏/𝑓𝑡 3

1000 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3

1.00 𝑔/𝑐𝑐
Weight Relationships
Effective Unit Weight (𝜸′) – Also called as, submerged unit
weight and buoyant unit weight. It is the saturated soil’s unit
weight and deducting it by the unit weight of water

𝜸 = 𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 − 𝜸𝒘
 INDEX PROPERTIES OF SOIL

(a) Soil element in natural state (b) Three phases of the soil element
Mass Relationships
Density of soil & Dry Density of Soil

𝒎
𝝆=
𝑽
𝒎𝒅
𝝆𝒅 =
𝑽
Specific Gravity of Soil Solids
Ratio of the soil solids density or unit weight to that of water

Ranges from 2.6 – 2.8

𝜸𝒔
𝑮𝒔 =
𝜸𝒘
Steps in Solving
STEP 1: Identify the “GIVEN” values and their UNITS.
STEP 2: Identify the “UNKNOWNS” AND their UNITS.
STEP 3: Determine which of the formula/s have both the “GIVEN” and
the “UNKNOWN” (requires familiarity of formulas)
STEP 4: If step 3 is feasible, substitute the values to solve for the
unknown, if not, proceed to step 5.
STEP 5: Think of other formulas that can be combined, substituted or
derived to produce “ESSENTIAL VALUES” that can be used directly to
solve the “UNKNOWNS” and use them to obtain said values. (requires
MASTERY of formulas AND CONCEPTS) This is what we call “CRITICAL
THINKING”.
Step 6: Since the “ESSENTIAL values” needed for solving the
“UNKOWNS” have now been obtained, Substitute to solve for the
“UNKNOWNS”.
Example 1
In its natural state, a moist soil has a volume of 9340 cc. and weighs
177.6 N. The oven dried weight of the soil is 153 N. If Gs= 2.67 calculate:

a) Moisture Content
b) Moist Unit Weight
c) Dry Unit Weight
d) Void Ratio
e) Porosity
f) Degree of Saturation
Example 2
The specific gravity of soil solids is equivalent to 2.74, the moist unit
weight is 131 pcf, and the moisture content is 16.6%. Determine the
following:

a) Dry Unit Weight

b) Void Ratio
c) Porosity
d) Degree of Saturation
e) The weight of water to be added in lbs to be added, for the
soil to reach a 100% degree of Saturation.
Example 3
The field weight of soil sample is 1900 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 and the unit weight of the
soil particle is 2660 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 .

a) Compute Dry Unit Weight if the water content of the soil is

11.5%
b) Compute the Void Ratio
c) Compute the Degree of Saturation
d) Compute the air void ratio
Example 4
In its natural state a moist soil has volume of 0.009 𝑚3 and weighs 180 N.
The oven dry weight of the soil is 150 N. If the soil has specific gravity of
2.70, compute the following:

a) Moisture content
b) Void Ratio
c) Degree of Saturation