Phase Relations

SIVA 1
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Objectives
To compute the masses (or weights) and
volumes of the three different phases.

Va air Ma=0
Notation Vv
M = mass or weight Vw water Mw
V = volume Vt Mt
s = soil grains
w = water
a = air Vs soil Ms
v = voids
t = total

SIVA Phase Diagram 2

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Definitions
Water content (w) is a measure of the
water present in the soil.

Va air Ma=0
MW
w X 100% Vv
MS Vw water Mw
Vt Mt
Expressed as percentage.

Range = 0 – 100+%. Vs soil Ms

SIVA Phase Diagram 3

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Definitions
Void ratio (e) is a measure of the void
volume.

Va air Ma=0
VV
e Vv
VS Vw water Mw
Vt Mt

Vs soil Ms

SIVA Phase Diagram 4

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Definitions
Porosity (n) is also a measure of the void
volume, expressed as a percentage.

Va air Ma=0
VV
n X 100% Vv
VT Vw water Mw
Vt Mt

Theoretical range: 0 – 100% Vs soil Ms

SIVA Phase Diagram 5

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Definitions
Degree of saturation (S) is the percentage of
the void volume filled by water.

Va air Ma=0
VW
S X 100% Vv
VV Vw water Mw
Vt Mt
Range: 0 – 100%
Vs soil Ms
Dr
y Saturate
d
SIVA Phase Diagram 6
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A Simple Example
In this illustration,

e=1 air

n = 50% water

S = 50%
soil

SIVA 7
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Definitions
Bulk density (m) is the density of the soil in the
current state.

MT
m  Va air Ma=0
VT Vv
Vw water Mw
Units: t/m3, g/ml, kg/m3 Vt Mt

Vs soil Ms

SIVA Phase Diagram 8

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Definitions
Saturated density (sat) is the density of the soil
when the voids are filled with water.

Submerged density (’) is the effective density

of the soil when it is submerged.
’ = sat - w

SIVA 9
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Definitions
Dry density (d) is the density of the soil in dry
state.

MS
d  Va air Ma=0
VT Vv
Vw water Mw
Units: t/m3, g/ml, kg/m3 Vt Mt

Vs soil Ms

SIVA Phase Diagram 10

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Definitions
Bulk, saturated, dry and submerged unit weights ()
are defined in a similar manner.
Here, use weight (kN) instead of mass (kg).
 = g

N/m3 kg/m3 m/s2

Specific gravity of the soil grains (Gs) typically

varies between 2.6 and 2.8.

SIVA 11
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Phase Relations
Consider a fraction of the soil where Vs = 1.

The other volumes can

be obtained from the
previous definitions. air
e
Se
The masses can be water Sew
obtained from:
Mass = Density x Volume soil
1 Gsw

volumes masses
SIVA Phase Diagram
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Phase Relations
From the previous definitions,
M W Se
w 
M S GS
air
VV e e
n  Se
VT 1  e water Sew

1 soil Gsw

Phase Diagram
SIVA 13
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Phase Relations

M T GS  Se
m   W
VT 1 e
air
M T GS  e e
 sat   W Se water Sew
VT 1 e

MS GS
d   W 1 soil Gsw
VT 1 e
Phase Diagram
SIVA 14
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Try not to memorise the equations.

Understand the definitions, and develop the
relations from the phase diagram with VS = 1;
Assume GS (2.6-2.8) when not given;
Do not mix densities and unit weights;
Soil grains are incompressible. Their mass and
volume remain the same at any void ratio.
SIVA 15
 A Suggestion..
Copyright©2001

If you can remember one thing in

phase relations, that should be ..

air
e
Se water Sew

ONE
soil Gs  w
1

SIVA 16
 Testing Times…
Copyright©2001

State whether the following are true or false?

(a) Dry density is greater than submerged density True

(b) In unsaturated soils, water content is always less False

than 100%.
(c) Larger the void ratio, larger the porosity. True

SIVA 17
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SIVA 18
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SIVA 19
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SIVA 20
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SIVA 21
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S=Vw/Vv= (346-284)/80.84* 100%= 76.69%

SIVA 22
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SIVA 23
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SIVA 24
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Example 3

SIVA 25
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SIVA 26