Module 2 Soil Mech Physical Properties of Soil
Module 2 Soil Mech Physical Properties of Soil
Chapter Overview:
The Significance of Soil: Nature's Foundation
Soil is often overlooked but is, in fact, the very foundation upon which our natural world and human civilization are built.
It's not just the stuff beneath our feet; it's a dynamic and intricate substance that supports life, ecosystems, and human
infrastructure. Without a deep understanding of soil, it's impossible to fully appreciate the intricate web of interactions it has
with our environment and the critical role it plays in various fields, particularly geotechnical engineering.
Think of soil like a three‐part system. Imagine it's like a sandwich with layers. First, you have the solid stuff, like tiny
pieces of rock and dirt. Then, there's the liquid, which is usually water, but sometimes it might have a bit of salt mixed in. And
finally, there's the gas, which is just the air around the soil.
We can talk about these parts using measurements like how much stuff there is (mass) or how much space they take
up (volume). It's kind of like describing how thick the layers of your sandwich are. Understanding how these parts work
together is important because it helps us figure out what the soil is like and what we can do with it.
Ww wVw
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ eq. 1
Where;
w = unit weight of water, 9.81 kN/m3 or 9810 N/m3 or 62.4 lb/ft3
Vw = volume of water
Mass of Water, mw
It is the mass density of water multiplied by the volume of water.
s Gs w ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ eq. 3
Where;
Gs = specific gravity of solids
w = unit weight of water, 9.81 kN/m3 or 9810 N/m3 or 62.4 lb/ft3
Weight of solids, Ws
It is the specific gravity of solids multiplied by the unit weight of water.
Void Ratio, e
It is the ratio of the volume of voids to the volume of solids.
Vv
e
Vs
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ eq. 6
Porosity, e
It is the ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume.
Vv
n
VT
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ eq. 7
Ww
Ws
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ eq. 8
Degree of Saturation, S
It is the ratio of the volume of water to the volume of voids.
Vw
S
Vv
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ eq. 9
Vv Vv
e n
Vs VT
and
Let’s combine the two formulas so we left e and n in our equation.
Derivation;
Vv eVs
VT Vv Vs
eVs
n
Vv Vs
eVs
n
eVs Vs Cancel Vs
eVs
n
Vs 1 e
e
n
1 e ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ eq. 10
Relationship between Gs , , e,S
Let’s combine the equation 1, 5, 6, 8 and 9.
Derivation;
Vv Ww Vw
Ww wVw Ws Gs wVs e S
Vs Ws Vv
Combine eq. 6 and 9.
Vv eVs
+ Vw SVv = Vw SeVs
Se Gs
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ eq. 11
It is the ratio of the dry weight of the soil to the total volume of the soil.
Where = 0 and S = 0
Derivation;
VT Vs Vv
V
e v
Vs
Ws
dry
V s Vv
Then substitute eq. 6. Then substitute equation 5.
Ws Ws
dry wet
Vs eVs Vs 1 e + Ws Gs wVs
Ws
dry
Vs 1 e wet
G s wVs
Vs 1 e
Saturated unit weight occurs when the volume of voids is fully occupied by water.
Where S =100%
Derivation;
Gs w 1
wet
1 e
w G s G s
wet
1 e
w Gs Se
wet
1 e Where G s Se
For saturated soil, S = 1
w G s e
sat
1 e ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ eq. 14
Submerge or Buoyant Unit Weight, sub
If the soil is submerged, the density of the submerged soil sub , is equal to the density of the
saturated soil reduced by the density of water.
sub sat w
w G s 1
sat
1 e ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ eq. 15
Percent air voids, na
Percent air voids is defined as the ratio of the volume of air voids to the total volume of the soil mass and
is expressed as percentage.
Va
na 100
VT
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ eq. 16
Air Content, ac
The air content is defined as the ratio of volume of air voids to the volume of voids.
Va
ac 1S
Vv
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ eq. 17
Examples:
Example 2.1
A 0.0047 m3 of soil sample taken from the site weighs 112.8 N. After oven‐drying, it weighed 101.9 N. If the specific
gravity of soil solids is 2.96, determine the following:
a) Moist unit weight
b) Dry unit weight
c) Water content
d) Void ratio
e) Porosity
f) Degree of saturation
g) Volume occupied by water
Given:
WT 112.80 N
W s 101.90 N
G s 2.96
Solution:
a) Moist unit weight
W
wet T
VT
112.80 N
wet
0.0047 m 3
wet 24,000 N / m 3 or 24.00kN / m 3
b) Dry unit weight e) Porosity
W e
dry s n
VT 1 e
101.90 N 0.339
dry n
0.0047 m 3 1 0.339
dry 21,680.85 N / m 3 or 21.68kN / m 3 n 0.253
c) Water Content
G (1 ) f) Degree of Saturation
wet s w Se G s
1 e
2.960.1070
24.0kN / m 3
2.96 9.81kN / m 3 (1 ) S
0.339
1 0.339
S 93.43%
10.70%
21.68kN / m 3
2.96 9.81kN / m 3 W w 10.90 N
1 e W w wV w
e 0.339 10.90 N 9810 N / m 3V w
V w 0.0011 m 3
Example 2.2
The moist unit weight of a soil is 16.5 kN/m3. If the water content is 15% and sp.gr. of 2.7, determine the following:
a) Dry unit weight
b) Saturated unit weight
c) Submerge unit weight
Given;
wet 16.50kN / m 3
15.0%
G s 2.70
Solution:
a) Dry unit weight
wet dry (1 )
16.50kN / m 3 dry (1 0.15)
dry 14.35kN / m 3
b) Saturated unit weight
Se G s
1(e) 2.70(0.15)
e 0.41
G e
sat w s
1 e
9.81kN / m 3 2.70 0.41
sat
1 0.41
sat 21.64kN / m 3
c) Submerge Unit Weight.
sub sat wet
sub 21.64kN / m 3 9.81kN / m 3
sub 11.83kN / m 3
Example 2.3
Dry sand is placed in a container having a volume of 0.34 ft3. The dry weight of the sample is 42 lb. A volume of
0.056 ft3 of water is carefully added to the container so as not to disturb the condition of the sand. If the specific
gravity of the sand is 2.89, determine the:
a) Void ratio
b) Degree of saturation
c) Unit weight at zero air voids
Given;
VT 0.34 ft 3
W s 42 lb
V w 0.056 ft 3
G s 2.89
Solution:
a) Void ratio
Vv
W s G s wV s e
Vs
0.107 ft 3
42.0 lb 2.89(62.4 lb/ft 3 )V s e
0.233 ft 3
V s 0.233 ft 3 e 0.46
VT Vs Vv
0.34 ft 3 0.233 ft 3 V v
V v 0.107 ft 3
b) Degree of Saturation
V
S w
Vv
0.056 ft 3
S
0.107 ft 3
S 52.34%
Example 2.4
A soil sample in its natural state has, when fully saturated, a water content of 32.5%. Determine the void ratio, dry
and total unit weights. Calculate the total weight of water required to saturate a soil mass of volume 10 m3.
Assume Gs = 2.69.
a) Void ratio
b) Total unit weight of the soil sample
c) Dry unit weight of the soil sample
d) Weight of water required to saturate a soil mass of 10 m3.
Given;
VT 0.34 ft 3
W s 42 lb
V w 0.056 ft 3
G s 2.89
Solution: c) Dry unit weight
a) Void ratio wet dry (1 )
Fully saturated state (S=1) 18.66kN / m 3 dry (1 0.325)
G s eS dry 14.08kN / m 3
2.69(0.325) e(1) d) Weight of water required to saturate the sample
e 0.874 WT wet VT
b) Total unit weight WT 18.66kN / m 3 (10m 3 )
G 1
wet w s W s dry VT
1 e
3
9.81kN / m ( 2.69)(1 0.325)
wet WT 18.66kN / m 3 (10m 3 )
1 0.874
wet 18.66kN / m 3 W w WT W s
W w 18.66kN / m 3 14.08kN / m 3 (10m 3 )
W w 45.80kN
Practice Problems:
Problem 2.1
The in situ‐density of an embankment, compacted at a water content of 12% was determined with the help of core
cutter. The empty mass of the cutter was 1286 grams and the cutter full of soil has a mass of 3195 grams. The
volume of the cutter being 1000 cm3. Determine the following:
a) bulk density
b) dry density
c) degree of saturation
d) Void ratio
If the embankment becomes fully saturated during rains, what would be its water content and saturated unit
weight? Assume no volume changes in soil on saturation. Take specific gravity of soil to be 2.70.
Ans: (a)18.73 kN/m3 (b) 2.72 kN/m3 (c)55.5 % (d) 20.34 kN/m3
Problem 2.2
The mass specific gravity (apparent specific gravity) of a soil equals 1.64. The specific gravity of solids is 2.70.
Determine the void ratio under the assumption that the soil is perfectly dry. What would be the void ratio if the
sample is assumed to have a water content of 8%.
Ans: 0.646, 0.78
Problem 2.3
A natural soil deposit has a bulk unit weight of 18.44 kN/m3 and water content of 5%. Calculate the amount of
water required to be added to 1 cubic meter of soil to raise the water content to 15%. Assume the void ratio to
remain constant. What will then be the degree of saturation? Take specific gravity of soil to be 2.67.
Ans: 179 liters, 81.7%
Problem 2.4
A soil has a bulk unit weight of 20.11 kN/m3 and water content of 15%. Calculate the water content if the soil
partially dries to a unit weight of 19.42 kN/m3 and the void ratio remains unchanged.
Ans: 17.49 kN/m3, 11%
Problem 2.5
It is required to prepare a compacted cylindrical specimen of 40 mm diameter and 80 mm length from oven dry
soil. The specimen is required to have water content of 10% and percent air voids of 18%. Taking Gs = 2.70,
determine the mass of soil and mass of water, required for the preparation of the above specimen.
Ans: 155.4 grams, 24.9 grams
PROBLEM SET
1) The moist weight of 0.0068 m3 of a soil is 112.4 N. The moisture content and the specific gravity of soil solids are
determined in the laboratory to be 12% and 2.5 respectively. Calculate the following:
a) Moist unit weight
b) Dry unit weight
c) Void ratio
d) Porosity
e) Degree of saturation
Ans. a) 16,529.41 N/m3 , b) 14,758.40 N/m3 , c) 0.66 , d) 45%
2) A sample of saturated clay was placed in a container and weighed. The weight was 6 N. The clay in its container
was placed in an oven for 24 hours at 105°C. The weight was reduced to a constant value of 5 N. The weight of the
container is 1 N. G = 2.7. Determine the following:
a) Water content of the soil specimen
b) Void ratio in percent
c) Effective unit weight of the soil in kN/m3
Ans. a) 25% , b) 67.5 , c) 9.96 kN/m3
3) A soil has bulk density of 20.1 kN/m3 and water content of 15%. Calculate the water content if the soil partially dries
to a density of 19.4 kN/m3 and the void ratio remains unchanged.
Ans. 10.86%
4) The specimen of sand has a porosity of 46%, and the specific gravity of its solids is 2.73. Compute the specific weight
of this soil in the submerge state, in lb/ft3.
Ans. 58.35
5) A hand carved sample of soft saturated clay weighs 420 grams and has a volume of 250 cc. After oven‐drying, it
weighs 315 grams. Calculate the following:
a) Moisture content in percent.
b) Specific gravity of solids.
c) Porosity in percent.
Ans. a) 33.33% , b) 2.17 , c) 42%
6) The moist weight of 0.20 ft3 of a soil is 24 lb. The moisture content and the specific gravity of solids are determined
in the laboratory to be 11% and 2.7, respectively.
a) What is the moist unit weight in lb/ft3?
b) What is the dry unit weight in lb/ft3?
c) What is the degree of saturation in percent?
Ans. a) 120 , b) 108 , c) 53%
7) The mass of a sample of saturated soil is 540 grams. The dry mass, after oven‐drying is 405 grams. Assuming Gs =
2.7, calculate the effective unit weight of the soil mass, in kN/m3?
Ans. 8.78
8) A fully saturated clay sample has a mass of 1.526 grams. After oven drying, its mass was reduced to 1.053 grams.
The specific gravity of soil particles is 2.7.
a) Calculate the natural water content of the sample in percent.
b) Calculate the void ratio in percent.
c) Calculate the porosity in percent.
Ans. a) 44.92% , b) 121.3 , c) 55%
9) The mass of a moist soil sample collected from the field is 465 g. and its oven dry mass is 405.76 g. The specific
gravity of the soil solids was determined in the laboratory to be 2.68. lf the void ratio of the soil in the natural state
is 0.83, find the following:
a) The moist density of the soil in the field (kg/m3)
b) The dry density of the soil in the field (kg/m')
c) The mass of water, in kilograms to be added per cubic meter of soil in the field
for saturation.
Ans. a) 1,678.30 kg/m3 , b) 1,459.02 kg/m3 , c) 66.6 g
11) For a saturated soil, the following are given: ω = 2I% and G =2.67. Determine the following:
a) Saturated unit weight
b) Dry unit weight
c) Moist unit weight when the degree of saturation becomes 70%.
Ans. a) 20.31 kN/m3 , b) 16.79 kN/m3 , c) 19.25 kN/m3
12) For a silty clay soil, the moist unit weight for 50% degree of saturation = 20.03 kN/m3 and moist unit weight for 80%
degree of saturation = 20.93 kN/m3. Determine
a) The void ratio of the soil
b) The moisture content if the degree of saturation is 40%
Ans. a) 0.43, b) 19.7 kN/m3
13) For a moist soil, given volume = 0.25 m3, mass = 472 kg, moisture content = 16%, G = 2.7. Determine the following;
a) Moist density (kg/m3)
b) Dry density
c) Void ratio
d) Porosity
e) Degree of saturation
Ans. a) 1,888 kg/m3 , b) 1,627.59 kg/m3 , c) 0.66, d) 0.398, e) 65%
14) The volume of the soil sample measured before drying is 102 cm3 . The wet weight of soil is 189 grams and the dried
weight of the soil sample is 156 g. If the sp.gr. of the soil is 2.65, determine the following:
a) void ratio
b) degree of saturation
c) dry unit weight at zero air voids
Ans. a) 0.73, b) 76.8%, c) 1.698 g/cm3
15) The effective unit weight of soil is 10.68 kN/m3 and the void ratio is 0.58.
a) Compute the specific gravity of soil.
b) If the water content of the soil is 14%, compute for the degree of saturation.
c) Compute the bulk unit weight of soil.
Ans. a) 2.72, b) 0.66, c) 19.25 kN/m3
16) The volume of the soil sample before drying is 106 cm3 and the volume of the dried soil is 68 cm3. Specific gravity of
soil is 2.6. Compute the following:
a) Void ratio
b) Porosity
c) Degree of saturation if it has a moisture content of 17%.
Ans. a) 0.56, b) 0.36, c) 78.9%
17) A sample of wet soil was extruded from a sampling tube of diameter 100mm in a soil testing laboratory. The length
of extruded sample was 200mm. The mass of the wet soil was 3.15kg. Following a water content determination, the
mass of the dry soil was found to be 2.82kg. Determine the following;
a) Bulk density
b) Water content
c) Dry density
Ans. a) 2.0 Mg/m3, b) 011.70%, c) 1.80 Mg/m3
18) A natural soil deposit has a bulk unit weight of 18.44 kN/m3 and water content of 5%. Calculate the amount of water
in liters required to be added to 1 cubic meter of soil to raise the water content to 15%. Assume the voids to remain
constant. Determine also the degree of saturation after the water is added. Assume specific gravity of solid is 2.67.
Ans. 179 liters, 81.70 %
19) Calculate the saturated unit weight of a soil composed of 60% quartz, 25% mica and 15% iron oxide. Assume that
both soils are saturated and have void ratio of 0.63. Take average specific gravity for quartz 2.66, for mica 3.0 and
for iron oxide 3.8.
Ans. 21.36 kN/m3
20) A soil has a bulk unit weight of 20.11 kN/m3 and water content of 15%. Calculate the water content if the soil partially
dries to a unit weight of 19.42 kN/m3 and the void ratio remains unchanged.
Ans. 11%
21) A soil is composed of 60% quartz, 25% mica and 15% iron oxide. Assuming that both compositions are saturated and
have a void ratio of 0.63. Take the specific gravity for quartz = 2.66, mica = 3.0 and iron oxide = 3.8. Determine the
saturated unit weight of the given composition of the soil in kN/m3.
Ans. 21.34
22) An embankment for a highway of 30 m wide and 1.5 m in compacted thickness is to be constructed from a borrow
pit. The water content of the sandy soil in the borrow pit is 15% and its void ratio is 0.69. The specification requires
in the embankment is to be compacted to a dry unit weight of 18 kN/m3, specific gravity of soil is 2.70. For a 1 km
length of embankment, compute the following.
a) Volume of borrow pit soil required to construct the embankment
b) The weight of water per truckload of sandy soil, if the capacity of 1 truckload is
10 m3
c) Degree of saturation
Ans. 51,682, 23.51, 58.70%
23) The dry unit weight of a silty sand is 16.43 kN/m3. It has a specific gravity of 2.65. The silty sand has a void ratio in
the loosest condition equal to 0.88 and a void ratio of 0.36 in densest condition. Determine the relative density of
the sand, the porosity and the degree of saturation.
Ans. 57.26%, 0.37, 72.82%
24) The sample of soil weighing 30.6 kg had a volume of 0.0183 m³. The sample is allowed to dry in an oven and the
weight was reduced to 27.2 kg. The specific gravity of the solids was found to be 2.65. Determine the moist unit
weight of the soil, the dry unit weight and moisture content of the soil.
Ans. 16.4 kN/m3, 14.6 kN/m3, 0.125
25) A fully saturated clay sample has a mass of 1526 grams. After oven drying, its mass was reduced to 1053 grams. The
specific gravity soil particles is 2.70. Calculate the natural water content, void ratio, and porosity.
Ans. 44.92%, 121.3%, 54.81%
References:
1. Geotechnical Engineering Principles and Practices of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering V.N.S.
Murthy, CRC Press, 2002
4. Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, 9th Edition, Braja M. Das, Khaled Sobhan, CENGAGE Learning, 2018
5. Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering, 2nd Edition, Braja M. Das, Nagaratnam Sivakugan, CENGAGE
Learning, 2016