WEIGHT – VOLUME RELATIONSHIPS
(A) (B)
(A) Soil element in natural state; (B) three phases of the soil element
V =V s +V v =V s +V w +V a
W =W s +W w
Where :
V a =volume of soil solids
V v =volume of voids
V w =volume of water ∈the voids
V a =volume of air∈the voids
W s=weight of soil solids
W w =weight of water
I. The volume relationships commonly used for the three phases in a soil element are
void ratio, porosity, and degree of saturation.
1. Void ratio ¿) - is defined as the ratio of the volume of voids to the volume of solids.
Thus,
Vv
e=
Vs
2. Porosity (n)- is defined as the ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume, or
Vv
n=
V
3. The degree of saturation (S) - is defined as the ratio of the volume of water to the
volume of voids, or
Vw
S=
Vv
The relationship between void ratio and porosity
e
n=
1+ e
II. The common terms used for weight relationships are moisture content and unit
weight.
4. Moisture content (w) - is also referred to as water content and is defined as the ratio
of the weight of water to the weight of solids in each volume of soil:
Ww
w=
Ws
5. Unit weight¿) is the weight of soil per unit volume. Thus,
W
γ=
V
The relationship of unit weight, dry unit weight, and moisture content can be given as
Ws γ
γ d= γd =
V 1+ w
6. Specific gravity of soil solids (Gs) - The ratio of the density of a body or a substance
to the mass of an equal volume of water. Unitless. It can be expressed as
Ws
Gs =
V s γw
Now, using the definitions of moist unit weight and dry unit weight
W W s+W w G s γ w + w Gs γ w (1+ w)Gs γ w
γ= = = =
V V 1+e 1+e
W s Gs γ w
γ d= =
V 1+ e
Relating Unit weight of water to Volume and its Weight
W w w Gs γw
V w= = =w Gs
γw γw
And degree of saturation (S)
V w w Gs
S= = ∨S e =w Gs
Vv e
If the soil sample is saturated—that is, the void spaces are filled with water, the
relationship for saturated unit weight ¿) can be derived in a similar manner:
W W s+ W w Gs γ w + e γ w (Gs + e)γ w
γ sat = = = =
V V 1+ e 1+ e
Various Unit Weight Relationships
Void Ratio, Moisture Content, and Dry Unit Weight for Some Typical Soils in a Natural
State
Type of soil Void Ratio,e Natural moisture Dry unit weight,γ d
content in a Kn/m
3
saturated state (% )
Loose uniform sand 0.8 30 14.5
Dense uniform sand 0.45 16 18
Loose angular- 0.65 25 16
grained silty sand
Dense angular- 0.4 15 19
grained silty sand
Stiff clay 0.6 21 17
Soft clay 0.9-1.4 30-50 11.5-14.5
Loess 0.9 25 13.5
Soft organic clay 2.5-3.2 90-120 6-8
Glacial till 0.3 10 21
1. The saturated unit weight and the water content in the field were found to be
3
18.55 kN /m ∧33 % , respectively. Determine the specific gravity of the soil solids
and the field void ratio.
SOLUTION:
kN
γ sat =18.55 3
m
ω=0.33
s=1
Se =ω G s
1 ( e )=0.33 Gs
e=0.33 G s
G s+ e
γ sat = γ
1+ e w
kN Gs +0.33 Gs kN
18.55 3
= (9.81 3 )
m 1+0.33 Gs m
Gs =2.68
e=0.8844
2. A cylindrical soil sample prepared for laboratory testing has a diameter of 71 mm,
a height of 142 mm, and weighs 10.675 x 10−3 kN . If the degree of saturation is 93 %
and the specific gravity of soil solids is 2.71, determine:
a. void ratio
π 2
V s= a (h)
4
2
π 71 (
V s= ( ) 0.142 )
4 1000
−4 3
V s =5.622 x 10 m
−3
10.675 x 10 kN kN
γ m= −4 3
=18.99 3
5.622 x 10 m m
Gs + S e
γ m= γ
1+ e w
2.71+0.93 e
18.99= (9.81)
1=e
e=0.770
b. water content
Se =ω G s
0.93 ( 0.770 )=ω ( 2.71 )
ω=0.264
c. water content under fully saturated condition.
S=1
1 ( 0.77 )=ω ( 2.71 )
ω=0.284
SAMPLE PROBLEMS:
1. In its natural state, a moist soil has a volume of 9.34 x 10−3 m3 and weighs
−3 −3
177.6 x 10 kN . The oven-dried weight of the soil is 153.6 x 10 kN . If Gs=2.67,
calculate:
a. Moisture content (%) ans .0.15625
kN
b. Moist unit weight 3 ) ans .19 .01
m
kN
c. Dry unit weight ( 3 ) ans .16 .44 %
m
d. Void ratio ans .0.593
e. Porosity ans .0.372
f. Degree of saturation (%) ans .0.702
2. For a moist soil sample, the following are given. Total volume: 5 1.2 m3, Total mass:
5 2350 kg , Moisture content: 5 8.6 % , Specific gravity of soil solids:5 2.71. Determine the
following:
kg
a. Moist density ans .1958.3 3
m
kg
b. Dry density ans .1803.3 3
m
c. Void ratio ans .0.503
d. Porosity ans .0.335
e. Degree of saturation ans . 46.3 %
f. Volume of water in the soil sample ans .0.186 m3
3. A saturated soil has a dry unit weight of 103 lb/ft 3. Its moisture content is 23 % .
Determine:
lb
a. Saturated unit weight ans .1 26.7 3
ft
b. Specific gravity ans .2.66
c. Void ratio ans .0.61
4. The dry density of sand with a porosity of 0.387 is 1600 kg /m3 . Determine the void ratio
of the soil and the specific gravity of soil solids. ans .0.63 and ans .2.61
