Phase Relations: (Das, Chapter 3) Sections: All Except 3.6

3.
Phase Relations
(Das, Chapter 3)
Sections: All except 3.6
For this chapter, we need to know the following

• Mass (M) is a measure of a body's inertia, or its "quantity of matter".
Mass does not changed at different places.
• Weight (W) is the force of gravity acting on a body.
W  M g where g : acceleration due to gravity  9.81 m

sec 2
Mass
Density,  
Volume
Weight Mass  g
Unit weight ,   
Volume Volume
So   g
• The unit weight is frequently used in geotechnical engineering than the

density (e.g. in calculating the overburden pressure).
1
Units of unit weight and density
The SI unit of mass density () is kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m3).
The SI unit of force is Newton, therefore, the unit weights of soils are
typically expressed in kN/m3
Relationship between unit weight and density

The unit weights of soil in kN/m3 can be obtained from densities in kg/m3 as
The density of water w varies slightly, depending on the temperature. At

4Co , water’s density is equal to 1000 kg/m3 or 1 g/cm3
unit weight of water ,  w  9.81 kN

m3
Soil Phases
 Soil consists of solid particles plus the void space between the
particles
 The void spaces are partially or completely filled with water or

other liquid.
 Voids space not occupied by fluid are filled with air or other
gas.
 Hence soil are referred to as three-phase system, i.e. Solid +

Liquid (water) + Gas (air)
2
3
PHASE DIAGRAM
For purpose of study and analysis, it is convenient to represent the soil
by a PHASE DIAGRAM, with part of the diagram representing the
solid particles, part representing water or liquid, and another part air
or other gas.
Volumetric Ratios
(1) Void ratio e
Volume of voids Vv
e 
Volume of solids Vs
(2) Porosity n%
Volume of voids V
n  v 100
Total volume of soil sample Vt
(3) Degree of Saturation S% (0 – 100%)
Total volume of voids contains water Vw

S   100%
Total volume of voids Vv
4
Weight Ratios
(1) Water Content w%

Weight of water W
w  w 100%
Weight of soil solids Ws
Soil unit weights

(1) Dry unit weight
Weight of soil solids Ws
d  
Total volume of soil Vt
(2) Total, Wet, Bulk, or Moist unit weight

Total weight of soil W  Ww
  s
Saturated unit weight (considering S=100%, Va =0)

Weight of soil solids  water Ws  Ww
 sat  
5
Specific gravity, Gs
The ratio of the mass of a solid particles to the mass of an equal

volume of distilled water at 4°C
ws
Gs 
Vs  w
i.e., the specific gravity of a certain material is ratio of the unit weight
of that material to the unit weight of water at 4o C.
The specific gravity of soil solids is often needed for various

calculations in soil mechanics.
s •Gw = 1
Gs 
w •Gmercury = 13.6
6
Example 1:
In its natural state, a moist soil has a total volume of 9344.56 cm3 and a mass
18.11 kg. The oven-dry mass of soil is 15.67 kg. If Gs = 2.67, calculate the
moisture content, moist unit weight, void ratio and degree of saturation.
3475.66 cm3
2.44 kg 2440cm3
18.11 kg 9344.56 cm3
15.67 kg 5868.9 cm3
1. Relationship between e and n
Using phase diagram

Given : e e
required: n
1+e
Vv e
n  1
Vt 1  e
7
2. Relationship among e, S, w, and Gs
ww  wVw  V V
w   w w  w
ws  sVs  wGsVs GsVs
•Dividing the denominator and numerator of the R.H.S. by Vv

yields:
Se  wGs
•This is a very useful relation for solving THREE-PHASE
RELATIONSHIPS.
2. Relationship among e, S, w, and Gs

•Textbook derivation
8
•Various Unit Weight Relationships
Example 2
9
Example 3
Field density testing (e.g., sand replacement method) has shown bulk
density of a compacted road base to be 2.06 t/m3 with a water content of
11.6%. Specific gravity of the soil grains is 2.69. Calculate the dry
density, porosity, void ratio and degree of saturation.
•Relative Density
• The relative density is the parameter that compare the volume
reduction achieved from compaction to the maximum possible
volume reduction
• The relative density Dr, also called density index is
commonly used to indicate the IN SITU denseness or
looseness of granular soil.
Volume reduction from compaction of granular soil
10
Dr can be expressed either in terms of void ratios or dry
densities.
•Remarks
• The relative density of a natural soil very strongly affect its
engineering behavior.
• The range of values of Dr may vary from a minimum of zero for

very LOOSE soil to a maximum of 100% for a very DENSE
soil.
• Because of the irregular size and shape of granular particles, it is

not possible to obtain a ZERO volume of voids.
• ASTM test designations D-4253 and D-4254 (2007) provide

procedure for determining maximum and minimum dry unit
weights of granular soils.
11
• Granular soils are qualitatively described according to their
relative densities as shown below
• The use of relative density has been restricted to granular soils

because of the difficulty of determining emax in clayey soils.
Liquidity Index in fine-grained soils is of similar use as Dr in
granular soils.
12

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3.

For this chapter, we need to know the following

• Weight (W) is the force of gravity acting on a body.

W  M g where g : acceleration due to gravity  9.81 m

• The unit weight is frequently used in geotechnical engineering than the

Relationship between unit weight and density

The density of water w varies slightly, depending on the temperature. At

unit weight of water ,  w  9.81 kN

 The void spaces are partially or completely filled with water or

 Hence soil are referred to as three-phase system, i.e. Solid +

(3) Degree of Saturation S% (0 – 100%)

Total volume of voids contains water Vw

(1) Water Content w%

Soil unit weights

(2) Total, Wet, Bulk, or Moist unit weight

Saturated unit weight (considering S=100%, Va =0)

The ratio of the mass of a solid particles to the mass of an equal

The specific gravity of soil solids is often needed for various

15.67 kg 5868.9 cm3

1. Relationship between e and n

Using phase diagram

•Dividing the denominator and numerator of the R.H.S. by Vv

2. Relationship among e, S, w, and Gs

Volume reduction from compaction of granular soil

• The range of values of Dr may vary from a minimum of zero for

• Because of the irregular size and shape of granular particles, it is

• ASTM test designations D-4253 and D-4254 (2007) provide

• The use of relative density has been restricted to granular soils

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