PBSCE 020

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING I
(SOIL MECHANICS)

PROPERTIES OF SOIL
ENGR. KRISTINE JOY A. CAALAM, CE, MP
Instructor
I. SYMBOLS AND NOTATIONS
e = void ratio
n = porosity
Dr = relative density
G = specific gravity of solids (usually in the range 2.67 ± 0.05)
GI = group index
LI = liquidity index
LL = liquid limit
MC = moisture content
PI = plasticity index
PL = plastic limit
S = degree of saturation
V = volume of soil mass
Va = volume of air
Vs = volume of solids
Vw = volume of water
W = total weight of soil
Ws = weight of solids
Ww = weight of water
d = dry unit weight
m = weight of soil mass
s = unit weight of solids
sat = saturated unit weight
w = unit weight of water
II. DENSITY AND UNIT WEIGHT OF WATER
Density of Water, w = 1000 kg/m3

w = 1 kg/liter

w = 1 g/cc

Unit Weight of Water, w = 9.81 kN/m3

w = 1 kg/liter

w = 1 g/cc
III. BASIC FORMULAS

Unit Weight of Substance, 𝛾𝑠 = 𝐺𝛾𝑤

Weight of Water, 𝑊𝑤 = 𝛾𝑤 𝑉𝑤
Weight of Substance, 𝑊𝑠 = 𝛾𝑠 𝑉𝑠 = 𝐺𝛾𝑤 𝑉𝑠
Specific Gravity of Substance, 𝐺𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠 = 𝛾𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠 /𝛾𝑤
IV. PHASE DIAGRAMS OF SOIL
In general, soil is a three-phase system composed of solid, liquid and
gaseous matter. The voids in between solid soil particles are filled with
either water or air or both. In completely saturated soil, the voids are filled
with water only whereas, in case of completely dry soil voids are filled with
air only. In case of partially saturated soil, the voids are filled with both
water and air. The representation of different phases of soil with diagrams
is called as phase diagram.
W = Total weight of soil
Ws = Weight of solid particles
Ww = Weight of water
V = Volume of soil
Vs = Volume of solid particles
Vv = Volume of voids
Vw = Volume of water
Partially Saturated Soil (Three-phase system)
Completely Saturated Soil (Two-phase system)
Completely Dry Soil (Two-phase system)
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL

Void ratio, e
Ratio of the volume of voids to the volume of
solid particles in a soil. It is usually expressed
in percent.
𝑽𝒗
ⅇ= , Note: 0 < ⅇ < ∞
𝑽𝒔
𝒏
ⅇ=
𝟏−𝒏
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL Porosity, n
Ratio of the volume of voids (containing air,
water, or other fluids) in a soil to the total
volume of the soil. A porosity of 0 implies that
there are no voids in the soil.

𝑽𝒗
𝒏= ,
𝑽

Note: 0 < 𝒏 < 1

ⅇ
𝒏=
𝟏+ⅇ
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL

Water Content or Moisture Content, w

Moisture content, usually expressed in terms of
percentage, is the ratio of the weight of water to
the weight of solids.
Water content or moisture content,
𝑊𝑤
𝑀𝐶 𝑜𝑟 𝑤 = x 100%, Note: 0 < 𝑤 < ∞
𝑊𝑠
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL

Degree of Saturation, S
Degree of saturation is the ratio of volume of
water to the volume of voids.
𝑉𝑤
𝑆= =, Note: 0 ≤ 𝑆 ≤ 1
𝑉𝑣

𝑺ⅇ = 𝑮𝒘
S = 0 for completely dry soil
S = 1 for totally saturated soil
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL Unit Weight, ɣ
Total unit weight: The specific weight, also known as
the unit weight, is the weight per unit volume of a material.
A commonly used value is the specific weight of water on
Earth at 4°C, which is 9.807 kN/m3 or 62.43 lbf/ft3

𝑊
Unit weight, 𝛾 =
𝑉

𝛾 = 𝑠𝛾𝑤 = 𝜌𝑔

Depending upon the state of the soil, the unit

weight of the soil also changes.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL

Bulk unit weight (Moist Unit Weight) (ɣbulk or ɣm) of the soil is
defined as the total weight of the soil mass per unit of total
volume. The bulk unit weight is the unit weight of the soil in
its natural condition. In SI unit, it is expressed as ‘kN/m3’.

𝑊 𝐺 + 𝑆𝑒 𝛾𝑤 𝐺 1 + 𝑤 𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑚 = = = = 𝛾𝑑 (1 + 𝑤)
𝑉 1+𝑒 1+𝑒
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL Dry unit weight (ɣdry) of the soil is defined as the weight of
soil solids per unit of total volume. This is the unit weight of
soil under completely dry condition. For dry soils, S = 0
and w = 0.

𝑊𝑠 𝐺𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑑 = =
𝑉 1+𝑒
𝑊
𝑊𝑠 =
1 + 𝑀𝐶
𝛾𝑚
𝛾𝑑 =
1 + 𝑀𝐶
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL

Saturated unit weight (ɣsat) of the soil is defined as the total

weight of the soil when it is fully saturated per unit of total
volume. This is the unit weight of soil under completely
saturated condition. For saturated soils, S = 1 and Vv =
Vw.
𝐺 + 𝑒 𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 =
1+𝑒
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL

Submerged unit weight (Buoyant Unit Weight) (ɣ’) of the soil

is equal to the saturated unit weight of soil minus unit weight
of the water.
𝐺 − 1 𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑏 = 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 − 𝛾𝑤 =
1+𝑒
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL

Critical Hydraulic Gradient

Critical hydraulic gradient is the hydraulic gradient that
brings a soil mass (essentially, soils) to static liquefaction
(quick condition).

𝛾𝑏 𝐺 − 1
𝑖𝑐𝑟 = =
𝛾𝑤 1 + 𝑒
 Specific gravity, G
The specific gravity (G) of the soil is defined as the ratio of
GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES

the weight of a given volume of solid to the weight of an

equivalent volume of water at 4°C.
The specific gravity of the soil varies in between 2.65 to
2.80 (Ranjan and Rao, 2000). Specific gravity is also a unit
less quantity.
𝛾𝑠 𝜌𝑠
𝐺= =
𝛾𝑤 𝜌𝑤
OF SOIL
GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES
OF SOIL
 Relative Density of Granular Soils, Dr
The relative density, Dr, expresses the state of compactness of a natural
granular soil.

𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑒
GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES

𝐷𝑟 = 𝑥 100
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛
1 1
−
𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝛾𝑑
𝐷𝑟 =
1 1
−
𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑥

Where:
emax = void ratio of the soil in loosest state
emin = void ratio of the soil in densest state
OF SOIL

e = void ratio of the soil deposit (in-situ state)

ɣdmax = maximum dry unit weight
ɣdmin = minimum dry unit weight
ɣd = dry unit weight
 DESIGNATION DR (%)
GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES

0 - 15
Very loose
Loose 15 - 35
Medium dense 35 - 65

Dense 65 - 85
OF SOIL

Very dense 85 - I00

 Consistency

Consistency is the term used to describe the degree

GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES

of firmness (e.g., soft, medium, firm, or hard) of a soil.

The consistency of a cohesive soil is greatly affected
by the water content of the soil. A gradual increase
of the water content may transform a dry soil from
solid state to a semisolid state, to a plastic state, and
after further moisture increase, into a liquid state. The
water content at the corresponding junction points-
of these states are known as the shrinkage limit, the
OF SOIL

plastic limit, and the liquid limit, respectively.

GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES
OF SOIL
GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES
OF SOIL
SOIL INDICES
GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES CLASSIFICATION OF CLAY ACTIVITY
OF SOIL
GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES DESCRIPTION OF SOIL BASED ON LIQUIDITY INDEX
OF SOIL
GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES DESCRIPTION OF SOIL BASED ON PLASTICITY INDEX
OF SOIL
 Shrinkage Limit, SL

Soil shrinks as moisture is gradually lost from it. With continuing loss of moisture,
a stage of equilibrium is reached at which more loss of moisture will result in no
GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES

further volume change. The moisture content, in percent, at which the volume of
the soil mass ceases to change, is defined as the shrinkage limit.

𝑚1 − 𝑚2 𝑣1 − 𝑣2
𝑆𝐿 = − 𝜌𝑤 100
𝑚2 𝑚2
where:
m1 = mass of wet (saturated) soil
m2 = mass of oven-dried soil
V1 = volume of wet soil
OF SOIL

V2 = volume of oven-dried soil

 Shrinkage Ratio, SR
𝑚2
𝑆𝑅 =
GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES

𝜌𝑤 𝑉2
Specific Gravity of Solids, G
1
𝐺=
1 𝑆𝐿
−
𝑆𝑅 100

Relative Soil Compaction

𝛾𝑑𝑟𝑦
% 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝑥 100
𝛾𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑥
OF SOIL

Acceptable Compaction: 95% Above

DETERMINE LIQUID AND PLASTIC LIMITS
Fall cone test (cone penetration test) offers more accurate
method of determining both the liquid limit and the plastic
limit. In this test, a cone with apex angle of 30 degrees and total
mass of 80 grams is suspended above, but just in contact with,
the soil sample. The cone is permitted to fall freely for a period
of 5 seconds. The water content corresponding to a cone
penetration of 20 mm defines the liquid limit.
CUP METHOD. The device used in this method consists of a
brass cup and a hard rubber. The brass cup is dropped onto the
base by a cam operated by a crank.
APPLICATION

If a soil sample has a dry unit weight of 19 kN/m3, moisture content of 8.5% and a specific gravity of
solids particles is 2.67. Calculate the following:

a. Void ratio
b. Porosity
c. Bulk Unit Weight
d. Saturated Unit Weight
e. Submerged Unit Weight
A soil sample has a maximum dry unit weight of 125 lb/ft3. If the sample has a wet unit weight of 135
lb/ft3, specific gravity of 2.65 and water content of 11%, compute the relative soil compaction in the
field.
A specimen of moist clay has a mass of 183.4 grams. After oven drying, the mass is reduced to
157.7 grams. What is the moisture content of the sample?
A clay sample has a unit weight of 21.1 kN/m3 at moisture content of 9.8%. When completely
saturated with water, its unit weight is 22.58 kN/m. Determine the porosity of the soil.
The moist weight of 0.2 ft3 of a soil is 23 lb. The moisture content and the specific gravity of soil
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?
The moist weight of 0.2 ft3 of a soil is 23 lb. The moisture content and the specific gravity of soil
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?
A shrinkage limit test on a clayey soil gave the following data:
Weight of shrinkage dish + soil cake = 38.78 g
Weight of shrinkage dish + oven dry soil cake = 30.46 g
Weight of shrinkage dish = 10.65 g
Volume of Soil Cake = 16.29 cc
Volume of oven dry soil cake = 10 cc
Compute for Shrinkage Limit, Shrinkage Ratio and Specific Gravity of Soil
Solids.