Introduction to Soil

Soil
Soil is a natural body comprised of solids (minerals and
organic matter), liquid, and gases that occurs on the land
surface, occupies space, and is characterized by one or both
of the following: horizons, or layers, that are distinguishable
from the initial material as a result of additions, losses,
transfers, and transformations of energy and matter or the
ability to support rooted plants in a natural environment.
Soil is formed over a long period of time.
The formation of soil happens over a very long period of
time. It can take 1000 years or more. Soil is formed from the
weathering of rocks and minerals. The surface rocks break
down into smaller pieces through a process of weathering and
is then mixed with moss and organic matter.

Formation of Soil
Weathering is the process of the breaking down rocks. There are two different
types of weathering. Physical weathering and chemical weathering. In physical
weathering it breaks down the rocks, but what it's made of stays the same. In
chemical weathering it still breaks down the rocks, but it may change what it's
made of. For instance, a hard material may change to a soft material after
chemical weathering.

Profile of Soil

Soil Types.
RESIDUAL SOIL
SEDIMENT SOIL
ALLUVIUM SOIL
LACUSTRINE SOIL
MARINE SOIL
PARTICULAR SOIL
EXPANSIVE SOIL
ORGANIC SOIL
COLLAPSIBLE SOIL
QUICK CLAY

Characteristics Soil
PARTICLE BONDING
The particle bonding is very weak so relatively easy to going to
change and have non-linear behavior and characteristic

Shape, Size and Structure of Soil Particle

Cohesive Soil
Non-cohesive Soil

Solid
Water
Air

Soil is generally a three phase material

Contains solid particles and voids
Voids can contain liquid and gas phases

Va
Vw
Vs

Solid
Water
Air

Soil is generally a three phase material

Contains solid particles and voids
Voids can contain liquid and gas phases

Va
Vw
Vs

Va
Vw

Solid
Water

Vs

Air

Soil is generally a three phase material

Contains solid particles and voids
Voids can contain liquid and gas phases

Phase

Volume

Mass

Weight

Air

Va

Water

Vw

Mw

Ww

Solid

Vs

Ms

Ws

Units

Length

metres

Mass

tonnes (1 tonne = 103 kg)

Density

t/m3

Weight

kilonewtons (kN)

Stress

kilopascals (kPa) 1 kPa= 1 kN/m2

Unit weight

kN/m3

Weight and Unit weight

Force due to mass (weight) more important than mass

W = Mg

Unit weight

Weight and Unit weight

Force due to mass (weight) more important than mass

W = Mg
W

Unit weight
V

Mg
V

g = rg

Weight and Unit weight

Force due to mass (weight) more important than mass

W = Mg
W

Unit weight
V

Mg
V

g = rg

sv

sv = r g z
sv = g z

Specific Gravity
This is defined by

Density of Material

Density of Water
w
Unit Weight of Material

Unit Weight of Water

w

Gs @ 2.65 for most soils

Gs is useful because it enables the volume of solid particles

to be calculated from mass or weight

Specific Gravity
This is defined by

Density of Material

Density of Water
w
Unit Weight of Material

Unit Weight of Water

w

Gs @ 2.65 for most soils

Gs is useful because it enables the volume of solid particles

to be calculated from mass or weight

Vs

Ms

Ms
Gs w

Ws

Ws
Gs w

Voids ratio

It is not the actual volumes that are important but rather the
ratios between the volumes of the different phases. This is
described by the voids ratio, e, or porosity, n, and the degree of
saturation, S.

Voids ratio

It is not the actual volumes that are important but rather the
ratios between the volumes of the different phases. This is
described by the voids ratio, e, or porosity, n, and the degree of
saturation, S.
Vv
e
The voids ratio is defined as
Vs

Voids ratio

It is not the actual volumes that are important but rather the
ratios between the volumes of the different phases. This is
described by the voids ratio, e, or porosity, n, and the degree of
saturation, S.
Vv
e
The voids ratio is defined as
Vs
Vv
n

and the porosity as

V

Voids ratio

It is not the actual volumes that are important but rather the
ratios between the volumes of the different phases. This is
described by the voids ratio, e, or porosity, n, and the degree of
saturation, S.
Vv
e
The voids ratio is defined as
Vs
Vv
n
and the porosity as
V
The relation between these quantities can be simply determined
as follows
Vs = V - Vv = (1 - n) V

Voids ratio

It is not the actual volumes that are important but rather the
ratios between the volumes of the different phases. This is
described by the voids ratio, e, or porosity, n, and the degree of
saturation, S.
Vv
e
The voids ratio is defined as
Vs
Vv
n
and the porosity as
V
The relation between these quantities can be simply determined
as follows
Vs = V - Vv = (1 - n) V
Hence
Vv
Vv
n
e

Vs
( 1 n )V
1 n

Degree of Saturation

The degree of saturation, S, has an important influence on soil

behaviour
Vw
Vw
S

It is defined as

Va Vw

Vv

Degree of Saturation

The degree of saturation, S, has an important influence on soil

behaviour
Vw
Vw
It is defined as
S

Va Vw

Vv

Unit Weights

Bulk Unit Weight.

Dry Unit Weight.
Saturated Unit Weight.

Unit Weights

The bulk unit weight

w Gs Vs w e S Vs
w ( Gs e S )
W
bulk

Vs eVs

1 e

Unit Weights

The bulk unit weight

w Gs Vs w e S Vs
w ( Gs e S )
W
bulk

Vs eVs

The saturated unit weight (S = 1)

sat

( G s e)
1 e

1 e

Unit Weights

The bulk unit weight

w Gs Vs w e S Vs
w ( Gs e S )
W
bulk

Vs eVs

The saturated unit weight (S = 1)

sat

( Gs e )
1 e

The dry unit weight (S = 0)

w Gs
dry
1 e

1 e

Unit Weights

The bulk unit weight

w Gs Vs w e S Vs
w ( Gs e S )
W
bulk

Vs eVs

The saturated unit weight (S = 1)

sat

( Gs e )
1 e

The dry unit weight (S = 0)

w Gs
dry
1 e

The submerged unit weight

' sat w

1 e

Moisture Content

The moisture content, m, is defined as

Weight of Water
Weight of Solids

Ww
Ws

Moisture Content

The moisture content, m, is defined as

Weight of Water
Ww
m

Weight of Solids
Ws
In terms of e, S, Gs and gw
Ww = gw Vw = gw e S Vs
Ws = gs Vs = gw Gs Vs

Moisture Content

The moisture content, m, is defined as

Weight of Water
Ww
m

Weight of Solids
Ws
In terms of e, S, Gs and gw
Ww = gw Vw = gw e S Vs
Ws = gs Vs = gw Gs Vs
hence

eS
m
Gs