Soil Phase Relationship

updated March 11, 2008

Haryo Dwito Armono, ST, M.Eng, PhD

Phase of Soil

Solid S lid particles Water

Air

Volumetric Ratios
Vv = Volume of void
Va = Volume of Air Vw = Volume of water

Vs = Volume of solid
Void ratio (e) 0,65
e= Volume of voids V v V l f id = Volume of solids V s

Porosity (n)

65%

n=

Volume of voids V v = Total volume V

Degree of saturation (S) g

65%

S=

Volume of water V w = Volume of void Vv Vl f id

Void ratio Porosity Relationship

Vv Vv n = = = Vs V Vv V Vv 1 n V V Vv V Vv Vs e n= v = = = V Vs + Vv Vs + Vv 1 + e Vs Vs e= Vv V

Typical Values

e=

n 1 n e n= 1+ e
(Lambe and Whitman, 1979)

Engineering Applications (e)

Simple bi (SC) Si l cubic (SC), e = 0.91, 0 91 Contract C Cubic-tetrahedral (CT), e = 0.65, Dilate

Volume change tendency Strength change

Link: the strength of rock joint
i

Shear strength = n tan( + i)

Engineering Applications (e)

Hydraulic conductivity
Which packing (SC or CT) has higher hydraulic conductivity? g y y SC e = 0.91

The fluid (water) can flow more easily through the soil with higher hydraulic conductivity

CT e = 0.65

Engineering Applications (e)

Filter SC e = 0 91 0.91

Clogging
The finer particle cannot pass through the void

CT e = 0.65

Critical state soil mechanics

Engineering Applications (e)

Completely dry soil S = 0 % Completely saturated soil S = 100% Unsaturated soil (partially saturated soil) 0% < S < 100%

S=

Total volume of voids contains water (Vw ) 100% Total volume of voids (Vv )

Effects of capillary forces. Capillary action is responsible for moving groundwater from wet areas of the soil to dry areas. Engineering applications: Slope stability Underground excavation

Engineering Applications (e)

Most of landslides are due to erosion and loss in suction The slope stability is significantly affected by the surface water. ff t d b th f t

(Au, 2001)

Density and Unit Weight

Mass is a measure of a body's body s inertia, or its "quantity of matter". Mass is not changed at different places places. Weight is force, the force of gravity acting on a body. The value is different at various places (Newton's second law F = ma) The unit weight is frequently used than the density is (e.g. in g calculating the overburden pressure).
Density, Unit weight , Mass Volume Weight Mass g = = Volume Volume

for example : Density of water , Unit weight of Water ,

w =1000 kg w = w g
= 1000 kg = 9 8 kN 9.8

m3 9.8 m

m3 m3

sec 2

Weight Relationship
Water Content w (100%)
w= Mass of water ( M w ) 100% Mass of soil solids ( M s )

for some organic soils w>100%, up to 500 % or quick clays w>100% clays,
Temperature C Density (at 1 atm) kg/m 999.84 999.98 999.10 998.20 997.05 993.33 988.04 958.37

Density of water
(slightly varied with temperatures)

0.0 4.0 15.0 20.0 25.0

w = 1 g / cm3
= 1000 kg / m = 1 Mg / m
3 3

37.0 50.0 100.0

Density of Soil
a. Dry density

d =

M Mass of soil solids = s Total volume of soil sample V

b. Total, Wet, or Moist density (0%<S<100%, Unsaturated) =

M + Mw Mass of soil sample = s Total volume of soil sample V M + Mw Mass of soil solids + water = s Total T t l volume of soil sample l f il l V

c. Saturated density (S=100%, Va =0)

sat =

d. Submerged density (Buoyant density) g y( y y)

' = sat w

Weight Relationship
Submerged unit weight: g g Consider the buoyant force y acting on the soil solids:

' = sat w
Ws Vs w Ws (V Vw ) w = V V W V w + Ww = s V W + Ww V w = s V = sat w

( S = 100%)

Archimedes Archimedes principle:

The buoyant force on a body immersed in a fluid is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by that object.

Cartoon by Ken Otter, 1997

Engineering Applications
For fine-grained soils, water g , plays a critical role to their engineering properties (discussed in the next topic) topic). For example, The quick clay usually has a water content w greater than 100 % and a card house structure. It will behave like a viscous fluid after it is fully disturbed. disturbed Clay
particle

Water

(Mitchell, 1993)

Other Relationship
Proof: (1) Specific gravity
S e = w Gs S e = Vw Vv Vw = Vv Vs Vs M w s M w Vs Vw = = M s w M s M w Vs Vw Ms

Gs =

s s = w w

(2)

w S e = w s S e = w Gs

w Gs =

Gs typical values

(Lambe and Whitman, 1979) (Goodman, 1989)

Remember the following simple rules g p

1. 1 Remember the basic definitions of w e s, S etc w, e, S, etc. 2. Draw a phase diagram. 3. Assume either Vs=1 or V = 1, if not given. 3 A ith 1 1 t i 4. Often use wSe=ws, Se = wGs
(Holtz and Kovacs, 1981):

Example

1. A saturated clay has a water content of 35% and a dry unit weight y y g 3. Find the void ratio, the specific gravity and total unit of 13.6 kN/m weight
You have three ratios, S = 100%, w = 35% and d = 13.6 kN/m3. Assume a value say V = 1 00 value, 1.00. Then Ws = 13.6 kN. Ww = ( (0.35)(13.6 kN) = 4.76 kN )( ) Vw = 4.76 kN/9.81 kN/m3 = 0.4852 m3 Vv = 1.0 Vw = 0.4852 m3 Vs = V - Vv=1 - 0.4852 = 0.5148 m3. e = 0.4852/0.5148 = 0.945, Gs = 13 6/((0 5148)(9 81)) = 2 69 13.6/((0.5148)(9.81)) 2.69,

= (13.6 + 4.76)/1.0 = 18.36/1.0 = 18.36 kN/m3