Phase Relations

SIVA 1
Copyright2001

Objectives
To compute the masses (or weights) and
volumes of the three different phases.

Va air Ma=0
Notation Vv
M = mass or weight Vw water Mw
V = volume Mt
s = soil grains Vt
w = water
a = air soil
v = voids Vs Ms
t = total

SIVA Phase Diagram 2

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Definitions
Water content (w) is a measure of
the water present in the soil.

Va Ma=0
MW air
w X 100% Vv
MS Vw water Mw
Vt Mt
Expressed as percentage.

Range = 0 100+%. Vs soil Ms

SIVA Phase Diagram 3

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Definitions
Void ratio (e) is a measure of the
void volume.

Va Ma=0
VV air
e Vv
VS Vw water Mw
Vt Mt

Vs soil Ms

SIVA Phase Diagram 4

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Definitions
Porosity (n) is also a measure of the void
volume, expressed as a percentage.

Va Ma=0
VV air
n X 100% Vv
VT Vw water Mw
Vt Mt

Theoretical range: 0 soil

Vs Ms
100%

SIVA Phase Diagram 5

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Definitions
Degree of saturation (S) is the percentage
of the void volume filled by water.

Va Ma=0
VW air
S X 100% Vv
VV Vw water Mw
Vt Mt
Range: 0
100% Vs soil Ms
Dr
y Saturate
d
SIVA Phase Diagram 6
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A Simple Example
In this illustration,

e=1 air

n = 50% water

S = 50%
soil

SIVA 7
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Definitions
Bulk density (m) is the density of the soil
in the current state.

MT
m Va air Ma=0
VT Vv
Vw water Mw
Units: t/m3, g/ml, kg/m3 Vt Mt

Vs soil Ms

SIVA Phase Diagram 8

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Definitions
Saturated density (sat) is the density of the soil
when the voids are filled with water.

Submerged density () is the effective

density of the soil when it is submerged.
= sat - w

SIVA 9
Copyright2001

Definitions
Dry density (d) is the density of the soil in
dry state.

MS
d Va air Ma=0
VT Vv
Vw water Mw
Units: t/m3, g/ml, kg/m3 Vt Mt

Vs soil Ms

SIVA Phase Diagram 10

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Definitions
Bulk, saturated, dry and submerged unit
weights () are defined in a similar manner.
Here, use weight (kN) instead of mass (kg).
= g

N/m3 kg/m3 m/s2

Specific gravity of the soil grains (Gs)

typically varies between 2.6 and 2.8.

SIVA 11
Copyright2001

Phase Relations
Consider a fraction of the soil where Vs = 1.

The other volumes

can be obtained
from the previous air
definitions. e
Se water Se w
The masses can be
obtained from:
Mass = Density x
1 soil
Volume Gs w

volumes masses
SIVA Phase Diagram
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Phase Relations
From the previous definitions,
M W Se
w
M S GS
air
VV e e
n Se water Se w
VT 1 e

1 soil Gs w

Phase Diagram
SIVA 13
Copyright2001

Phase Relations

M T GS Se
m W
VT 1 e
air
M T GS e e
sat W Se water Se w
VT 1 e

MS GS soil
d W 1 Gs w
VT 1 e
Phase Diagram
SIVA 14
Copyright2001

Try not to memorise the equations.

Understand the definitions, and develop the
relations from the phase diagram with VS = 1;
Assume GS (2.6-2.8) when not given;
Do not mix densities and unit weights;
Soil grains are incompressible. Their mass
and volume remain the same at any void
ratio.
SIVA 15
 A Suggestion..
Copyright2001

If you can remember one thing in

phase relations, that should be ..
air
e
Se water Se w

soil Gs w
1

SIVA 16
Copyright2001

Testing Times
State whether the following are true or false?

(a) Dry density is greater than submerged density True

(b) In unsaturated soils, water content is always less False

than 100%.
(c) Larger the void ratio, larger the porosity. True

SIVA 17