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Phase Diagram
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
Phase Diagram
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
Phase Diagram
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
Phase Diagram
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
Dry
Saturated
Phase Diagram
A Simple Example
In this illustration,
e=1 air
n = 50% water
S = 50%
soil
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
Phase Diagram
Definitions
Saturated density (sat) is the density of the soil when
the voids are filled with water.
MS
d Va air Ma=0
VT Vv
Vw water Mw
Units: t/m3, g/ml, kg/m3 Vt Mt
Vs soil
Ms
Phase Diagram
Definitions
Bulk, saturated, dry and submerged unit weights () are
defined in a similar manner.
Here, use weight (kN) instead of mass (kg).
= g
volumes masses
Phase Diagram
Weight- Volume Relationship
From the previous definitions,
M W Se
w
M S GS
air
VV e e
n Se water Sew
VT 1 e
1 soil
Gs w
Phase Diagram
Weight- Volume Relationship
M T GS Se
m W
VT 1 e
air
M T GS e e
sat W Se water Sew
VT 1 e
MS GS soil
d W 1 Gs w
VT 1 e
Phase Diagram
Summary of Formula:
Summary of Formula:
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.
A Suggestion..
soil G s w
1