ENGINEERING

SOIL MECHANICS
CBE2021 SOIL GEOLOGY
MECHANICS AND
AND GEOLOGY
INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
1

Definition of Engineering Soil

Engineering soil is defined as an un-cemented aggregate of mineral grains and decayed

organic matter (solid particles) with liquid and gas in the empty spaces between the solid
particles. Engineering soil is used as a construction material in various civil engineering
projects, and it supports structural foundations.

Definition of Soil Mechanics, Soil Engineering and Geotechnical Engineering

Soil Mechanics: It is the branch of science that deals with the study of the physical properties

of soil and the behaviour of soil masses subjected to various types of forces.
Soil Engineering: It is the application of the principles of soil mechanics to practical problems.

Geotechnical Engineering: It is defined as the sub-discipline of civil engineering that involves

natural materials (soils and rocks) found close to the surface of the earth.

Geotechnical Engineering Problems

There are three basic problems:

(a)

Stability Problem: it involves whether a structure will stand or collapse. A structure

may be:
a building foundation
an earth slope (cut/fill slope or an embankment) ,

an earth retaining structure

a buried structure
There are short term and long term stability problems.

(b)

Deformation Problem: it involves whether a structure performs satisfactorily even

without collapse.
building/structure settlements (magnitude and rate of settlement, differential
settlement)
buried structure and road pavement deformation
Water Flow Problem: it involves whether the movement of water in the soil causes
problems.
dam leakage
rate of settlement (consolidation)
dewatering excavations
landfill (contamination transport)

(c)

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AND
MECHANICS
CBE2021 SOIL
MECHANICS
ANDSOIL
GEOLOGY
INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1

History of Soil Mechanics

Coulomb (1776) made one of the first attempts to solve the problem involving soil when
he examined the earth pressures acting on retaining walls. With some restrictions his
work is still in use.

Rankine (1862) contributed further to earth pressure theory when he attempted to examine
the stresses within a soil mass.
The Swedish Physicist, Atterberg, advanced the understanding of basic soil properties at
the beginning of the 20th Century.
Development of modern soil mechanics began from the publication of Soil Mechanics
by Dr. Karl Terzaghi in 1925. Many present-day theories stem from Terzaghis work.

Origins and Modes of Formation of Soils

All soils originate, in one way or the other, directly or indirectly, from solid rocks that are
classified according to their mode of formation as follows:

IGNEOUS ROCKS: rocks formed by the solidification of magma (hot molten material)

ejected (either by fissure eruption or volcanic eruption) from deep in the earths mantle.
Sometimes, the magma cools on the earths surface to form extrusive igneous rock. At
other times, the magma cools below the earths surface to form intrusive igneous rocks.

SEDIMENTARY ROCKS: rocks formed in layers from soil sediments derived from
weathering actions. The deposits of gravel, sand, silt and clay formed by weathering may
go through a lithification process and becomes sedimentary rocks.

METAMORPHIC ROCKS: rocks formed by changing the composition and texture of

existing rocks, without melting, by heat and/or pressure.

Soil is composed of loose, uncemented collections of mineral particles of various shapes and
sizes with relatively large void spaces between them or with a high value of ratio of void

space volume to solid particle.

Rock, however, is an intact, usually tough material, consisting of mineral particles and
crystals cemented or welded together. The void spaces in rock are normally small. Even
when they are large they occupy only a small part of the total volume. In engineering terms,
soils may be considered as materials that can be worked without drilling and blasting.
Figure 1 shows diagrammatically how soil is derived from rock.

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CBE2021 SOIL
MECHANICS
ANDSOIL
GEOLOGY
INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1

Fig. 1.1 Soil formation process: Weathering, erosion, transportation and deposition.
Colluvium
Alluvium

Figure 1: Soil formation process: weathering, erosion, transportation & deposition

Some Factors Affecting the Formation of Solid Rocks to Soils

Nature and composition of parent rocks.
Climate conditions, particularly temperate and humidity

Topographic and general terrain conditions such as degree of shelter or exposure, density
and type of vegetation, etc.
Length of time the weathering processes prevail.

Interference with other agencies, e.g., earthquakes, cataclysmic storms, actions of man.
Modes and conditions of transportation.

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CBE2021 SOILGEOLOGY
MECHANICSAND
AND SOIL
GEOLOGY

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Some Engineering Soil Terminology

ROCK. Hard rigid coherent deposit forming part of the earths crust. Rocks require some
forms of blasting or drilling techniques to facilitate excavation.
SOIL. Engineering soils are materials that may be used in some ways in engineering
processes, i.e., worked on, worked in and worked with.
SUBSOIL. This is essentially an agriculture term describing an inert soil layer between the

topsoil layer and bedrock. Strictly speaking the use of this term shall be avoided in
engineering, but nowadays it has been used collectively to refer to soil layers beneath the top
soil.
ORGANIC SOIL. This is a mixture of mineral grains and decomposed organic material of
mainly vegetable origin. Most organic soils have their origins in lakes, bays, estuaries,
harbours and reservoirs. Soil with a smooth touch usually signifies presence of organic
materials that may be characterized by a dark colour and unpleasant odour.

PEAT. Spongy, highly compressible and combustible soil made up of organic matters with
presence of inorganic materials. If percentages of organic matter are large, soils tend to
become organic.

RESIDUAL SOILS. Weathered down remains of rocks that have undergone no transport
and do not retain any structures of the parent rocks. They are usually sandy or gravely with
high concentrations of oxides resulting from leaching processes.

ALLUVIAL SOILS (ALLUVIUM). Materials such as sands and gravels deposited from
rivers and streams. They are usually well sorted and often occur in discontinuous and
irregular formations.

COLLUVIAL SOILS (COLLUVIUM). Materials such as deposits of sand and gravel

originated from the movement of weathered residual soils short distances down slope by
gravity, landslips and running water. They usually consist of angular to round blocks of rock
fragments varying in size from a few millimetres to several meters in a mixture of clayey,
silty matrix.

COHESIVE SOILS. Soils containing clay/silt particles which process some forms of
cohesion and plasticity.

COHESIONLESS SOILS. Soils such as sands and gravels consisting of non-flaky particles,
and which do not exhibit plasticity and cohesion.

DRIFTS. A geological term used to describe superficial unconsolidated deposits of recent

origin, such as alluvium, glacial deposits, wind blown sand, etc.

MECHANICAL WEATHERING. It is the disintegration of rock by purely physical means,

such as differential expansion and contraction of rock masses due to temperature changes.

This leads to a loosening

of the coherent structure (block disintegration) and also cracking
(sun cracking). Cracks in rock may also be caused by the rebound effect as the upper rock

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CBE2021 SOIL
MECHANICS
AND
GEOLOGY

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

layers are unloaded and stress relief occurs. This process is called sheeting and causes
horizontal cracks or joints to develop. In temperature and cold climates, the expansion of
water upon freezing also disintegrates the rock through a wedging action in the rocks cracks.
This is called frost weathering.

CHEMICAL WEATHERING. It is the action of water, atmospheric gases and organic

chemicals from vegetation, which corrodes rock minerals by the processes of solution,
oxidation and hydrolysis to produce new minerals such as clay. These processes are
comparable to the rusting of steel.
9

Distribution of Soils in Hong Kong

Figure 2 shows grammatically typical distribution of soils in Hong Kong.

Bedrock

Fig. 2 Soil distribution in Hong Kong.

10 Rock Mass Weathering Profile in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, with its generally wet semi-tropical climate, chemical weathering penetrates
very deep, sometimes to a depth of 60 meters. The rock profile is usually described Page
by six5 of 5
Page 5 of 8
mass weathering zones as shown in Figs. 3a, 3band 3c.

CHAPTER 1

Page 6 of 8

CHAPTER 1

Page 7 of 8

CHAPTER 1

S.D.R.

M.D.R.

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ENGINEERING
GEOLOGY
AND
MECHANICS
CBE2021 SOIL
MECHANICS
ANDSOIL
GEOLOGY
PHASE RELATIONSHIPS
1.

Dr. Paul Ho
Sept/2009

CHAPTER 2

PHASE RELATIONSHIPS

MASS VOLUME RELATIONSHIPS

A volume of soil consists of the volume making up the soil solids and the volume of the
voids or pores (empty spaces) between the solid particles.

Soil System

Soil is usually modelled as a THREE-PHASE material, consisting of:

Solid mineral particles (solid phase) quartz, feldspars, carbonates, mica / clay minerals, organic matter

Pore fluid (liquid phase) normally water

Pore gas (gas phase) normally air

Phase Diagram

To quantify the properties of soil, it is useful to introduce some definitions and terminology to
describe the three-phase system (the Unit Solid Volume Model):
Volume

Fig. 2.1 Unit Solid Volume Model

Mass

Also refer to Table 1

Go to Appendix 1 for explanation of symbols.

The soil is represented as a fixed volume of soil solid grains associated with various
amounts of water and air.
The soil solid grains are assumed to be incompressible; the volume in the soil not
occupied by soil solid grains is the void space.
In a perfectly dry soil there is no water and the void space is entirely air. In a saturated
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12
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Appendix 1: Symbol Used

Symbol
Designation
Ms
Mass of soil solid particles or grains in soil
Mw

Mass of water in soil

MT

Total mass of soil

Ws
Refer
to
Figure
2.1

Dr. Paul Ho
Sept/2009

CHAPTER 2

PHASE RELATIONSHIPS

Relationship

= Ms + Mw

Weight of soil solid particles or grains in soil

Ww

Weight of water in soil

WT

Total weight of soil

Vs

Volume of soil solid particles or grains in soil

Vw

Volume of water in soil

Va

Volume of air in soil

Vv

Volume of void in soil

= Vw + Va

VT

Total volume of soil

= Vs + Vv

Void ratio

Moisture content

porosity

Av

Air void ratio

Degree of saturation

Density of soil solid particles or grains

Density of water

Bulk density of soil

Dry density of soil

sat

Saturated density of soil

= (Ms + Vv w) / VT

sub or

Submerged density of soil ,

= sat - w

Unit weight of water

Bulk unit weight of soil

= WT / VT

Dry unit weight of soil

= Ws / VT

sat

Saturated unit weight of soil

= (Ws + Vv w) / VT

sub or

Submerged unit weight of soil

= sat - w

Gs

Specific gravity of soil solid particles or grains = s / w

= Ws + Ww

= Vv / Vs
,

= Mw / Ms

= Vv / VT
,

= Va / VT
= Vw / Vv

= [1000 kg/m3 or 1 Mg/m3]

= M T / VT
= M s / VT

= [9.81 kN/m3]

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CBE2021
SOIL MECHANICS
AND
GEOLOGY
CHAPTER 2

Dr. Paul Ho
Sept/2009

PHASE RELATIONSHIPS

soil the void space is full of water. Between the two extremes, the soil is partially
saturated.
The model provides an easy means to identify what are known and the relationship
between known and desired (wanted) quantities.
The total volume VT, the mass of water MW, and the mass of soil solid grains MS are
usually measured, the rest of the values can be calculated.

It is useful to consider each phase individually as shown in Table 1.

Phase
Air
Water
Solid

Volume
VA
VW
VS

Mass
0
MW
MS

Table 1 Distribution by Volume, Mass, and Weight

Weight
0
WW
WS

Figure 2.1

Units

For most engineering applications the following units are used:

Length
Mass
Density (mass/unit volume)
Weight
Stress
Unit Weight

Volumetric Relationship

metres (m)
kilogram (kg)
kg/m3
kilonewtons (kN)
kilopascals (kPa) 1 kPa = 1 kN/m2
kN/m3

Void Ratio, e:

e=

VV
VS

easy

VV = volume of voids
VS = volume of soil solid grains
Expressed as a decimal.
May be larger than 1.
Typically:
Sands 0.4 < e < 1.0
very loose sand e 1.0
Clays 0.3
soft clay e > 1, organic clay e > 3
0.3 << 1.5
e < 1.5
Much of the soil behaviour is related to e:
As e decreases density increases.
As e decreases strength increases.
As e decreases permeability decreases

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ENGINEERING
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AND
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CBE2021 SOIL
MECHANICS
ANDSOIL
GEOLOGY
PHASE RELATIONSHIPS

Porosity, n:

n=
N.T.

CHAPTER 2

Dr. Paul Ho
Sept/2009

VV
( x 100%)
VT

VV = Volume of voids
VT = Total volume
Expressed as a decimal or percentage (usually percentage).
Can not be larger than 100% (1).
Relationship with e can be expressed as:

n=

e
1+ e

e=

n
1- n

For example, for a very loose sand with e = 0.8,

n = 0.8 (x 100%) = 44%

1 + 0.8
(Note: When doing calculation involving %, you need to change the percentage values
back to decimal values. This applies to all other quantities.)

Degree of Saturation, S:
S =

VW
x 100%
VV

VW = volume of water
VV = volume of voids
Expressed as a percentage.
Tells the percentage of the total volume of voids that contain water.
Range is from 0% to 100%.
Sr = 0%, soil is completely dry.
Sr = 100% soil is fully saturated.

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CBE2021 SOIL
MECHANICS
GEOLOGY

CHAPTER 2

PHASE RELATIONSHIPS

Air Void Ratio, AV:

AV =

VA
VT

Dr. Paul Ho
Sept/2009

x 100 (%)
ATV

Expressed as a percentage.
Tells the percentage of volume of air void relative to the total volume of soil.

6
,

Mass Relationship

Moisture Content, w:
w =

MW
x 100(%)
MS

Expressed as a percentage.
Tells the amount of water in a soil relative to the mass of soil solid grains.
More important quantity for clay soils.
The higher the value usually the weaker the clay soil is.

Density, :

=M
V
M = mass
V = volume
Expressed as kg/m3 or Mg/m3

Density of Soil Solid Grains, S:

s =

MS
VS

MS = mass of soil solid grains

VS = volume of soil solid grains

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CBE2021 SOILGEOLOGY
MECHANICSAND
ANDSOIL
GEOLOGY
ENGINEERING
MECHANICS
PHASE RELATIONSHIPS
,

CHAPTER 2

Dr. Paul Ho
Sept/2009

Specific Gravity of Soil Solid Grains, GS:

GS =

S
W

Defined as the mass (weight) of the soil solid grains divided by the mass (weight)
of an equal volume of water at 20C.
Typically GS= 2.6 to 2.8 for the solid minerals in soil.
Can use it to calculate the mass of mass or volume of soil solids if either one is
known.
Density of Water, w:
M

W = 1000 kg/m 3
W

MW = mass of water
VW = volume of water

Bulk Density of Soil (also known as moist, wet, or total density), b:

b =

MT
VT

MT = total mass of soil

VT = total volume of soil

Dry Density of Soil, d:

S = 0% (i.e., MW = 0)

d =

MS
VT

Saturated Density of Soil, sat:

S = 100%, (i.e., VA = 0 or Vw = Vv and therefore MT = MS + VV x W)

sat = MV = M
T

+ Vv W
VT

Submerged (buoyant) Density of Soil, sub or :

sub (or ) = sat - w

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CBE2021 SOIL
MECHANICS
GEOLOGY

CHAPTER 2

PHASE RELATIONSHIPS

Weight Relationships

Dr. Paul Ho
Sept/2009

Unit Weight, :
The relationships just defined in terms of masses (or densities) can be expressed in
terms of weights and are called unit weights. In most applications it is not the mass that is
important, but the force due to the mass, and the weight, W, is related to the mass, M, by the
relation:
W = Mg
where g is the acceleration due to gravity. g = 9.81 m/s2
Because the force is usually required it is often convenient in calculations to use the unit
weight, (weight per unit volume).

W
V
Mg
=
= g
V

Hence the unit weight of water,

w = 1000 kg/m3 x 9.81 m/s2 = 9810 (kg-m/s2)/m3 = 9810 N/m3 = 9.81 kN/m3

For soil, say if = 2100 kg/m3,

= 2100 kg/m3 x 9.81 m/s2 = 20601 ((kg-m/s2)/ m3) = 20600 N/m3 = 20.6 kN/m3
(Note: 1 kg-m/s2 = 1 N (Newton))

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ENGINEERING
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CBE2021 SOIL MECHANICS
AND
GEOLOGY

CHAPTER 2

PHASE RELATIONSHIPS

Useful Mass-Volume Relationships

Reasons for using the model:

Paul Ho
1. d, b , e and GDr.
s are known.
Sept/2009
2. To express M and V in terms of
e, S, G and w in a way to simplify
the expressions

If one assumes the solid grains occupy 1 m3 (or one unit volume, based on the unit
solid volume model), then the following relationships hold:
Phase
Air
Water
Solid

Volume
e (1 - S)
eS
1

Mass
0
e S w
Gs w

Note that the above table assumes a solid volume Vs = 1 m3, All terms in the table should be multiplied by the
actual Vs if this is not the case.

Volume

Vv/Vs

e(1-S)
eS

Vs/Vs

Mass

air
water

soil

eS
w

Mass
Volume x Density

G s w

Unit Solid Volume Model

(Make sure you can derive all the relationships by yourself by following the
procedures shown in the next page.)

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ENGINEERING
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SOIL MECHANICS
CBE2021
SOIL MECHANICS
ANDAND
GEOLOGY
PHASE RELATIONSHIPS
CHAPTER 2

Dr. Paul Ho
Sept/2009

VS = 1
VV = e

(since: e = VV / VS, and VS = 1)

VT = 1 + e

(since VT = VS + VV, VS=1, and VV = e)

VA = e (1 - S)

(since S = VW / VV, VW = VV - VA, and VV = e)

VW = e S

(since S = VW / VV, and VV = e)

V W = w GS

(since VW = MW / W, and MW = w MS = w GS W)

MA = 0

(mass of air is negligible compared with other phases)

MS = GS W

(since: GS = S / W, S = MS / VS, and VS = 1)

MW = wMS = w GS W

(since: w = Mw / Ms and Ms = Gs w)

It then follows:

b = [(GS + Sr e) W] / (1 + e)
d = (GS W) / (1 + e)
sat = [(GS + e) W] / (1 + e)
sub or = [(GS + e) / (1 + e) - 1] W
n

= e / (1 + e)

= n / (1 - n)

= (wGs) / S

= (S e) / GS

= (w GS) / e

GS = (S e) / w

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SOIL MECHANICS
CBE2021
SOIL MECHANICS
ANDAND
GEOLOGY
PHASE RELATIONSHIPS
CHAPTER 2

10

Dr. Paul Ho
Sept/2009

Mt=290g, Md=237.3g

Examples

Example 1 Mass and Volume fractions

A cylindrical soil sample has a diameter of 50 mm and length 80 mm. It has a total mass of 290 g. After drying,
it has a dry mass of 237.3 g. Determine the phase (volume) distributions, moisture content, void ratio, degree of
saturation and the relevant densities (bulk, dry, and saturated and submerged). The soil solids has a Gs of 2.65.

1. Distribution by mass and weight

Phase

Sample Mass, M
(g)
290
237.3
52.7

Total
Solid (Dry)
Water

Sample Mass, M
(kg)
0.290
0.2373
0.0527

2. Distribution by Volume
Sample Volume, V = (0.025)2 (0.08) = 157.1 10-6 m3

Mw

0.0527
= 52.710 6 m 3
w 1000
Ms
0.2373
SolidVolume,Vs =
=
= 89.510 6 m 3
Gs w 2.651000

WaterVolume,Vw =

Air Volume, Va = V - Vs - Vw = 14.9 10-6 m3

Voidr Volume, Vv = V - Vs = 157.1 10-6 m3 89.5 10-6 m3 = 67.6 10-6 m3
or
Vv = Vw + Va = 52.7 10-6 m3 + 14.9 10-6 m3 = 67.6 10-6 m3
3. Moisture content ,

w=

M w 0.0527
=
= 0.222 = 0.222 x 100% = 22.2 %
M s 0.2373

4. Voids ratio

Vv 67.610 6
e= =
= 0.755
V s 89.510 6
5. Degree of Saturation

S=

V w 52.710 6
=
= 0.780 = 0.78 x 100% = 78%
Vv 67.610 6

6. Densities

bulk =
Fixed

dry =

MT
0.290kg
=
= 1846kg / m 3
VT 157.110 6 m 3

W
MsS
0.2373
=
=1511kg / m 3
6
VT 157.110
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CBE2021
SOIL MECHANICS
ANDAND
GEOLOGY
ENGINEERING
GEOLOGY
SOIL MECHANICS
PHASE RELATIONSHIPS
CHAPTER 2

Dr. Paul Ho
Add Mw=Va xSept/2009
1000

If the sample were saturated there would need to be an additional 14.9 10-6 m3 of water. This would have a
water mass of 0.0149 kg and thus the saturated density of the soil would be

sat =

(0.290 +0.0149)
=1941kg / m 3
157.110 6

sub = 1941 1000 = 941kg / m 3

Example 2 Calculation of Unit Weights

Note: This time you work with weight rather than mass.
A soil has a voids ratio of 0.7. Calculate the dry and saturated unit weight of the material. Assume that the solid
material occupies 1 m3, then assuming Gs = 2.65 the distribution by volume and weight is as follows.
Phase
Voids
Solids

Volume
(m3)
0.7
1.0

Dry unit weight

Saturated unit weight

dry =

Dry Weight
(kN)
0
2.65 9.81 = 26.0

Saturated Weight
(kN)
0.7 9.81 = 6.87
26.0

26.0 kN
= 15.3 kN / m 3
3
1.7 m

sat =

(26.0 + 6.87)
= 19.3 kN / m 3
1.7

If the soil were fully saturated the moisture content would be

Moisture content

w=
Mw
Ms

6.87
= 0.264 = 26.4%
26.0

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CHAPTER 2
12 Further Worked Examples

Page 12 of 19

12 Further Worked Examples

CHAPTER 2

m2

m1

m1

m3

m2

m3

mw
ms

m1

m2-m1

Gs
m4
m3

Page 13 of 19

CHAPTER 2

12 Further Worked Examples

W1

W1

W1+w

W1

S - Mass of Soil
W1 - Mass of water to fill jar with soil in it
w - Mass of water with vol. having the
same as the soil

Excavated circular hole

sand

M1

M2

Page 14 of 19

CHAPTER 2

12 Further Worked Examples

,
(d, e, Gs)

In case is
not known

In case is
known

Refer to Page 9/19

s
Refer to Page 9/19

A.

,
Refer to Page 9/19

B.

Page 15 of 19

CHAPTER 2

12 Further Worked Examples

Use soil model (a)

Alternatively,
n=e/(1+e)

Use soil model (a)

Vv
Vt
Vv
Vs

Use the model (b)

when V is unknown.

Mt

Use the model (a)

when V is known.
Use soil model (b)
Alternatively,
e=n/(1-n)
Vs

Page 16 of 19

CHAPTER 2

12 Further Worked Examples

w = 0.33

M, = 2.68
M w = 0.33 x 2.68 = 0.884 Mg

Vw

S = 0.884 = 0.997

Vv

0.887

'Y =

M,+Mw x 9.81
Vs+V"

2.68+0.884 x 9.81 = 18.53 kN/m3

I + 0.887
2.68
1.887

13.93 kN/m 3

'Yd = - - x 9.81

Soil 4 Use soil model (b)

e = 0.85

= 0.765 m3
Vs

0.765 = 0.283
2.7

'Y

0.765+2.7 x 9.81 = 18.37 kN/m3

1+0.85
2.7
1.85

'Yd = - - x 9.81

~aSSification
sa~

n=e/(1+e)

Sr = 0.90 :. V w = 0.90 x 0.85

Mw = 0.765 Mg
M, = 2.71 x I x I = 2.7 Mg

Mw+Ms
Vs+ Vv

soil

x I = 0.85 m3

0.85
= 0.459
1+0.85

Vs

V v = 0.85

Mw

14.60 kN/m3

of a
(a) Explain the purpose of classifying a soil sample.
(b) Discuss the bases on which soil classification systems are devised.

'~) A class is a group of soils which may be related to one another

on the basis o'Nhe grading of their constituent particles and the plasticity of
the fraction which~lt-.p.ass a 425 !Lm sieve.
The description of a soilwil ive detailed information about its grading,
plasticity, colour, particle characte . t' cs as well as its fabric and state of
bedding. Few soils will have identical descriptien~e purpose of classification
therefore is to place a soil in one of a limited numoe~f groups on the basis
of the grading and plasticity of a disturbed sample. Sincetn:es~racteristiCS
are independent of the particular conditions in which a soil occurs,~ives
a good guide to how the disturbed soil will behave as a construction mate~

10 SOLVING PROBLEMS IN SOIL MECHANICS

Page 17 of 19

CHAPTER 2
12 Further Worked Examples

b, b, w, e, n, Sr, A

Refer to Page 9/19

Vv-Vw

Vv
Vt

Page 18 of 19

IVE(TY)

Chapter 2 Soil Phases and Index Properties

Soil Mechanics & Geology

Chapter 2 Soil Phases and Index Properties

Class Practice
Q1.

A soil sample had a volume of 9.15x10-5 m3 and weighed 153g. After completely
drying out in the oven, its weight was reduced to 136g. The specific gravity of
soil sample was found to be 2.65.
Determine the following physical properties of the soil sample:(i)
Bulk density and unit weight
(2 marks)
(ii) Dry density and unit weight
(2 marks)
(iii) Moisture content (in %)
(2 marks)
(iv) Saturated density
(4 marks)
(v) Submerged density
(1 mark)
(vi) Air void (in %)
(3 marks)
(vii) Void ratio
(1 mark)
(viii) Porosity
(1 mark)
(ix) Degree of saturation (in %)
(1 mark)
air

Vt=9.15x10-5 m3

water

Mt=153g

soil particles
Gs=2.65

oven dried

air
Vt=9.15x10-5 m3

soil particles
Gs=2.65

Soil Mechanics_Chapter 2_Class Practice_2014

Mt=136g

IVE(TY)

Chapter 2 Soil Phases and Index Properties

Soil Mechanics & Geology

Chapter 2 Soil Phases and Index Properties

Class Practice
Q2.

A natural Hong Kong soil sample was collected on site and tested in laboratory.
The following data were measured:
Bulk density, b
Water content, w
Specific gravity, Gs

= 2.20Mg/m3
= 9.2%
= 2.69

Calculate the below physical properties of the soil

(i)
dry density (d),
(ii)
void ratio (e),
(iii) porosity (n),
(iv) degree of saturation (Sr),
(v)
air content (Av),
(vi) fully saturated unit weight (sat),

Soil Mechanics_Chapter 2_Class Practice_2014

Page 2

(3 marks)
(2 marks)
(2 marks)
(2 marks)
(2 marks)
(2 marks)

HNC in Construction and the Built Environment (Civil Engineering)

Engineering Geology & Soil Mechanics

Chapter 2 Soil Phases and Index Properties

Assignment No.1
Class Practice
Q3.
3. Determine basic soil properties (P6)
(a) For laboratory testing, a sand sample collected has a total volume of 1.5 m3, a total mass of
2850 kg and a dry mass of 2478 kg. The specific gravity of the soil solids is 2.65. The
maximum and minimum void ratios are 0.8 and 0.4 respectively. You, are asked to
compute with detail calculation for the following:
(i)
the mass of water
(ii)
the water content
(iii) the volume of the soil solid
(iv)
the volume of the water
(v)
the volume of air
(vi)
the void ratio
(vii) the porosity
(viii) the air void ratio
(ix)
the degree of saturation
(x)
the bulk density
(xi)
the dry density
(xii) the saturated density
(xiii) the submerged density
(xiv) the corresponding water content if the soil is fully saturated

(b) A natural soil sample was retrieved from a Ground Investigation trial pit. It had a mass of
0.183 kg and a volume of 86.2 x 10-6 m. After being completely dried in an oven, the dry
density Udry of the soil sample was found to be 1830 kg/m.
soil grains was 2.72.

The specific gravity of the

You are requested to determine the following physical properties for this natural soil
sample:
(i) bulk density, Ubulk
(ii) moisture content, m or w
(iii) void ratio, e
(iv) porosity, n
(v) degree of saturation, Sr
(vi) saturated density, Usat

Page 3 of 5

Student Name:______________________

CPE - Engineering Geology and Soil Mechanics

Student Name:______________________

CPE - Engineering Geology and Soil Mechanics

ENGINEERING
SOIL MECHANICS
CBE2021 SOILGEOLOGY
MECHANICSAND
AND GEOLOGY
PHASE RELATIONSHIPS

Dr. Paul Ho
Sept/2009

CHAPTER 2

11

Home Exercises:

(1)

Dry soil and water are to be used to reconstitute a soil to a total volume (VT) of
2.356 x 10-3 m3. The water content (w) and air void ratio (AV) are to be 17%
and 10% respectively. Assuming the specific gravity (GS) of the soil solid
grains (GS) is 2.7 and the density of water (W) is 1000 kg/m3, determine, for
the reconstituted soil, the following:
Ans: 3.923, 0.67, 0 kg

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

the masses of soil solids (MS), water (MW) and air (MA); Ans: 1.453x10-3, 6.67x 10-4,
the volumes of soil solids (VS), water (VW) and air (VA); 2.356x10-4m3
the void ratio (e), porosity (n), and degree of saturation (Sr); Ans:0.62, 0.38 & 0.74
the dry density (d), bulk density (b), saturated density (sat), and
submerged density (sat). Ans: 1665.2, 1949.5, 2048.2, 1048.2kg/m3

(Hint: Begin by assuming the volume of soil solid is 1 m3 and then calculate the
relative volume and mass distributions based on the phase diagram.
Then determine the actual volumes and masses using the given VT of
2.356 x 10-3 m3.)

(2)

The bulk density b of a soil is 1850 kg/m3. Given that w = 15% and GS = 2.7,
determine:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)

the dry density, d

Ans: 1609 kg/m3
the porosity, n
Ans: 0.404
the degree of saturation, Sr Ans: 59.7%
the mass of water, in kg, to be added to the soil to reach 100% saturation
Ans.: 163.1kg per 1m3 of soil sample

(3)

Assume a Gs of 2.65, determine the moisture content (w) and the porosity (n)
of a soil sample that has a total volume (VT) of 0.645 x 10-3 m3 and a dry mass
(MS) of 1.050 kg, assuming the sample is 90% saturated. Ans: n=0.386, w=21.3%

(4) (a) In order to determine the specific gravity Gs of the soil solids in a soil sample,
the following data were recorded in a specific gravity test: Ans.: G=2.57
Mass of density bottle 0.040 kg
Mass of density bottle + dry soil 0.485 kg
Mass of density bottle + dry soil + water 0.946 kg
Mass of density bottle +water 0.674 kg
(b) Calculate the moisture content (m) and the porosity (n) of the soil sample in (a)
if its total volume was 0.645 x 10-3 m3 and its dry mass (after oven drying) was 1.050
kg) and mass (before oven drying) was 1.4 kg. Ans.: m=33.3%, n=0.367
Page 11
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