Semester 1, Session 2015/ 2016 CEGB233 (Soil Mechanics)

Chapter 1: Introduction to Soil Mechanics (Part II)

The soil model and basic properties

The basic physical properties of a soil are those required to define its physical state. For the
purposes of engineering analysis and design, it is necessary to quantify the three constituent
phases (solid, liquid and gas) and to be able to express relationships between them in numerical
terms. For example, a soil's water content is simply the ratio of the mass of water to the mass
of solid. Densities, i.e. the relationships between mass and volume, are also important measures
of a soil's physical state. In a typical soil, the solid, liquid (water) and gas (air) are naturally
intermixed, so that relative proportions are difficult to visualise. It is therefore convenient to
consider a soil model in which the three phases, while still present in their correct proportions,
are separated into distinct amounts.

Several possible phase models can be proposed (Figure 1.9), each taking its name from that
quantity providing a reference amount of unity. For example, the unit solid volume model is
based on I volume unit, e.g. 1 m3, of solid material; the unit solid mass model on 1 mass unit,
e.g. 1 kg; the unit total volume model on 1 volume unit of all three phases combined together.
For most purposes in soil mechanics, the unit solid volume i.e model is the most convenient,
since the solid constituents of soil (with the exception of peaty material) may be considered to
be incompressible. The model is therefore constructed, as it were, about 1 unit (l m3) of solid
material, which may be expected to remain constant. All other quantities are now referenced
to this amount. A given soil is therefore depicted as a fixed volume of solid material, together
with varying amounts of water and air. The amount of volume in the soil not occupied by solids
is termed the voids volume, the ratio of voids volume to solid volume being e. In a perfectly
dry soil there is no water and the void space is entirely air; in a saturated soil the void space is
full of water.

In Figure 1.10, the soil model is shown in detail with the various mass and volume dimensions
indicated. From this basic model several important quantities may now be defined.

Figure 1.9: Three-phase soil models (a) Unit solid volume (b) Unit solid mass (c) Unit total
volume

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Semester 1, Session 2015/ 2016 CEGB233 (Soil Mechanics)

Figure 1.10: Unit solid volume soil model

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Semester 1, Session 2015/ 2016 CEGB233 (Soil Mechanics)

Worked Example 1.5 For a soil having a void ratio of 0.750 and percentage saturation of 85
per cent, determine the porosity and air-voids ratio.

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Semester 1, Session 2015/ 2016 CEGB233 (Soil Mechanics)