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 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL

 Colour
 Mechanical Composition of Soil
 Soil Structure
 (Sand, sedimentation forces, single grained
clay surface flocculent, silt honeycombing)
 Soil As a Three Phase System
 Water Content
 Density or Unit Weight of Soil
 Bulk Density
 Dry Density
 Dry Density of Soil Solids 2
 Saturated Density
 Submerged Density
 Specific Gravity
 Void Ratio
 Porosity
 Degree of Saturation

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 A sample of saturated clay was placed in a
container & weighed. The weight was 6N.The
clay in the container was placed in an oven for24
hours at 105° C. The weight reduced to a constant
value of 5N.The weight of the container is 1N. If
Gs = 2.7 determine
 Water Content
 Void Ratio
 Bulk Unit Weight
 Dry Unit Weight
 Submerged Unit Weight

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 A saturated clay soil has a moisture content
of 40%.Given that Gs =2.78.Calculate dry
unit weight and saturated unit weight of the
soil. Calculate the porosity of the soil.
 For an undisturbed soil the total volume is 5.1
cubic ft, the moist weight is 601lb, the dry weight
is 522lb, and void ratio is 0.6.Calculate the
moisture content, dry unit weight, moist unit
weight, degree of saturation, porosity and specific
gravity.
 The bulk density of sample of clay is 1.95g/cc, its
moisture content is 25.3% and Gs= 2.70. Find
degree of saturation.

 A sample of saturated clay from a consolidometer

has a total mass of 1526gm and a dry mass of
1053gm.The specific gravity is 2.70.For this sample
determine the water content, void ratio, porosity
and total unit weight.
 A 10cm diameter and 30cm long soil sample
extracted from ground weighs 4.125Kg.A
moist specimen of the sample weighs
12.7gm and after oven drying 9.2gm, Gs
=2.65. Determine the total density, water
content, void ratio, degree of saturation,
and the dry density of the soil sample.
 A soil has a bulk density of 1.91g/cc and water
content of 9.5%.The value of Gs=2.70. Calculate the
void ratio and degree of saturation of the soil. What
would be the values of density and water content if
the soil were fully saturated at the same void ratio.
 Calculate the dry unit weight, the saturated weight
and the bulk unit weight of the soil having the void
ratio of 0.70 and a value of Gs=2.72.Calculate also
the water content at a degree of saturation of 75%.

 A soil specimen is 38mm in diameter and 76mm

long and its natural condition weighs 168gm.When
dried completely in an oven the specimen weighs
130.5gm. The value of specific gravity is 2.73. What
is the degree of the saturation of the specimen.
 A soil has been compacted in an embankment at a
bulk density of 2.15g/cc and water content of 12%,
Gs is 2.65.Calcute the dry density, void ratio and
degree of saturation.