Unit Weight / Specific Weight,

the product of density and gravity acceleration

the gravitational force caused by the mass of material within a unit
volume (density) in the unit of Newtons per cubic meter in SI system
=g

Specific Gravity, Gs
defined as the ratio of unit weight (or density) of a given material to
the unit weight (or density) of water

= = =

Unit Weight/Density of Water, W
W = 1.0 g/cm3
W = 1000 kg/m3
W = 9.81 kN/m3
Expected Values of GS:
Type of Soil Specific Gravity
Sand 2.65 - 2.67
Silty Sand 2.67 - 2.70
Inorganic Clay 2.70 - 2.80
Soils with mica or iron 2.75 - 3.00
Organic Soils < 2.00

Bulk Specific Gravity, Gm

specific gravity of a mass of soil (including air, water, and solids)
 WEIGHT VOLUME RELATIONSHIPS
Soil is a 3-phase material
Schematic Diagram of Soil Elements
 For Fully-Saturated Soils:

For Dry Soils:

 For Partly-Saturated Soils:
 WEIGHT VOLUME RELATIONSHIPS
Soils can be of either two-phase or three-phase composition.
In a completely dry soil there are two phases, namely the solid soil
particles and pore air.
A fully saturated soil is also two phase, being composed of solid soil
particles and pore water.
A partially saturated soil is three phase, being composed of solid soil
particles, pore water and pore air.
 V = Vs + Vv
= Vs + (Vw + Va)
where Vs = volume of soil solids
Vv = volume of voids
Vw = volume of water in the voids
Va = volume of air in the voids

W = Ws + Ww
where Ws = weight of soil solids
Ww = weight of water
Volume Relationships
Void Ratio, e
Measure of voids volume
ratio of the volume of voids to the volume of solids
VV
e=
VS

Porosity, n
Measure of the void volume, expressed as a percentage
ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume
VV
= 100
VT
Degree of Saturation, S
Percentage of the void volume filled by water
ratio of the volume of water to the volume of voids
VW
= 100
VV

When S = 0%, the soil is completely dry

When S = 100%, the soil is completely saturated
Weight Relationships

Water Content, w
Measure of the water present in the soil

WW
= 100
WS
Unit Weight Relationships
Natural Unit Weight,
Density of the soil in the current state
WT
=
VT

Dry Unit Weight, d

Unit weight of the soil in dry state
WS
=
VT

Saturated Unit Weight, sat

Unit weight of the soil when the voids are filled with water
WT WS + VV W
= =
VT VT
Solid Unit Weight, s
WS
=
VS

Submerged Unit Weight, sub

Effective unit weight of the soil when it is submerged

sub = sat w
Phase Relations
Weight = Unit Weight x Volume
WW
1. = =
WS GS

VV
2. = =
VT 1+

VV
VV VV VT n
3. e= = = V =
VS VT VV 1VV 1n
T

WT GS +Se
4. = = W
VT 1+e
 WT GS +e
5. = =
VT 1+e W

WS GS
6. = =
VT 1+e W

7. =
1+w

GS w
8. =
1+w GS w
Example
1. The mass of a moist soil sample having a volume of 0.0057 m^3 is 10.5
kg. The moisture content () and the specific gravity of soil solids (Gs)
were determined to be 13% and 2.68, respectively. Determine the
(a) Moist density
(b) Dry density
(c) Void ratio
(d) Porosity
(e) Degree of saturation

2. In its natural state, a moist soil has a volume of 0.33 ft^3 and weighs
39.93 lb. The oven-dried weight of the soil is 34.54 lb. If Gs = 2.67, calculate
the
(a) Moisture content
(b) Moist unit weight
(c) Dry unit weight
(d) Void ratio
(e) Porosity
(f) Degree of saturation
Example
3. A dry sand is placed in a container having a volume of 0.0089 cm^3. The
dry weight of the sample is 0.014 grams. Water is carefully added to the
container so as not to disturb the condition of the sand. When the
container is filled, the combined weight of soil plus water is 0.0174 grams.
Determine the following:
(a) void ratio of the soil in the container
(b) Porosity
(c) Water content
(d) Specific gravity of the soil particle
(e) Saturated unit weight of the soil
(f) Effective unit weight of the soil
(g) Dry unit weight of soil
4. The mass of a moist soil sample collected from the field is 465 grams,
and its oven dry mass is 405.76 grams. The specific gravity of the soil
solids was determined in the laboratory to be 2.68. If the void ratio of the
soil in the natural state is 0.83, find the following:
(a) The moist density of the soil in the field (kg/m^3)
(b) The dry density of the soil in the field (kg/m^3)
(c) The mass of water, in kilograms, to be added per cubic meter of soil in
the field for saturation
Quiz: 1 whole, by pair (1 boy & 1 girl)
1. For a saturated soil, given = 40% and Gs = 2.71, determine the
saturated and dry unit weights in lb/ft^3 and kN/m^3
2. The mass of a moist soil sample collected from the field is 465 grams,
and its oven dry mass is 405.76 grams. The specific gravity of the soil
solids was determined in the laboratory to be 2.68. If the void ratio of the
soil in the natural state is 0.83, find the following:
(a) The moist density of the soil in the field (kg/m^3)
(b) The dry density of the soil in the field (kg/m^3)
(c) The mass of water, in kilograms, to be added per cubic meter of soil in
the field for saturation
3. In its natural state, a moist soil has a volume of 0.33 ft^3 and weighs 39.93 lb.
The oven-dried weight of the soil is 34.54 lb. If Gs = 2.67, calculate the
(a) Moisture content
(b) Moist unit weight
(c) Dry unit weight
(d) Void ratio
(e) Porosity
(f) Degree of saturation
Relative Density, Dr
commonly used to indicate the in situ denseness or looseness
of granular soil

Where: e = in-situ void ratio of the soil

emax = void ratio of the soil in the loosest state
emin = voi ratio of the soil in the densest state
Dr = relative density (%)
Relative Density (%) Description of Soil Deposit
0 - 15 Very Loose
25 - 50 Loose
50 - 70 Medium
70 - 85 Dense
85 - 100 Very Dense

Air Content, A
Va e GS w
A= =
VT 1+e
Assignment: cw
 For saturated soil:
=
 SHRINKAGE LIMIT (SL)
the moisture content, in percent, at which the volume of the soil mass ceases
to change
Shrinkage Limit Test (Lab)
SL = wi (%) w (%)
where wi = initial moisture content when the soil is placed in the shrinkage
limit dish
w = change in moisture content (between initial moisture content and
the moisture content at the shrinkage limit)

where M1 = mass of the wet soil pat in the dish at the beginning of the test (g)
M2 = mass of the dry soil pat (g)

where Vi = initial volume of the wet soil pat (inside of the dish, cm^3)
Vf = volume of the oven-dried soil pat (cm^3)
w = density of water (g/cm^3)
SHRINKAGE RATIO
- ratio of the volume change of soil as a percentage of the dry volume to the
corresponding change in moisture content

where V = change in volume

M = corresponding change in the mass of moisture
 Example
Following are the results of a shrinkage limit test:
- Initial volume of soil on a saturated state = 24.6 cm^3
- Final volume of soil in a dry state = 15.9 cm^3
- Initial mass in a saturated state = 44 g
- Final mass in a dry state = 30.1 g
Determine the shrinkage limit of the soil.
Ans: 17.28%
LIQUIDITY INDEX, LI
Relative consistency of a cohesive soil in the natural state

where w = in situ moisture content of soil