Phase Relations

N. Sivakugan
Duration: 6 min 31 s

SIVA

Copyright2001

Objectives

To compute the masses (or weights) and

volumes of the three different phases.

Notation
M = mass or weight
V = volume
s = soil grains
w = water
a = air
v = voids
t = total

SIVA

Vv

Va

air

Vw

water

Ma=0
Mw

Mt

Vt
Vs

soil

Ms

Phase Diagram

Copyright2001

Definitions

Water content (w) is a measure of

the water present in the soil.

MW
w
MS

X 100%

Expressed as percentage.
Range = 0 100+%.

SIVA

Vv

Va

air

Vw

water

Ma=0
Mw

Mt

Vt
Vs

soil

Ms

Phase Diagram

Copyright2001

Definitions

Void ratio (e) is a measure of the

void volume.

VV
e
VS

Vv

Va

air

Vw

water

Mw

Mt

Vt
Vs

SIVA

Ma=0

soil

Ms

Phase Diagram

Copyright2001

Definitions

Porosity (n) is also a measure of the void

volume, expressed as a percentage.

VV
n
VT

Theoretical range: 0
100%

SIVA

Vv

X 100%

Va

air

Vw

water

Ma=0
Mw

Mt

Vt
Vs

soil

Ms

Phase Diagram

Copyright2001

Definitions

Degree of saturation (S) is the percentage

of the void volume filled by water.

VW
S
VV

X 100%

Range: 0
100%
Dr
Saturate
y
d
SIVA

Vv

Va

air

Vw

water

Ma=0
Mw

Mt

Vt
Vs

soil

Ms

Phase Diagram

Copyright2001

A Simple Example

In this
illustration,
e=1

air

n = 50%

water

S = 50%
soil

SIVA

Copyright2001

Definitions

Bulk density (m) is the density of the soil

in the current state.

MT
m
VT
Units: t/m3, g/ml, kg/m3

Vv

Va

air

Vw

water

Mw

Mt

Vt
Vs

SIVA

Ma=0

soil

Ms

Phase Diagram

Copyright2001

Definitions

Saturated density (sat) is the density of the soil

when the voids are filled with water.

Submerged density () is the effective

density of the soil when it is submerged.
= sat - w

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Copyright2001

Definitions

Dry density (d) is the density of the soil in

dry state.

MS
d
VT
Units: t/m3, g/ml, kg/m3

Vv

Va

air

Vw

water

Mw

Vt
Vs

SIVA

Ma=0

soil

Ms

Phase Diagram 10

Mt

Copyright2001

Definitions

Bulk, saturated, dry and submerged unit

weights () are defined in a similar manner.
Here, use weight (kN) instead of mass
(kg).
= g
N/m3

kg/m3

m/s2

Specific gravity of the soil grains (Gs)

typically varies between 2.6 and 2.8.

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Copyright2001

Phase Relations

Consider a fraction of the soil where Vs = 1.

The other volumes

can be obtained
from the previous
definitions.
The masses can be
obtained from:
Mass = Density x
Volume

SIVA

air
e
Se

volumes

water

Se w

soil

Gs w

masses
Phase Diagram

Copyright2001

Phase Relations

From the previous definitions,

M W Se
w

M S GS
VV
e
n

VT 1 e

air
e
Se

SIVA

water

soil

Se w

Gs w

Phase Diagram
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Phase Relations

M T GS Se
m

W
VT
1 e

sat

M T GS e

W
VT
1 e

MS
GS
d

W
VT
1 e
SIVA

air
e
Se

water

soil

Se w

Gs w

Phase Diagram
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Copyright2001

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.
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A Suggestion..

Copyright2001

If you can remember one thing in

phase relations, that should be ..
air

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Se

water

Se w

soil

Gs w

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Copyright2001

Testing Times

State whether the following are true or false?

(a) Dry density is greater than submerged density

True

(b) In unsaturated soils, water content is always less False

than 100%.
(c) Larger the void ratio, larger the porosity.

True

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