Phase Relations

N. Sivakugan
Duration: 6 min 31 s

SIVA 1
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Objectives
To compute the masses (or weights) and
volumes of the three different phases.

Va air Ma=0
Notation Vv
M = mass or weight Vw water Mw
V = volume Vt Mt
s = soil grains
w = water
a = air Vs soil
v = voids
Ms
t = total

SIVA Phase Diagram 2

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Definitions
Water content (w) is a measure of the
water present in the soil.

Va Ma=0
MW air
w= X 100% Vv
MS Vw water Mw
Vt Mt
Expressed as percentage.

Range = 0 – 100+%. Vs soil Ms

SIVA Phase Diagram 3

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Definitions
Void ratio (e) is a measure of the void
volume.

Va Ma=0
VV air
e= Vv
VS Vw water Mw
Vt Mt

Vs soil Ms

SIVA Phase Diagram 4

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Definitions
Porosity (n) is also a measure of the void
volume, expressed as a percentage.

Va Ma=0
VV air
n= X 100% Vv
VT Vw water Mw
Vt Mt

Theoretical range: 0 – 100% Vs soil Ms

SIVA Phase Diagram 5

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Definitions
Degree of saturation (S) is the percentage of
the void volume filled by water.

Va Ma=0
VW air
S= X 100% Vv
VV Vw water Mw
Vt Mt
Range: 0 – 100%
Vs soil Ms
Dry
Saturated

SIVA Phase Diagram 6

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A Simple Example
In this illustration,

e=1 air

n = 50% water

S = 50%
soil

SIVA 7
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Definitions
Bulk density (ρm) is the density of the soil in the
current state.

MT
ρm = Va air Ma=0
VT Vv
Vw water Mw
Units: t/m3, g/ml, kg/m3 Vt Mt

Vs soil Ms

SIVA Phase Diagram 8

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Definitions
Saturated density (ρsat) is the density of the soil
when the voids are filled with water.

Submerged density (ρ’) is the effective density

of the soil when it is submerged.
ρ’ = ρsat - ρw

SIVA 9
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Definitions
Dry density (ρd) is the density of the soil in dry
state.

MS
ρd = Va air Ma=0
VT Vv
Vw water Mw
Units: t/m3, g/ml, kg/m3 Vt Mt

Vs soil Ms

SIVA Phase Diagram 10

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Definitions
Bulk, saturated, dry and submerged unit weights (γ)
are defined in a similar manner.
Here, use weight (kN) instead of mass (kg).
γ = ρg

N/m3 kg/m3 m/s2

Specific gravity of the soil grains (Gs) typically

varies between 2.6 and 2.8.

SIVA 11
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Phase Relations
Consider a fraction of the soil where Vs = 1.

The other volumes can

be obtained from the
previous definitions. air
e
Se water Seρw
The masses can be
obtained from:
Mass = Density x Volume soil
1 Gsρw

volumes masses
SIVA Phase Diagram
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Phase Relations
From the previous definitions,
M W Se
w= =
M S GS
air
VV e e
n= = Se water Seρw
VT 1 + e

1 soil
Gsρw

Phase Diagram
SIVA 13
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Phase Relations

M T GS + Se
ρm = = ρW
VT 1+ e
air
M T GS + e e
ρ sat = = ρW Se water Seρw
VT 1+ e

MS GS soil
ρd = = ρW 1 Gsρw
VT 1+ e
Phase Diagram
SIVA 14
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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.
SIVA 15
 A Suggestion..
Copyright©2001

If you can remember one thing in

phase relations, that should be ..
air
e
Se water Seρw

soil Gsρw
1

SIVA 16
 Testing Times…
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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

SIVA 17