Lesson 3

Weight–Volume Relationships

Khan Mohammad Shinwaray

Kmuhammad@kardan.edu.af
Fb/Khanmohammadshinwaray

1
 Lesson objectives :

1. Define and develop non-dimensional volume relationships

such as void ratio, porosity, and degree of saturation.
2. Define and develop weight relationships such as moisture
content and unit weight (dry, saturated, and moist) in
combination with the volume relationships.

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 Introduction

• Figure 3.1a shows an element of soil of volume V and weight W as it would exist in a natural state.
• To develop the weight–volume relationships, we must separate the three phases (that is, solid, water, and
air) as shown in Figure 3.1b. Thus, the total volume of a given soil sample can be expressed as

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3.2 Weight–Volume Relationships
 Volume Relationships

The volume relationships commonly used for the three phases in a soil element are
1. Void ratio
2. Porosity
3. Degree of saturation.
 Void ratio (e) is defined as the ratio of the volume of voids to the volume of solids. Thus,

 where e= Void ratio

Vv= volume of void
Vs= volume soil solid
 Volume Relationships
• Porosity (n) is defined as the ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume,
Where: n= Porosity
Vv=volume of void
V= total volume
• The degree of saturation (S) is defined as the ratio of the volume of water to the volume of voids,
Where: S= saturation
Vw= volume of water in the void
Vv= volume of void
e= Void ratio
 Weight Relationships
• Moisture content (w) is also referred to as water content and is defined as the ratio of the weight
of water to the weight of solids in a given volume of soil:
Where: Ww= weight of water
Ws= weight of soil solid

• Unit weight (ɣ) is the weight of soil per unit volume. Thus,
Where: W= total weigh
V= total volume
Ws= weight of soil solid
w= Moisture content
rd= dry unit weight
Relationships among Unit Weight, Void Ratio, Moisture
Content, and Specific Gravity

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Relationships among Unit Weight, Void Ratio, Moisture
Content, and Specific Gravity

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 Relationships among Unit Weight, Porosity, and Moisture
Content

• The relationship among unit weight, porosity, and moisture content can be developed in
a manner similar to that presented in the preceding section. Consider a soil that has a
total volume equal to one, as shown in Figure.

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Relationships among Unit Weight, Porosity, and
Moisture Content

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 Examples

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 Continues

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 example

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 Class work
• For a moist soil, given the following: V = 7.08 x103 m3 ; W =136.8 x 103 kN; w= 9.8%; Gs = 2.66. Determine:
• a. Dry unit weight
• b. Void ratio
• c. Porosity
• d. Dry density
• E. Volume of water in water

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 Results

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 m

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 Results

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 3.6 Relative Density

• The term relative density is commonly used to indicate the in situ denseness or
looseness of granular soil.
 Relative Density

• The values of Dry may vary from a minimum of 0% for very loose soil to a maximum of
100% for very dense soils.
• Compacting a granular soil to a relative density greater than about 85% is difficult.
 Example:

For a given sandy soil, emax 0.75 and emin 0.52. If Gs 2.67 and Dr 65%, determine:
• Void ratio
• Dry unit weight
 Example:

For a given sandy soil the maximum and minimum void ratios are 0.72 and 0.46, respectively. If Gs 2.68 and
w=11%, what is the moist unit weight oof compaction (kN/m3) in the field if Dr 82%?
 End of Lesson 3
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