SOIL MECHANICS - LEC 2

SYMBOLS AND ANALYTICAL REPRESENTATION OF THE BASIC TERMS RELATED TO SOIL

COMPOSITION AND CONDITION

e = void ratio; the ratio of the volume of voids to the volume of solids
n = porosity; the ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume of soil
Dr = relative density; an index that quantifies the degree of packing between the loosest and the
densest possible state of coarse-grained soils as determined by experiments
Gs = specific gravity
ω = water/moisture content; the ratio of the weight of water to the weight of solids
S = degree of saturation; the ratio of the volume of water to the volume of voids
V = total volume of soil mass
Va = volume of air
Vs = volume of soil solids
Vw = volume of water
W = total weight of soil
Ws = weight of soil solids
Wω= weight of water
γd = dry unit weight
γm = moist/wet/bulk unit weight of soil mass
γs = unit weight of soil solids
γsat = saturated unit weight
γ = unit weight of soil per unit volume
γsub or γ' = effective/submerged/buoyant unit weight of soil mass

Table 1.0 Description based on Relative Density of Soil

Dr (%) Description
0-15 Very Loose
15-35 Loose
35-65 Medium Dense
65-85 Dense
85-100 Very Dense

Sample Problems:
1. Prove:
γd = (γ / 1 + ω)

2. A sample saturated clay was placed in a container and weighed. The weight was 6 N. The
clay in its container was placed in an oven for 24 hours at 100 °C. The weight was reduced to
a constant value of 5 N. The weight of the container is 1 N. If Gs = 2.7, determine the ff:
a. ω
b. e
c. γ
d. γd
e. γ'