Lecture 4:

Mass - Volume
Relationship
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this lecture students will be able:
To derive and solve the mass-volume phase relationships in a
soil sample
Mass-Volume Properties
Mass-Volume Relationship
Derivation (Vs =1), 3 Phases

W
Mass-Volume Relationship
Derivation (Vs =1), 3 Phases
Weight-Mass & Volume
Relationship
 A number of important relationship exists
among the components of soils in terms
of both weight/mass and volume
 The relationships define new parameters
that are useful in working with soil
Soil Sample Vs Soil Model
 Mass-Volume Properties

Question:
Which of the following amounts remains constant
upon drying?
a) Volume of air
b) Volume of water
c) Volume of solid
 Answer: C (Volume of solid)

Therefore, the volume of solids (Vs) is

usually taken as the reference quantity
to derive other rational volumetric
quantities.
If the entire solid can be compacted
and its solid volume is assumed as 1:
 Vs = 1 unit 3
 Void ratio, e = Vv/Vs = Vv
 Total volume, V = Vs+Vv = 1+Vv = 1+e
1. Derivations (From Vs = 1)
 Vs = 1
 Void ratio, e =
Vv/Vs = Vv
 Total volume, V =
Vs+Vv = 1+Vv = 1+e

⚫ Note also that:

n = e / (1 + e)
e = n / (1 - n)
V = 1 / (1 - n)
 2. Derivations ( From Degree of
Saturation)

From previous
derivation, Vv = e
Therefore Vw = Sre
For a perfectly dry
soil:
Sr = 0
For a saturated soil:
Sr = 1
 3. Derivation from Mass
(Weight)
 From = ρs/ρw= Ws/Vsρw

 Ws = Vs Gs ρw
= Gs ρw (if Vs=1)
 ρw = Ww /Vw = Ww/ Sre W

 Hence, Ww = Sreρw

W
 4. Derivation (From Water
content)
W

 Therefore, Ww = wWs
 From previous slide Ws
= Gsρw
 Hence Ww = wGsρw W

W
The Complete Mass-Volume
Relationship Derivation (Vs =1)

W
Question 1: From Vs = 1
derivation,
Prove that:
n = e / (1 + e)
e = n / (1 - n)
V = 1 / (1 - n)
Answer

 Since n = Vv/V , then n = e/(1+e)

 Since n =Vv/V = e/1+e, then e = n/(1-n)
 Since V = Vs + Vv = 1+Vv
= 1+ e
= 1 + n/(1-n)
= 1(1-n) + n
(1-n)
= 1/(1-n)
Question 2. From Vs =1

Prove that Av = n(1 - Sr)

 Answer: Derivation From Air
Void Content, Av
Air-voids content, Av
Av = (Volume of air) / (total volume)
= Va / V
= e(1 - Sr) / (1+e)
= n(1 - Sr) Va = Vv - Vw
 For a perfectly dry soil (Sr=0): = e - e.Sr
Av = n
For a saturated soil (Sr = 1):
= e.(1 - Sr)
Av = 0 ,
Question 3: Try This

From the complete relationship

(Vs =1) derive new formula for
i) ρ,
ii) ρd,
iii)  and
iv) d
 Answer: From the M-V
Relationship
W

W W

W
W

W
Also, it can be shown that
ρ = ρd(1 + w) and
 = d(1 + w)
 Question 4
The following data was obtained from laboratory tests for a
cohesive specimen: Moisture content, w, was 22.5% and
G = 2.60. To determine the approximate unit weight, a bulk
sample having a mass of 224 g was placed in a 500 cm3
capacity container with 382 cm3 of water required to fill the
container. Take g = 9.8 ms-2

a. What is the volume of the soil sample?

b. What is the bulk unit weight of the soil sample in kN/m 3?
c. What is the void ratio (e)?
d. What is the dry unit weight of the soil sample in kN/m 3?
 Answer
⚫ W = Ws + Ww
= Gsρw + wGsρw
=Gs(1+w) ρw
a) V = 500-382 = 118 cm3
⚫ V = 1+ e
b)  = 224/118 g/cm3 , so
So, ρ = W/V
 = 18.60 kN/m3 = Gs (1+w)ρw /(1+e)

c) ρ= Gs (1+w) ρw ⚫ W = Ws+ Ww
1+ e = Ws + w Ws , (since w =
Ww/Ws )
Solve to get e= 0.6781 = 0.68 = Ws (1+w)
⚫  = W/V
d) d = /(1+w) = 15.18 kN/m3 = Ws (1+w)
V
= d (1+w)
(so  = d/(1+w) )
Mass-Volume Relationship
Derivation (Vs =1), 2 Phases
 Question 1 (Vs = 1, 2-Phases)

Show that the air content (A = Va/V) at

full saturation (Sr=1) can be expressed as;

A = (e – wGs) / (1+e)
 Question 1 (Answer)
From complete relationship,
 Va = Vv-Vw = e – Sre
 V = 1+ e
 Sr = wGs/e, at full saturation, Sr = 1, hence e =
wGs

 Hence A = Va/V
= (e – (1)(wGs)/(1+e)
= (e – wGs)/(1+e)
Question 2 (Vs = 1, 2 Phases)

From this complete relationship

show that at full saturation the
saturated density can be
expressed as;
ρs = (Gs + e) ρw / (1+e)
Answer 2
Based on ρs = (Ws + Vvρw)/ V

Ws = Gsρw
vV = e
V = 1+e

So,
ρs = (Gs + e) ρw / (1+e)
Based on Assumption that
V = 1, Prove that;
Discussion 2: Question based
on assumption: V = 1 m3
Based on assumption that V = 1 m3
And given:
Void ratio = 0.78
Water content = 12%
Specific gravity of solid = 2.68

Find:
Vs, Vv, Ws, Ww (0.56 m3, 0.44 m3, 14.72 kN, 1.77 kN)
Wet unit weight (16.49 kN/m3)
Dry unit weight (14.72 kN/m3)
Degree of saturation (40.9%)
Porosity (44.0 %)
Answer:

Given Vv/Vs = 0.78

Vv = 0.78 Vs -----------------(1)
Vs + Vv = V = 1 m3-------------(2)
Therefore
0.78 Vs + Vs = 1m3
Solve to get
Vs = 0.56 m3
Vv = 0.44 m3
Answer

From Vs = Ws / Gsw
Ws = 14.72 kN
From w = Ww/Ws = 0.12
Ww = 0.12Ws = 1.77 kN

Therefore;
1. Wet Unit weight, W/V = (Ww+Ws)/V
= (1.77+14.71)/1
= 16.49 kN/m3
Answer

2. Dry Unit Weight = Ws/V = 14.72 kN/m3

3. From Vw = Ww/ w= 1.77/9.81 = 0.18 m3

So, degree of saturation = Vw/Vv

= 0.18/0.44
= 40.9%

4. Porosity = Vv/V = 0.44/1 = 44.0 %