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Determination of Water content (w)
➢Dry-Wet Basis
• Oven Dry Method (Most Accurate)
• Hot Plate Method
• Sand Bath Method
• Alcohol Method
➢Wet-Wet Basis
• Speedy Moisture Tester (Calcium Carbide Method)
• Infra-Red Lamp Method
Oven Dry Method

Thermostatically
Controlled Ovens
Generally soils are dried at the
Temperature of 105-110oC for 24
hours
 105°-110°C

w
𝑤1 𝑤2 𝑤3
Container
Container + Moist Soil Container + Dry Soil

𝑊𝑤 𝑤2 −𝑤3
𝑤= =
𝑊𝑑 𝑤3 −𝑤1
Structural water
➢A water chemically combined in crystalline structure of mineral of the soil is
called structural water
➢This water can not be removed without breaking the structure of the soil
mineral
➢Structural water is considered as the integral part of the soil grains (Soil Solids)
➢Water content determination is based on free water not on structural water
➢At temperatures more than 105-110oC the structure of the soil may be
destroyed
➢Soils contain organic and gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) the drying temperature may
further be reduced to 60-80oC
Hot Plate and Sand Bath Method
(Field Methods)
 Methylated
Evaporating spirit
dish
Moist
soil

Igniter

• No control over
temperature.
Speedy Moisture Test

Acetylene Gas
Infrared Lamp Method
Unit weight of Soil (γ)
Unit weight of the soil is defined as
the total weight of the soil mass per
unit of total volume.

𝑊
𝛾=
𝑉
Depending upon the state of the soil, the unit
weight of the soil also changes.
Unit weight of Soil (γ)
Bulk Unit Weight: The unit weight of the 𝑊
𝛾𝑏 =
soil in its natural condition. 𝑉

Saturated Unit Weight: The unit weight of 𝑊𝑠𝑎𝑡

𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 =
soil under completely saturated condition. 𝑉

Dry Unit Weight: The unit weight of soil 𝑊𝑠

under completely dry condition. 𝛾𝑑 =
𝑉
Unit Weight Soil (γ)

Bulk Unit Weight Dry Unit Weight Saturated Unit

Weight
Partially
Dry Soils Saturated Soils
Saturated Soils
 Unit weight of Soil Solids (γs)
The ratio of weight of solid to
the volume of solids.

𝑊𝑠
𝛾𝑠 =
𝑉𝑠
Note the Difference between
Unit weight of Soil Solids and
Dry unit weight
 Unit weight of Soil (γ)
Submerged Unit Weight: The saturated unit weight of soil
minus unit weight of the water.

𝛾 ′ = 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 − 𝛾𝑤

It is the also called as effective unit weight of the soil when it is submerged.
 Typical Values of Void Ratio
and Unit Weight
Soil Void ratio Dry unit Saturated unit
description weight(pcf) weight(pcf)
Uniform sand 1.0 - 0.4 83 - 118 84 - 136
Silty sand 0.9 - 0.3 87 - 127 88 - 142
Clean, well-graded sand 0.95 - 0.2 85 - 138 86 - 148
Silty sand and gravel 0.85 - 0.14 89 - 146 90 - 155

Sandy or silty clay 1.8 - 0.25 60 - 135 100 - 147

Well-graded gravel, sand, 0.7 - 0.13 100 - 148 125 - 156
silt, and clay mixture
Inorganic clay 2.4 - 0.5 50 - 112 94 - 133

Colloidal clay (50%<2) 12 - 0.6 13 - 106 71 - 128

(NAVFAC DM 7.1, 1982)