Introduction:-

Geo Earth
Technical having special
=
knowledge
Geotechnical Engineering-
Definition
Geotechnical engineering is the branch of
engineering concerned with the analysis, design
and construction of foundations, slopes, retaining
structures, embankments, tunnels, levees, wharves,
landfills and other systems that are made of or
are supported by soil or rock.

PHASE DIAGRAM OFSOIL MASS

Definition
The diagram which represents the
components of soil is called phase diagram.

1) Three phase diagram

i) Partially saturated soil
2) Two phase diagram
i) Full saturated soil
i) Complete dry
Three phase diagram-
Definition
The diagram which represents all the three
components of soil i.e., solids, air and water is called
three phase diag
Air
W=0

V Water

V Ww

V
Limit
0<S1 Soliis
Vs Ws

Partially saturated soil

Two phase diagram-

Definition
The diagram which shows only two
components of soil i.e., solids and air or solids and
water is called two phase diagram.

i) Full saturated soil

i) Complete dry
 Volume Weight
IT
V, V
Air Wa-0
W

Solid W

i)Full saturated soil i) Complete dry

S1 S=0

Vr Vy+Vs WT Ws. +Ww

Vv Va+Vw

Where:- Where:
Va :Volume of air WT:Total Weight of Soil
Vw Volume of Water Ws: Weight of Solid
particle
Vw Volume of Water Ww: Weight of Water
w Volume of Voids
Vs Volume ofSolid particles
VTTotal Volume of Soil
PROPERTIES OF SOIL MASS:
Water content
Specific gravity
Void ratio
Porosity
Degree of saturation
Air void and air content,
Unit weights
Density index

1.WATERCONTENT
Definition
It is defined as the ratio of weight of water in the soil
mass to weight to soil solids.

Mw
W - X 100
Ms
Where, Mw= mass of water
Ms= mass of soil
Limit-0 <W< 100%
2.SPECIFIC GRAVITY:
Definition-
is the ratio of the density of solids
Specific gravity of soil
to the density of water. It is denoted by G and has no
unit.
Gi= Ps/Pw= ys/ywv
where
YS density of solids
w density of water

Specific gravity may be true or absolute, apparent or

bulk or mass specific gravity.

SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF SOILS:

SI Soil Type Specific Gravity
NO

Gravel 2.65-2.68

2 Sand 2.65-2.68

3 Silty sand 2.66-2.70

Silt 2.66-2.70

5 Inorganic clays 2.68-2.80

6 Organic soils Variable may fall

below 2.00
 3.VOID RATIO

e=Vv/Vs x100

4.POROSITY :

Definition-
Porosity of a soil mass is the ratio of total
volume of voids to the total volume of soil mass.

It is denoted by n. n

n V+
or

or n 140
 5.DEGREE OF SATURATION:
Definition:
Degree of saturation of a soil mass is the
ratio of volume of water present in the soil mass to
the volume of voids in the soil mass.
It is denoted by S.
Vw
S= - x 1000
Vv

For dry soil S 0%

For fully saturated soil S= 100%

6.AIR VOID AND AIR CONTENTI:

AIR VOIDS
Definition
It is the ratio of volume of air to the total volume.
naFVa/V

It is also expressed as a percentage.

AJIR CONTENT
Definition
Air content is defined as the ratio of the volume of air
to the volume of voids.
ac Va/Vv
7.UNIT WEIGHTS:

Weight-Volume Relationships
2. Unit weight ( ) is the weight of soil per unit volume. There are several
commonly used unit weights:
a)Totalunit weight (moisture/wet/bulkunit weight): =

b) Dry unit weight (when saturation S = 0):

Saturated unit weight (when saturation S = 100%): 7.. =

d) Solid unit weight: Y, =

The moisture unit weight and the dry unit weight ca also be expressed as:

W1
Y= W+W. W1+ w) and

DENSITY INDEX:
Definition:
The relative density (D) is commonly used to indicate the in situ denseness
or looseness of granular soil. It is defined as:

D,: relative density, (%)

D =- e
p.e i
where, e: in-situ void ratio of the soil
emar void ratio of the soil in the loosest state
emni VOid ratio of the soil in the densest state
The values of D, may vary
Relative density Description of soil
from a minimum of 0% for
very loose soil to a maximum (%) deposit
0-15 Very loose
of 100% for very dense soils.
25-50 Loose
Soils engineers qualitatively
describe the granular soil
50-70 Medium
70-85 Dense
deposits according to their
relative den sities, as shown. 85-100 Very dense
 RELATIONSHIP IN SOIL PROPERTIES:
1. GW Se

By assuming V,= 1, we have: W= G.Y. W =wW, = wG,y.

V=V, +V, =l+e

Weight Volume

Afr
y- +wGy. _((+wy
+-Gy 1+e 1+e

Gy
1+e
e=-
W wGY Water
I+e = =VG,Y_.wG,
Y.

S=" Se wGG,
e
Solid
W GY
When the soil is saturated (S = 100%6):

.=te
T+e
e-WG,

2.RELATIONSHIP B/We and n

= - void r a t i o

e V
V-V
V
1/

Vo/V
1 - V,7/V n =Vv/ V

T-7 (okay)

V
porosity

V
V.+V
V
V,+V1/1/V
Vo/
1 V/V
e = Vv/Vs

n 1 +e (okay
 3. RELATIONSHIP B/W wey.s, G:

W
V
Ww+W
V+V
7=Vut7,V

V+V,

V+V,
V+Gw
,+V
SV, +GV.
V+V,
S(V,/V.) +G(V,/V)
(V/V)+ (V,/V)
Se

SOMEIMPORTANT INTER-RELATIONS:
WwYwVw_ - Vy.SZ.Se
1. W G,Y G,, G,, G,

2. y-
(G+Se).X,
1+e
3.y-*)GY
1+e

4.Y-
1+e

5.Y
1+w
6.y-G ,-1)+(S-De] x7,
1+e

7.-G
1+e
Symbols and Notations
Y,Ym unit weight, bulk unit weight, moist unit weight
Yd Dry unit weight
V
Ysat Saturated unit weight
Yb. Y = Buoyant unit weight or effective unit weight
Ys Unit weight of solids
Yw Unit weight of water (equal to 9810 N/m3)
W Total weight of soil
Ws Weight of solid particles
Ww Weight of water
Volume of soil
Vs Volume of solid paticles
Vv Volume ofvoids
Vw Volume of water
S Degree of saturation
W
G
Water content or moisture content
Specific gravity of solid particles

m = mass of soil
V = volume of soil
W = weight of soil

p density of soil
Pd dry density of soil
PsatSaturated density of soil
P buoyant density of soil
Pw density ofwater
G specific gravity ofsoil solids
S degree of saturation of the soil
Void ratio
W water Content or moisture content
 Example 1: A soil has void ratio = 0.72, moisture content = 12% and Gs= 2.72. Determine its

(a) Dry unit weight

(b) Moist unit weight, and the
(C) Amount of water to be added per m> to make it saturated.
Use y, -9.81kNIm*

Solution:

a)yG2
1+e 1+0.72
1551 MNm
(D) y "Y0**)

1*0.122.12 x9.81 =17.38 kN/m*

1+0.72
(c) ,

2.12*0.127 981 =19.62 KN/m°

1+0.72

Water to be added per m to make the soil saturated

Ys Y 19.62-17.38 2.24 KN

Example 2: The dry density of a sand with porosity of 0387 s 1600kgm Find the void ratio of thesol and the
specifi graityofthe sol solids. Take , 1000 g/mi']

n:0.387
1600 hgm
Solution:

(ae 1-n.38L:0631
1-0.387 0631

)9
1te

.G ,U1600-261
1000
 Q.3. e-0.217,n= 60%, s=60% G=2.70
W? 0.0482
Ysat? 23.51 KN/M3
If s-0, then Yd? = 21.67 KN/M3

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Determination ofindex propertiesofsoil

Definition
Index properties are the properties of soil that help in
identification and classification of soil.

FollowingaretheIndex Properties of soil:

1.Water content
2. Specific Gravity
3. In-situ density
4. Particle size distribution
5. Consistency limits
6. Relative Density

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