EXERCISE PROBLEMS

1. A dry soil is placed in a container having a volume

of 0.0089 cm3 . The dry weight of the sample is 0.014
grams. Water is carefully added to the container so
as not to disturbed the condition of the soil. When
the container is filled, the combined weight of soil
plus water is 0.0174 grams. Find the following:
a) Void Ratio
b) Porosity
c) Water content
d) Specific gravity
e) Saturated unit wt. in kN/m3
f) Effective unit wt. in kN/m3
g) Dry unit weight in kN/m3
Solutions
Volume of container = 0.0089 cm3
dry weight of the sample = 0.0014 grams
combined weight of soil plus water = 0.0174 grams

a.) Void ratio Saturated = 1 or 100%, so =0

e= V= + = + =
V= +
= = 0.0174-0.014 = 0.034 g or
0.0000034 kg
= )= 0.000033354N
=
= = 0.0000000034 or
0.0034 c
V= +
=V-
= 0.0089 - 0.0034
= 0.0055 c

e = = = 0.62
b) Porosity
n = = = 0.38

c) Water Content
= 0.0174-0.014 = 0.034 g
* 100% = * 100% = 24.28 %

d) Specific gravity
Se = Saturated = 1 or 100%
(1)(0.62) = .24
= = 2.58
e) Saturated unit weight
= ( = ( = 19.38

f) Effective unit wt. in kN/m3

=( = ( = 9.57

g) Dry unit weight in kN/m3 d) Specific gravity

= = = 15.62