GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL

A saturated soil below the water table has a unit weight of 20.5 kN/m3.
Assuming Gs of 2.70, find the void ratio of the soil.

Ww Water Vw Vv
The soil below the water table can be
assumed to be fully saturated
W V
(i.e., S = 1)
Ws Solid Vs

Let Vs = 1 m3
Void Ratio = e = =

Weight of Solid = Ws = VsGsγw = 1 m3 x 2.70 x 9.81 kN/m3 = 26.487 kN

 Saturated Unit Weight =
Ww Water Vw Vv

W V Volume of water = Vw = e m3
Ws Solid Vs

Total Volume = V = Vs + Vw = 1 + e

Weight of Water = Ww = Vwγw = e m3 x 9.81 kN/m3 = 9.81e kN

Total Weight = W = Ws + Ww
= 26.487 kN + 9.81e kN = (26.487+9.81e) kN
 Saturated Unit Weight =
Ww Water Vw Vv

W V 20.5 =
Ws Solid Vs

e = 0.56

Therefore, the Void Ratio of the Soil is e = 0.56

THANK YOU