COMPOSITIO

COMPOSITION
OF
OF SOIL
SOIL
PANGILINAN, ALJEN O. - BSCE 3G
S o i l
D e p o s i t

Presentation

Presentation
ENGINEERS ARE INTERESTED TO KNOW THE
PROPERTIES OF SOIL DEPOSIT, SPECIALLY, THE STRENGTH
AND COMPRESSIBILITY BECAUSE THEY ARE NECESSARY IN
DETERMINING THE BEARING CAPACITY AND STABILTTY OF

Outline

Outline
THE FOUNDATION.
Soil deposit consists of solid particles and void spaces between particles, either
partially or completely filled with water. Void spaces not completely filled with water, are
either filled with air or other gases. Therefore, soil deposits are composed of solid, liquid
and gas
SOIL
Strength and
compressibility
1. SOIL DENSITY PER
UNIT VOLUME

COMPO
of the soil is
directly related
2. WATER CONTENT
OF THE SOIL

SITION
to: 3. VOID RATIO

4. DEGREE OF
SATURATION
.
AIR
WATER
SOLIDS

SOIL SAMPLE
PHASE DIAGRAM
Relationship Between Volume and Mass Weight
 The relationship between the weight and volume of any materials will be:

W = Vg Uw

while Mass and Volume M = Vg Dw

Where:

W = weight of the material Uw = Unit weight of water at temperature stated

V = volume by the occupied material (in most soil work, Uw = 62.4 pounds/cubicft
G = specific gravity of the material 9.80 dynes/cubic cm; or 9.81 kN/cubic m,
M = mass of the material regardless of temperature)
Dw = density of water (1 gm/cubic cm
or 1.95 slugs/cubic ft)
NOTE:

The specific gravity of most commonly occurring rock or

soil or soil materials is between 2.30 and 3.10.

The specific gravity of soil solids lies within the range of

2.60 to 2.75.
SOIL
Strength and
compressibility
1. SOIL DENSITY PER
UNIT VOLUME

COMPO
of the soil is
directly related
2. WATER CONTENT
OF THE SOIL

SITION
to: 3. VOID RATIO

4. DEGREE OF
SATURATION
.
SOIL DENSITY WEIGHT PER
UNIT VOLUME

UNIT WEIGHT OF THE SOIL (U)

Wet unit weight:

Dry unit weight:

SOIL DENSITY WEIGHT PER
UNIT VOLUME

DENSITY (D)

Wet density:

Dry density:
NOTE:

1 gm/cubic cm = 62.4 pounds per cubic ft.

The weight of one cubic cm of water = 980 dynes

The weight of one cubic ft of water = 62.4 lbs

 WATER
CONTENT OF
Water Content
of the Soil
THE SOIL.
By definition, water content W is
the ratio of the weight of water in
soil volume to the weight of soil
solids, or of the mass of water in a
soil to the mass of solids.
The relationship of water content and the weight of dry soil to the
total wet weight of the soil volume should be:
VOID
Void Ratio
RATIO and Porosity

The Void Ratio (e) and Porosity (P) in relation with the solid and void
volume follows:
The Void Ratio is expressed in decimal number, and the Porosity P is
conventionally expressed in percentage.

And the relationship

between void ratio
and porosity is:
Degree of
Saturation (S)
THE DEGREE OF SATURATION S,
INDICATES THE PORTION OF
THE VOID SPACES IN A SOIL
MATERIAL THAT IS FILLED WITH
WATER. THE DEGREE OF
SATURATION IS EXPRESSED IN
PERCENTAGE.
Full saturation or 100% saturation means that all voids are
filled with liquid.

Since:
Degree of
Saturation
Other formula for degree of saturation in terms of void ratio, water
content, and specific gravity.
SPECIFIC
GRAVITY]
SPECIFIC
GRAVITY
Ratio of unit weight of solids to the
unit weight of water.
 SUBMERGED
SOIL
SUBMERGED
SOIL
To relate a value given in grams per cubic centimeter (i.e. density) to pound per
cubic foot (i.e. unit weight), multiply by 62.4 gn/cu. cm = 62.4lbs/cu. ft

For under water condition, the soil solid is buoyed up by pressure of the
surounding body of water. Therefore, the weight of submerged soil, become
lighter compared with the soil above water. Thus, the effective soil weight
becomes the unit weight when weighed under water. The weight of water in
the voids of soil is zero when submerged, because all voids were assumed to
be filled with water, and the weight of the solid is reduced by the weight of
water displaced.
SUBMERGED
SOIL
 EXAMPLE
PROBLEMS
 EXAMPLE NO. 1

One cubic foot of soil sample weighing 130 lbs. was taken
from a test pit. The entire sample is thoroughly dried and
finally weighted 120 lbs. Solve for the water content, wet
unit weight, and the dry unit weight.
GIVEN:

V = 1 cu. ft.
W = 130 lbs
Ws = 120 lbs
GIVEN:

V = 1 cu. ft.
W = 130 lbs
Ws = 120 lbs
GIVEN:

V = 1 cu. ft.
W = 130 lbs
Ws = 120 lbs
GIVEN:

V = 1 cu. ft.
W = 130 lbs
Ws = 120 lbs
 EXAMPLE NO. 2
Compute for the wet density, dry unit weight, void ratio,
water content and the degree of saturation from a sample
of moist soil with mass weight of 20 kg that occupies a total
volume of 0.008 cu. m. and 0.006 cu. m volume of solid.
The sample is dried in oven and weighted 18 kg. The
specific gravity of the soil solid is 2.60.
GIVEN:

M = 20 kg
Vt = 0.008 cu. m
Vs = 0.006 cu. m
Ms = 18 kg
gs = 2.60
GIVEN:

M = 20 kg
Vt = 0.008 cu. m
Vs = 0.006 cu. m
Ms = 18 kg
gs = 2.60
GIVEN:

M = 20 kg
Vt = 0.008 cu. m
Vs = 0.006 cu. m
Ms = 18 kg
gs = 2.60
GIVEN:

M = 20 kg
Vt = 0.008 cu. m
Vs = 0.006 cu. m
Ms = 18 kg
gs = 2.60
GIVEN:

M = 20 kg
Vt = 0.008 cu. m
Vs = 0.006 cu. m
Ms = 18 kg
gs = 2.60
GIVEN:

M = 20 kg
Vt = 0.008 cu. m
Vs = 0.006 cu. m
Ms = 18 kg
gs = 2.60
 EXAMPLE NO. 3
One cubic foot undisturbed soil from a test pit, weighs 100
pounds net weight. The dry weight of the sample is 80 lbs.
What will be the effective unit weight of the soil if it is
submerged below the ground water level when the specific
gravity is 2.60?
GIVEN:

V = 1 cu. ft
W = 100 lbs
Ws = 80 lbs
gs = 2.60
Uw = 62.4 lbs/ cu. ft
GIVEN:

V = 1 cu. ft
W = 100 lbs
Ws = 80 lbs
gs = 2.60
Uw = 62.4 lbs/ cu. ft