Chapter 2
Fundamental Definitions and Relationships
A soil mass is a random accumulation of soil particles, water and air-filled spaces. For
purposes of analysis it is convenient to represent this soil mass by a block diagram,
called ‘Phase-diagram.
Fig 1- 3 phase diagram
When the soil voids are completely filled with water, the gaseous phase being absent, it
is said to be ‘fully saturated’ or ‘saturated’.
Fig 2 – 2 phase diagram (saturated)
When there is no water at all in the voids, the voids will be full of air, the liquid phase
being absent; the soil is said to be dry.
Fig 3 – 2 phase diagram (dry soil)
BASIC TERMINOLOGY
Fig 4 - Soil Phase Diagram (volume and weight)
Water (Moisture) Content - ‘Water content’ or ‘Moisture content’ of a soil mass is
defined as the ratio of the weight of water to the weight of solids (dry weight) of the soil
mass. It is denoted by the letter symbol w and is commonly expressed as a percentage.
Ww
w *100
Ws
Fine grained soil have higher values of moisture content than coarse grained soil.
w≥0
Void Ratio - ‘Void ratio’ of a soil mass is defined as the ratio of the volume of voids to
the volume of solids in the soil mass. It is denoted by the letter symbol e.
V
e v
Vs
The void ratio e of fine-grained soil is higher than coarse grained soil.
e>0
Porosity - ‘Porosity’ of a soil mass is the ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume
of the soil mass. It is denoted by the letter symbol n and is commonly expressed as a
percentage.
Vv
n *100
V
the porosity of soil can not exceed 100%. 0<n<100
Degree of Saturation - ‘Degree of saturation’ of a soil mass is defined as the ratio of the
volume of water in the voids to the volume of voids. It is designated by the letter symbol
S and is commonly expressed as a percentage:
Vw
S *100
Vv
here Vv Va Vw
For a fully saturated soil mass - Vw Vv
Therefore, for a saturated soil mass S = 100%
For a dry soil mass, Vw is zero.
Therefore, for a perfectly dry soil sample S is zero.
In both these conditions, the soil is considered to be a two-phase system.
The degree of saturation is between zero and 100%.
Air Content - ‘Air content’ of a soil mass is defined as the ratio of the volume of air voids
to the total volume of voids. It is designated by the letter symbol a c and is commonly
expressed as a percentage.
V
ac a = 1-S
Vv
Percent Air Voids- ‘Percent air voids’ of a soil mass is defined as the ratio of the volume
of air voids to the total volume of the soil mass. It is denoted by the letter symbol na and
is commonly expressed as a percentage.
Va
na *100
V
or na = n.ac
Bulk (Mass) Unit Weight - ‘Bulk unit weight’ of a soil mass is defined as the weight per
unit volume of the soil mass. It is denoted by the letter symbol γ.
W Ws Ww
V Vs Vw Va
SI Unit – KN/m3
MKS Unit – kg/m3
Unit Weight of Solids - ‘Unit weight of solids’ is the weight of soil solids per unit
volume of solids alone. It is also sometimes called the ‘absolute unit weight’ of a soil. It is
W
denoted by the letter symbol s s
Vs
Unit Weight of Water - ‘Unit weight of water’ is the weight per unit volume of water. It
W
is denoted by the letter symbol w w
Vw
The value of Ƴw is 1g/cm3 or 1000 kg/m3 or 9.81 kN/m3
Saturated Unit Weight - The ‘Saturated unit weight’ is defined as the bulk unit weight
of the soil mass in the saturated condition. This is denoted by the letter symbol Ƴ sat
W
sat sat
V
Submerged (Buoyant) Unit Weight - The ‘Submerged unit weight’ or ‘Buoyant unit
weight’ of a soil is its unit weight in the submerged condition.
W
' sub sat w
V
Dry Unit Weight - The ‘Dry unit weight’ is defined as the weight of soil solids per unit of
total volume.
W
d s
V
Specific Gravity of Solids - The ‘specific gravity of soil solids’ is defined as the ratio of
the unit weight of solids (absolute unit weight of soil) to the unit weight of water at the
standard temperature (4°C). This is denoted by the letter symbol G
W
G s or G s
w Vs w
Mass Specific Gravity - The ‘Mass specific gravity’ of a soil may be defined as the ratio
of bulk unit weight of soil to the unit weight of water at the standard temperature (4°C).
This is denoted by the letter symbol Gm and is given by
W
Gm
w V w
