Soil Mechanics (1) - CIV 262
Lecture 3
DEFINITIONS AND RELATIONS
By
Dr. Dalia Bahaa Hamdy
Associate Professor Of Geotechnical Engineering, Civil
Engineering Dep., Badr Univ.
CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
Soil as three phase system
A soil mass is a three phase system consisting of:
(a) Solid particles (grains)
(b) Water
(c) Air
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CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
(a) Volume of air (Va)
(b) Volume of water (Vw)
(c) Volume of solids (Vs)
The total volume of voids (Vv) is given by:
Vv = Va + Vw
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CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
The total weight of soil (W) consists of:
(a) Weight of water (Ww)
(b) Weight of solids (Ws).
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CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
Definitions
1- water content: (w)
The water content (also called the moisture
content) is defined as the ratio between the weight
of water (Ww) and the weight of solids (Ws) in a
given soil.
The water content is usually
expressed in percentage:
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CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
2- Unit weight of solid mass: (Density of soil)
(a) Bulk Density: (gb)
The bulk density of soil is defined as the total weight
of soil mass (W) per unit of its total volume (V).
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CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
(b) Dry Density: (gd) الكثافة الجافة
The dry density is defined as the weight of solids (Ws) per
unit of its total volume (V).
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CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
(c) Saturated Density: (gsat) الكثافة المشبعة
• When the soil is fully saturated with water, its bulk
density is called saturated density.
• Thus, it is defined as the total weight of a saturated
soil mass per unit of its total volume.
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CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
(d) Submerged Density: (gsub.) الكثافة المغموره
• When a soil mass is submerged under water its
weight is reduced due to buoyancy.
• The upward force is equal to the volume multiplied
by the density of water (gw):
gsub = gsat - gw
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CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
• The density of soil is generally expressed in
(gm/cm3) or (t/m3) units.
• It is considered as bulk density (also called
unsaturated density) unless otherwise stated.
• Natural density is the bulk density of natural
soil.
• It is generally taken as bulk density unless the
soil in the field is saturated or dry.
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CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
3 - Specific gravity: (Gs)
The specific gravity of soil is defined as the ratio between unit
weight of soil solids to that of water.
4 - Void ratio: (e)
The void ratio is defined as the ratio between volume of voids to
volume of soil solids.
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CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
5- Porosity: (n)
The porosity is defined as the ratio between volume of
voids to total volume of Soil.
• The relationship between the porosity and void ratio:
Dr. DaliaHamdy
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CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
6- Degree of saturation: (S)
The volume of voids in a soil mass is generally
occupied by water and air. The ratio between volume
of water and volume of voids is called the degree of
saturation.
Dry (s=0%) Partially saturated (0<S<100%) saturated (s=100%)
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CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
Functional relations
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CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
1- Water content: (w) Summary
2- Density:
gsub = gsat - gw
3 - Specific gravity: (Gs)
4 - Void ratio: (e)
5- Porosity: (n)
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CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
Examples
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CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
Example (1):
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CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
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CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
Example (2):
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CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
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CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
Example (3):
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CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
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CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
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CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
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CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
References
1- Amr Radwan, 2012. Fundamentals of soil Mechanics. 5th
edition.
2- Amr Radwan, Lectures notes, Fundamentals of soil
Mechanics.
3- Braja M. Das, 2010. principles of Geotequnical
engineering, 7th edition.
4- Mitchell, J. K. (1976). Fundamentals of Soil Behavior,
Wiley, New York.
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CIV 262 – Soil Mechanics (1)
Thank you
Dr. Dalia Bahaa El Din Hamdy
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