.

/'
SailVtczlaaaca 87 : ?{,/aaeao,,4 - gatldadt

Physica"l Prop.e.rtigs of. Spil

3-1 Weisht-VolumeRelationships
The natural soil is a porous media consisting of soil solids (soil grains), and
voids among them. The voids among the grains may be filled with water and/or air.

The physical properties of the soil depend on the (1) relative percentages of
these constituents, (2) their affarrgement and (3) variety of other factors.

Fig.(l)-(a) shows an element of soil as it would exist in a natural state. As

shown in the same figure, soil is three phase-system consisting -generally- of solid,
water and air. To dev a weiglrllolume relationships we must the
as snown m l1g.

Air
Air

Water

Solid Particles

Fig.(l)-(a): natural soil element Fig.(1)-(b) three-phase of soil element

For the arranged soil element shown above, having (V1:total volume) and
(Wt=otal weight) the weight and volume can plotted as in Fig. (2)

Volume lVeieht

F"=o
F
l**
t
T
i

f*.
iI

Fig.(2i: three-phase cf soil element having V1&Wr

 Sa{?(eda' ica
8f : ?a/a.aaar. r4 -garhdudr

Vr=Vr*Vv
Vy:V**Vo
Were: V7: Total volume

V,: Volume of soit solids

Yv:I/olume ofvoids .

V,,: Volume ofwater in the

voids
V.: Volume of air in the voids

Wr:W*W-+wa
Were: L/'7: Total weight
\:Weight of soil solids
ll,:Weight olfwater in the voids

W=Weight of air in the voids(approximately:zero)

ThenWT =W* W*
3-1-1 The Volume Relationships
(a) The porosity (n)

V,
D=
VT
" o4 n < I

the values of porosity cannot

be more thal l, because the V" could not
be more than V1
(b) The Void Ratio (e)
ta
e=--:
v,,
)_ tP./'!\ o1r' ,lF
\/ vs

the values of void ratio can be

more than 1, because the vu can
be more, equar or less than
v".

(c) The Degree of Saturation (S%)

Titis_usually expressed as percentagel
V^,
5o1n
;u. x
- -w I00o/o

When the degree of saturation:

So% =0.0jzo then the soil willhe4rv_
0.A% < S% < 1.00(yo the soil will be partialljt snturatecl

S%:100% the soil will befutty

saturatecl
QuestLow: cawthevaLue of degree
cf saturatiowbe vworethaw untt4t
 8q : ?,/aaae*tt 24t - gatldadr
SoatVlqnaau.

The relationship between porosity (n) and void ratio (e) can be derived as below:

vu vI) # n
---:-:-:-=
Vt Vr-Vu vr-vu L-n
v7 v7
.t ru
Also,n =
*
Qsles(uow: Pyove the above reLatwwshr4 Lw b,vo wa1s

3-l-2 The Weieht Relationships

(a) The moisture content (water content) (w%") [it is usually expressed as
percentage] W) or?E)a\

,-o7o ='px
vv.
100%

3-1-3 The Unit Weieht

In order to make a combination between volume and weight relationships we need to use the (Unit
Weight)(y), and we have four types of unit weight as below

(r) The total (moist) (bulk) (field) Unit Weight (y) 14 - 5t\9
W7
,Vr
V=-

Moist unit weight can be expressed in terms of water content as below

_wr _w+r* :wIt:W)l :$6**)

Y=vr:--v,
-.
- h -v,
(2) The Dry Unit Weight (7a)
w"
To=G
Also, dry unit weight can be expressed in terms of water content as below

v o
: {;(?Yoveit) .......?

(3) The saturated Unit Weight (when the water fill all the voids)
Wr,
:
Y sat ;(ProVe ti).......?
J -
rl€a
(a) The Submerged unlt w"iet t (r-;\ u,hr', *W level i lio"e' "ftte

Vsub: Y - Vw
 Saal7kteilaztet
47 ?,laazz,ro,,4t - B4rid*dr

where g: gravitarionar accererarion:

n.rrli""!, 32.t7 rrsecz
Hint: y*:
"r
unit weight of water: (9.g1)
lN/m3:(62 .4) lb/ft3
In order to make a combination
between weight and volume
assume that Vr=1, then (numerically) relationships we need to
\,r":s
ws

- k-:
1t
7"=1
G-
Yw yw -%
yw W, = GrTw

*=tr
w,.,
tww-ww -t Ww - w Gry,

V*-b-YG*v'' %
vw #=*t* but S =9=
vve- then

L: ,'"" '*' - "*'"- "-i

uD
is.u=w.el
i,-***-****J

=W=%+P-G,r**.w-G,v*
Y
fl,r,,rDj
g=W.Gs -ti
b96L=
' "''\^-^
So, the ,,saturated unit weight
(y,d can be expressed as: 4(
-t\ - t/a
S'e- , '\-!' rq c
-i,.n- -- .lv *v; Tsat :3:wr ws
vvs +ww
vv* Gty*
!VT G
-
* wGry. _ Gry- * ey* Gr*e
'lai VT
1*e 'l/
fw
* L*e
;\t ,t*
(%";ortfi W7
g+'/;t +\}>
'o=i=t*"(G,r*)
ysun = y - Tw:ysat yo/-
- s-r*(prove Lt) ........2

Table'(1) gives atypical values

of vcid ratio, moisture content
and dry unit weight for types at a saturated condition,
of soii.
Saa(?llez,Aaaao 8q : ?ltaazzn'r,r4{ - garldali

Ta
Type Of Soil $u wYo (at S=1)
Ib/ft' kN/m"
Loose uniform sand 0.8 30 92 14.5
Dense uniform. sand 0.45 t6 115 18
Loose angular-grained
siltv sand
0.65 25 t02 16
Dense angular-grained
siltv sand
0.4 l5 12I r9
Stiff clay 0.6 21 108 I7
Soft clay 0.9-1.4 30-50 73-93 I 1.5-14.5
Loess 0.9 25 56 13.5
Soft organic clay 2.5 90-r20 38-51 6-8
Glacial till 0.3 10 t34 2l
Table (1): Typical Values'for e, w at S:1, Ta for Some Types of Soil in a natural State

3-2 Relative densitv:

The term Relative Density (D,) is used to indicate the in-situ denseness or looseness
for granular soils (cohesionless soils)

Dr=
€rnax - enatural _Ta(naturaD - Yd(mtn) r Id(max) -,

o
vmax -p "mln Talmaxl - Yowa 'Y*r";
Qv€s{uo w: ?r ov e the secowd eqva6"o w?

Qsl.estLow: ex?ress the reLatLve dewsttg Lw tervw of TorosLtg (w) .

Where:

ema*: ya(mi.)r Void ratio and density in the loosest state, respectively

€min: yd(maxl Void ratio and density in the densest state, respectively

enatural : yd(naturat;t Void ratio and density in the natural soil (in-situ soil)(in the field),
respectively

Table (2) gives the best description of soil density according to the value of D,

Relative Density, % Density Description

I,l :funtu {2): ReFative Sensrry Ranges with Scnsity Description i

 -bi o
"2r",- -'lJUl,al4rlt +J'u)"*J,-"4d, b+ X

Soal?//u/a,aka
fu : T,laaaao 4t - garlduir
J'-^;1,
3-3 gusistenc
when clay are presented in fine-grained
soil, and when it have some moisture,
that soil can be remolded without crumbling,
this cohesive nature is due to the
adsorbed water that surrounding the
clay particLs.
Af a very low moisfure content soil behave like
content is very high, the soil and the
a solid, when the moisture
water will flow like a liquid. so
of water content, the soil state will transfer with the increase
into four basic states, these stages
(1 )Solid,(2) Semisolid (Semi-prastic), are:
(3)plasric, and (4)Liquid state.
ASwedish soil scientist Atterberg defines
three limits in which the soil
transfer from a state to another, as
shown in the Fig.(3)

4 r""9t Increasing Water Content *-_-_=-..-*+

lU,bF.2*
Zlv
$CILtn sHilIl-$srm PLAgTIC Lt*uts
4."rv
FL?\.' L.4aic) ti;'\-
Pl= t-l_ - pL 'ftasl-t c +
:hvin\e /1

Fig.(3): Atterberg Limits

1. Liquid Limit (LL or w): this is the water

content (w) atwhich the soil
behave like a viscous mud under its own weieht.

the liquid rimir is rhe water content (w%)

i: :i:ll,in lig'(a), at which the

at25hlo.rxts Tt is r{iffi^.,l++^ c-r r1-:

rhis water content. Hence, ar least
;ffi;"-Till#x:
rrs gr-O{Jve

xl?tj"t::^r"'j:13:"rt 10.find 4 test mustrr be

De cone
done
IIT f:::"1lXy "rl,:*, ),::o:o
calledflow curve. As shown in Fig.(5)
;;;il;;;
ro crose the groove is 15_35) for
the same
ion will be

The slope of the flow curve isflow

Index (Ip)
tv,*-g)'tz Z5 {vA ,* *T1'* wt -wz
(Lz) -*+ Ve.ssJ,czf ,?),.'t IF -
L"s
{#}
 8q : ?,t/aaa%' tAt -
g*rldadr

*g.t$, Fetermas::ation c-TE-iquidl-Enft I

 SditTleg/a"tkz
7//a4c"/4t r4{ - S*r6da{t
"?.-
Noting that the number of blows (N) on the
X-axis (rog.) while the water
content (w) on y-axis(ordinary). so the
moisture content \"/
rrl "ori"ip;"*-
will be the Liquid Limit (LL) as shown in Fig.(5) -vL'vevv'uur6 to N:25

lry
Plastic Limit (pL or wp): is the water content
(w) atwhich a sampre of soil
when it rolled by hand, into a thread of linch
diameterwill crumble

of Plastic limit:As in derrnition, it is the water

content at which a
sample of soil when rolled by hand on
a ground of a glass plate into a thread
of linch
diameter will crumble. As shown in the Fig.(6)

*,n H,t HX ,J,3? \s\ l- t/, _

u e'{'r;"
,

(P"Qg

Fig.(6): Plastic Limit Test

(a) Plasticity Index (pI or Ip):is the difference

between the liquid limit (LL) and
plastic limit (pL) of a soil
PI=LL-PL
(b) Liquidity Index (LI or I): it relates the natural rnoisture
content (w) to its
liquid and plastic limits
a4tP
,r w-PL
PI
SaatTTtedaatu 8V : ?,//atzea 4/ - gatlda&

The soil of high value of PI tend to be clay, while the soil of low pI tend to be
silt, table (3), shows several ranges of LI with its meanings

LI Meanings
<0 Solid State
0-1 Plastic State
>1 Liquid State
Table (3): Plasticity Values with its Meanings
3. Shrinkage Limit (SL or Ws): is the water content (w) at which the soil dose
not continue to shrink on further loss of moisture.

Determination of Shrinkage Limit: A I inch diameter cylindrical sample of a clay in

$:;3:[::'?:'.:,:,XT# 1H:l il:l:'l"l: ?ffi:: Iil*T;:T#Tffi ,:T: _.**rr
";r-fiL,
dried out and its final volume and dry weight is found. The results are plotted on a y,r-t
i, w!::
graph relating the water content to the volume in cubic cm per 100 gm of dry soil. './"a.J u )*
w^r (., u *t(
As shown in the Fig.(7) the soil volume will change due to the change of water di/,i% a ?*.
content, so when the volume of the soil will not change suw
'6v due to 'r its
'r\rre lost in
Lv more rurl
"'
Nil''-*l'
moisture it will reach the shrinkage limit. at^6"Jt
fu:ti
Vull f s'c-s$'trrkrst#r crlr?€*nt- vt

Ep

Liquid

ffiet*f

Table (4) shows some typical ranges of LL, PL and PI for some types of soil minerals

Mineral LL PL PI
Monotmoril lonite 100-900 50-100 8.5-15
Nontronite 3t-tL 19-27
Illite 60- 120 35-60 | 5-17
F.aoltnlle 30-TTO - 25-29
Hvdrated Haliovsite 50-70 --zr+r
47-60
Dehvdrated Hallovsite 33-55 30-45
Attapulgite I 60-230 100-120
Chlorite 44-47 36-44
+iioohane 200-250 t30-t4c
 p / r ./ / f\
'nY >* 5-vtafe a(@ d- abnv-bE,t(,,uq/t"t D( P,T-
' t7.;":-L 'YDt2r<'"1'w'
Cly oL P,r + C(y =fix?r -+ f) _ ?r o"r6u3rr*,,,
=- \ ' t- / l'
/ '*,rlPf:*J I
SaalTtq/aaaca.
'' ctt^Y "''8?'Aaaemib&fu
A,4,Yr"-.-s->
Li ' 3-4 Activifv:
The liquid limit and plastic limit will be
affected by the type of clay minerals
and its proportional amounts is a soil,
this is because the prastic properly PITLL,PL)
is due to the adsorbed water that surrounds
the particre, ano as we know, the surface
area per mass will increase by decreasing
the ize of particle. The most famoussoil
soientist "Sir Alec
g[h the nres,gs
than zp Uyir"igr,t in it. The slope
rmear retationship"J!gfsizg&"ct!911(%finer
called Activitv.
of this

A_ PI
rloy
!^ "! F,stz
Where: A: Acriviry gga'*te'l: ' trf
Activity is used as an index for identifying the
swelling potential of clay soils. Table
(5) gives a description for some ranges
of activities

Activity Description
<0.75 lnactive
0.75-1.25 Normal
>1.25 Active
I

Table (5): Description for Activity Values

3-5 Plasticifv Chart:

The LL and PL are important values, because:
(l) there are many correlations
betwden LL, PL with several soil properties,
moreover, (2) they can be used for soil
classification.

Casagrande proposed a plasticity chart basing

on many experimentar tests as
morganllc
clays lay above the A-line while inorganic
silts lie below it.

Ple_rin"_0.73(LL_20)
Organic silt lies below A_line with LL ranging
from 30 to 50 is inorganic silts
of medium compressibility, while the soil lies
below the A-line with LL greater than
50 is inorganic silts of high compressibility
or organic clays, and for soils with LL less
t!?y?9Y-y_urg_g_eqeraUy-sarid

The u-line -which rocated above the A-rine-

refers to the upper limit of the
relationship between LI_ r,s. pI

PIu_trn" _ 0,g(tr _ B)
 Saa(,?/leila'atu 8V : ?lao<zaa 4( - &arld4lt
.J

70 *t'L\ *'
'! {, ,Z- f '*j
,-r'{) 1-/ €,

1 " I'L
'

-5(l
Inorrrrtic cllys
of high plasticity
{r,.,;7s21
"e
i*
-7,\ ){ *)l
*{i'>''?''
..t
E+o lrrorganic clays of"
'-a' rlcdiurn plustir:ity
3,u lnorganic silts of
high conrpressihiliry
lrrtlrtlanit:
r,:lirys ol'low irrrd rirg;rnic cllyr
2()
plast iciry'
lnrtrgitnic ril(s il1'
t0 \{ rncriirrrn conrprcssihi Iity
Cohesionlcli itrtr-l orgunic silts
sr,il '/ ,/ J
;
,,.,: .l.;-
Y
0 ,/ ,a--{-.l-
- ?--') lt) '1t:
:t
t{( }
f
fgy;t
I
!.>
J
Irtrtrgunic sills ol'
Iow conr;lressihiIity

Fie.(8) Plas city Chart

Method of Calculation the Approximately -Theoretically- Value of Shrinkage

Limit from Plasticify Chart
For a soil.with given LL and PI do the below steps:

1- Plot the soil on the plasticity chart as point A as shown in Fig.(9)

2- Froject both the A-line and U-line downward until they meet at point B (LL:
-43.5,PI:-46.4)
3- Draw a straight line between point A and B, this line will intersect the X-axis
(LL) at a point C, the abscissa of point C is the estimated shrinkage limit (SL)

t,*

t1