CHAPTER 3

WEIGHT – VOLUME
RELATIONSHIPS AND PLASTICITY
3.1 INTRODUCTION
This chapter describes the weight – volume relationships for
soils: that is, the relationships between unit weight, void
ratio, porosity, moisture content, and the specific gravity of
soil solids.
Figure 3.1 (a) Soil element in natural state; (b) three phases of the soil
element
3.2 WEIGHT – VOLUME RELATIONSHIPS
Figure 3.1a shows an element of soil of volume V and weight W as it
would exist in a natural state. To develop the weight-volume
relationships, solid, water, and air were separated as shown in
Figure 3.1b. Thus, the total volume of a given soil sample can be
expressed as
(3.1)

where: Vs = volume of soil solids

Vv = volume of voids
Vw = volume of water voids
Va = volume of air in the voids
Assuming the weight of the air to be negligible, we can give he
total weight of he sample as:

(3.2)
where:
W = weight of soil solids
Ww = weight of water
VOLUME RELATIONSHIPS
The volume relationships commonly used for three phases in
a soil element are void ratio, porosity, and degree of
saturation. Void ratio (e) is defined as the ratio of he
volume of voids to the volume of solids, or

(3.3)
Porosity (n) is defined as the ratio of the volume of voids to the
total volume, or

(3.4)

Degree of saturation (S) is defined as the ratio of the volume of

water to the volume of voids, or

(3.5)
The degree of saturation is commonly expressed as a percentage.
The relationship between void ratio and porosity can be derived
from Eqs. (3.1), (3.3), and (3.4), as follows:

(3.6)

Also , from Eq. (3.6), we have

(3.7)
WEIGHT RELATIONSHIPS
The common weight relationships are moisture content and
unit weight. Moisture content (w) is also referred as water
content and is defined as the ratio of he weight of water to
the weight of solids in a given volume of soil, or

(3.8)
Unit weight (y) is the weight of soil per unit volume:

(3.9)

The unit weight can also be expressed in terms of weight of soil

solids, moisture content, and total volume. From Eqs (3.2), (3.8),
and (3.9), we have

(3.10)
Soil engineers sometimes refer to the unit weight defined by Eq.
(3.9) as the moist unit weight.
It is sometime necessary to know the weight per unit volume of
soil excluding water. This is referred to as the dry unit weight.
Yd Thus,

(3.11)
From Eqs. (3.10) and (3.11), we can give the relationship among
unit weight, dry unit weight, and moisture content as

(3.12)
Unit weight is expressed in kilonewtons per cubic meter (kN/m3). Since
the newton is derived unit, it may sometimes be convenient to work
with densities (ƿ) of soil. The SI unit of density is kilograms per cubic
meter (kg/m3).

(3.13)

and
(3.14)
where: p = density of soil (kg/m3).
pd = dry density of soil (kg/m3).
m = total mass of the soil sample (kg)
ms = mass of solids in the sample (kg)
The unit of total volume, V, is m3.
The unit weights of soil in kg/m3 can be obtained from densities
in kg/m3 as

(3.15)
and

(3.16)

where: g = acceleration due to gravity = 9.81 m/sec2

3.3 RELATIONSHIPS AMONG UNIT WEIGHT, VOID RATIO,
MOISTURE CONTENT, AND SPECIFIC GRAVITY
To obtain a relationship among unit weight (or density), void ratio,
and moisture content, consider a volume of soil in which the
volume of the soil is 1, as shown in Fig.3.2. If the volume of the soil
solids is 1, then the volume of voids is numerically equal to the
void ratio, e [from Eq. (3.3)]. The weights of soil solids and water
can be given as

where :
Gs = specific gravity of soil solids
w = moisture content
Yw = unit weight of water
Figure 3.2 Three separate phase of a soil with volume of soil solids
equal to 1
The unit weight of water is 9.81 kN/m3. Now, using the definitions
of unit weight and dry unit weight [Eq. (3.9) and (3.11), we can
write
(3.17)

And (3.18)

Since the weight in the soil element under consideration is wGsYw,

the volume occupied by it is
Hence, from the definition of degree of saturation [Eq. (3.5)], we
have

or
(3.19)
This is a very useful equation for solving the problems involving
three-phase relationships.
Figure 3.3 Saturated soil element with volume of soil solids equal to 1
If the soil sample is saturated – that is, the void are completely
filled with water (Fig.3.3) – the relationship for saturated unit
weight can be derived in a similar manner

(3.20)

where: ysat = saturated unit weight of soil

As mentioned before, because it is convenient to work with
densities, the following equations [similar to the unit-weight
relationships given Eqs. (3.17), (3.18) and (3.20) are useful

(3.21)

(3.22)

(3.23)
Where: pw = density of water = 1000kg/m3
Some typical values of void ratio, moisture content in a saturated
condition, and dry unit weight for soils in a natural state are given in
Table 3.1
3.4 RELATIONSHIPS AMONG UNIT WEIGHT, POROSITY AND
MOISTURE CONTENT
The relationship among unit weight, porosity, and moisture
content can be developed in a manner similar to that presented
in the preceding section. Consider a soil that has a total volume
equal to one, as shown in Fig 3.4 from Eq. (3.4),
Figure 3.4 Soil element with total volume equal to 1
If V is equal o 1, then V, is equal to n, so Vs = 1 –n. The weight of
soil solids (Ws) and he weight of water (Ww) can be expressed as
follows:
(3.24)

(3.25)

So, the dry unit weight equals

(3.26)
The moist unit weight equals

(3.27)
Figure 3.5 shows a soil sample that is saturated and has V = 1.
According to this figure.

(3.28)
The moisture content of a saturated soil sample can be expressed
as

(3.29)
Figure 3.5 Saturated soil element with total volume equal to 1
RELATIVE DENSITY
The term density is commonly used to indicate the in situ
denseness or looseness of granular soil. It is defined as

where:
Dr = relative density, usually given as a percentage
e = in situ void ratio of the soil
emax = void ratio of the soil in the loosest condition
emin = void ratio of the soil in the densest condition
• The values of Dr may vary from a minimum of 0 for very loose
soil, to a maximum of 1 for very dense soil. Soils engineers
qualitatively describe the granular soil deposits according to
their relative densities, as shown in Table 3.2.
• By using the definition of dry unit weight, we can also express
relative density in terms of maximum and minimum possible
dry unit weights. Thus,
Table 3.2 Qualitative description of granular soil deposits
Relative density (%) Description of soil deposit
0 –15 Very loose
15–50 Loose
50 –70 Medium
70 –85 Dense
85–100 Very dense
• Cubrinovski and Ishihara (2002) studied the variation of
emax and emin for a very large number of soils. Based on
the best-fit linear-regression lines, they provided the
following relationships.
– Clean sand (Fc = 0 to 5%)
» emax = 0.072 + 1.53 emin
– Sand with fines (5 < F c <= 15%)
c

» emax 0.25 + 1.37 emin

– Sand with fines and clay (15 < Fc <= 30%; Pc = 5 to 20%)
» emax 0.44 + 1.21 emin
Fig. 3.7 Test results of miura et al. (1997) – plot of emax vs. emin for
clean sand

Fc = fine fraction for which grain size is smaller than 0.075mm

Pc = clay-size fraction ( < 0.005 mm)
CONSISTENCY OF SOIL
• When clay minerals are present in fine-grained soil, that soil can
be remolded in the presence of some moisture without
crumbling. This cohesive nature is because of the adsorbed
water surrounding the clay particles.
• In the early 1900s, a Swedish scientist named Albert Mauritz
Atterberg developed a method to describe the consistency of fine-
grained soils with varying moisture contents. At a very low moisture
content, soil behaves more like a brittle solid. When the moisture
content is very high, the soil and water may flow like a liquid. Hence,
on an arbitrary basis, depending on the moisture content, the nature
of soil behavior can be broken down into four basic states: solid,
semisolid, plastic, and liquid.
• The moisture content, in percent, at which the transition from solid
to semisolid state takes place is defined as the shrinkage limit.
• The moisture content at the point of transition from semisolid to
plastic state is the plastic limit,
• and from plastic to liquid state is the liquid limit.
• These limits are also known as Atterberg limits.
• Liquid Limit (LL)
– A schematic diagram (side view) of a liquid limit device is
shown in Figure 3.9a.
– This device consists of a brass cup and hard rubber base. The
brass cup can be dropped on the base by a cam operated by
a crank.
– For the liquid limit test, a soil paste is placed in the cup. A
groove is cut at the center of the soil pat, using the standard
grooving tool (Figure 3.9b). Then, with the crank-operated
cam, the cup is lifted and dropped from a height of 10 mm.
– The moisture content, in percent, required to close a
distance of 12.7 mm along the bottom of the groove (see
Figures 3.9c and 3.9d) after 25 blows is defined as the liquid
limit.
• Plastic Limit (PL)
– the moisture content, in percent, at which the soil when
rolled into threads of 3.2 mm in diameter, crumbles.
– The plastic limit is the lower limit of the plastic stage of soil.
The test is simple and is performed by repeated rollings by
hand of an ellipsoidal size soil mass on a ground glass plate
(Figure 3.12).
– The plasticity index (PI) is the difference between the liquid
limit and plastic limit of a soil, or
PI = LL - PL
Plastic Limit Test
(a) Fall cone test (b) Plot of moisture content vs. Cone penetration
for determination of liquid limit.
• Shrinkage Limit (SL)
– Soil mass shrinks as moisture is gradually lost from the soil.
With continuous loss of moisture, a stage of equilibrium is
reached at which point more loss of moisture will result in no
further volume change (Figure 3.14). The moisture content,
in percent, at which the volume change of the soil mass
ceases is defined as the shrinkage limit.
LIQUIDITY INDEX
• The relative consistency of a cohesive soil in the natural state
can be defined by a ratio called the liquidity index (LI):

• where w = in situ moisture content of soil.

– The in situ moisture content of a sensitive clay may be
greater than the liquid limit. In that case,
LI > 1
• These soils, when remolded, can be transformed into a viscous
form to flow like a liquid.
– Soil deposits that are heavily overconsolidated may have a
natural moisture content less than the plastic limit. In that
case,
LI < 1
• The values of the liquidity index for some of these soils may be
negative.
PLASTICITY CHART
– Liquid and plastic limits are determined by relatively simple
laboratory tests that provide information about the nature of
cohesive soils.
– Casagrande (1932) studied the relationship of the plasticity
index to the liquid limit of a wide variety of natural soils. On
the basis of the test results, he proposed a plasticity chart as
shown in Figure 3.18. The important feature of this chart is
the empirical A-line that is given by the equation PI 0.73(LL
20).
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
1. A large soil sample obtained from the borrow pit has a wet
mass of 26.50 kg. The in-place volume occupied by a sample
0.013m3. A small portion of the sample is used to determine
the water content. The weight mass is 135 g and after drying in
an oven the mass is 117g.
Determine the ff:
a. Water content of the soil;
b. Wet density of the soil;
c. Dry density of the soil
SAMPLE PROBLEMS

2. An undisturbed soil sample has a dry mass of 39 kg and an in-

situ volume of 0.035 m3. the specific gravity of the soil is
2.65. Determine the void ratio.
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
3. In a lab experiment, a student tested a sample of soft
saturated clay weighs 350g and has a volume of 200cc. After
oven drying it weighs 240g. Determine the ff:
a. moisture content;
b. specific gravity of soil;
c. porosity
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
4. A moist soil has these values V=7.08x10-3m3, m=13.95kg,
w=9.8%, and Gs=2.66. Determine (a) p (b) pd.
Solution:
p = m/V
= 13.95/7.08x10-3
= 1970.3 kg/m3

pd = p/ (1+w)
= 1970.3/1+(9.8/100)
= 1794.4 kg/m3
5. In the natural state, a moist soil has a volume of 0.3m3, and weighs
5500N. The oven dry weight of the soil is 4911N. If Gs=2.74, calculate
the moisture content and the mois unit weight.
Solution:
w = Ww/Ws
= (W – Ws)/Ws
= (5500-4911)/4911
= (589/4911) x 100
= 12.0%
y = W/V
= 5500/0.3
= 18,333 N/m3
~ 18.33 kN/m3
6. A saturated soil has a dry unit weight of 16.2 kN/m3. Its moisture
content is 20%. Determine ysat, and Gs.
Solution
Saturated Unit Weight
ysat = yd (1+w)
= (16.2)[1 + (20/100)]
= 19.44 kN/m3
Specific Gravity
yd = Gs yw / 1 + e
For saturated soil, e = wGs
yd = Gs yw / 1 + wGs
16.2 = Gs(9.81)/ [1 + (0.20) Gs]
Gs= 2.465
7. A representative soil specimen collected from the field weighs 1.8kN
and has a volume of 0.1m3. The moisture content as determined in
the laboratory is 12.6%. Given Gs = 2.71, determine moist unit weight
and dry unit weight.
Solution
Moist Unit Weight
y = W/V
= 1.8/0.1
= 18 kN/m3
Dry Unit weight
yd = y/ 1 + w
=18/ [1+ (12.6/100)]
= 15.99 kN/m3
8. A soil’s minimum index density is 96.5 pcf and its maximum
index density is 111.5 pcf. The Gs value is 2.65. Calculate the
emin and emax.
Solution
emin = [Gs yw / ymax_dry ] - 1
= [2.65(62.4) / 111.5] – 1
= 0.4831
emax = [Gs yw / ymin_dry ] - 1
= [2.65(62.4) / 96.5] – 1
= 0.7146
9. A density bottle test on a sample of dry soil gave the following
result:

Calculate the relative density (specific gravity) of the soil particles.

Solution
The particle relative density (grain specific gravity) Gs is defined as the
ratio of the mass density of the soil grains to the mass density of
water. For a fixed volume of solid - in this case, the soil particles - the
specific gravity is equal to the mass of the dry soil particles divided by
the mass of water they displace.
The mass of the dry soil particles is given by
mds = (m2 – m1)
= ( 45.07 -25.07)
= 20.00g
The mass of water displaced by the soil particles is given by
mw = (m4 – m1) - (m3 – m2 )
= (50.03) - (42.48)
= 7.55g

Gs = (m2 – m1 )/[mw = (m4 – m1) - (m3 – m2 )]

= (20.00g)÷(7.55g)
= 2.65
THE END
Reference:
• Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering
by Braja Das
• Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering
by Braja Das, Siva Sivakugan
• Leader:
– Aguilar, Janica May M.
• Members:
– Acosta, James Hetfield G.
– Andrada, Jeomar C.
– Pioquinto, Gilson T.
– John Russel, Taroy C.