Phase Relationships

Phase Properties
Density
= M / V = mass per unit volume
= s(soil), w(water) or a(air)
Specific volume
v0 = V / M
Ideal gas law (for moist and dry air)

u V = (M / ) R T
u = absolute press. = gage press. + atmos. press.
= molecular mass of air
Boyle's law (closed system)
u a 1 Va1 = u a 2 Va2
Relative humidity
RH = u v / u v 0 = ratio of partial to saturation pressure
of water vapor

Unsat2 - 1

Absolute or dynamic viscosity

Measure of resistance to shearing by a fluid.
Viscosity of a liquid increases as temperature decreases.
Viscosity of a gas decreases as temperature decreases.
Surface tension, Ts

Rs

Fv = 0
2Ts sin = 2uRssin
u = Ts / Rs
ua uw = Ts / Rs

Ts

Ts

u + u

Results from unbalanced pressures (u and u + u acting

towards the interior of the water volume.
Since there is a net inward force, the water molecules at
the interface deform inward (meniscus) and exert an
attractive force upon each other to satisfy equilibrium.
The magnitude of the attractive force between the water
molecules in the contractile skin depends on
temperature.
The magnitude of the surface tension is obtained by
considering equilibrium of vertical forces.
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Matric Suction Pressure, (ua - uw)

Difference between the pore-air and the pore-water
pressure.
Water in unsaturated soil has negative pore pressures
because of the surface tension acting at the air-water
interface.
Air-Water Behavior
Water vapor is the gaseous form of water.
Whenever there is an unbalance between vapor pressure in
the air and water, water can change state.
Condensation rate depends on pressure (and temperature).
Evaporation rate depends on temperature.
The rate of condensation depends on pressure and the rate of
evaporation depends on temperature, so a theoretical
vaporization curve is dependent on both pressure and
temperature. (Figure 2.8)
Saturation pressure is the vapor pressure that is in
equilibrium with water.
Patial pressure is the vapor pressure in air below the
saturation pressure.
Unsat2 - 3

 Dissolved Air In Water

Approximately 2% of the total volume of water is available
for dissolved air and the remaining volume consists of
water molecules.
Water itself is relatively incompressible so the volume of
water that remains for dissolved air is constant.
The volume of dissolved air can be expressed in terms of the
ideal gas law as:

Vd =

M d RT
u a a

According to Henry's law the mass of air dissolved in a

volume of water at constant temperature is dependent
on pressure:
Md
= Constant
ua

Md, Vd = Mass and volume of dissolved air.

The mass of dissolved air increases proportionally to
increases in air pressure, however the volume of dissolved
gas in water is independent of pressure.
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Solubility - the amount of air that can be dissolved

Diffusivity - the rate of solution of air in water
Coefficient of solubility ( H ) - ratio between the mass of a
dissolved gas and the mass of the liquid.
Volumetric coefficient of solubility ( h ) - ratio of the volume
of a dissolved gas to the volume of the liquid.
Diffusion of Gasses In Water
Molecular diffusion is expressed by Fick's Law as the rate at
which air can move through a unit area of water:
M
C
= D
x j
t

where D is the coefficient of duffusion and C is the

concentration.
For air over water, the concentration gradient is equivalent to
the density gradient.
Diffusion occurs when the pressure of the free air is greater
than the pressure of the dissolved air.
Air diffuses at a faster rate through free water than through
water in soil.

Unsat2 - 5

 Mass-Volume Relationships
Porosity
n = V / V = volumetric fraction
Void ratio, e = Vv / Vs
Degree of Saturation, S = Vw / Vv (100)
Gravimetric water content, w = Mw / Ms (100)
Volumetric water content, w = Vw / V (100)
From the above definitions:
w = S n
Statement:
Properties of unsaturated soils such as shear strength,
stiffness and hydraulic conductivity depend on degree of
saturation and porosity.
Question:
Is it appropriate to express the variation of these properties
in terms of w?

Unsat2 - 6

Mechanics of Unsaturated Soils

Homework Assignment
Use the phase diagram for an unsaturated soil with three
phases, i.e., ignore the contractile skin, to derive equation 2.31
and the phase-volume relationships, equations 2.34 through
2.46.

Unsat2 - 7

Mechanics of Unsaturated Soils

Homework Assignment
Absolute Air Pressure (kPa)
Change in Total Volume (cm3)
Change in Volume of Water (cm3)
Condition
Initial
Saturation
3
V (cm )
100.9
100.9
Mwet (gm)
203.7
210.7
w (%)
16.8
20.8
3
2.019
2.088
wet(g/cm )
3
1.728
1.728
dry (g/cm )
e
0.562
0.562
S
80.70
100
Ms (gm)
174.40
174.40
Vs (cm3)
64.59
64.59
3
Vw (cm )
29.299
36.307
Mw (gm)
29.30
36.307
29.04
35.98
w
3
Vaf (cm )
7.008
0.000
3
1.19
1.19
a (kg/m )
Mad (gm)
0.00072
0.00089
Vad (cm3)
0.547
0.678
3
Va (cm )
7.555
0.678
203.71
210.71
(gm)

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203.6
305.4
-11.2
-8.7
-18.7
-10.2
Drying Drying
89.7
192.0
10.1
2.141
1.944
0.389
70.15
174.40
64.59
17.607
17.607
19.63
7.500
2.38
0.00043
0.329
7.829
192.03

407.2
305.4
203.6
101.8
-5.4
5.9
7.7
10.3
-4.6
8.8
9.4
12.7
Drying Wetting Wetting Wetting

Eqn.