New Era University

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND

ARCHITECTURE
Department of Civil Engineering

SOIL MECHANICS (L)

Laboratory Exercise No. 7

UNIT WEIGHT, MOISTURE CONTENT, VOID RATIO,

AND DEGREE OF SATURATION OF SOIL

Name: Caspe, Angel Gabrielle G. Date Performed: December 6, 2018

Course/Year: BSCE 4th YEAR Date Submitted: January 10, 2018
Section & Schedule: 4CE-3 (TH 1:00 – 4:00) Instructor: Engr. Zirhyl C. Kasek
Computation:

1. Moist unit weight of the soil

𝑊𝑚𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡
𝛾𝑚𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡 =
𝑉𝑚𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡
𝑚
348.19𝑔 𝑔 9.81 2 3
𝛾𝑚𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡 = = 1.64986 𝑥 𝑠 𝑥 (100𝑐𝑚)
𝜋(4.8375 𝑐𝑚)2 𝑐𝑚3 1000𝑔 1𝑚
4 (11.4825 𝑐𝑚)
𝒌𝑵
𝜸𝒎𝒐𝒊𝒔𝒕 = 𝟏𝟔. 𝟏𝟖𝟓 𝟑
𝒎

2. Moisture content of the soil

𝑀𝑚 − 𝑀𝑑
𝑀𝐶 = 𝑥 100%
𝑀𝑑
348.19 𝑔 − 303.14 𝑔
𝑀𝐶 = 𝑥 100%
303.14 𝑔
𝑴𝑪 = 𝟏𝟒. 𝟖𝟔𝟏𝟏 %

3. Void ratio of the soil

(𝐺 + 𝐺𝑀𝐶)𝛾𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
𝑒= −1
𝛾𝑚𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡
(2.3171 + 2.3171 𝑥 0.148611) 9.81 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3
𝑒= −1
16.185 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3
𝒆 = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟏𝟑𝟏

4. Degree of saturation
𝐺𝑀𝐶
𝑆=
𝑒
2.3171 𝑥 0.148611
𝑆=
0.6131
𝑺 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟔𝟏𝟔𝟒 𝒐𝒓 𝟓𝟔. 𝟏𝟔𝟒 %

5. Dry unit weight

𝛾𝑚𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡
𝛾𝑑𝑟𝑦 =
1 + 𝑀𝐶
𝑘𝑁
16.185
𝛾𝑑𝑟𝑦 = 𝑚3
1 + 0.148611
𝒌𝑵
𝜸𝒅𝒓𝒚 = 𝟏𝟒. 𝟎𝟗𝟎𝟗 𝟑
𝒎
Abstract
This method is used to determine the unit weight, moisture content, void ratio, and degree
of saturation of a soil. Soil is a three-phase material which consists of solid particles which make
up the soil skeleton and voids which may be full of water if the soil is saturated, may be full of
air if the soil is dry,or may be partially saturated. Several unit weights are used in Soil
Mechanics. These are the bulk, saturated, dry, and submerged unit weights. The bulk unit weight
is simply defined as the weight per unit volume. When all the voids are filled with water the bulk
unit weight is identical to the saturated unit weight, γsat, and when all the voids are filled with air
the bulk unit weight is identical with the dry unit weight, γdry.

The moisture content, m, is a very useful quantity because it is simple to measure. It is

defined as the ratio of the weight of water to the weight of solid material If we express the
weights in terms of e, S, Gs and γw as before we obtain
Ww = γw Vw = γw e S Vs
Ws = γs Vs = γw Gs
Voids Ratio and Porosity, using volumes is not very convenient in most calculations. An
alternative measure that is used is the voids ratio, e. This is defined as the ratio of the volume of
voids, Vv to the volume of solids, Vs, that is e = Vv/Vs.
Degree of Saturation, the degree of saturation, S, has an important influence on the soil
behavior. It is defined as the ratio of the volume of water to the volume of voids. The distribution
of the volume phases may be expressed in terms of e and S, and by knowing the unit weight of
water and the specific gravity of the particles the distributions by weight may also be determined.
Analysis and Interpretation of Data and Results
In this laboratory exercise, the specific gravity was calculated, and the undisturbed soil
was collected, and undisturbed soil was carefully molded into a cylindrical shape. The acquired
mass of the moist soil is 348.19g then the acquired mass of the oven dried mold is 303.14g with
a difference of 45.05g.
As an observation, liquids the were presented in the soil was removed or evaporated
causing the decreased in mass. The computed volume of the moist soil 211.0417 cm3 having a
computed moisture content of 14.8611%, void ratio of 0.6131%, moist unit weight of 16.185
kN/m3 and its dry unit weight is 14.0909 kN/m3. These were computed by the formulas provided
by the laboratory manual.
Conclusion
Overall, the students successfully determined the properties of soil. These
properties of the soil are important to learn to increase the productivity of soil and to
improve the work-ability of the soil mass, so knowing soil behavior inside out is very
important.
Too much moisture content of the soil can affect the building but having a low
moisture content is not also applicable. Knowing the soil type is important and can differ
from area to are and from field to field. So these properties are carefully observed and
calculated.
Following the manual reduces the errors and for the students to understand the
laboratory exercise. Therefore, the students conclude that it is passed to standard specific
gravity of soil.
 Final Data sheet
Laboratory Exercise No. 7
Unit Weight, Moisture Content, Void Ratio, and Degree of Saturation of Soil

Descriptions Sample Number

1 2 3 4 5
Mass of soil, Ms, g 454.8 306.13 426.56 392.62 348.19
Mass of dry soil, 381.13 280.02 336.13 358.43 303.14
Md, g
Volume of moist 265.96 173.85 194.81 186.21 211.0417
soil, Vm, cm3
Moisture content 19.33 10 26.90 9.53 14.8611
of soil, MC, %
Void Ratio, e 0.54 0.28 1.5038 0.3454 0.6131
Degree of 78.75 98.63 46.32 71.46 56.164
Saturation, S, %
Specific Gravity, G 2.2 2.0 2.5894 2.59 2.3171
Moist unit weight, 16.775 17.39 21.4359 20.684 16.185
γm , kN/m3
Dry unit weight, γd, 14.06 15.53 16.8919 18.884 14.0909
kN/m3
Photos of Set-up