General

Soils in their natural state contain soil particles, water and air. Following example 2.2 from the textbook, determine the following properties for the soils provided.

dry density (ρ_d), void ratio (e), porosity (n), degree of saturation (S)

Apparatus

a small can
Balance sensitive to 0.01 gm
microwave or drying oven

dry ottawa sand (w=0%)
moist concrete sand
dry kaolinite (w=0%)
presumpscot formation

Procedure

Determine the total density.

1. Find the volume of the can, using water and a scale -- V_t in cm³
2. Fill the can with soil and weigh it -- calculate M_t in g
3. Calculate total density (ρ) in g/cm³

Determine the water content

1. Label and weigh a paper cupcake cup
2. Place 50-100g of soil in the cup and record the weight
3. Microwave it for approximately 3 minutes
4. Remove it from the oven and record the weight
5. Microwave it for another minute and record the weight
6. Repeat until the weight no longer drops, being particularly careful with the presumpscot clay...
7. Calculate the water content (w)

Draw the phase diagram and solve it.

Use only V_t, M_t, ρ and w from your measurements in g and cm³
Assume  G_s = 2.68 (density of solids) for all the soils

Using the relevant equations, determine the required properties.  Show the equations and all your work.

References

Holtz, Kovaks and Sheahan (2011), section 2.3

[full citations]