{"id":3422,"date":"2024-09-02T18:14:25","date_gmt":"2024-09-02T12:44:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/?p=3422"},"modified":"2025-08-13T11:30:01","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T06:00:01","slug":"phase-diagram","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/ce\/soil-mechanics-foundation-engineering\/phase-diagram","title":{"rendered":"Phase Diagram"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Soil mass, in general is a three phase system composed of solid, liquid and gaseous phase.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Different phases present in soil mass cannot be separated. For better understanding, all three constituents are assumed to occupy separate spaces as shown in figure below.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3423 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/phase-diagram.jpg\" alt=\"Phase diagram\" width=\"579\" height=\"202\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/phase-diagram.jpg 579w, https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/phase-diagram-300x105.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 579px) 100vw, 579px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In phase diagrams, the weight of air is negligible as compared to soil solid and water and is thus assumed to be zero. The diagrammatic representation of the different phases in a soil mass is called the \u2018phase diagram\u2019, or \u2018block diagram\u2019. A three-phase diagram is applicable for a partially saturated soil (0 &lt; S &lt; 1)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">When all the voids are filled with water, the sample becomes saturated and thus the gaseous phase is absent; whereas, in oven dry soil sample the liquid phase is absent. Thus, in saturated and oven dry soils, the three phase system reduces to two phase system.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3424 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/saturated-soil.jpg\" alt=\"Saturated Soil\" width=\"494\" height=\"202\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/saturated-soil.jpg 494w, https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/saturated-soil-300x123.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 494px) 100vw, 494px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>METHODS FOR DETERMINATION OF WATER CONTENT<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Water content of soil is an important soil parameter which significantly influences the behavior of\u00a0 mainly cohesive soil. The determination of water content should be done immediately after soil sample is brought to laboratory and just prior to commencing any other test on that soil sample.<\/li>\n<li>Water content can be determined by any one of the following methods.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_79_1 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/ce\/soil-mechanics-foundation-engineering\/phase-diagram\/#Oven-Drying-Method\" >Oven Drying Method<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/ce\/soil-mechanics-foundation-engineering\/phase-diagram\/#Pycnometer-Method\" >Pycnometer Method<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/ce\/soil-mechanics-foundation-engineering\/phase-diagram\/#Calcium-Carbide-Method-Rapid-Moisture-Meter-Method\" >Calcium Carbide Method \/ Rapid Moisture Meter Method<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Oven-Drying-Method\"><\/span>Oven Drying Method<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>This is the simplest and most accurate method.<\/li>\n<li>For inorganic soils, temperature is controlled between 105-110\u00b0C.<\/li>\n<li>For soil containing organic compounds, temperature is maintained about 60\u00b0C and if Gypsum is present, then temperature should be maintained at 80\u00b0C.<\/li>\n<li>Usually 4 &#8211; 6 hrs are enough for sands to dry but 16 &#8211; 20 hrs are required for clay. Usually 24 hrs are provided for drying in the oven.<\/li>\n<li>If temperature is uncontrolled and more than 110\u00b0C, there is a danger of loss of structural water.<\/li>\n<li>Water content is calculated as follows.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">W<sub>1<\/sub> = Weight of empty container<br \/>\nW<sub>2<\/sub> = Weight of container + moist soil<br \/>\nW<sub>3<\/sub> = Weight of container + dry soil<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">W<sub>w<\/sub> (weight of water) = W<sub>2<\/sub> \u2013 W<sub>3<\/sub><br \/>\nW<sub>s<\/sub> = W<sub>3<\/sub> \u2013 W<sub>1<\/sub><br \/>\nW = W<sub>w<\/sub> \/W<sub>s<\/sub> x 100<br \/>\nW = W<sub>2<\/sub> &#8211; W<sub>3<\/sub> \/ W<sub>3<\/sub> &#8211; W<sub>1<\/sub> x 100<\/p>\n<p>This method is most accurate but time consuming.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pycnometer-Method\"><\/span>Pycnometer Method <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3426 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pycnometer-method.jpg\" alt=\"Pycnometer Method\" width=\"228\" height=\"168\" \/><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>This is a quick method but it is less accurate than oven drying method.<\/li>\n<li>This method is used only when specific gravity of soil solids is known.<\/li>\n<li>A small weight, say 200 g to 400 g of soil is placed in a clean pycnometer whose capacity is 900 ml.<\/li>\n<li>Let W<sub>1<\/sub> = Weight of empty pycnometer bottle<br \/>\nW<sub>2<\/sub> = Weight of pycnometer + soil<br \/>\nW<sub>3<\/sub> = Weight of pycnometer + soil + water<br \/>\nW<sub>4<\/sub> = Weight of pycnometer + water<\/li>\n<li>Let G be specific gravity of soil solids,<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3427 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pycnometer-method-1.jpg\" alt=\"Pycnometer Method\" width=\"633\" height=\"248\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pycnometer-method-1.jpg 633w, https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pycnometer-method-1-300x118.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 633px) 100vw, 633px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Calcium-Carbide-Method-Rapid-Moisture-Meter-Method\"><\/span>Calcium Carbide Method \/ Rapid Moisture Meter Method<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>It is very quick method, takes only 5 to 7 minutes but may not give accurate results.<\/li>\n<li>A soil sample of weight 4 &#8211; 6 gms is placed in moisture testing equipment. The equipment consists of a closed chamber in which calibrated scale is connected to measure the pressure exerted which is directly co-related to water content.<\/li>\n<li>Calcium carbide powder (CaC<sub>2<\/sub>) is added on the moist soil sample which reacts with the water and as a result acetylene gas is removed which exerts pressure.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3428 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/calcium-carbide.jpg\" alt=\"Calcium Carbide\" width=\"217\" height=\"25\" \/><\/li>\n<li>The water content recorded is expressed as a % of moist weight of soil, whereas actual water content is expressed as a fraction of dry weight of soil.<br \/>\nLet w<sub>r<\/sub> = Moisture content recorded, expressed as a fraction of moist weight of soil<br \/>\nw = Actual water content<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3429 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/rapid-moisture.jpg\" alt=\"Rapid Moisture\" width=\"287\" height=\"39\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"btn btn-danger\" role=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/ce\/soil-mechanics-foundation-engineering\/lateral-earth-pressure\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&lt;&lt; Previous<\/a> | <a class=\"btn btn-success\" role=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/ce\/soil-mechanics-foundation-engineering\/gravity-of-soil-solids\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Next &gt;&gt;<\/a><br \/>\n<strong> Must Read: <\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/ce\/soil-mechanics-and-foundation-engineering\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Soil mass, in general is a three phase system composed of solid, liquid and gaseous phase. Different phases present in<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[957,2],"tags":[960,958,959],"class_list":["post-3422","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-soil-mechanics-foundation-engineering","category-ce","tag-calcium-carbide-method","tag-oven-drying-method","tag-pycnometer-method"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3422","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3422"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3422\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3422"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3422"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3422"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}