Part 2/6:
Phase relations categorize different components of soil into distinct parts:
Solids: This includes all solid particles in the soil.
Water: The water volume within the voids of the soil.
Air: The air volume that occupies the remaining spaces.
This separation is crucial for various calculations and understanding soil behavior.
Key Definitions in Soil Mechanics
Several important definitions arise from the phase relations that are essential for engineers working in geotechnical fields:
1. Void Ratio (e)
The void ratio is defined as the volume of the voids divided by the volume of solids:
[ e = \frac{V_{voids}}{V_{solids}} ]
This ratio helps engineers understand the soil's capacity to hold water and its compressibility.
2. Water Content (W)