Phase properties
The Phase properties tab holds the scalar properties that belong to each phase of the material: how heavy each phase is, and how compressible the fluid phases are.
Which rows appear depends on the number of phases set above the tabs. Changing that number shows and hides the rows immediately.
Density
One density is entered per active phase, in g/cm³.
| Row | Shown at | Typical value |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 (solid) | always | 2.6 — the grain density of the soil skeleton |
| Phase 2 (water) | two or three phases | 1.0 |
| Phase 3 (air) | three phases | 0.01 |
Phase 1 is the density of the solid grains, not the bulk density of the soil.
See Density.
Bulk modulus
The compressibility of the fluid phases, in kPa. The section is empty for single-phase materials, which have no fluid.
| Row | Shown at | Typical value |
|---|---|---|
| Kw (water) | two or three phases | 2.2e5 |
| Ka (air) | three phases | 100 |
See Bulk modulus.
Validation
Every active phase must have a density. Pressing Apply & Save with one missing shows a warning naming the problem, and the material stays open so it can be corrected.