1. What is Degree of Saturation?

Definition: Degree of Saturation is the ratio of the volume of water to the volume of voids in a soil mass.

Purpose: It indicates how much of the void space in soil is filled with water, which is crucial for understanding soil behavior in geotechnical engineering.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( S \) — Degree of Saturation (expressed as a percentage)
• \( w_s \) — Water Content of Soil (as percentage, converted to decimal)
• \( G_s \) — Specific Gravity of Soil
• \( e \) — Void Ratio

Explanation: The water content multiplied by specific gravity gives the volume of water relative to solids, which when divided by void ratio gives the saturation level.

3. Importance of Degree of Saturation

Details: Degree of saturation affects soil strength, compressibility, and permeability. It's critical for foundation design, slope stability analysis, and earthwork construction.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips:

• Enter water content as percentage (e.g., 25% as 25)
• Specific gravity typically ranges from 2.6 to 2.8 for most soils
• Void ratio varies with soil type (0.3-1.0 for sands, higher for clays)

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does 100% saturation mean?
A: 100% saturation means all void spaces in the soil are filled with water.

Q2: What's a typical specific gravity for soils?
A: Most mineral soils have specific gravity between 2.65-2.80, with 2.70 being common.

Q3: How does void ratio affect saturation?
A: Higher void ratio means more void space, which typically requires more water to achieve the same saturation level.

Q4: What's the accuracy of this calculation?
A: Results are typically within ±5% of laboratory measurements when input values are accurate.

Q5: Can saturation exceed 100%?
A: No, saturation is capped at 100% which represents fully saturated conditions.

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