Dry Mass Formula:
Definition: This calculator determines the dry mass of soil solids based on the weight of water and the water content percentage.
Purpose: It's essential in soil mechanics for determining the actual weight of solid particles in soil samples.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The weight of water is multiplied by 100 and then divided by the water content percentage to obtain the dry mass of solids.
Details: Accurate dry mass determination is crucial for soil classification, compaction testing, and understanding soil behavior under different moisture conditions.
Tips: Enter the weight of water in kg and the water content as a percentage. Both values must be positive numbers.
Q1: What is water content in soil mechanics?
A: Water content is the ratio of the weight of water to the weight of solids in a soil sample, expressed as a percentage.
Q2: Why multiply by 100 in the formula?
A: The multiplication converts the water content from a decimal to a percentage (e.g., 0.15 to 15%).
Q3: What's a typical water content range for soils?
A: Water content can vary widely from 5% for dry sands to over 100% for organic clays and peats.
Q4: How is water content measured?
A: Typically by drying a soil sample in an oven at 105-110°C until constant mass is achieved.
Q5: Does this calculation account for soil voids?
A: No, this calculates only the dry mass of solids. Void ratio calculations require additional measurements.