Embankment Compression Formula:
Definition: Embankment Compression (Δ) is the soil settlement due to applied load on filled ground, causing volume reduction and potential structural issues.
Purpose: This calculator helps geotechnical engineers estimate compression in embankments considering pore pressure and air voids.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula accounts for the interaction between pore pressure, air voids, and water content in the soil.
Details: Accurate estimation helps prevent structural failures, ensures proper settlement predictions, and aids in construction planning.
Tips: Enter all required values in appropriate units. The tolerance field (default ±5%) allows you to specify an acceptable range for the calculation.
Q1: What is Henry's Constant of Solubility in this context?
A: It relates to how air dissolves in pore water under pressure, affecting the compression calculation.
Q2: Why is there a 0.02 factor for pore water volume?
A: This accounts for the solubility of air in water under pressure (Henry's Law constant approximation).
Q3: When would I adjust the tolerance value?
A: Increase tolerance for preliminary estimates or when input data has uncertainty; decrease for precise engineering calculations.
Q4: How do I measure free air void volume?
A: Typically determined through laboratory tests on soil samples or estimated from porosity measurements.
Q5: What's a typical range for embankment compression?
A: Varies widely based on soil type and loading, but often 1-5% of embankment height for well-compacted fills.