Saturation for Total Pressure per unit Area for Dams on Soft Foundations Calculator

Degree of Saturation Formula:

\[ S = \frac{P_T \times (1 + e)}{D \times W} - e \]

Total Pressure (P_T):

kPa

Void Ratio (e):

Depth of Dam (D):

Specific Weight of Water (W):

kN/m³

Degree of Saturation (S):

1. What is Degree of Saturation for Dams on Soft Foundations?

Definition: This calculator determines the degree of saturation (S) which is the ratio of water volume to void volume in soil beneath dams.

Purpose: It helps civil engineers assess the water saturation level in foundation soils, crucial for dam stability analysis.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

\[ S = \frac{P_T \times (1 + e)}{D \times W} - e \]

Where:

\( S \) — Degree of saturation (0-1 or 0-100%)
\( P_T \) — Total pressure (kPa)
\( e \) — Void ratio (±5%)
\( D \) — Depth of dam (m)
\( W \) — Specific weight of water (9.81 kN/m³)

Explanation: The formula relates pressure distribution to soil saturation considering void spaces and water weight.

3. Importance of Saturation Calculation

Details: Proper saturation assessment prevents foundation failures, controls seepage, and ensures dam stability on soft soils.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter total pressure, void ratio (typically 0.6-1.5), dam depth, and water weight (default 9.81 kN/m³). Void ratio has ±5% tolerance.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does degree of saturation indicate?
A: Values near 1 (100%) indicate fully saturated soil, while lower values show partial saturation or dry conditions.

Q2: Why is void ratio important?
A: Void ratio (e) affects how pressure distributes through soil and its water-holding capacity (±5% variation).

Q3: What's a critical saturation level for dams?
A: Generally, S > 85% requires special drainage measures to prevent liquefaction risks.

Q4: How does depth affect saturation?
A: Deeper foundations typically show higher saturation due to increased water pressure.

Q5: Can saturation exceed 100%?
A: No, values >1 indicate calculation errors or measurement inaccuracies.