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Soil Volume Formula:
Definition: This calculator determines the total volume of soil (solids + voids) when you know the volume of air voids and their percentage in the soil.
Purpose: It helps geotechnical engineers and soil scientists understand soil composition and porosity for construction and agricultural applications.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates total soil volume by scaling up the air void volume according to its percentage of the total volume.
Details: Understanding total soil volume helps in determining compaction requirements, drainage characteristics, and load-bearing capacity of soils.
Tips: Enter the volume of air voids in cubic meters and the percentage of air voids (must be between 0-100%). All values must be > 0.
Q1: What is a typical percentage of air voids in soil?
A: For most soils, air voids range from 5-25%, with compacted soils at the lower end and loose soils at the higher end.
Q2: How do I measure air void volume?
A: Air void volume can be measured using laboratory tests like the air void analyzer or calculated from other soil properties.
Q3: Does this include water in the voids?
A: No, this calculation only considers air-filled voids. For total porosity including water, you'd need different measurements.
Q4: What's the difference between air voids and total voids?
A: Total voids include both air and water-filled spaces, while air voids specifically refer to spaces filled with air.
Q5: How does compaction affect air voids?
A: Compaction reduces air void percentage by forcing soil particles closer together, decreasing total void space.