Unit Weight of Water Calculator

Unit Weight of Water Formula:

\[ \gamma_{water} = \gamma_{saturated} - \gamma_{submerged} \]

Unit Weight of Water: %

1. What is Unit Weight of Water?

Definition: Unit Weight of Water is the weight per unit volume of water, typically expressed in kN/m³ or % of other unit weights.

Purpose: It's a fundamental parameter in soil mechanics and hydrogeology calculations.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

\[ \gamma_{water} = \gamma_{saturated} - \gamma_{submerged} \]

Where:

\( \gamma_{water} \) — Unit weight of water (%)
\( \gamma_{saturated} \) — Saturated unit weight of soil (%)
\( \gamma_{submerged} \) — Submerged unit weight (%)

Explanation: The difference between saturated and submerged unit weights gives the unit weight of water content.

3. Importance of Unit Weight of Water

Details: Understanding water's unit weight is crucial for analyzing soil behavior, calculating buoyancy forces, and designing foundations.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the saturated unit weight and submerged unit weight as percentages. Both values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why measure unit weight as percentage?
A: Percentage representation makes it easier to compare relative water content across different soil samples.

Q2: What's a typical range for these values?
A: Saturated unit weights typically range 95-110%, submerged weights 85-100%, resulting in water weights of 5-15%.

Q3: How does temperature affect the results?
A: Water density changes slightly with temperature, but for most engineering purposes, this variation is negligible.

Q4: Can this be used for saltwater calculations?
A: For saltwater, add ±5% to account for higher density (typically 1025 kg/m³ vs 1000 kg/m³ for freshwater).

Q5: How precise should my measurements be?
A: For most applications, ±5% accuracy is sufficient, but critical applications may require more precise measurements.