Void Ratio given Specific Gravity for Fully Saturated Soil Calculator

Void Ratio Formula:

\[ e = w_s \times G_s \]

Void Ratio:

1. What is Void Ratio given Specific Gravity for Fully Saturated Soil?

Definition: This calculator determines the void ratio of fully saturated soil based on water content and specific gravity of soil solids.

Purpose: It helps geotechnical engineers and soil scientists analyze soil properties and behavior under saturated conditions.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

\[ e = w_s \times G_s \]

Where:

\( e \) — Void ratio (dimensionless)
\( w_s \) — Water content of soil (as decimal)
\( G_s \) — Specific gravity of soil solids

Explanation: For fully saturated soil, the void ratio equals the product of water content (converted from percentage to decimal) and specific gravity of soil solids.

3. Importance of Void Ratio Calculation

Details: Void ratio is crucial for understanding soil compressibility, permeability, and shear strength. It affects foundation design and slope stability analysis.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter water content as percentage (e.g., 61% as 61) and specific gravity (default 2.65 for many soils). All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is water content divided by 100 in the calculation?
A: The calculator automatically converts percentage input (e.g., 61%) to decimal form (0.61) for the calculation.

Q2: What's a typical specific gravity for soils?
A: Most mineral soils have specific gravity between 2.65-2.75, with 2.65 being common for quartz sands.

Q3: Does this formula work for unsaturated soils?
A: No, this specific formula is valid only for fully saturated soils where voids are completely filled with water.

Q4: How do I measure water content of soil?
A: Water content is typically determined by comparing wet and oven-dry weights of soil samples.

Q5: What's a typical void ratio range for soils?
A: Void ratios vary widely: sands 0.4-1.0, clays 0.5-1.5, organic soils can exceed 3.0.