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The Dry Unit Weight of Soil is the weight of soil solids per unit of total volume of soil mass. It represents the density of the soil without considering the water content, providing a fundamental property for geotechnical engineering calculations.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: This formula calculates the dry density of soil by dividing the bulk unit weight by one plus the water content ratio, effectively removing the water component from the total mass.
Details: Accurate calculation of dry unit weight is crucial for soil compaction control, foundation design, slope stability analysis, and other geotechnical engineering applications where the solid phase properties of soil are required.
Tips: Enter bulk unit weight in kN/m³ and water content as a ratio (e.g., 0.15 for 15%). Both values must be positive numbers with water content ≥ 0.
Q1: What is the difference between bulk unit weight and dry unit weight?
A: Bulk unit weight includes both soil solids and water, while dry unit weight considers only the soil solids component.
Q2: What are typical values for dry unit weight?
A: Typical values range from 14-22 kN/m³ for most soils, depending on soil type and compaction level.
Q3: How does water content affect dry unit weight?
A: Higher water content generally leads to lower dry unit weight for the same soil mass, as water displaces soil solids.
Q4: When is this calculation most important?
A: This calculation is particularly important in compaction quality control, where target dry densities are specified for earthworks.
Q5: Can this formula be used for all soil types?
A: Yes, this fundamental relationship applies to all soil types, though the actual values will vary depending on soil composition and structure.