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Saturated Unit Weight of Soil is defined as the weight per unit volume of soil when it is fully saturated with water. It represents the total weight of soil solids and water in a fully saturated condition per unit volume.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The saturated unit weight is calculated by adding the submerged unit weight of soil to the unit weight of water, representing the total weight when all voids are filled with water.
Details: Accurate calculation of saturated unit weight is crucial for geotechnical engineering applications, including slope stability analysis, foundation design, and earth pressure calculations. It helps determine the total stress in saturated soil conditions.
Tips: Enter submerged unit weight in kN/m³ and unit weight of water (typically 9.81 kN/m³). All values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the saturated unit weight of soil.
Q1: What is the difference between submerged unit weight and saturated unit weight?
A: Submerged unit weight is the effective weight of soil under water (buoyant weight), while saturated unit weight is the total weight of soil including water when all voids are filled.
Q2: What is the typical value for unit weight of water?
A: The unit weight of water is typically 9.81 kN/m³ or 62.4 lb/ft³ in imperial units.
Q3: When is saturated unit weight used in geotechnical engineering?
A: Saturated unit weight is used when analyzing soil behavior under fully saturated conditions, such as in groundwater flow problems, consolidation analysis, and stability calculations for submerged slopes.
Q4: How does saturation affect soil unit weight?
A: Saturation increases the unit weight of soil because water fills the voids, adding to the total weight per unit volume compared to dry or partially saturated conditions.
Q5: Can this formula be used for all soil types?
A: Yes, the formula applies to all soil types, though the submerged unit weight value will vary depending on soil composition and density.