Formula Used:
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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, making it a fundamental parameter in geotechnical engineering for soil classification and compaction control.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the dry unit weight by adding the submerged weight of soil to the product of (1 minus porosity) and the unit weight of water.
Details: Accurate calculation of dry unit weight is essential for determining soil compaction, stability analysis, foundation design, and construction quality control in geotechnical engineering projects.
Tips: Enter submerged weight of soil in Newtons, porosity as a decimal between 0 and 1, and unit weight of water in N/m³. All values must be valid and within appropriate ranges.
Q1: What is the typical range for dry unit weight of soils?
A: Dry unit weight typically ranges from 11-22 kN/m³ (11,000-22,000 N/m³) for most soils, with higher values indicating more compact and dense materials.
Q2: How does porosity affect dry unit weight?
A: Higher porosity generally results in lower dry unit weight, as there are more voids and less solid material per unit volume.
Q3: What is the standard unit weight of water used in calculations?
A: The standard unit weight of water is 9.81 kN/m³ or 9810 N/m³ at 4°C, though it may vary slightly with temperature.
Q4: When is this calculation particularly important?
A: This calculation is crucial in earthwork projects, dam construction, embankment design, and any application where soil compaction and density control are critical.
Q5: How does submerged weight differ from dry weight?
A: Submerged weight accounts for buoyancy effects when soil is partially or fully submerged in water, while dry weight represents the weight of solids only without water content.