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Shrinkage Factor Formula:
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Shrinkage Factor is the specific volume change of soil relative to its water content and is mainly due to clay swelling properties. It represents the ratio of compacted volume to the original volume of soil.
The calculator uses the Shrinkage Factor formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the ratio of soil volume after compaction to its original volume before excavation, indicating how much the soil has shrunk during the compaction process.
Details: Accurate shrinkage factor calculation is crucial for earthwork projects, construction planning, and soil management. It helps in determining the amount of soil required for compaction and estimating the volume changes during construction processes.
Tips: Enter compacted volume and original volume in cubic meters. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero for accurate calculation.
Q1: What does a shrinkage factor less than 1 indicate?
A: A shrinkage factor less than 1 indicates that the soil volume has decreased after compaction, which is typical for most soils due to the removal of air voids.
Q2: Can shrinkage factor be greater than 1?
A: Yes, in some cases with certain expansive soils, the volume may increase after compaction, resulting in a shrinkage factor greater than 1.
Q3: How is shrinkage factor used in construction?
A: It's used to calculate the amount of soil needed for fill operations and to estimate the volume of excavated material required to achieve a specific compacted volume.
Q4: What factors affect shrinkage factor?
A: Soil type, moisture content, compaction effort, and particle size distribution are the main factors that influence shrinkage factor.
Q5: How does moisture content affect shrinkage?
A: Optimal moisture content typically produces the highest density and lowest shrinkage factor, while both dry and wet of optimum conditions may result in different shrinkage characteristics.