1. What is Total Volume Of Soil Or Rock Sample?

Total Volume Of Soil Or Rock Sample is the combined volume of solids and pores which may contain volume of air or volume of water, or both. It represents the complete spatial measurement of a soil or rock specimen.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( V_t \) — Total Volume of Soil or Rock Sample (m³)
• \( V_d \) — Volume of Water Drained from total volume (m³)
• \( S_y \) — Specific Yield (unitless)

Explanation: This formula calculates the total volume by dividing the volume of water drained by the specific yield, which represents the fraction of water that can be drained from the total volume.

3. Importance of Total Volume Calculation

Details: Accurate calculation of total volume is crucial for geotechnical engineering, hydrogeological studies, soil mechanics analysis, and environmental assessments where understanding the complete volume characteristics of soil or rock samples is essential.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter volume of water drained in cubic meters (m³) and specific yield as a dimensionless value between 0 and 1. Both values must be positive numbers with specific yield not exceeding 1.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is specific yield and how is it determined?
A: Specific yield is the ratio of the volume of water that drains from a saturated rock or soil due to gravity to the total volume of the material. It is typically determined through laboratory tests or field measurements.

Q2: What are typical specific yield values for different materials?
A: Specific yield varies by material type: coarse sand (0.2-0.35), fine sand (0.1-0.25), silt (0.05-0.15), clay (0.01-0.05), and fractured rock (0.001-0.1).

Q3: When is this calculation particularly useful?
A: This calculation is essential in groundwater studies, aquifer characterization, soil drainage analysis, and geotechnical investigations where understanding the water storage and drainage capacity of geological materials is important.

Q4: Are there limitations to this formula?
A: The formula assumes homogeneous material properties and complete drainage. It may be less accurate for materials with significant air entrapment, heterogeneous composition, or complex pore structures.

Q5: How does this relate to porosity?
A: Specific yield is always less than or equal to porosity since not all water in the pores may drain by gravity. The difference represents the specific retention (water retained against gravity).