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Example calculations
A soil sample has a weight of 0.7 kg and the volume was found to be
3.5 × 10-4 m³ After drying out the weight was reduced to 0.6 kg. The particle specific gravity test gave 2.6.

Determine the following:

(a) Moisture content (d) Void ratio

(b) Dry density (e) Porosity
(c) Bulk density (f) Degree of saturation

(a) Moisture content (c) Bulk density

(b) Dry density
Mass of water is 0.7 kg - 0.6 kg =
0.1 kg

or in percentage 14.3%

To calculate the void ratio we must first calculate the volume of solids. Then we can find the volume of
voids by subtracting the volume of solids from the total volume.

(d) Void ratio (e) Porosity

(f) Degree of saturation

More example calculations

Example 1
A soil sample has a porosity of 41%, a moisture content of 15.2% and a specific gravity of 2.65. Determine the
degree of saturation and the air void ratio.
We can't directly calculate the degree of saturation or the air void ratio. First we need to find the void ratio
because e is needed to find the answers.

The porosity is given, therefore we can find the void ratio.

(or 58%)

Air void ratio, Av = n (1-Sr) = 0.41 (1-0.58) = 0.1722 (or 17.2%)

(or 17.2%)

Example 2
Determine the dry and bulk density of a soil sample having a porosity of 0.32 and a moisture content of 25%
(Gs = 2.70)

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12/31/2018 Example Calculations

Example 3
Determine the saturated bulk density of the soil in Example 2, assuming no volume change.
If the soil is saturated then Sr = 1.0

Example 4
Determine the void ratio of a saturated soil sample that has a mass of 178 g before drying and 139 g after
drying in an oven. Assume the specific gravity of the soil solids to be 2.7.

For a saturated soil Sr = 1

Void ratio, e = m × Gs = 0.28 × 2.7 = 0.756

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