Question

In the lab, a container of saturated soil had a mass of 113.27 g before it was placed in the oven and100.06 g after the soil had dried. The container alone had a mass of 49.31 g. If the specific gravity ofsolids is 2.80, determine the void ratio and water content of the original soil sample.

Answer 1

Answer:

• Moisture/ water content w = 26%

• Void ratio , e =  0.73

Explanation:

• Initial mass of saturated soil w1 = mass of soil - weight of container

                                                 = 113.27 g - 49.31 g = 63.96 g

• Final mass of soil after oven w2 = mass of soil - weight of container

                                                  = 100.06 g - 49.31 g = 50.75

Moisture /water content, w =   $\frac{w1-w2}{w2}$ = $\frac{63.96-50.75}{50.75}$ = 0.26 = 26%

Void ratio =  water content X specific gravity of solid

                  = 0.26 X 2.80 =0.728