WATER CONTENT OR MOISTURE CONTENT - SOIL MECHANICS BASIC RATIOS (StudyCivilEngg.com)

WATER CONTENT OR MOISTURE CONTENT - BASIC RATIOS IN SOIL MECHANICS

SUBJECT : SOIL MECHANICS

Water content or Moisture content of a soil mass is defined as the ratio of the weight (or mass) of water Ww (or Mw) present in the voids to the weight (or mass) of solids or solid particles Ws (or Ms) of the soil mass. It is denoted by symbol w or m. Thus

w or m = W_w/W_s

w or m = M_w/M_s

Water content or Moisture content is commonly expressed as a percentage. Thus

w or m = W_w/W_s x 100

w or m = M_w/M_s x 100

It may be noted that the weight (or mass) W_s (or M_s) of the solids or solid particles of the soil mass is equal to the dry weight (or mass) M_d or W_d of the soil mass i.e. W_s = W_d and M_s = M_d

Further if total weight (or mass) of the soil is W (or M) then since W = (W_w + W_s) or (W_w + W_d) and M = (M_w + M_s) or (M_w + M_d), W_w = (W – W_s) or (W – W_d) and M_w = (M – M_s) or (M – M_d). Introducing these values of W_w and M_w in the above indicated equations, the same may be expressed as 

w or m = (W - W_s)/W_s = (W - W_d)/W_d 

(or) w or m = (M - M_s)/M_s = (M - M_d)/M_d 

(and) w or m = (W - W_s)/W_s x 100 = (W - W_d)/W_d x 100

(or) w or m = (M - M_s)/M_s x 100 = (M - M_d)/M_d x 100

It may be pointed out that in the field of Geology, water content or moisture content is defined as the ratio of the weight (or mass) of water present in the voids to the total weight (or mass) of the soil mass. This definition is, however different from the one given earlier which is used in soil mechanics.

FAQs COVERED IN THIS POST

What is Moisture Content in Soil Mechanics?

What is Water Content in Soil Mechanics?

What is the equation for Water Content in Soil Mechanics?

What is the relation between the weight of solids and weight of water in voids?

Define Water Content?

Define Moisture Content in Soil Mechanics?

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