Calculation of Degree of Saturation

To calculate the degree of saturation, the following information is given:

- Void ratio (e) = 1
- Water content (w) = 30%
- Specific gravity of soil solids (G) = 2.50

The degree of saturation (S) can be calculated using the following formula:

S = w / (G x e + w) x 100%

Explanation

The degree of saturation represents the percentage of the voids in a soil that are filled with water. It is a measure of how much the soil is saturated with water.

In this case, the void ratio is 1, which means that for every unit of soil volume, there is 1 unit of void volume. The water content is 30%, which means that 30% of the soil volume is filled with water.

The specific gravity of soil solids is 2.50, which is the ratio of the density of soil solids to the density of water. It is a measure of how dense the soil solids are compared to water.

Using the formula, we can calculate the degree of saturation as follows:

S = 30% / (2.50 x 1 + 30%) x 100%
S = 30% / 32.5%
S = 92.31%

Therefore, the degree of saturation of the soil in its natural state is 92.31%.

Conclusion

The degree of saturation is an important parameter in soil mechanics as it affects the soil properties such as strength, permeability, and compressibility. In this case, the degree of saturation of the soil is high, indicating that most of the voids in the soil are filled with water. This can have implications on the stability and behavior of the soil under different loading and environmental conditions.

Es=Gw