Consolidation Test - Soil Properties: Testing, Measurement, and Evaluation - page 296

known, the initial wet density,

ρ 0 , can be calculated by dividing mass
by volume. The initial wet unit weight,

γ 0 , in kN/m 3 can be found by
multiplying the initial wet density in g/cm 3 by 9.81; the initial wet
unit weight in lb/ft 3 can be determined by multiplying the initial wet
density in g/cm 3 by 62.4. In equation form,

M T 0
V 0

(20-1)

in g cm 3

r 0 1 > 2

(20-2)

in kN

m 3

r 0 9.81

g 0 1 > 2

(20-3)

in lb

ft 3 r 0 62.4 g 0 1 > 2

2. Initial moisture content: The initial moisture content, w 0 , can be
obtained by dividing mass of water ( M T 0 - M d ) by dry mass of total
specimen, M d . That is

w 0 M T 0

M d

(20-4)

100

M d

3. Initial degree of saturation: The initial degree of saturation, S 0 , can
be computed by dividing volume of water in the soil by volume of
void in the specimen, both values obtained at the beginning of the
test. That is,

M T 0 M d

(20-5)

S 0 100

A r w H 0 H s 1 2

where:
A specimen's area (cm 2 )

density of water (1 g/cm 3 )

ρ w

V s
A

H s height of solid

where:

M d
G s r w

V s volume of solid

where:
G s

specific gravity of solids

At end of test:

The final moisture content, w f , can be found by dividing the final
mass of water in the specimen ( M Tf - M d ) by the final dry mass of
the specimen ( M d ). That is,

M Tf M d
M d

(20-6) w f 100