Part 4/6:
Dry density is a critical property defined as the mass of solids divided by the total volume:
[ \rho_d = \frac{M_{solids}}{V_{total}} ]
6. Total Density (( \rho_T ))
Total density encompasses all materials present, calculated as:
[ \rho_T = \frac{M_{total}}{V_{total}} ]
7. Specific Gravity (( G_s ))
This important parameter compares the density of solids to the density of water:
[ G_s = \frac{\rho_s}{\rho_{water}} ]
Essential Relationships in Soil Mechanics
Several important relationships emerge from these definitions, which are invaluable for engineers. For example, the relationship between dry density, specific gravity, and void ratio can be expressed as:
[ \rho_d = G_s \cdot \rho_w \cdot \frac{1}{1 + e} ]