PE Civil Engineering Exam Prep

Category - Civil Engineering

What is the degree of saturation of a 600 cm3 soil sample given the following values from its three-phase diagram? Volume of air: 100 cm3; volume of solids: 320 cm3.
  1. 30%
  2. 64.3%
  3. 87.5%
  4. Not enough information provided
Explanation
Answer: B - The degree of saturation of a 600 cm3 soil sample with the given volumetric values is 64.3%.

Solution: Use the following equation to determine the degree of saturation, S.

S = volume of water / volume of voids

= Vw / Vv

Given Vv = total volume - volume of solids

Vv = 600 - 320 = 280 cm3

And Vw = VT - Vv - Vs

Vw = 600 - 100 - 320 = 180 cm3

Therefore S = Vw / Vv = (180 cm3 / 280 cm3) x 100

S = 64.3%
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