Water Content in Soil

Water or moisture content in soil can be expressed as

w = 100 M_w/M_s                     (1)

where 

w = moisture content (%)

M_w = mass of water in soil (kg, lb)

M_s = dry mass of soil (kg, lb)

Water content can be tested according ASTM D 2216-92 by determining the mass of the wet soil specimen and then drying the soil in an oven 12 - 16 hours at a temperature of 110^oC. Values can vary from essentially 0% (near surface rubble, gravel or clean sand) up to 1200% (organic soil like fibrous peat).

Search the Engineering ToolBox

Engineering ToolBox - SketchUp Extension - Online 3D modeling!

Add standard and customized parametric components - like flange beams, lumbers, piping, stairs and more - to your Sketchup model with the Engineering ToolBox - SketchUp Extension - enabled for use with the amazing, fun and free SketchUp Make and SketchUp Pro .Add the Engineering ToolBox extension to your SketchUp from the SketchUp Pro Sketchup Extension Warehouse!

Privacy

We don't collect information from our users. Only emails and answers are saved in our archive. Cookies are only used in the browser to improve user experience.

Some of our calculators and applications let you save application data to your local computer. These applications will - due to browser restrictions - send data between your browser and our server. We don't save this data.

Google use cookies for serving our ads and handling visitor statistics. Please read Google Privacy & Terms for more information about how you can control adserving and the information collected.

AddThis use cookies for handling links to social media. Please read AddThis Privacy for more information.

Advertise in the ToolBox

If you want to promote your products or services in the Engineering ToolBox - please use Google Adwords. You can target the Engineering ToolBox by using AdWords Managed Placements.

Citation

This page can be cited as

• Engineering ToolBox, (2010). Water Content in Soil. [online] Available at: https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/soil-water-content-d_1643.html [Accessed Day Mo. Year].

Modify access date.

close

• Home
  • Acoustics
  • Air Psychrometrics
  • Basics
  • Combustion
  • Drawing Tools
    • 2D Schematic Drawings
  • Dynamics
  • Economics
  • Electrical
  • Environment
  • Fluid Mechanics
  • Gases and Compressed Air
  • HVAC Systems
    • Air Conditioning
    • Heating
    • Ventilation
    • Noise and Attenuation
  • Hydraulics and Pneumatics
  • Insulation
  • Material Properties
    • Density
    • Boiling point
    • Melting point - freezing point
    • Viscosity
  • Mathematics
  • Mechanics
    • Threads
    • Fasteners
  • Miscellaneous
  • Physiology
  • Piping Systems
    • Codes and Standards
    • Corrosion
    • Design Strategies
    • Fluid Flow and Pressure Drop
    • Heat Loss and Insulation
    • Pressure Ratings
    • Temperature Expansion
    • Dimensions
    • Valve Standards
  • Process Control
    • Measurements & Instrumentation
      • Temperature Measurement
      • Flow Measurement
    • Risk, Reliability and Safety
    • Documentation
    • Control Valves
  • Pumps
  • Standard Organizations
  • Statics
    • Beams and Columns
  • Steam and Condensate
    • Steam - Heat Loss and Insulation
    • Steam Thermodynamics
    • Pipe Sizing
    • Flash Steam
    • Control Valves and Equipment
  • Thermodynamics
  • Water Systems