Figure 2–4 illustrates the terms void ratio and % air voids. The void
ratio is the ratio of the volume occupied by air and water in the soil
to the volume occupied by solid particles. The term % air voids
refers to the volume of air voids only as a percentage of the total
volume.
The following formulas are used to calculate the % air voids and
void ratio values.
% AIR VOIDS = 100 (1 – (Vs/Vt) – (Vw/Vt))
Model 3411-B Advanced Control Unit 2–15
2. GAUGE OPERATION
where:
Vs = Volume of Soil
Vt = Total Volume
Vw = Volume of Water
or,
% AIR VOIDS = 100 (1 – (DD / SG(Dw)) – (M / (Dw)))
where:
Dw = Density of Water
SG = Specific Gravity of Soil Particles
DD = Dry Density
M = Moisture
VOID RATIO = Volume of Voids / Volume of Soil
= ( SG(Dw) – DD ) / DD
Figure 2–4. Voids Illustration