Bulk Density

Bulk density, abbreviated as Y, is the ratio total weight of soil to the total volume of soil.

 

Bulk Density formulas

\(\large{ Y =  \frac{ W_t }{ V_t }    }\)
\(\large{ Y =  \frac{ M_t }{ V_t }    }\)
\(\large{ Y =  \frac{ SG_s \; \left(  1 \;+\; w \right) }{ 1 \;+\; e } \; \rho_w   }\)
\(\large{ Y =  \frac{ SG_s \; \left(  1 \;+\; w \right) \; \gamma_w  }{ 1 \;+\; e }   }\)
\(\large{ Y =  \frac{ SG_s  \;+\; S \; e  }{ 1 \;+\; e } \; \rho_w   }\)
\(\large{ Y =  \frac{ \left( SG_s  \;+\; S \; e \right) \; \gamma_w   }{ 1 \;+\; e }   }\)

Where:

\(\large{ Y } \) = bulk density

\(\large{ S }\) = degree of saturation (expressed as %)

\(\large{ \rho_w }\)  (Greek symbol rho) = density of water

\(\large{ SG_s }\) = specific gravity of soil

\(\large{ M_t } \) = total mass of soil

\(\large{ V_t } \) = total volume of soil

\(\large{ W_t }\) = total weight of soil

\(\large{ \gamma_w }\)  (Greek symbol gamma) = unit weight of water

\(\large{ e }\) = void ratio