Bulk Unit Weight

Bulk unit weight, abbreviated as \(\large{ \gamma_t }\)  (Greek symbol gamma), also called bulk density or dry unit weight, is a measure of the weight per unit volume of a bulk material, typically soil or aggregates.  It represents the total mass of the material divided by its total volume, including both solid particles and void spaces.  It is often used in soil classification, settlement analysis, slope stability assessment, and the design of foundations and earth structures.

 

Bulk Unit weight Formula
\( \gamma_t \;=\; \dfrac{ W_t }{ V_t  }\)     (Bulk Unit Weight) \( W_t \;=\;  \gamma_t  \cdot V_t   \) \( V_t \;=\; \dfrac{ W_t }{ \gamma_t  }\)
Symbol	English	Metric
\( \gamma_t \)  (Greek symbol gamma) = Bulk Unit Weight	\( lbm \;/\; ft^3 \)	\( N \;/\; m^3\)
\( W_t \) = Total Weight of Soil	\(lbf\)	\(N\)
\( V_t \) = Total Volume of Soil	\(ft^3\)	\(m^3\)