When the degree of saturation is 100%, what is this density referred to?

• A. Bulk density
• B. Dry density
• C. Saturated density
• D. Effective density

Answer: (C)

When the degree of saturation is 100%, the material is completely saturated with water. In this condition, the density of the soil or material is referred to as saturated density. This term signifies that all void spaces between the soil particles are filled with water, which impacts various engineering properties such as shear strength, compressibility, and permeability.

Saturated density is crucial in geotechnical engineering as it reflects the state of the soil when it is at its maximum moisture content, influencing how the soil behaves under load. The understanding of saturated density helps engineers make informed decisions regarding foundation design, slope stability, and other soil-related applications.

While bulk density refers to the total mass of the soil including voids and water, dry density accounts only for the mass of solids without any water, and effective density is not typically used in this context. Therefore, identical conditions of full saturation directly relate to the term saturated density.