What Does
Soil Density Mean?
Soil density is determined by how great a concentration of mineral components a soil sample holds and how compacted the components of the sample are. A high concentration of hard minerals, such a quartz, which is very compacted, will have a higher density than soil without rocks that are loosely compacted. Soil density is also affected by the presence of liquid in the soil sample.
Trenchlesspedia Explains Soil Density
Soil density can affect the design path for trenchless operations, the type of bit used for the bore and the drilling or boring method.
To determine soil density, a soil core of a specific volume is taken at a specified depth. For wet soil density, a sample is weighed to determine its mass. This weight is then divided by the sample’s volume. For dry soil density, the soil is dried in an oven to remove any liquids, weighed and the weight divided by the sample volume.