Evaluation of Measurement Uncertainty for Water Content Tests in Soil Samples

Abstract

Measurement uncertainty in the water content test for soil samples is an index for evaluating the reliability of the experiment. It affects the accuracy of some parameters such as porosity and saturation, which are derived from water content. According to the requirements of the standard JJF 1059-1999 Uncertainty Evaluation and Denotation of the Measurement Results, the uncertainty for the measurement results of the water content in soil samples was evaluated. Concerning the characteristics of the water content determination in soil samples, a pail of soil sample was taken as specimen due to its relative homogeneity. The factors affecting the measurement accuracy were discussed. The result shows that the expanded uncertainty of measurement results of the water content in soil samples was 1.6% under the proposed testing conditions.