GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING FORMULAS Porosity, n
Symbols and Notations
e = void ratio
n = porosity
Degree of Saturation, S
w = moisture content, water content
s = specific gravity of any substance
G = specific gravity of solids
S = degree of saturation
V = volume of soil mass Moisture content, MC
Va = volume of air
Vw = volume of water
Vs = volume of solids
Vv = volume of voids
W = total weight of soil Unit Weight, γm
Ww = weight of water
Ws = weight of solids
Dr = relative density
γm = unit weight of soil mass, moist unit weight, bulk Dry Unit Weight, γd
unit weight
γs = unit weight of soil solids
γw = unit weight of water
γb = γ′ = buoyant unit weight, submerged unit Saturated Unit Weight, γsat
weight
γd = γdry = dry unit weight
γsat = saturated unit weight
LL = liquid limit
PL = plastic limit
LI = liquidity index Submerged/Buoyant/Effective Unit Weight, γ'/ γb
PI = plasticity index
GI = group index
Specific Gravity of Solid Particles, G
Relationship between G, w, S, and e
GMC = Se
Critical hydraulic gradient, icr
Relative Density, Dr
Void Ratio, e
where w1 and w2 are the water content corresponding
to number of blows N1 and N2, respectively.
Fall Cone Method for Liquid and Plastic Limit
Tests
Relationship e and n
Consistency of Soil (Atterberg Limits)
Shrinkage Limit Test
Casagrande Cup Method for Liquid Limit Test Shrinkage Ratio
Specific gravity of solids
