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Soil Formulas
Soil Formulas
Soil is composed of solids, liquids, and gases. Liquids and gases are mostly water and
air, respectively. These two (water and air) are called voids which occupy between soil
particles. The figure shown below is an idealized soil drawn into phases of solids, water,
and air.
Soil Properties
Void Ratio, e
Void ratio is the ratio of volume of voids to the volume of solids.
Porosity, n
Porosity is the ratio of volume of voids to the total volume of soil.
Degree of Saturation, S
Degree of saturation is the ratio of volume of water to the volume of voids.
Unit Weight, γ
Unit weight is the weight of soil per unit volume. Also called bulk unit weight (γ), and
moist unit weight (γm).
Specific Gravity of Solid Particles, G
Specific gravity of solid particles of soil is the ratio of the unit weight of solids (γs) to the
unit weight of water (γw).
Basic Formulas
Unit weight,
Weight,
Specific gravity,
Total volume,
Volume of voids,
Porosity, , Note:
, also or
Atterberg Limits
Plasticity index,
Liquidity index,
Shrinkage index,
Other Formulas
Volume of voids,
Volume of solids,
Volume of water,
Weight of water,
Weight of soil,
→ void ratio
→ n = Vv / V
(okay!)
→ porosity
→ e = Vv / Vs
(okay!)