Soil Mechanics Variables

V

Volume

M

mass

W

Weight

a

Air

s

Solid

w

Water

v

Void

t

Total

L

Length

ρ

Density (M/V)

σ

Stress

γ

Unit weight

e

Void ratio

n

Porosity

Sr

Saturation ratio (1 is saturated)

w

Water content

Gs

Specific gravity (2.65 assumed)

zav

Zero air void

Dr

Relative density

E

Energy

RC

Relative compaction

G

Gravel

S

Sand

M

Silt

C

Clay

Cu

Coefficient of uniformity

Cc

Coefficient of curvature

Dr

Relative density

LL

Liquid limit

PL

Plastic limit

SL

Shrinkage limit

PI

Plasticity Index

N

Number of blows

a

Empirical constant w value of .121

O

Organic

q

Point load

k

Spring constant

Uex

Excess pore pressure

S

Total settlement

Si

Immediate settlement

Sc

Primary consolidation settlement

Ss

Secondary settlement

H

Height

OC

Over consolidated

NC

Normally consolidated

mv

Coefficient of volume change

Q

Rate of flow

H

Head

A

Cross section area

k

Coefficient of permeability

h

Height

i

Hydraulic gradient

ν

Discharge velocity

K

Intrinsic Permeability

ic

Critical hydraulic gradient

Ko

Coefficient of lateral earth pressure at rest

P

Vertical components of contact forces

σ’

Effective stress

hc

Height of capillary rise

C

Empirical coefficient (.01-.05) ~.03

D10

Effective grain size

GWL

Ground water level

B

Width of load acting

m

B/z

n

L/z

Ir

Obtained from fadums chart