 Gs Specific gravity - ρs Density of the soil kg/m3 ρw Density of water kg/m3 g Gravitational constant (9.81 m/s2) m/s2 Mt Mass of the soil, total mass kg Ms Mass of the solids kg Mw Mass of the water kg Ma Mass of the air kg Vt Volume of the soil, total volume m3 Vs Volume of the solids m3 Vw Volume of the water m3 Va Volume of the air m3 ρt Density of the soil kg/m3 $$\gamma_{ \mathrm{t}}$$ Unit weight of the soil N/m3 g Gravitational constant (9.81 m/s2) m/s2 Dr Relative density - e Current void ratio of the soil in-situ - emax Void ratio of the soil at its loosest condition - emin Void ratio of the soil at its densest condition - n Porosity of the soil in-situ - nmax Porosity of the soil at its loosest condition - nmin Porosity of the soil in its densest condition - Vv Volume of the voids/pores m3 Vs Volume of the solids/grains/particles m3 n Porosity - e Void ratio - Ct Sorting coefficient - C Sorting coefficient - K Hydraulic conductivity m2 k Permeability m/s f(n) porosity function - C sorting coefficient de effective grain diameter mm d10 Grain diameter where 10% is smaller mm d60 Grain diameter where 60% is smaller mm U Grain uniformity coefficient - $$\ v$$ kinematic viscosity μ Dynamic viscosity Pa.s ρw Water density kg/m3 $$\ \gamma_{ \mathrm{w}}$$ Unit weight of water N/m3 Q units of volume per time m3/s K intrinsic permeability m2 k permeability m/s A cross sectional area m2 L Length m ua Start excess pore pressure Pa ub End excess pore pressure Pa μ dynamic viscosity of the fluid Pa.s c Cohesion kPa UCS Unconfined Compressive Strength kPa V The total volume of soil m3 ni Initial porosity - ncv Porosity at constant volume - ε Dilatation - σc Unconfined Compressive Strength kPa F Maximum Failure Load kN A Cross-sectional area of the core sample m2 E Deformation modulus N/m2 W Specific work of failure J/m3 σT Brazilian Tensile Strength (BTS) kPa D Diameter of the core sample m F Maximum Failure Load kN L Length of the core sample m IS Point load index kPa F Failure load kN De Distance between platen tips m De2 = D2 for diametrical test m2 De2 = 4A/π = for axial, block and lump test m2 A = W.D = minimum cross-sectional area of a plane through the platen contact points m2 ρw Density of water kg/m3 zw Depth below the water table m u Hydrostatic pressure kPa g Gravitational constant m/s2 σ1 the major principal stress kPa σ3 the minor principal stress kPa $$\ \tau$$ the shear strength $$\ \tau$$ = Su (or somtimes cu) kPa Su the undrained strength kPa σ' (σ - u) the effective stress kPa σ Total stress applied normal to the shear plane kPa u Pore water pressure acting on the same plane kPa φ Effective stress friction angle or the angle of internal friction after Coulomb friction deg c' Cohesion kPa $$\ \tau$$ The shear strength $$\ \tau$$ = Su (or sometimes cu) kPa