Use this resource as a compact study outline for geotechnical formulas that commonly appear in PE Civil and FE Civil preparation. It pairs equations with the assumptions that tell you when they apply.
Formula Groups
- Phase relationships: water content, void ratio, porosity, saturation, dry unit weight, and moist unit weight
- Effective stress and seepage: sigma prime equals sigma minus u, hydraulic gradient, Darcy flow, and quick condition checks
- Strength and stability: Mohr-Coulomb strength, bearing capacity terms, active pressure, surcharge pressure, and simple slope FS
- Earthwork: relative compaction, Proctor maximum dry density, optimum moisture content, and field density checks
Study Method
- Write units beside every variable before substituting numbers
- Sketch the soil profile, water table, pressure diagram, or failure surface
- Identify drained versus undrained behavior before choosing parameters
- Practice interpreting answers, not only solving arithmetic
Engineering Notes
- Formula memorization is weaker than method recognition.
- Many exam mistakes are unit mistakes or water table mistakes.
- Use calculator outputs to check your setup, then solve practice problems by hand.
Download preview
PE Civil Geotechnical Formula Sheet
The downloadable text file mirrors the checklist structure on this page so it can be copied into project notes, field forms, study binders, or calculation records.