The porosity method is a technique used in the field of rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering to

estimate the permeability and other properties of a rock mass or soil. The method is based on the
concept that the pore space within a rock or soil can be characterized by a series of interconnected
voids, which can be measured and analyzed to determine the physical properties of the material.

The porosity of a rock or soil is defined as the percentage of the total volume of the material that is
made up of voids or pores. To determine the porosity of a sample, the volume of the voids is divided by
the total volume of the sample. This can be done using various methods, such as water displacement,
mercury intrusion, or gas pycnometry.

Once the porosity of the material has been determined, other properties such as permeability,
compressibility, and strength can be estimated using empirical relationships or theoretical models. For
example, the permeability of a rock or soil can be estimated using the Kozeny-Carman equation, which
relates the porosity, specific surface area, and tortuosity of the pore space to the permeability.

Overall, the porosity method is a useful tool for characterizing the properties of rocks and soils, and can
be applied in a wide range of fields, including civil engineering, mining, and petroleum geology.