Pore Water Pressure
Civil Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: The pressure exerted by the water within the voids of a soil mass. It is a critical parameter in soil mechanics that influences effective stress, shear strength, and slope stability.
Example in context
“Excessive pore water pressure during heavy rainfall can reduce effective stress and trigger landslides in slopes.”
“Şiddetli yağış sırasında aşırı gözenek suyu basıncı, efektif gerilmeyi azaltarak şevlerde heyelanı tetikleyebilir.”
Where engineers use it
Pore water pressure is monitored during construction to avoid soil liquefaction and slope failure. Engineers use piezometers to measure it and adjust dewatering systems accordingly.
Synonyms: pore pressure, neutral stress
Practice: can you use “Pore Water Pressure” at work?
A deep excavation is planned near a river. The groundwater level is high. You need to predict how pore water pressure changes will impact the excavation base and nearby structures.
Show a model answer
“How does an increase in pore water pressure affect slope stability?”
“Pore Water Pressure” in 21 languages
| English | Pore Water Pressure |
|---|---|
| Turkish | gözenek suyu basıncı |
| French | pression interstitielle |
| German | Porenwasserdruck |
| Spanish | presión de poro |
| Chinese | 孔隙水压力 |
| Arabic | ضغط ماء المسام |
| Portuguese | pressão de água nos poros |
| Russian | поровое давление воды |
| Japanese | 間隙水圧 |
| Italian | pressione dell'acqua nei pori |
| Vietnamese | áp lực nước lỗ rỗng |
| Hindi | रंध्र जल दाब |
| Thai | แรงดันน้ำในช่องว่าง |
| Indonesian | tekanan air pori |
| Korean | 간극 수압 |
| Bengali | ছিদ্র পানি চাপ |
| Dutch | poriënwaterdruk |
| Swedish | porvattentryck |
| Finnish | huokosveden paine |
| Ukrainian | поровий тиск води |
Frequently asked questions
What does Pore Water Pressure mean in engineering?
The pressure exerted by the water within the voids of a soil mass. It is a critical parameter in soil mechanics that influences effective stress, shear strength, and slope stability. In Civil Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Pore Water Pressure?
Pore Water Pressure is pronounced /pɔr ˈwɔtər ˈprɛʃər/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Pore Water Pressure used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “Excessive pore water pressure during heavy rainfall can reduce effective stress and trigger landslides in slopes.”
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