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GLOSSARY OF TERMS
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Angle of shear resistance in terms of effective stress ( '). The slope oI the Mohr-Coulomb
eIIective stress envelope.
Area ratio. The area ratio oI a sampling tube or cutting shoe is deIined as:
100
D
D D
() ratio Area
2
c
2
c
2
w

=
where D
w
is the outside diameter oI the sampling tube or cutting shoe; and
D
c
is the inside diameter oI the sampling tube or cutting shoe.
Back pressure (u
b
). Pressure applied directly to the pore Iluid in the specimen voids.
Bulk density ( ). The mass oI material (including solid particles and any contained water)
per unit volume including voids.
Cell pressure. The pressure oI the cell Iluid which applies isotropic stress to the specimen.
In axial compression tests, it is the total minor principal stress, denoted by
3
.
Clay fraction. The Iraction oI a soil composed oI particles oI size smaller than 0.002 mm.
Cobble fraction. Solid particles oI sizes between 200 mm and 60 mm.
Coefficient of consolidation (c
v
). The parameter which relates the change in excess pore
pressure with respect to time, to the amount oI water draining out oI the voids oI a soil
prism during that time, due to consolidation:
g m
k
c
w v
v

=
where k is the permeability oI the soil;
m
v
is the coeIIicient oI volume compressibility;

w
is the mass per unit volume oI water; and
g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Coefficient of secondary compression (C
sec
). The ratio oI the change in height ,H
sec
, to the
initial height, H
i
, oI a test specimen at the start oI the primary consolidation under a
particular vertical stress increment over one log cycle oI time during the secondary
compression phase.
time oI cycle log one over
H
H
C

=
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Coefficient of volume compressibility (m
v
). The change in volume per unit volume, per
unit pressure change, as a result oI consolidation due to pressure change:

+
=
p
e
v
e 1
1
m
where
e
is a change in void ratio produced by a change in pressure;

p
is the change in pressure; and
e is the void ratio.
Cohesion intercept in terms of effective stress (c'). The intercept oI the Mohr-Coulomb
eIIective stress envelope.
Note: The symbols ' and c' are collectively referred to as the effective shear strength parameters.
Compaction. The process oI packing soil particles more closely together by rolling or other
mechanical means, thus increasing the dry density oI the soil.
Consolidation. The process whereby soil particles are packed more closely together over a
period oI time by application oI continued pressure. It is accompanied by drainage oI
water Irom the voids between solid particles.
Degree of consolidation (U). A measure oI consolidation at a given time, expressed as a
percentage deIined by the equation:
100
u u
u u
U
0 i
w i

=
where u
w
is the pore pressure at the time considered;
u
i
is the initial pore pressure; and
u
0
is the Iinal equilibrium pore pressure when consolidation is complete.
Degree of saturation (S
r
). The volume oI water contained in the void spaces between soil
particles, expressed as a percentage oI the total voids:
w
s
r
e
w
S

=
Deviator stress (
1
-
3
). The diIIerence between the major and minor principal stresses, i.e.
the principal stress diIIerence in a triaxial test.
Dry density (
d
). The mass oI dry soil per unit volume oI undried material:
w 100
100
d
+

=
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Dry soil. Soil that has been dried to constant mass at a speciIied temperature.
Effective confining pressure. The diIIerence between the cell pressure and the pore water
pressure.
Effective consolidation pressure. The diIIerence between the cell pressure and the back
pressure against which the pore Iluid drains during the consolidation stage, i.e.
3
u
b
.
Effective shear strength parameters. The slope and intercept oI the Mohr-Coulomb
eIIective stress envelope.
Effective stress ( '). The diIIerence between the total stress, , and the pore water
pressure, u
w
:
w
u ' =
Excess pore pressure. The increase in pore water pressure due to the application oI an
external pressure or stress.
Fines fraction. The Iraction oI a soil composed oI particles oI size smaller than 0.06 mm (i.e.
both the silt Iraction and clay Iraction materials).
Gravel fraction. The Iraction oI a soil composed oI particles between the sizes oI 60 mm
and 2 mm. The gravel Iraction is subdivided as Iollows:
Coarse gravel 60 mm to 20 mm
Medium gravel 20 mm to 6 mm
Eine gravel 6 mm to 2 mm
Maximum compacted dry density. The dry density obtained using speciIied amount oI
compaction at the optimum moisture content.
Moisture content (w). The mass oI water which can be removed Irom the soil, usually by
heating at 45C 5C or 105C 5C, expressed as a percentage oI the dry mass.
The term water content is also widely used.
Normally consolidated soil. A soil which has never been subjected to an eIIective pressure
greater than the present eIIective overburden pressure.
Optimum moisture content. The moisture content at which a speciIied amount oI
compaction will produce the maximum dry density.
Overconsolidated soil. A soil which has been consolidated under eIIective pressures greater
than that due to the present eIIective pressure.
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Particle density (
s
). The average mass per unit volume oI the solid particles in a sample oI
soil, where the volume includes any sealed voids contained within the solid particles.
Pore pressure coefficient at failure (A
f
). The value oI the pore pressure coeIIicient A at
Iailure.
Pore pressure coefficients A and B. CoeIIicients relating the change in the pore pressure to
the changes in total stresses applied to a specimen when no drainage is permitted Irom
the specimen. The changes are in accordance with the Iollowing equation:
)| ( A | B u
3 1 3
+ =
where u is the change in pore pressure;

3
is the change in total minor principal stress;
(
1

3
) is the change in deviator stress; and
A and B are the pore pressure coeIIicients.
Pore water pressure (u or u
w
). The pressure oI water in the voids between solid particles.
Quartering. The reduction in quantity oI a large sample oI material by dividing a circular
heap, by diameters at right angles, into Iour more or less equal parts, removing two
diagonally opposite quarters, and thoroughly mixing the two remaining quarters
together so as to obtain a truly representative halI oI the original mass. The process is
repeated until a sample oI the required size is obtained.
Relative compaction. The percentage ratio oI the dry density oI the soil to the maximum
compacted dry density oI a soil when a speciIied amount oI compaction is used.
Riffling. The reduction in quantity oI a large sample oI material by dividing the mass into
two approximately equal portions by passing the sample through an appropriately
sized sample divider. The process is repeated until a sample oI the required size is
obtained.
Sample. A portion oI soil (taken as being representative oI a particular material, deposit or
stratum) submitted to the laboratory Ior testing.
Sampling. The selection oI a representative portion oI a material.
Sand fraction. The Iraction oI a soil composed oI particles between the sizes oI 2.0 mm and
0.06 mm. The sand Iraction is subdivided as Iollows:
Coarse sand 2.0 mm to 0.6 mm
Medium sand 0.6 mm to 0.2 mm
Eine sand 0.2 mm to 0.06 mm
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Saturation. The condition under which all the voids in a soil are completely Iilled with
water.
Shear resistance. The resistance oIIered to deIormation by a soil when it is subjected to
stress.
Shear strength. The maximum shear resistance which a soil can oIIer under deIined
conditions oI eIIective stress and drainage.
Silt fraction. The Iraction oI a soil composed oI particles between the sizes oI 0.06 mm and
0.002 mm. The silt Iraction is subdivided as Iollows:
Coarse silt 0.06 mm to 0.02 mm
Medium silt 0.02 mm to 0.006 mm
Eine silt 0.006 mm to 0.002 mm
Specimen. A portion oI a sample on which a test is carried out.
Strain ( ) (cumulative strain). The change in dimension, expressed as a ratio or a
percentage, oI the initial reIerence dimension.
Stress path parameters (p', q). The stress path parameters (in term oI eIIective stress) can
be established Irom the Iollowing equations:
') 2 ' (
3
1
' p
3 1
+ =
) ( ) ' ' ( q
3 1 3 1
= =
Stress path parameters (s', t). The stress path parameters (in terms oI eIIective stress) can
be established Irom the Iollowing equations:
') ' (
2
1
' s
3 1
+ =
) (
2
1
') ' (
2
1
t
3 1 3 1
= =
Swelling. The process opposite to consolidation, i.e. expansion oI a soil on reduction oI
pressure due to water being drawn into the voids between particles.
Swelling pressure. The pressure required to maintain constant volume, i.e. to prevent
swelling, when a soil has access to water.
Test sieve. A sieve complying with BS 410 : 2000 (BSI, 2000).
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Time factor (T
v
). The dimensionless parameter which is related to time, t, the coeIIicient oI
consolidation, c
v
, and the length oI drainage path, H, used Ior deIining the theoretical
rate oI consolidation curve:
2
v
v
H
t c
T =
Total stress ( ). The actual stress in a soil mass through the application oI a pressure or
Iorce.
Voids. The space between solid particles oI soil.
Void ratio (e). The ratio between the volume oI voids (air and water) and the volume oI a
mass oI soil:
1 e
d
s