In Terzaghi's principle, the angle of friction is related to which other parameter?

In Terzaghi's principle, the angle of friction is closely related to effective stress, which is a fundamental concept in soil mechanics. Effective stress is defined as the difference between the total stress and pore water pressure acting within the soil. It is the stress that contributes to soil strength and stability.

The angle of friction, specifically the internal friction angle in soils, dictates how the soil will behave under shear stress conditions. The relationship established through Terzaghi's principle highlights that the effective stress controls the strength of the soil. When the effective stress increases, the shear strength of the soil also increases, enabling it to withstand greater forces before failing.

This principle is critical for understanding various geotechnical engineering decisions, such as slope stability and bearing capacity of foundations.

While other parameters like cohesion and shear strength are important in the context of soil behavior, they are not as directly tied to the angle of friction as effective stress. Cohesion relates more to the bonding between particles, and shear strength is an outcome influenced by both friction and cohesion. Consolidation, on the other hand, pertains to the volume change due to pore water expulsion in saturated soils and does not directly relate to the angle of friction.