ICS 93.

020

R O M AN I AN S TAN D AR D STAS 3950-81

Classification index G 20
Supersedes:
GEOTECHNICS
Terminology, symbols and units of measure STAS 3950-74
Previous editions:
Geotehnică -Terminologie, simboluri şi unităţi de măsură 1966, 1974, 1981
Validation date:
Geotechnique - Terminologie, symboles et unitØs de mesure 1981-12-01

1 Scope

The present standard refers to the definitions, symbols and the units of measure of the main terms used in
geotechnics.
Geotechnics is a discipline that performs the study of the physical, mechanical and chemical characteristics of
the earths and their modality of behavior under the actions of constructions.
It does not constitute the object of the present standard the basic terms of other disciplines
(geology, hydrology, hydraulics, resistance, etc) which although they are used in geotechnics, are specified in the
respective standards.

2 TERMINOLOGY, SYMBOLS AND UNITS OF MEASURE

According to the table.

ASOCIAŢIA DE STANDARDIZARE DIN ROM´NIA (ASRO),

Adresa poştală: str. Mendeleev 21-25, 70168, Bucureşti 1, Direcţia Generală: Tel.: +40 1 211.32.96; Fax: +40 1 210.08.33,
Direcţia Standardizare: Tel. : +40 1 310.43.08; +40 1 310.43.09, Fax: +40 1 315.58.70,
Direcţia Publicaţii: Serv. Vânzări/Abonamente: Tel: +40 1 212.77.25, +40 1 212.79.20, +40 1 212.77.23, +40 1 312.94.88 ;
Fax : +40 1 210.25.14, +40 1 212.76.20

' ASRO r r r r s of h s s nd rd n ny k nd of pub ons nd by ny ns ( ron y

, r .) s s r y forb dd n w hou pr or wr n ons n of AS O
STAS 3950-81 -2 -

Dimen-
No Term Symbol Units Definitions
sions
1 The activity of an earth — — — The intensity of the interaction between
water and mineral skeleton

2 Activity of frost — — — The frost and thaw of water in

materials and the effects resulted
for these materials and for the
structures which they compose or with
which come into contact

3 The adhesion of earth at a ca FL-2 kPa The result of the establishment of

material (N/cm2) some forces of connection between the
earth and another material

4 Depth of foundation Df L m The depth under the level of the

natural terrain at which it is
situated the foundation base

5 Depth at frost — — — The most lower level of the isotherm of

0°C

6 Terrain slipping — — — The breaking of a natural slope

or embankment, where a mass of
earth is moving along a surface of
breaking in ratio with the massive
which remains on its place

7 Amortization — — — The dissipation of the energy in time

or space or the reduction of the intensity
of the dynamic effects, in time and space

8 Critical amortization — — — Minimum viscid absorption which

allows that a moved system returns at
its initial position without oscillations

9 Granulometric analysis — — — The operation of determination of the

granularity of an earth

10 Hydro-dynamic ding — — — The movement of the earth

particles under the effect of the
force of the current

11 Adsorbed water — — — The water retained mechanically in

the earth and having physical
properties which are not
substantially different from the ones
of he usual water at the same
12 Adsorbed water — — — temperature
The water and pressure
from a mass of earth,
retained by physical-chemical forced,
having physical properties substantial
different as the water adsorbed or from
the water of constitution, at the same
temperature and pressure

13 Capillary water — — — Water submitted to the influence of the

capillary action

14 Free water — — — Water which is moving freely

through the massive of earth, under the
influence of the gravity
 -3 - STAS 3950-81

Dimen-
No Term Symbol Units Definitions
sions
15 Clay Fine granular earth which
manifests plasticity, in a certain field
of humidity and contains over 30 %
clay fraction. The clay fraction
comprises particles of earth under 0.005
mm (5  m)
16 Organic clay Clay with a high content of organic
matters

17 Blocks Rock which come from the rock

massifs and semi-rock massifs with
dimensions bigger than 200 mm (STAS
1243/7-74)
18 Boulder Deposit composed predominantly
from fragments of rocks with
dimensions between 20 mm and 200
mm ( see also STAS 3949/1-71, sub-
clause 4.8)
19 Bulb of pressure Area from the massif of loaded earth,
delimited by a certain isobar

20 Capacity of adsorption CA % The ratio between the mass of the

water adsorbed up to the state of
saturation (null suction) and the mass of
earth dried and milled

21 Capacity of stuffing Ci The property of the sandy earths

to decrease the volume of the pores
by rearranging the solid particles. It
is calculated with the expression:

where:
emax index of the earth pores
in maximum loosening state
emin index of the earth pores
in maximum staffing state

22 Capacity of ionic change The property of the solid fine

particles of earth to change its ions
from the complex of adsorption. It is
expressed in milliequivalents of ions
replaceable correspondingly at the
weight of the dry earth equal to 1 N

23 Bearing capacity of the Pcr FL-2 kPa The maximum pressure on

foundation ground ground which provokes the extension
of the areas of breaking and leads
to the loosing of the stability of the
ground. The value of the calculation
bearing capacity can be
determined by
corresponding methods of
calculation depending on the loading
and of the dimensions of the
foundation, of the rigidity of the
structure of resistance as well as of
the stratification and the nature of the
STAS 3950-81 -4 -

Dimen-
No Term Symbol Units Definitions
sions
24 Geo-technical calculation A Values of the geotechnical
characteristics characteristics of an earth determined
by the multiplication of the values of
the respective normal geotechnical
characteristics with a K0 coefficient
of safety which takes into account
the variability of the results of the tests

25 Standardized geo-technical An Medium values of reference of

characteristics the geotechnical characteristics of an
earth determined on a basis number
of tests corresponding to the
importance, the type of construction
and the surface occupied by it, as
well as the degree of homogeneity of
the considered layer of earth.
26 Maximum heat of wetting qumax J/g The quantity of heat eliminated
(cal/g) by moistening up to saturation a gram
of earth, dried previously in the oven
at 105 °C

27 Movement of soil by shearing Yielding where the movements

caused by the shear stress from an
massif of earth are large enough for
loosing of equilibrium

28 Coefficients of bearing N, Nc Coefficients which intervene in

capacity Nq the formula of the bearing capacity;
they are expressed depending on the
calculation values of the friction angle
of internal of the layers of earth
under the base of the foundation

29 Coefficient of compressibility The ratio between the e variation of

the index of pores and the p
variation corresponding to the unitary :

e
av 
p
30 Coefficient of volume mv L2F -1 1/kPa The ratio between the variation of
compressibility (cm2/N) the unitary volume and
the variation
corresponding to the axial
compressive stress. Under the
conditions of lateral deformation
totally e hindered of earth sample, it is
given by the relation:
mv 
p
where:
 the variation of the
specific deformation
p the variation of the pressure
The relation of connection, between
the mv coefficient of volume
compressibility and the av, coefficient of

compressibility is:
v

v
0
where
 -5 - STAS 3950-81

Dimen-
No Term Symbol Units Definitions
sions
31 Coefficient of consolidation cv L2F -1 cm2/s Coefficient used in the theory
of consolidation, which contains
physical characteristics of the earth
which affect the size of the variation of
volume

where
k coefficient of permeability of
the earth, in cm/s;
e0 initial index of the
pores; av index of
compressibility mv
coefficient of volume
compressibility
w specific weight of the water

(STAS 8942/1-79,

32 Coefficient of lateral  sub-clause 6.2)

Coefficient which characterizes
deformation. the transversal
Synonym: the coefficient of deformation of a material, equal to
Poisson the ratio between the specific
transversal leaking (respectively
the extension) and the specific
longitudinal extension (respectively
the shortening) in a body driven only
by a normal stress on the longitudinal
direction
NOTE Although in the resistance of
the materials this coefficient is symbolized
by  , in geotechnics it is adopted the
symbol v, because the symbol   is
33 Coefficient of friction  adopted for the coefficient
Dimensionless of friction
coefficient,
deduced
experimentally, which represents
the ratio between the force of friction
which is developed between the earth
and an element of construction and the
normal component of the respective
34 Coefficient of higroscopicity wc element
The ratio between the mass of the
water absorbed by a dry earth, in the
saturated atmosphere at a given
temperature given and the mass of the
dry earth in the oven
35 Coefficient of non-uniformity Un It represents the ratio d60/d10 where:
d60 diameter of the particles of
earth corresponding to 60%
on the granulometric curve
d10 corresponding diameter to
10% on the same curve

36 Coefficient of permeability k LT--1 cm/s The coefficient which characterizes

the permeability of a porous
saturated environment for a certain
fluid equal to the ratio between the
speed of filtration and the hydraulic
slope:
k = v/i
STAS 3950-81 -6 -

Dimen-
No Term Symbol Units Definitions
sions
37 Coefficient of soil reaction Ks FL kN/m3 The ratio between the pressure which
Synonym: coefficient of is developed in an elastic
settlement environment (earth) in a certain section
of an element of construction
propped on that environment
and the settlement
corresponding to the ground in
the respective section
38 Coefficient of settlement — — — See no. 37
Synonym: coefficient of soil
reaction
39 Coefficient of specific p — — Specific settlement for a given pressure.
settlement NOTE – For the settlement of the
earths after the compressibility it is
used p2 corresponding to the pressure of
200 kPa
40 Coefficient of swelling at frost Cu — % The ratio, expressed in percents,
between hi the increase of height of
the sample which is submitted to frost
at a given time, in mm, and the Z i,
depth of penetration of the frost at
the same moment, in mm

41 Dynamic coefficients of — FL -3 kN/m3 The ratio between the dynamic

linear elastic deformation pressure applied on the unit of surface
(dynamic coefficients of soil of a mass of earth and the elastic
reaction) deformation corresponding

There are distinguished:

- dynamic coefficient for vertical
translation Cz;
- dynamic coefficient for horizontal
translation Cx;
- dynamic coefficient for rotation
around an horizontal axis C  ;
- dynamic coefficient for rotation
around an horizontal axle C  ;

42 Coefficient of Poisson — — — See no. 32

Synonym: coefficient of
lateral deformation
43 Coefficient of the pressure of K — — Coefficient with which it is
the earth multiplied the vertical pressure of the
non-cohesive earth at the contact with
an element of construction, for
obtaining the p pressure of the earth ,
over the element of construction
There are differentiated:
- coefficient of active pressure Ka;
- coefficient of passive resistance Kp;
- coefficient of pressure in state of
rest K0;
 -7 - STAS 3950-81

Dimen-
No Term Symbol Units Definitions
sions
44 Apparent cohesion cu FL -2 kPA y - axis, by origin of the line of
Coulomb f =   tg u + cu expressed
for normal total stresses (STAS 8942/2-
73)
45 Effective cohesion C’ FL -2 kPA y - axis, by origin of the line of
Coulomb f =  ’ t g ’ + c’
expressed for normal effective strength
(STAS 8942/2-73)
46 Resonant column Experimental method of laboratory
for the determination
of the dynamic
characteristics of the earths
47 Settlement The stuffing of an earth with mechanic
means

48 Compressibility The property of the earths to

deform under the action of some
exterior stress of compression

49 Consolidation Process of evolution in time of

the deformation of earths by reducing
the volume of the pores under the
action of an exterior constant
stress, by elimination of the
fluids from the pores
50 Contractility The property of an earth to change
its volume when its humidity varies,
fact which imposes special measures
in the dimensioning and the execution
of the foundations (STAS 1913/12-
73 and STAS 9262-73)

51 Volume contraction CV % The percentual ratio between the

variation of volume, because of
the drying of a saturated earth, and the
final volume

52 Content of carbonates CO3 Content of anions CO3 contained in

100 g of dry earth

53 Content of organic matters HUM Content of organic matters contained in

100 g of dry earth

54 Content of sulphates SO4 Content of anions SO4 contained in 100

g of dry earth

55 Criterion of plasticity Cp It characterizes the contractility of an

earth when Ip Cp, where:
Cp = 0.73 (wL 20);
wL, - superior limit of plasticity
(STAS 1913/12-73 and STAS
9262-73)
STAS 3950-81 -8 -

Dimen-
No Term Symbol Units Definitions
sions
56 Curve of settlement (Proctor — — — The curve representing the
curve) relation between the volume weight
in dry condition and the humidity of an
earth at settlement with a specific
mechanichal work

57 Curve of compression-porosity — — — The curve which represents the

relation between the effective pressure
and the index of the pores of the test
sample of earth obtained in a
test of compressibility

58 Curve of compression- — — — The curve which represents the

settlement relation between the effective pressure
and the specific settlement of the test
sample of earth obtained in a
test of compressibility
(STAS 8942/1-79)
59 Curve of consolidation-time — — — Curve which illustrates the
relation between the degree of
consolidation and the time passed after
the application of a given test

60 Intrinsic curve — — — The locus of the points the

coordinates of which represents the
normal unitary stresses and the
shearing stress which determines the
breaking of a given material

61 Lent flowing — — — Continuous deformation in time of a

plastic material under a constant effort

62 Density of the water w ML -3 g/cm3 The ratio between the mass and
the volume of the water at a
certain temperature

63 Density of the earth  ML-3 g/cm3 The ratio between the mass of the humid
earth and its volume

64 Density of the earth in sat ML-3 g/cm3 The ratio between the mass of
saturated state the saturated earth (the pores being
entirely full of water) and its volume
(including its volume)
65 Density of the earth in ’ ML-3 g/cm3 The ratio between the mass of the
submersed state earth determined in
submersed
condition (under water)
66 Density of the earth in dry state d ML-3 g/cm3 and
The its volume
ratio (including
of the mass ofitsthe
voids)
earth in
dry condition to its volume
(including its voids)
67 Density of the skeleton s ML-3 g/cm3 The ratio between the mass of the
solid particles in a quantity of earth and
its the volume of these particles
(without wholes) representing a medium
68 Equivalent diameter d L mm densitydiameter of a conventional
The
sphere made up from a material which
has the same specific weight as the real
particle of earth and such a
dimension that it sediments in a
given liquid, with the same final
speed as the real particle
 -9 - STAS 3950-81

Dimen-
No Term Symbol Units Definitions
sions
69 Effective diameter d10 L mm Diameter of the particles corresponding
to 10 % on the granulometric curve

70 Dilatation The property of loosening of the

non-cohesive earths in case these
are submitted to the shearing
deformation
71 Granulo-metric distribution See no 95
Synonym: granularity
72 Line of Coulomb The line by which it is
represented graphically the relation
between the resistance at
shearing and
the corresponding normal
unitary stress, given by the equation:

where  and c are the parameters of the

resistance at shearing, denominated the
angle of internal friction and
respectively the cohesion of the earth
(STAS 8942/2-73)
73 Effective normal unitary stress ’ FL -2 kPa Normal unitary stress transmitted by the
mineral skeleton of the earth

74 Total normal unitary stress  FL -2 kPa The component after the normal at
a given plane from the interior of
the massif of earth of the
corresponding total unit

75 Tangential unitary stress  FL -2 kPa The component of the unitary stress

after the direction of a given plane
in the interior of the massif of earth

76 Test piece A certain volume made of earth,

which is about to be submitted to tests
in order to determinate one of the
physical, mechanical or chemical
77 Electro-osmosis characteristics
Drainage of water from earth to
the cathode, in the presence of an
electrical power
78 Internal erosion The movement of the earth
particles under the action of the
forces of the power which lead to
the formation of internal voids
79 Factor of time Tv Factor used at the calculus of
the consolidation containing the
physical constants of the layer, which
influences the duration of consolidation.
It is given by the relation:

where:
cv consolidation coefficient, in cm†/s;
t time where it is produced the
process of consolidation, in s
H the length of the distance made by
water through earth in the process of
consolidation, in cm (STAS 8942/1-79)
STAS 3950-81 -10 -

Dimen-
No Term Symbol Units Definitions
sions
80 Filtration The phenomenon of flowing of
the fluids through saturated
pores environments

81 Protection filter Layer of combination of layers

from permeable materials,
designed and executed
thus to permit, by one hand the
drainage, and by the other hand,
to prevent the drive of particles of
earth because of the water flow
82 Physics of earths Assembly of knowledge regarding
the physical characteristics of the earths
and the methods used for their
determination
83 Ascension force F kN Under-pressure of water on a structure

84 The force of the current on the J FL -3 kN/m3 Force with which the current of
unit of volume water acts on the unit of volume
through which the flowing is produced

85 Total force of the current J F kN Force with which the current of

water acts on the massif of earth
through which the flowing is produced

86 Granular fraction Group of solid fragments

having dimensions comprised
in determined intervals

87 Friction of contact f FL -2 kPa Resistance at shearing which

(N/cm2) is developed at the
contact between the earth and the
structure
88 Foundation The inferior part of a construction
by which it is transmitted the loading to
the ground

89 Geo-techniques Science dealing with the study

of physical,mechanical and
chemical characteristics of
earths and their modality
of behavior under the action of
constructions, taking into account
the interaction between the construction
90 Degree of settlement D and theratio
The groundbetween the medium
volume weight in dry state of the earth
and the maximum volume weight in
dry state, obtained at testing of
settlement in laboratory, expressed
in percents
91 Degree of consolidation U % (STAS
The 1913/13-73)
ratio between the deformation of
the test piece, which is submitted
to a constant stress at a time t from
loading, ht and the final deformation
of the test piece at the same stress, h
expressed in %
 -11 - STAS 3950-81

Dimen-
No Term Symbol Units Definitions
sions
92 Degree of stuffing Ip The ratio between the
difference between the index of
the pores of an non-corrosive earth
in the most loose state emax and the
index of the pores in natural condition
e, to the difference between the
index of the pores in the most loosed
condition emax and the one in the most
stuffed condition emin, given by the
relation
formula:

93 Degree of humidity Sr The ratio between the volume of

the eater contained by the pores of the
earth and the total volume of the pores
from that earth, given by the relation

94 Hydraulic gradient i The ratio between the difference of

Synonym: hydraulic slope of the piezometrical level for two
the current equipotential surfaces and the length
of the line of power

95 Granularity The percentage repartition of the

Synonym: granulometric particles depending on their size
distribution
96 Specific weight of the water w FL -3 kN/m3 The ratio between the weight and
the volume of water for a
certain temperature

97 Volume weight of the earth  FL -3 kN/m3 The ratio between the weight of humid
earth and its volume (including voids)

98 Volume weight of the skeleton s FL -3 kN/m3 The ratio between the weight of
the particles from a quantity of earth
and the own volume of these particles
(without voids), representing a
medium volume weight

99 Volume weight of the earth in sat FL -3 kN/m3 The ratio between the weight of
saturated state the saturated earth (the pores being
entirely full of water) and its volume
(including the voids)

100 Volume weight of the earth in ’ FL -3 kN/m3 The ratio between the weight of
submersed state the earth determined in submersed
state (under water) and its volume
(including the voids)

101 Volume weight of the earth in d FL -3 kN/m3 The ratio between the weight of the
dry state earth in dry state and its volume

102 Hydro-conductivity. See no. 169

Synonym: permeability
103 Hydro-mass The material laid-down by hydro-
mechanization
STAS 3950-81 -12 -

Dimen-
No Term Symbol Units Definitions
sions
104 Earth pressure p, P FL -2 , — The pressure or the force exerted by the
F earth on any element of construction
- Active pressure of the earth pa, Pa
The minimum value of the pressure of
the earth. This condition is fulfilled in
case the massif of earth can be extended
enough thus along the surface possible
of yielding to be mobilized the whole
resistance at shearing
- The pressure of the earth in state of
rest po, Po
The value of the pressure of the earth
in case of the earth massif in its
natural state, without being
permitted its relaxation or
compressing
- passive resistance of the earth pp, Pp
The maximum value of the pressure of
the earth. This condition is fulfilled in
case the massif of earth can be settled
enough that along surface possible of
yielding to be mobilized the whole
resistance at shearing
105 Capillary height hc L cm, m Height, over the free level of the
ground, water, at which at is erected the
water in the pores of the earth, by
capillarity (STAS 1913/8-73)

106 Critical height Hc L m Maximum height at which a vertical

slope of earth stands unpropped

107 Test loading (with the plate) The test which consists loading
in successive steps of some plates
of different sizes (in open pits, drillings
or in the foundation hole) and in
measuring the corresponding
settlements, with a view of the
determination of the modality of
the linear deformation of ground

108 Test with controlled — — — The test where the loading is applied
deformation so that it produces a controlled
deformation speed

109 Test with controlled stress — — — The test where the stress is applied to the
sample with controlled increasing speed

110 Test of settlement (Proctor) — — — The test in the laboratory which

consists in the settlement with the same
specific mechanical work of some the
samples of earth with different
humidities in order to establish the
optimal humidity of settlement
(STAS 1919/13-73
and STAS 1913/2-76)
 -13 - STAS 3950-81

Dimen-
No Term Symbol Units Definitions
sions
111 Test of compression in — — — The test of compression with
edometer hindered lateral deformation, where
the sample comprised in a rigid
metallic ring is compressed between
two porous plates (STAS 8942/1-79)

112 Test of triaxial compression — — — The test where the cylindrical sample
of earth is submitted to some states
of symmetrical axial stresses

113 Test of shearing hardened- — — — The test where after

drained complete consolidation under
a determined pressure, is applied to
the sample an axial stress or a
supplementary, shearing thus even
for a saturated earth of reduced
permeability, to be performed the
complete dissipation of the pressure in
excess of the water from the pores
(STAS 8942/2-73)
114 Test of shearing hardened-non- — — — The test where after the
drained complete consolidation under an
initial pressure (in the triaxial
apparatus) or under a vertical load (in
the apparatus of direct shearing), the
sample submitted to shearing
without the change of the humidity
and of the volume (STAS 8942/2-
73)
115 Test of shearing with the — — — The test on the field or in the
apparatus with blades laboratory where a rod having at the
end radial thin blades, is introduced by
force into the earth, determining the
resistance at rolling of the road

116 Test of direct shearing — — — The test of shearing where the

earth sample, under a forced normal
loading given is stressed breaking on a
plane by the movement (slipping) of a
part of the box in relation with the
other part (STAS 8942/2-73)

117 Test of shearing non-hardened- UU — — The test in which there is not

non-drained permitted the change of the humidity of
the sample both, during the application
of the initial pressure as well as
during the application
of the supplementary axial stress (or
of shearing) (STAS 8942/2-73)
118 Test of dynamic penetration — — — The test performed in the hole of
(standard) drilling for the appreciation of the
natural state of the earth (stuffing at the
sandy earths and consistence at clay
earths) (STAS 1242/5-81)
STAS 3950-81 -14 -

Dimen-
No Term Symbol Units Definitions
sions
119 Test of dynamic penetration The test which consists in the sinking
with cone in the ground by driving with a
breaking machine which falls freely
from a constant height of some
metallic rods, with or without
protection casing, from which the first
is provided with a conic head in its
inferior part. During the test the
breaking machine is left to fall freely
from a height of 50 cm, with a
frequency of 15 … 30 drivings/minute,
recording the number N of
drivings for the advising of the cone
120 Test of static penetration by
The10 or 20 cm
test which consists in
the introduction in the
ground, concomitantly or
successively, of a metallic rod with
a cone and of a metallic casing and
the measurement of the resistance on
the cone and of the lateral friction
(STAS 1242/6-76)
121 Inclination of the foundation tg The distance of absolute settlement,
of two extremal points of the
foundation base per the distance
between them (length, width or the
diameter of the foundation)

122 Relative probable bending of a f The ratio of the arrow to the length of
foundation the construction part which is being bent

123 Index of activity IA The ratio of the Ip index of plasticity

of the earth and the, A2 percent of
particles with dimensions under 2
 m of that earth
IA = Ip/A2

124 Index of compression Cc The slope of the lineal portion of

the curve of compression
porosity, in semi-logarithmic
representation
125 Index of consistence Ic The ratio of the difference between
the wL limit of flowing and the w
natural humidity to the Ip index of
plasticity, is given by the relation

126 Index of contraction-swelling Icu It establishes the tendency of

variation of the volume when the
humidity varies between the limit of
contraction (Icu = 1) and the humidity of
saturation (Icu = 0)

where
wsat humidity at
saturation; w natural
humidity;
w limit of contraction
 -15 - STAS 3950-81

Dimen-
No Term Symbol Units Definitions
sions
127 Index of plasticity Ip — — Interval of humidity where the earths
are in plastic state. It is given by
the relation:
Ip = wL –
wp where
wL– superior limit of
plasticity wp– inferior limit of
plasticity
128 Index of the pores Ip — — The ratio of the volume Vp of the
pores from a quantity of earth and the
volume Vs of the solid particles
from
that quantity of earth;
E = Vp/Vs
129 Sorbtional index — — Index which is used to
express quantitatively the
intensity of the relations from the
liquid phase and the solid one, given
by the relation:
pF = log h
Where h represents the suction, in cm,
column of water
130 Isochronous — — — The curve which illustrates
the distribution of the hydro-
static pressure, in excess for a given
time, during the process of
consolidation
131 Levigation — — — Disolvation and removal of the
soluble material from the earth and
of the colloids by the infiltration of
water
132 Liquefaction of the earth — — — Total or partial loss of the resistance
at shearing of the non-corrosive
earths under the action of some
monotonous shearings (crescent or
decrescent) or cyclical ones. It is
determined by the increase for a time
of the pressure of the water from the
pores and implies the temporary
transformation of the material in a fluid
mass
133 Limit of contraction ws — % The humidity under which there take
not place important variations of
volume of the earth (STAS 1913/12-73)

134 Inferior limit of plasticity wP — % The humidity which corresponds to

the passing of the earth from a
hard condition to a plastic state (STAS
193/4-76)

135 Superior limit of plasticity wL — % The humidity which corresponds to

the passing of the earth from a plastic
state to a flowing state (STAS 193/4-76)

136 Line of current — — — Theoretical trajectory of the particles

of liquid in movement by the
saturated porous
environment, imposed
ortogonally to the equipotential lines
STAS 3950-81 -16 -

Dimen-
No Term Symbol Units Definitions
sions
137 Equipotential line The locus from a permeable
porous environment, saturated, for
which the piezometrical level is the
same
138 Loess Eolian earth (deposit), made up
from predominantly dusty
material, with
loosening structure and a relatively
high cohesion, because of the
cimentation of the clay bearing and
calcareous material, at the contacts
between the particles. The
characteristic of the deposits of
loess is the fact that in dry state they
139 Loam are sensible
Earth at humidification
constituted from sand, dust or
clay, in proportions approximately equal

140 Unisotropic material Material having in any given

point different properties
on different
directions
141 Capillary movement of the The movement of the water in the
water pores of the earth because of the
capillary forces
142 Mechanics of the earths Science that uses the laws and
disciplines of mechanics and
hydraulics at engineering issues
referring to earths
143 Silt Alluvionar and lacuster deposit,
composed from mineral particles
very fine, loosened and a little
consolidated
144 Edometric module of M FL -2 kPa The ratio between the variation of the
deformation unitary effort of compression p and
the variation corresponding to the
deformation specifically of the test
sample of earth, under the conditions of
the total lateral deformation prevented,
in edometer (STAS 8942/1-79)

145 Linear module of deformation E FL -2 kPa The ratio between the stress and
the deformation of a material, under
the conditions of loading given;
numerically is equal to the pitching of
the tangent or the secant at
the curve effort-
146 Capacity module of K FL -2 kPa deformation
The ratio between the variation of
deformation the medium unitary stress and the
variation of the unit of volume produced
under the effect of it. It is given by the
relation

where
E module of linear deformation
147 Shearing module G FL -2 kPa v coefficient
The of lateral
ratio between deformation
a given variation
of the tangential effort and the
corresponding variation of the
angle specifically deformation, all the
other strength remaining constant
 -17 - STAS 3950-81

Dimen-
No Term Symbol Units Definitions
sions
148 Mud — — — Mud with high content of organic
substance (minimum 10 %)

149 Sand — — — Earth constituted predominantly

from mineral particles of which
dimensions are comprised between 0.05
… 2 mm
150 Piezometrical level — — — The height at which the water is elevated
in a piezometer

151 Mire — — — Mixture of earth and water, in fluid and

soft condition

152 Critical slope — — — Maximum angle with the horizontal

at which an embankment of earth on
a portion determined stand is
unsupported
153 Hydraulic slope of the current — — — See no. crt. 94
synonym: hydraulic gradient
154 Earth — — — Accumulation of solid mineral
particles, produced by the physical or
chemical desaggregation of the rocks
which can either contain or not,
organically substances

155 Loosed earth — — — Massive (filling) of earth (usually

non-cohesive or light cohesive)
where is introduced the armature under
the shape of metallic lines, from
plastic, textile materials, etc. The
massive is limited laterally, at the
exterior, of a covering (parament)
metallic, or from plates of concrete,
of which are jointed the lines of
armature. The internal stability of the
massifs of earth is assured by the
general cohesion of shearing between
the earth and the internal armature,
solicited at the spreading
156 Cohesive earth — — — Earth that presents resistance because
of the forces of connection between
the particles. The cohesive earths are:
clays, dusts, clay or dusty sands

157 Contractile earth — — — Earth which at the variations of

158 Contractile earths expansive or
active
Synonym: earths with swelling
and large contractions
humidity presents important variations
of volume. The intensity of the
phenomenon provoked by such an
earth is conditioned as well by the
nature and its properties ass by the
local factors, variables from area to
area, as are the weather and
hydrological conditions, the influence
of the vegetation, etc.
— — — See no. crt. 159
STAS 3950-81 -18 -

Dimen-
No Term Symbol Units Definitions
sions
159 Earths with swellings and high PUCM — — Clay earths, very active, which
contractions present the property to change
Synonym: contractile earths, sensibly the volume, when their
expansive or active humidity varies
160 Gelive earth — — — Earth sensible to freezing

161 Non-cohesive earth — — — Earth that usually does not

present resistance because of the
forces of connection between the
particles; the sands and stones are
a part of the category of non-
162 Earth normally consolidated — — — cohesive earths did never undergo
Earth which
an effective pressure higher
than the pressure of
existent super-loading
163 Organic earth — — — Earth with high content of organically
substances

164 Earth sensible at PSU — — Earth which under the action of

humidification the loadings transmitted by the
foundations, or only under its own
weight, is compacted
supplementary with the
increasing of the humidity
165 Stabilized earth — — — Earth of which properties are
changed by mechanical or chemical
procedures in the direction of
assurance of some physical-
mechanical characteristics,
independently of its variations of
humidity or of the weather influences
166 Sub-consolidated earth — — — Earth incompletely consolidated under
the existent super-loading

167 Super-consolidated earth — — — Earth which underwent an

effective pressure higher than the one
produced by the actual super-loading

168 Disturbed earth — — — Earth which has changed the natural

structure by manipulation

169 Permeability synonym: hydro- — — — The property of the earth to permit the
conductivity circulation of the water by pores
170 Losing the charge hr L m Difference of hydro-dynamic charge
between two sections:
Hr = H1 - H2
where
H1, H2 hydro-dynamic charge in sections
1 and 2
171 Stone — — — Earth constituted predominantly by
fragments of hard rocks, with
dimensions comprised between
2 … 20 mm
172 Pile — — — Structural element of foundation,
introduced in the earth with the
purpose to transmit the vertical
or horizontal loadings, and
characterized by a high ratio between
the length 1 and the side (or
diameter) d. Usually
l/d > 20.
 -19 - STAS 3950-81

Dimen-
No Term Symbol Units Definitions
sions
173 Plasticity — — — The property of the cohesive earths
(clay and dusty) in certain limits of
humidity to deform irreversibly under
the action of exterior forces, without
variations of the volume and without
the apparition of some discontinuities in
their mass
174 Porosity n — % The ratio between the volume of
the pores Vp from a quantity of earth
and the apparent volume (total
volume of the earth including the
wholes) V, of the same quantity. It is
given by the relation:
n = (Vp/V) 100
175 Dust — — — Earth composed predominantly
from mineral particles comprised
between 0.005 …0.05 mm

176 Critical pressure Pcr FL -2 kPa Medium value of the loading

necessary on the unit of surface, in
order to produce the yielding by
breaking of a portanta massive of earth

177 Pressure of contact p FL -2 kPa Pressure which proceeds on the

surface of contact between the structure
and the terrain of foundation

178 Pressure of pre-consolidation ’ p FL -2 kPa The highest effective pressure which

underwent an earth

179 Swelling pressure pu FL -2 kPa Pressure developed after the

inundation with water by an earth
being in a tight precinct and having
the humidity close to the limit of
contraction
180 Synonym geological pressure: ’ g FL -2 kPa The pressure owned to its own weight of
geological charge the earth

181 Pressure of the water from u FL -2 kPa Pressure in excess of the eater from the
pores pores as the hydrostatic pressure

182 Conventional pressure of pores pconv FL -2 kPa The value specified by the standards
of the terrain of the foundation or other specifications in force for
the pressure on terrain, based on
which it can by done the ante-
dimensioning of the base of the
foundation. For certain categories of
constructions and
situations of the foundation
ground specified in STAS
8316-77, the
conventional pressure can be used in
183 Non-disturbed sample — — — the definitive
Sample calculusextracted with all
of earth,
the precautions, for its minimum
agitation in order to maintain to a
large extent the natural structure

184 Ratio (fraction) of damping — — — The ratio of the effective coefficient

of damping toward the critical one,
for a system with viscous damping
STAS 3950-81 -20 -

Dimen-
No Term Symbol Units Definitions
sions
185 Resistance at compression pc FL -2 kPa Unitary effort at which a sample of
with lateral free deformation earth prismatic or cylindrical, freely
(mono-axial) laterally, is breaking at the test of
mono-axial compression (STAS 8942/6-
186 Resistance at shearing of the f FL -2 kPa 75)
Maximum unitary stresses which
earth is developed in a section of the earth in
the moment of breaking by shearing
after that section

187 Resistance at dynamic N10, — — The number of beating registered

penetration with cone N20 under the conditions of testing the
dynamic penetration with cone

188 Resistance of dynamic N — — The number of beating registered

penetration (standard) under the conditions of testing the
dynamic penetration (standard)

189 Survey at freezing — — — Lifting of a surface because of the

accumulation of ice in the terrain

190 Survey by swelling Su L cm Lifting the base of the foundation as

a consequence of the swelling of
the terrain

191 Rock — — — Natural mineral aggregate defined

by mineralogical composition, structure
and texture

192 Bedrock — — — Stony rock or semi-stony, support

for the layers of surface, of thickness
and high spreading in its own location,
older than the quaternary. It presents
high values of the density, the
module of elasticity and the speed of
propagation of the transversal waves

193 Synonym geological charge: — — — See no. 180

geological charge
194 Change of ions — — — The physic-chemical process by
which the ions, of a certain nature
adsorbed by the particles of earth, are
replaced with the ions of other nature
195 Geotechnical section — — — Vertical section through the earth,
which illustrates the nature, the
thickness and the succession of
different layers as well as their
geotechnical characteristics
196 Sensitivity — — — The ratio between the resistance
at compression with free lateral
deformation of a sample of
unagitated earth and the resistance at
compression, under the same
conditions, on a sample from the same
earth, agitated, without changing the
197 Soil — — — humidity and
Loosed the porosity
superficial layer of the
terrestrial crust, resulted from the
desquamation of the rocks under the
action of the atmospherically
reagents and the vegetal formations,
capable of maintaining life of superior
plants
 -21 - STAS 3950-81

Dimen-
No Term Symbol Units Definitions
sions
198 Hydrodynamic specter The graphical representation of the
lines of power and equippotential used
at the study of infiltration issues

199 Soil consolidation Chemical and mechanical treatment,

for the increase of the stability of a
mass of earth or for the
improvement of its properties
200 Structure of the earth Relative arrangement of the solid
fragments in the mass of the earth
201 Suction cm Pressure deficit in ratio with the
column atmospherical pressure, which
of water appears in the water from the pores of
(N/cm†) the non-saturated hydrofile
materials. The suction is
conditioned by the factors which
influence the interaction between the
water and the solid phase, the nature
and composition of the skeleton,
the content of salts from water,
thermic condition and electric, etc.
202 Specific surface The surface of the solid particles per
their volume
203 Base of the foundation The inferior part of the foundation of the
structure in direct contact with the earth
204 Settlement L cm The movement on vertical of the
constructions, as a consequence
specially of the staffing (settlement) of
the soil of foundation, under the action
of loadings transmitted by the
foundations
205 Probable absolute settlement s L cm The movement on vertical of a point
of the foundation or the movement
on vertical of the whole foundation
isolated or continuos
206 Medium settlement of the sm L cm The arithmetical mean of the
construction absolute settlements of the isolated
foundations of the constructions
207 Relative settlement srel The difference between the
absolute settlements of two
neighbored foundations,
ratio ed at the distance between
208 Settlement because of the sc L cm them
Settlement of the foundation as a
contraction result of the contraction of the soil, by
loosing the humidity
209 Supplementary specific imp % The difference between the
settlement by humidification deformation specifically vertical
corresponding to the unitary effort p,
registered for the test sample of earth
tested inundated hi/h and the
corresponding deformation to the
same stress unitary p, for the test
sample tested at natural humidity
h/h. It is given by the relation:

210 Foundation ground The volume of rock or of

earth, influenced by the loads
transmitted trough the foundations
STAS 3950-81 -22 -

Dimen-
No Term Symbol Units Definitions
sions
211 Thermo-osmose The process of moving of the
water through the small pores of the
earth because of a difference of
212 Tixotropy temperature transformation of some
Reversible
gels in soil, as a consequence of
the mechanic agitation (wet
mixing, vibration, etc.)

213 Turf Fibrous mass, of nature

predominantly organic, in
different phases of
desquamation, generally of dark
brown to black color
214 Free swelling UL % Represents the percentual ratio
between the difference of volume
(final and initial) and the initial
volume (STAS 1913/12-73)

215 Swelling because of the frost Lifting of the surface of the soil because
of the accumulation of the lens of ice

216 Humidity w % The ratio between the mass of the

water Mw contained by the pores of a
quantity of earth and the mass of
the solid particles Ms from that
quantity. It is given by the relation:
w = (Mw/Ms) 100
217 Hygroscope humidity The humidity of a dry earth in air
218 Optimum humidity wopt % The humidity for which, during the
test of settlement, it
is obtained
the maximum value of the volume
weight in dry state of the compacted
earth, for a given mechanical specific
219 Filling settling
Deposit work
madesettlement
by man, from earths or
other materials
220 Wave Propagated perturbation in
environment thus in any point in
the respective environment the
amplitude depends on the time, and
the movement in the respective point
depends on the position of the point
221 Longitudinal wave (primary P Wave at which the movement
wave, wave of compression) is propagated by compressions and
decompressions of the
environment, each point describing
an oscillatory movement on the radial
direction as the source (center)
222 Love Wave (wave L) L Wave of shearing produced at
the surface of the semi-space
stratified because of the total multiple
reflections from the surface of the
semi-space. The Love wave is
produced when
the superficial layer has lower
mechanical characteristics as the support
 -23 - STAS 3950-81

No Term Symbol Dimen-

Units Definitions
sions
223 Flat wave —
— — Wave characterized by parallel fronts
with the normal plane of the direction of
propagation
224 Spherical wave — — — Wave characterized by spherical
concentric fronts
225 Transversal wave (secondary S — — Wave at which the movement is
wave, wave of shearing) propagated by shearings (distortions) of
the environment, each point describing
an oscillatory movement on a
perpendicularly direction as the direction
of propagation
226 Rayleigh wave (wave R) R — — Wave produced at the surface of the
semi-space having components of
compression and shearing, the
movement of the material particles
producing only in the vertical plane
formed from the direction of
propagation and the normal at the
surface of the semi-space.
Note: The speed of propagation of the
waves Rayleigh can be obtained with the
equation:

where:
and

227 Deviation angle — degrees Angle between the direction of the

resultant of the stressor the force that
proceeds on a given plane and the
normal to that plane
228 Friction angle  degrees The angle between the abscise and the
 tangent at the curve which represents the
 relation between the resistance at
 shearing and the normal stress which
 proceeds between the earth and the
 surface of another material. It
 corresponds to the angle of friction
 between the earth and the surface of the
 material
229 Inferior apparent friction angle u — degrees The parameter of the resistance at
shearing represented by the angle
between the abscise and the line of
Coulomb f = cu +  t g u expressed for
the total normal unitary stress
230 Inferior effective friction angle — degrees The parameter of the resistance at
’ shearing represented by the angle
between the abscise and the line of
Coulomb f = c’ +  ’ t g ‘
expressed for the effective normal
— degrees unitary stress
231 Angle of the natural Angle as an horizontal plane under
 which is placed freely an non-cohesive
embankment LT -1 m/s earth
Medium speed, equal to the ratio
232 Apparent speed of filtration v between the flow through a flat from a
porous environment, perpendicularly on
the direction of the current of fluid and the
aria of the surface
STAS 3950-81 -24 -

Dimen-
No Term Symbol Units Definitions
sions
233 Real speed of filtration vr LT -1 m/s Medium speed, equal to the ratio
between the flow through a flat from the
pores environment, perpendicularly on
the direction of the current of fluid and
the aria of the voids from the considered
surface
234 Area of capillary fringes — — — Area of above the level of the free water
where the water is retained by capillarity

Elaborated by: MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TEACHING Collaborators:

Institute of constructions – Bucharest
Responsible for the design: Eng. Margareta Patriniche
Final drafted: Romanian Institute for Standardization
Service constructions, materials of construction and forest economy
Eng. Magda Ionescu
- Institute of hydro-technical researches
- Institute of studies and designs for cadastration
- Institute of hydro-energetically studies and designs
- Institute of energetically studies and designs