Source: wikibot/effective-stress

= Effective stress
{wiki=Effective_stress}

Effective stress is a key concept in soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering that describes the stress that contributes to the soil's strength and stability. It is defined as the difference between the total stress and the pore water pressure within the soil. The effective stress principle was formulated by Karl Terzaghi in the early 20th century and is fundamental in understanding how saturated soils behave under loading conditions.