ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the inter-particle force vector generated at a contact point and the inter-particle stress vector on a plane which is defined as an average of inter-particle force vectors per unit area, relating to the particulate soil structure. It shows the notation of inter-particle force vector and inter-particle stress vector. The inter-particle force vectors at all contact points in the soil block have wide-ranging amounts and various directions. These inter-particle force vectors in the soil block are generated by the self-weight of particle, capillary force, seepage force, external force, osmotic pressure and physicochemical action. Mohr’s stress circle is also an important tool for analyzing the inter-particle force and the inter-particle stress due to the external force. The compressional stress and anti-clockwise shear stress are taken to be positive.
