ASTM D653-03

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Designation: D 653 – 03
Standard Terminology Relating to
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Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 653; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
These definitions were prepared jointly by the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Society for Testing and Materials.
INTRODUCTION
A number of the definitions include symbols and indicate the units of measurement. The symbols
appear in italics immediately after the name of the term, followed by the unit in parentheses. No
significance should be placed on the order in which the symbols are presented where two or more are
given for an individual term. The applicable units are indicated by capital letters, as follows:
F—Force, such as pound-force, ton-force, newton
L—Length, such as inch, foot, millimeter
T—Time, such as second, minute
D—Dimensionless
Positive exponents designate multiples in the numerator. Negative exponents designate multiples in
the denominator. Degrees of angle are indicated as “degrees.”
Expressing the units either in SI or the inch-pound system has been purposely omitted in order to
leave the choice of the system and specific unit to the engineer and the particular application, for
example:
−2
FL —may be expressed in pounds-force per square inch, kilopascals, tons per square foot, etc.
−1
LT —may be expressed in feet per minute, millimeters per second, etc.
Where synonymous terms are cross-referenced, the definition is usually included with the earlier
term alphabetically. Where this is not the case, the later term is the more significant.
Definitions marked with (ISRM) are included for the convenience of the user and were taken
directly from the International Society for Rock Mechanics. For a list of ISRM symbols relating to soil
and rock mechanics, refer to Appendix X1.
See Reference section at the end of this standard.
AASHTO compaction—see compaction test. abrasive—any rock, mineral, or other substance that, owing to
88A” Horizon—see horizon. its superior hardness, toughness, consistency, or other prop-
abandonment—see decommissioning. D 5299 erties, is suitable for grinding, cutting, polishing, scouring,
abrasion—a rubbing and wearing away. (ISRM) or similar use.
abrasion—the mechanical wearing, grinding, scraping or rub- abrasiveness—the property of a material to remove matter
bing away (or down) of rock surfaces by friction or impact, when scratching and grinding another material. (ISRM)
or both. absorbed water—water held mechanically in a soil or rock
mass and having physical properties not substantially differ-
ent from ordinary water at the same temperature and
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This terminology is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil
pressure.
and Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.93 on Terminology
absorption—the assimilation of fluids into interstices.
for Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2003. Published December 2003. Originally absorption loss—that part of transmitted energy (mechanical)
approved in 1942. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as D 653 – 02a.
lost due to dissipation or conversion into other forms (heat,
This extensive list of definitions represents the joint efforts of Subcommittee
etc.).
D18.93 on Terminology for Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids of ASTM Committee
accelerator—a material that increases the rate at which
D18 on Soil and Rock, and the Committee on Definitions and Standards of the
Geotechnical Engineering Division of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
chemical reactions would otherwise occur.
These two groups function together as the Joint ASCE/ASTM Committee on
activator—a material that causes a catalyst to begin its
Nomenclature in Soil and Rock Mechanics. This list incorporates some terms from
function.
ASTM Definitions D 1707, Terms Relating to Soil Dynamics, which were discon-
active earth pressure—see earth pressure.
tinued in 1967.
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D653–03
active state of plastic equilibrium—see plastic equilibrium. movement of such magnitude that the structure is endan-
additive—any material other than the basic components of a gered.
grout system.
alluvium—soil, the constituents of which have been trans-
adhesion—shearing resistance between soil and another ma-
ported in suspension by flowing water and subsequently
terial under zero externally applied pressure.
deposited by sedimentation.
Symbol Unit
amplifi
...