THE EFFECTIVE STRESS PRINCIPLE - INCREMENTAL OR FINITE FORM

Different expressions of the effective stress principle can be found i n the literature, in particular some are written in finite form and ot hers in incremental form. For the purpose of the paper we take for gra nted that stress-strain relationships exist or can be obtained for the effective stress coming from both formulations. We investigate the co nsequences of the choice of particular finite or differential forms wh en they are introduced in a weak form of the linear momentum balance e quation of two- of three-phase porous media for its numerical solution . For partially saturated geomaterials the importance of the capillary pressure-saturation relationship is pointed out.