EK498
Overconsolidated soil is one that has experienced vertical effective stresses greater than its existing vertical effective stress.
EK497
Normally consolidated soil is one that has never experienced vertical effective stresses greater than its current vertical effective stress.
EK490
Soils, especially silts and fine sands, can be affected by capillary action. Capillary action results in negative porewater pressures (suction) and increases the effective stresses.
EK482
Deformations of soils are a function of effective stresses, not total stresses.