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Table T1. Common symbols used in text.

Symbol Definition
g Gravitational acceleration, 9.8 m/s2
z Burial depth in meters below seafloor (mbsf)
H Depth below sea level, m
L Sample length, mm
εv Vertical strain in the tests, %
εr1 to εr4 Horizontal strains in the tests along four directions, 45° apart, %
εvol Volumetric strain in the test, %
K0 Stress ratio during uniaxial strain, dimensionless, K0 = Δσh′/Δσv′ = (3 – ηK0)/(3 + 2 · ηK0)
λ* Maximum overpressure ratio, dimensionless, λ* = P*max/σvh′
ηK0 Stress ratio during uniaxial strain, dimensionless, ηK0 = Δ(Δσ)/Δσm′
ρg Sediment grain density, g/cm3
ρw Seawater density, g/cm3, ρw = 1.035 g/cm3
ρb Sediment bulk density, g/cm3, total weight/total volume
η Sediment porosity, %, volume of pore fluid/total volume, η = (ρg – ρb)/(ρg – ρw) · 100
Pw Hydrostatic fluid pressure acting on sediment, MPa, Pw = ρw · g · H
Pf Total pore fluid pressure acting on sediment, MPa
P* Excess pore fluid pressure, MPa, P* = Pf – Pw
P*max Maximum pore fluid pressure in excess of hydrostatic water pressure, MPa, P*max = σvh′ – σy′
σv Total vertical stress, MPa, σv = (ρb – ρw) · g · z + Pw
σv′ Effective vertical stress, MPa, σv′ = σv – Pf = (ρb – ρw) · g · z + P*
σh′ Effective horizontal stress, MPa
σvh′ In situ effective vertical stress for hydrostatic pore pressure, MPa, σvh′ = σv – Pw = (ρb – ρw) · g · z
Δσ Differential stress in tests, MPa, Δσ = σv′ – σh′
σm′ Effective mean stress, MPa, σm′ = (σv′ + 2 · σh′)/3
σy′ Effective vertical yield stress in tests, MPa

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