Some Phenomenological Models of Polyphasic Soils

An aggregate is a material medium formed by particles that are very large in comparison with molecular dimensions, but very small when compared with what should be considered as an elementary volume. Depending on whether a particle is gaseous, liquid or solid, it is called respectively a bubble, drop or grain. For example, one cubic decimetre of soil constitutes an elementary volume containing millions of grains; between these grains, the interstitial space generally contains a gaseous and a liquid phase; a phase is called funicular if the domain it covers is line connected; otherwise it is called particular, that is, formed by bubbles if it is a question of gas, and by drops if it is a question of liquid.