soil shear as a dynamical system . Dynamical systems are ubiquitous in nature (the Great Red Spot on Jupiter is one example) and mathematicians have extensively studied such systems. The underlying basis of the soil shear dynamical system is simple friction . See also Civil engineering Direct shear test Dynamical systems theory Earthworks (engineering) Effective stress Geotechnical engineering Granular material Publications in geotechnical engineering Soil mechanics Soil stabilization Subsidence Triaxial shear test References External links Typical values of angle of friction for soils Critical state based soil shear Critique of elasto-plastic soil shear Soil mechanics