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Fig. A2.1. Two-dimensional illustration of the analogy between the three-dimensional shrinkage of a layer and a sample of an arbitrary shape. (a) The current specific volume 
of a layer with dotted initial upper surface (corresponding to 
l = = o) is equal to the current specific volume (
) of a soil matrix (shaded area) plus the current specific crack volume (cr.l) (black strips; vertical cracks are only shown for simplicity). , o, and l are connected by Eq. [A2.1]. (b) The current specific volume (s) of a sample of an arbitrary shape with dotted initial surface (corresponding to s = = o) is equal to the current specific volume () of a soil matrix (shaded area) plus the current specific crack volume (cr.s) (black strips). , o, and s are connected by Eq.[A2.2], which is similar to Eq.[A2.1]. The M factor is the generalization of the rs factor for a sample of an arbitrary shape.
