The Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion

The Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion describes how materials like soil and rock fracture or fail under stress. It states that failure occurs when the applied shear stress (sliding force) on a surface exceeds a limit determined by the material's strength and the amount of normal stress (pressure perpendicular to the surface). Essentially, the material's ability to resist sliding depends on its internal cohesion and friction. When the shear stress surpasses this combined strength, the material breaks or slips, leading to failure, such as landslides or landslides or the collapse of structures.