In geology, Coulomb’s law refers to a criterion used to describe the conditions under which a material will fail due to shear stress. It is based on the relationship between the shear stress and normal stress on a plane, along with the material’s internal friction and cohesion. This law is fundamental in understanding fault mechanics, rock stability, and landslide processes.
Source Jaeger, J. C., Cook, N. G. W., & Zimmerman, R. (2007). Fundamentals of Rock Mechanics. Wiley-Blackwell.