Final answer:
In the spring rate estimation formula, the variable 'g' stands for the shear modulus of the material, which indicates the material's elasticity in response to shear stress.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the formula k = gd^4 / 8d^3n used for estimating the spring rate of a helical compression spring, the variable g represents the shear modulus of the material. The shear modulus is a measure of the elasticity of the material in response to shear stress, which is the force per unit area causing one layer of material to slide past another. It is essentially the material's resistance to shearing forces and is a critical value for calculating how much a spring can compress or extend under a given load.