What is the primary cause of settlement in saturated cohesive soils?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
What is the primary cause of settlement in saturated cohesive soils?
Consolidation due to applied loads
Shrinkage due to drying
Erosion due to water flow
Frost heave
Settlement in saturated cohesive soils primarily occurs due to consolidation, which is the process of volume reduction in soil due to the expulsion of water from the pores under applied loads.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: What is the primary cause of settlement in saturated cohesive soils?
Solution: Settlement in saturated cohesive soils primarily occurs due to consolidation, which is the process of volume reduction in soil due to the expulsion of water from the pores under applied loads.
Steps: 5
Step 1: Understand what saturated cohesive soils are. These are soils that are fully filled with water and have fine particles that stick together.
Step 2: Learn about consolidation. This is the process where soil gets smaller in volume when pressure is applied.
Step 3: Recognize that when a load (like a building) is placed on saturated cohesive soils, the water in the soil's pores is pushed out.
Step 4: Realize that as the water leaves, the soil particles move closer together, causing the soil to settle.
Step 5: Conclude that the primary cause of settlement in these soils is the expulsion of water due to the applied load, leading to consolidation.
