Question

In a shear test on cohesionless soils, if the initial void ratio is less than critical void ratio, the sample will

• A. increase in volume
• B. initially increase in volume and then remain constant
• C. decrease in volume
• D. initially decrease and then increase in volume

Answer 1

The correct option is D initially decrease and then increase in volume

If initial void ratio is less than critical void ratio then the sample is dense sand. So in this case the volume will decrease initially to get fully compacted and then to achieve critical void ratio the volume will increase. If initial void ratio is more than critical void ratio then the sample is loose sand. In this case volume initially decreases and then remains constant.