1.7. Permanent Strain and Elastic Recovery

Try these first

1. 1.

   What happens to the void ratio when stress is applied to soil?

   Hint

   Think about the spaces between soil particles.

2. 2.

   Define elastic recovery.

   Hint

   Consider what happens when you press a sponge and then release it.

3. 3.

   What is the behavior of soil when it first experiences loading?

   • High compression
   • No compression
   • Low compression

   Hint

   Think about how the soil reacts initially when pressure is first applied.

4. 4.

   True or False: Permanent strain can occur in any soil type.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Consider different soil behaviors under stress.

5. 5.

   An engineer needs to design a foundation on a soft clay layer. Describe the steps you would take to assess the soil and predict performance under load.

   Hint

   Think about the critical factors impacting soil strength and behavior.

6. 6.

   A field experienced significant flooding, changing its terrain. How would you expect the soil's effective stress and compressibility to change in this scenario?

   Hint

   Consider how water affects the soil interstitial pressures.