1.1. Soil Composition

Try these first

1. 1.

   Define soil composition in your own words.

   Hint

   Think about what physical and chemical characteristics define soil.

2. 2.

   List two types of soil states.

   Hint

   Consider how soil might feel or behave.

3. 3.

   What does soil composition refer to?

   • Only mineral types
   • Various components of soil including minerals
   • grain size
   • and structure
   • Just the size of particles

   Hint

   Think broadly about all components.

4. 4.

   True or False: The Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria consider only shear stress.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Remember what factors contribute to failure.

5. 5.

   Given a soil sample's grain size distribution and moisture content, describe how these would impact its shear strength.

   Hint

   Consider how drainage might affect weight and packing.

6. 6.

   You have two soils: one very structured and one poorly structured. Predict their behavior under identical loads and discuss the outcomes.

   Hint

   Think about the concept of stress distribution.