1.7.1. Cohesion

Try these first

1. 1.

   What is shear strength in your own words?

   Hint

   Think about what keeps the soil particles together.

2. 2.

   Define cohesion.

   Hint

   Consider attractions between soil particles.

3. 3.

   What defines the shear strength of a soil?

   • Resistance to tension
   • Resistance to sliding forces
   • Resistance to weight

   Hint

   Focus on how soil behaves under stress.

4. 4.

   Cohesion is dependent on external stress. (True/False)

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Think about what holds particles together without external influence.

5. 5.

   Given a soil sample with cohesion of 12 kPa, an internal friction angle of 25°, and normal stress of 50 kPa, calculate the shear strength.

   Hint

   Ensure to identify the values correctly from the problem statement.

6. 6.

   Discuss how increasing water content impacts shear strength in granular soils and its implications for construction.

   Hint

   Think about how saturated soil behaves differently from dry soil.