1.3 - Unconfined Compression Strength
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Practice Questions
Test your understanding with targeted questions
What is the unconfined compression strength?
💡 Hint: Think about how strong the soil can be when there’s no pressure around it.
Why is it important to measure unconfined compression strength?
💡 Hint: Remember when we talked about foundations!
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Interactive Quizzes
Quick quizzes to reinforce your learning
What is the value of the minor principal total stress in an unconfined compression test?
💡 Hint: Recall that ‘unconfined’ means no pressure surrounding the specimen.
True or False: Unconfined compression strength is an indicator of a soil's ability to support structures.
💡 Hint: Think back to the importance of unconfined compression tests in construction.
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Challenge Problems
Push your limits with advanced challenges
You have a clay soil sample with an unconfined compression strength of 150 kPa. After testing, you find a moisture increase. Predict how its strength may change, providing reasoning.
💡 Hint: Consider the inverse relationship learned in class.
Explain how performing an unconfined compression test could create differing outcomes in saturated versus unsaturated soils, using specific examples.
💡 Hint: Recall our discussions about moisture effects on load-bearing capacity.
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