What term describes the reaction of soil to shaking?

Prepare for the ICC Soils (EC) Material Testing Exam. Utilize study tools like flashcards and multiple-choice questions, complete with explanations. Gain confidence for your certification test today!

Multiple Choice

What term describes the reaction of soil to shaking?

The appropriate term that describes the reaction of soil to shaking is dilatancy. Dilatancy refers to the phenomenon where certain materials, including saturated soils, exhibit an increase in volume or stiffness when subjected to shear stress or rapid deformation. This is particularly evident during events such as earthquakes or other vibrations, where soils can temporarily behave like a solid due to the rearrangement of its particles under stress. As the soil particles are jostled, they can increase in density and resistance, affecting the soil's stability and supporting capacity during and after shaking. Other terms, while related to soil behavior, do not specifically encompass the reaction to shaking. Plasticity refers to the ability of a soil to undergo deformation without cracking, compressibility describes the tendency of soil to decrease in volume under pressure, and viscosity refers to the resistance of a fluid to flow. None of these terms specifically captures the phenomenon of increased stiffness or volume in response to shaking, which makes dilatancy the correct choice for this context.

The appropriate term that describes the reaction of soil to shaking is dilatancy. Dilatancy refers to the phenomenon where certain materials, including saturated soils, exhibit an increase in volume or stiffness when subjected to shear stress or rapid deformation. This is particularly evident during events such as earthquakes or other vibrations, where soils can temporarily behave like a solid due to the rearrangement of its particles under stress. As the soil particles are jostled, they can increase in density and resistance, affecting the soil's stability and supporting capacity during and after shaking.

Other terms, while related to soil behavior, do not specifically encompass the reaction to shaking. Plasticity refers to the ability of a soil to undergo deformation without cracking, compressibility describes the tendency of soil to decrease in volume under pressure, and viscosity refers to the resistance of a fluid to flow. None of these terms specifically captures the phenomenon of increased stiffness or volume in response to shaking, which makes dilatancy the correct choice for this context.

More practice questions