Which of the following types of conventional tests will be conducted on clay soils to test the shearing strength?
- AUndrained or quick testsCorrect
- BUnconsolidated-quick tests
- CDrained tests
- DConsolidated-slow tests
Solution
Concept
Conventional shear tests on clays
Step-by-step solution
1. Clays have low permeability, so the conventional tests are undrained (quick) tests, which reflect field conditions of rapid loading.
Explanation
For saturated clays the undrained or quick test (φu = 0, strength cu) is the standard conventional test.
Why the other options are wrong
Drained (slow) tests take very long on clay. Option (b) is the same test as (a) under another name.
Shortcut
Clays → undrained/quick tests.
Correct answer: A) Undrained or quick tests