GATE CE 2022 Set 1 — Question 17
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Geotechnical Engineering → Permeability → Permeability of Soils
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Question
Four different soils are classified as CH, ML, SP, and SW, as per the Unified Soil Classification System. Which one of the following options correctly represents their arrangement in the decreasing order of hydraulic conductivity?
Correct answer
(A) SW, SP, ML, CH
Solution
Hydraulic conductivity () depends on the size of the pores, which is directly related to the particle size of the soil. Coarser soils have larger pores and thus higher hydraulic conductivity. The general order of decreasing hydraulic conductivity is Gravel > Sand > Silt > Clay.
- SW (Well-graded sand) and SP (Poorly-graded sand) are coarse-grained soils (Sands).
- ML (Low plasticity silt) is a fine-grained soil (Silt).
- CH (High plasticity clay) is a fine-grained soil (Clay).
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