UPSC Civil Service Exam Questions - Civil Engineering Questions and Answers

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Well-graded dense saturated sands have high shear strength because :

Such sands have a better grade (superior type) of sand grains resulting in higher strength

Such sands have lower water content, which increases shear strength

Such sands have better interlocking of grains, higher inter-particle contacts and higher inter-particle frictional resistance resulting in higher strength.

Presence of water in such sands induces capillary pressure generating higher inter-granular stresses, which generate apparent cohesion and hence higher shear strength.

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