The process of compacting soil so it becomes rigid is called?

The process of compacting soil so it becomes rigid is called?

• A. Consolidation
• B. Gradation
• C. Crystalline
• D. Spoils

Answer: (A)

Consolidation is the process by which soil becomes firm and rigid under load as its voids are squeezed out and the particles pack more tightly. When soil is compacted, energy rearranges the grains, reducing porosity; in saturated soils, excess pore water pressure also dissipates over time, making the soil stiffer and less prone to large settlements. This concept differs from gradation, which is just the distribution of particle sizes, from crystalline, which relates to crystal structure, and from spoils, which are excavated waste materials.

Consolidation is the process by which soil becomes firm and rigid under load as its voids are squeezed out and the particles pack more tightly. When soil is compacted, energy rearranges the grains, reducing porosity; in saturated soils, excess pore water pressure also dissipates over time, making the soil stiffer and less prone to large settlements. This concept differs from gradation, which is just the distribution of particle sizes, from crystalline, which relates to crystal structure, and from spoils, which are excavated waste materials.