Soil Mechanics Questions and Answers - Activity of Clays

1. The typical activity value of illite, present in clay is________
a) 0.4-0.5
b) 0.5-1.0
c) 1.0-7.0
d) 2.7-5.3

Answer: b
Explanation: Typical active values are kaolinite: 0.4-0.5
Illite: 0.5-1.0
Montmorillonite: 1.0-7.0.

2. Based on activity number, clays can be classified in to_______ categories.
a) Five
b) Two
c) Three
d) More than five

Answer: c
Explanation: Clays are classified into 3 types as kaolinite, illite, and montmorillonite.

3. A clay is said to be inactive, if the activity is_________
a) <0.75
b) 0.75-1.40
c) >1.40
d) None of the mentioned

Answer: a
Explanation: Clay is classified as inactive if the activity is less than 0.75.

4. Clay containing kaolinite, will relatively have a_________ activity.
a) High
b) Intermediate
c) Low
d) Moderate

Answer: c
Explanation: Clay containing will have relatively low activity, while montorillonite have high activity.

5. Activity of a clay can be determined by laboratory test like __________
a) Wet analysis
b) Liquid limit
c) Plastic limit
d) All of the mentioned

Answer: d
Explanation: Activity can be determined by from the result of usual laboratory tests such as wet analysis, liquid limit, and plastic limit.

6. Based on the observation made by Skempton, for a given soil __________
a) Plastic index is proportional to percent of clay-size fraction
b) Plastic index is inversely proportional to percent of clay-size fraction
c) Plastic index is equal to percent of clay-size fraction
d) None of the mentioned

Answer: a
Explanation: In 1953 skempton, observed that for a given soil the plasticity index is proportional to the percent of clay-size fraction.

7. For a clay to be active, the activity of it should be __________
a) 0.75-1.40
b) >1.40
c) <0.75
d) <0.75

Answer: b
Explanation: Based on activity number, the activity should be greater than 1.4 for clay to be active.

8. The sensitivity of most clays usually falls in a range of _________
a) 2 to 8
b) 1 to 6
c) 1 to 8
d) 1 to 5

Answer: c
Explanation: From referring sensitivity classification table, it can be seen that clays have a common sensitivity between 1 to 8

9. Highly over consolidating clays tends to be _________
a) sensitive
b) normal sensitive
c) less sensitive
d) extra sensitive

Answer: c
Explanation: This type of clay tends to have sensitive of 1(unity). Hence it is classified as in sensitive.

10. The consistency of an undisturbed sample of clay is altered, even at the same water content, if it is remoulded.
a) True
b) False

Answer: a
Explanation: The consistency of an undisturbed sample of clay is altered because the original structure of clay is altered by reworking or remoulding.