GATE 2025 CE (CE1) – Question 57
A clayey soil has a moisture content of 18%, a specific gravity of soil solids of 2.74, and a degree of saturation of 65%. The soil soaks up water during a rain event, and the degree of saturation increases to 85.2%. The change of the volume during the soaking is negligible. The new moisture content (in %) of the soil will be ____________________ (*rounded off to 2 decimal places*).
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Correct answer: 23.47 to 23.71
Explanation
From $Se = wG$, the void ratio is $e = \frac{0.18 \times 2.74}{0.65} = 0.7588$. The volume does not change, so $e$ stays the same. After soaking, $w = \frac{Se}{G} = \frac{0.852 \times 0.7588}{2.74} = 0.2359$, which is 23.59 %.