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GATE 2024 CE (CE2) – Question 23

Geotechnical Engineering · Shear strength, Mohr circle, stress-strain characteristics, stress paths · 1 mark · Multiple choice

Which one of the following saturated fine-grained soils can attain a negative Skempton's pore pressure coefficient (A)?

  1. Quick clays
  2. Normally-consolidated clays
  3. Lightly-consolidated clays
  4. Over-consolidated clays

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Correct answer: (D) Over-consolidated clays

Explanation

Heavily over-consolidated clays tend to dilate on shearing, which makes the pore pressure fall and gives a negative value of $A$ at failure. Normally consolidated and lightly over-consolidated clays contract and give positive values.