Soil Particle Size Order
Soil texture is determined by the size of its constituent particles. Understanding the order of particle sizes is crucial in soil science and engineering. The particles are typically classified based on their diameter.
Particle Size Classification
In descending order of grain size (largest to smallest), soil particles are classified as follows:
| Particle Type | Grain Size (approximate diameter) |
|---|---|
| Gravel | > 2 mm |
| Sand | 0.06 mm to 2 mm |
| Silt | 0.002 mm to 0.06 mm |
| Clay | < 0.002 mm |
Determining the Correct Order
The question asks for the particles in descending order of grain size. Based on the standard classification:
- Gravel particles are the largest.
- Sand particles are smaller than gravel but larger than silt.
- Silt particles are smaller than sand but larger than clay.
- Clay particles are the smallest.
Therefore, the correct descending order is Gravel - Sand - Silt - Clay.
Important Questions from Foundations
The live load and dead load in a three storeyed residential building, transferred through a single column, is 12 tons and 18 tons respectively. If the soil bearing capacity is 10 ton/sqm and the factor of safety is 1.5, the area of column footing is ______sqm (up to one decimal place).
- Which of the following is/are example(s) of Concrete Cased Pile?
- A column transmits a load of 225 kN to a square footing. The safe bearing capacity of the soil is 100 kN/m$^2$. The minimum length (in m) of the side of this safe square footing is _____________ (rounded off to one decimal place).
