Question

Slaking is due to the ______ into the drying of the soil below the shrinkage limit.

(a) entry of water

(b) exit of water

(c) entry of air

(d) exit of air

I have been asked this question by my school teacher while I was bunking the class.

Origin of the question is Slaking of Clay and Bulking of Sand topic in section Soil Water Effective and Neutral Stresses of Geotechnical Engineering I

Answer 1

Correct option is (c) entry of air

To explain: When the water enters the voids (containing air during drying process), due to immersion, menisci is formed, causing high pressures and subsequent explosion of the voids leading to the disintegration soil structure.