A soil has a submerged unit weight (γ') of 10.5 kN/m3. Given the unit weight of water (γw) is 9.81 kN/m3, what is the critical hydraulic gradient (icr) for this soil?
Explanation
The critical hydraulic gradient is the hydraulic gradient at which the 'quick condition' or 'boiling' occurs. It is a dimensionless quantity calculated as the ratio of the soil's submerged unit weight to the unit weight of water, as defined by Equation (9.9).
Other questions
What is the relationship between total stress (σ), effective stress (σ'), and pore water pressure (u) in a soil mass according to the principle of effective stress?
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