Soil Cohesion as Affected by Time and Water Content

Cohesion increased for several months after disruption in moist soils. Rate at which cohesion increased was slower in airdry soil, but continued for years. Moduli of rupture of soils also increased with time. Effects of water content on the rate at which cohesion increases are compatible with an explanation of the bonding mechanism in terms of slightly soluble components diffusing to and cementing points of contact between particles. Cohesional forces due to water are estimated and found to be large enough to provide a major portion of the cohesion measured in soils. These estimates are supported by decreased cohesion of a silty soil when dried. However, cohesion of soils with larger amounts of clay generally increases when they are dried, indicating that other bonding mechanisms predominate.