FE Civil Practice Exam 2025 – Complete NCEES Study Guide

Question: 1 / 625

What is the typical characteristic of particles involved in liquefaction?

Small size with a high cohesion level

Uniform medium size and cohesionless properties

Liquefaction typically occurs in saturated, cohesionless soils, particularly during seismic activities or dynamic loading. The particles involved in liquefaction are generally of medium size and lack significant cohesion, allowing them to lose their inter-particle friction when subjected to shaking or vibration. This loss of friction amidst the saturation of the soil causes the material to behave more like a liquid, which is what defines liquefaction.

In this context, the descriptions of other properties, such as small size with high cohesion or very large and angular particles, do not accurately represent the soil types most susceptible to liquefaction. Cohesionless soils, typically composed of medium-sized particles such as sand, are more relevant to these phenomena, while soils characterized by variability in sizes with high plasticity tend to retain their structure better under stress and are less likely to experience liquefaction.

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Very large and angular particles

Variable sizes with high plasticity

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