Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) Certification Practice Exam

Soil enlarges in volume by what percent when excavated?

5-10% 20-30% 40-50% 60-70%

Correct Answer:

20-30%

Explanation:

When soil is excavated, it loses the tight confinement of its in-place compacted state, and the grains rearrange into a looser packing. This loosening increases porosity and reduces density, so the same soil mass occupies more space. For most soils, the volume increase is about 20-30 percent, making that range the standard estimate used in planning backfill and spoil. The exact amount varies with soil type and moisture, but 20-30% is the typical rule of thumb. The other ranges are outside what’s usually expected for this condition, since the expansion is generally more than 10% but not as high as 60-70% in common construction scenarios.

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