Question

Soil with higher Ic (consistency index) is a better foundation material.

(a) True

(b) False

The question was posed to me during an internship interview.

Enquiry is from Soil Properties topic in section Other Major Topics in Civil Engineering of Basic Civil Engineering

Answer 1

Right option is (a) True

To explain I would say: If two soils are to be compared, based on Ic, then higher value one is better foundation material. If Ic < 0, natural water content < liquid limit and soil would behave like liquid. This is not a desired property for foundation material.