Understanding Cohesionless Soils: Types and Characteristics

Cohesionless refers to a type of soil that lacks the characteristic of cohesion, which is the ability of a soil to resist shear stress and maintain its shape. In other words, cohesionless soils are those that do not have enough strength to hold together and tend to break apart easily when subjected to shear forces.

Cohesionless soils can be further divided into two main types:

1. Non-cohesive soils: These soils lack both cohesion and adhesion, meaning they have no ability to resist shear stress or hold together. Examples of non-cohesive soils include sand and gravel.
2. Weakly cohesive soils: These soils have some degree of cohesion, but it is very weak and they are still highly susceptible to shear failure. Examples of weakly cohesive soils include clayey sands and silty soils.

In summary, cohesionless soils are those that lack the strength and stability to resist shear forces and tend to break apart easily.