The natural moisture content of a fully saturated clay is 32.3%. The specific gravity of soil is 2.65. Calculate the percentage decrease to be expected in the unit volume of clay when its moisture content is reduced by evaporation to 16.4%. The shrinkage limit of clay is 23%.

Volume of soil at natural condition.

$V_{1}$ = $V_{S}$ + $V_{w1}$

w=32 3%

$W_{W1}$ =0.323 $W_{S}$ $=$ $V_{w}=\frac{0.323 W_{s}}{\gamma_{w}}=\frac{0.323 W_{s}}{1}$ $\left[\gamma_{w}=1 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{cc}\right]$ Thus $$ V_{1}=V_{s}+0.323 W_{s} $$ Similarly, volume of soil at shrinkage limit $$ V_{d}=V_{s}+0.23 W_{s} $$ If water content of soil is reduced to $16.4 \%$, …