General Contractor Practice Exam

What must be done if a compaction test has failed due to low moisture content?

1. Soil should be paved

2. Soil will need to be ripped up, watered, and then recompacted

3. Soil must be replaced entirely

4. Soil should be mixed with sand

The correct answer is: Soil will need to be ripped up, watered, and then recompacted

When a compaction test fails due to low moisture content, the appropriate action is to rip up the soil, add water, and then recompacted it. This is essential because achieving proper soil compaction relies heavily on the optimal moisture level within the soil. When the moisture content is too low, the soil particles cannot be packed together effectively, leading to insufficient density and compaction. By raking up the existing soil, moisture can be added uniformly throughout the soil mass. After watering, recompacting ensures that the soil reaches the desired density and stability necessary for any construction work. This method is efficient and often saves time and resources compared to entirely replacing the soil, which would unnecessarily increase costs and project duration. The other alternatives, such as mixing soil with sand or paving the soil directly, do not address the underlying moisture deficiency and may potentially lead to further issues. Therefore, the most effective and correct approach involves adjusting the moisture content and recompacting the soil.