Which type of soil has no cohesive strength?

Granular soil is characterized by its lack of cohesive strength, meaning it does not easily stick together when wet or disturbed. This type of soil is primarily made up of larger particles, like sand and gravel, which are not held together by attraction at a molecular level like clay particles are. As a result, granular soils tend to drain quickly and do not hold shape well when subjected to forces; they can easily shift or collapse.

In contrast, cohesive soils such as clay have significant cohesive strength due to the fine particles that attract each other. This allows clay to retain shape and structure, particularly when moist. Organic soils typically contain decomposed plant materials and can have variable strength characteristics, but they also tend to be more cohesive than granular soils. Clayey soils, a subtype of cohesive soils, also exhibit significant cohesion due to their fine particle size, which allows them to adhere together.