Which type of soil is associated with immediate settlement?

Sandy soil is characterized by its granular nature, which allows for rapid drainage and a quick reaction to loading. Due to its larger particle size and structure, sandy soil does not exhibit significant cohesive forces compared to clayey soils, which tend to retain water and compress over a longer period. When a load is applied to sandy soil, it undergoes immediate settlement as the soil particles rearrange and compact under the new weight. This property is crucial in geotechnical engineering as it impacts the design and assessment of foundations and structures built on sandy soil.

In contrast, clayey soil tends to exhibit delayed settlement due to the plastic and cohesive nature of clay particles, which absorb water and can take time to compress. Silty soil contains finer particles that can also retain water and undergo both immediate and consolidation settlement, but generally less than clay. Granular soil can sometimes include fine particles like silt, which can complicate its behavior under loads. Understanding these distinctions is essential when predicting soil behavior and designing structures accordingly.