Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) Practice Test 2025 – All-in-One Study Guide for Exam Success!

Clay loam is considered to have a higher compressive strength compared to other types of soil, particularly sandy soil, silt, and granular soil. The reason for this lies in the composition and compactness of clay loam, which is a mixture of clay, silt, and sand. This combination allows for better cohesion among soil particles, leading to enhanced structural integrity and stability under load.

In contrast, sandy soil typically has good drainage characteristics but low cohesion, making it less stable and more prone to shifting under load. Silt, while more cohesive than sandy soil, can also lose strength when saturated with water, leading to instability. Granular soil, depending on the degree of compaction and moisture content, can exhibit low compressive strength as well, particularly if it is loosely packed. Thus, clay loam stands out as having a more reliable compressive strength in comparison to the other soil types listed.