Cohesion of Soils

Cohesion of soils is the internal molecular attraction which resists the rupture or shear of a material. Cohesion is derived in fine grained soils from the water films which bind together the individual particles in the soil mass. Cohesion of soils is the characteristic of the fine materials with particle size below about 0.002 mm (clay). Cohesion of a soil decreases as the moisture content increases. Cohesion is greater in well compacted clays than in badly-compacted soils and is independent of the external loads applied.