What term describes the increase in soil density due to water expulsion from void spaces?

The term that describes the increase in soil density due to water expulsion from void spaces is consolidation. This process occurs in saturated soils when excess water is expelled under the influence of applied pressure, leading to a reduction in void ratio and an increase in soil density. Over time, as load is applied, the soil particles rearrange themselves and the water is squeezed out, resulting in a denser material.

Consolidation is significant in geotechnical engineering as it affects the settlement characteristics of structures built on or in compacted soils. Understanding this process is crucial for predicting how soil will behave under load, particularly in the context of foundations and earth structure design.

Other terms, while related, describe different phenomena: compaction involves increasing soil density by mechanically forcing soil particles closer together, which typically occurs when air is expelled rather than water. Compression refers to the reduction in volume of a material under stress, which can apply to both soil and other materials but does not specifically address the role of water expulsion. Heating, in this context, would not typically relate to soil density changes due to void water expulsion.