What feature of a soil sample is most affected when it undergoes consolidation?

When soil undergoes consolidation, it primarily experiences a reduction in volume due to the expulsion of water from its pore spaces. Consolidation refers to the process where soil particles are gradually compressed under increasing loads, leading to a decrease in the void ratio, or the volume of voids in comparison to the volume of solids. This process is particularly significant in fine-grained soils, such as clays, which can retain considerable amounts of water.

As the water is squeezed out of the soil structure under pressure, the particles become closer together, resulting in a decrease in overall volume. This change greatly impacts the soil's ability to support structures, as the consolidation process contributes to soil stability over time.

In contrast, the chemical composition of the soil, its texture, and its color are not directly affected by the consolidation process. The chemical makeup remains consistent unless influenced by other factors, texture, which describes the size and distribution of soil particles, remains unchanged during consolidation, and color is generally related to mineral content and organic matter rather than physical changes caused by consolidation.