What is the angle of repose in relation to a spoil pile?

The angle of repose refers to the steepest angle at which a pile of material can remain stable without sliding or collapsing. In the context of a spoil pile, which consists of the soil, rock, or other materials removed during excavation, the angle of repose is specifically the angle that the surface of the pile makes with the horizontal ground.

When materials are deposited from a height, they settle and form a conical shape, and the angle of repose indicates the maximum angle this conical shape can maintain before the particles start to slide down due to gravity. This is influenced by the properties of the material, like texture and cohesion. Understanding the angle of repose is crucial for ensuring safety on job sites, as it helps in assessing potential hazards such as slope failure.

The other options do not accurately define the angle of repose. The vertical height of the pile describes how tall the pile is but does not provide information about its stability or angle. The weight of the spoil material relates to its mass but does not determine the angle at which it can be piled securely. The time taken to create the pile might indicate how quickly the material was removed or deposited, but it has no connection to the angle of repose.