SOIL MECHANICS and FOUNDATION

TOP SOIL MECHANICS and FOUNDATION Engineering MCQ

Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering Multiple Choice Questions :-

1. Residual soils are formed by?

a)glaciers

b)wind

c)water

d)none of the above

Ans:d (it is formed due to disintegration of rocks and when deposited just behind the parent rock)

2. Water content of soil can?

a)never be greater than 100 %

b)take values only from 0 % to 100 %

c)be less than 0 %

d)be greater than 100 %

Ans:d (be greater than 100 %)

3. Which of the following types of soil is transported by gravitational forces ?

a)loess

b)talus

c)drift

d)dune sand

Ans:b (talus)

4. A fully saturated soil is said to be ?

a)one phase system

b)two phase system with soil and air

c)two phase system with soil and water

d)three phase system

Ans:c (two phase system with soil and water)

5. Valid range for S, the degree of saturation of soil in percentage is ?

a)S>0

b)S<0

c)0<S<100

d)0 < S < 100

Ans:d (0 < S < 100)

6. Constant head permeameter is used to test permeability of ?

a)silt

b)clay

c)coarse sand

d)fine sand

Ans:c (coarse sand)

7.A soil has a bulk density of 22 kN/m3 and water content 10 %. The dry density of soil is

a)18.6 kN/m3

b)20.0 kN/m3

c)22.0 kN/m3

d) 23.2 kN/m3

Ans:b (20 kN/m3)

8. If the voids of a soil mass are full of air only, the soil is termed as?

a)air entrained soil

b)partially saturated soil

c)dry soil

d)dehydrated soil

Ans:c (dry soil)

9. Valid range for n, the percentage voids, is ?

a)0<n<100

b)0<n<100

c)n>0

d)n<0

Ans:a (0<n<100)

prarocks

10. Select the correct statement.

a)Unit weight of dry soil is greater than unit weight of wet soil.

b)For dry soils, dry unit weight is less than total unit weight.

c)Unit weight of soil increases due to submergence in water.

d)Unit weight of soil decreases due to submergence in water.

Ans:d (Unit weight of soil decreases due to submergence in water.)

11. Voids ratio of a soil mass can ?

a)never be greater than unity

b)be zero 

c)take any value greater than zero

d) take values between 0 and 1 only

Ans:c (take any value greater than zero)

12.If the volume of voids is equal to the volume of solids in a soil mass, then the values of porosity and voids ratio respectively are?

a)1.0 and 0.0

b)0.0 and 1.0

c)0.5 and 1.0

d)1.0 and 0.5

Ans:c (0.5 and 1.0)

13.When the degree of saturation is zero, the soil mass under consideration represents

a)one phase system

b)two phase system with soil and air

c)two phase system with soil and water

d)three phase system

  Ans:b (two phase system with soil and air)

14. Select the correct range of density index,ID

a)lD>0

b)ID>0

c)0 < lD < 1

d)0 < ID < 1

Ans:d (0 < ID < 1)

15.If the degree of saturation of a partially saturated soil is 60%, then air content of the soil is

a) 40%

b)60%

c)80%

d)100%

Ans:a ( 40%)

16.If the water content of a fully saturated soil mass is 100%, then the voids ratio of the sample is

a)less than specific gravity of soil

b)equal to specific gravity of soil

c)greater than specific gravity of soil

d)independent of specific gravity of soil

Ans:b (equal to specific gravity of soil)

17. The ratio of volume of voids to the total volume of soil mass is called ?

a) air content

b) porosity

c) percentage air voids

d) voids ratio

Ans:b (porosity)

Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering Multiple Choice Questions

18. Relative density of a compacted dense sand is approximately equal to

a)0.4

b)0.6

c)0.95

d)1.20

  Ans:c (0.95)

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19. If the sand in-situ is in its densest state, then the relative density of sand is

a) zero

b)1

c)between 0 and 1

d)greater than 1

Ans:b (1)

20.Which of the following methods is most accurate for the determination of the water content of soil ?

a)oven drying method

b)sand bath method

c)calcium carbide method

d)pycnometer method

Ans:a (oven drying method)

21.For proper field control, which of the following methods is best suited for quick determination of water content of a soil mass ?

a)oven drying method

b)sand bath method

c)alcohol method

d)calcium carbide method

Ans:d (alcium carbide method)

22. A pycnometer is used to determine ?

a)water content and voids ratio

b)specific gravity and dry density

c)water content and specific gravity

d)voids ratio and dry density

Ans:c (water content and specific gravity)

23. Stoke’s law is valid only if the size of particle is

a)less than 0.0002 mm

b)greater than 0.2 mm

c)between 0.2 mm and 0.0002 mm

d)all of the above

Ans:c (between 0.2 mm and 0.0002 mm)

Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering Multiple Choice Questions

24. In hydrometer analysis for a soil mass ?

a)both meniscus correction and dispersing agent correction are additive

b)both meniscus correction and dispersing agent correction are subtractive

c)meniscus correction is additive and dispersing agent correction is subtractive

d)meniscus correction is subtractive and dispersing agent correction is additive

Ans:c (meniscus correction is additive and dispersing agent correction is subtractive)

25.The hydrometer method of sedimentation analysis differs from the pipette analysis mainly in ?

a)the principle of test

b)the method of taking observations

c)the method of preparation of soil suspension

d)all of the above

Ans:b (the method of taking observations)

26. Which of the following is a measure of particle size range ?

a)effective size

b)uniformity coefficient

c)coefficient of curvature

d) none of the above

Ans:b (uniformity coefficient)

27. Which of the following statements is correct?

a)Uniformity coefficient represents the shape of the particle size distribution curve.

b)For a well graded soil, both uniformity coefficient and coefficient of curvature are nearly unity.

c)A soil is said to be well graded if it has most of the particles of about the same size

d)none of the above

Ans:d (none of the above)

28. Uniformity coefficient of a soil is

a)always less than 1

b)always equal to 1

c)equal to or less than 1

d)equal to or greater than 1

Ans:d (equal to or greater than 1)

29.According to Atterberg, the soil is said to be of medium plasticity if the plasticity index PI is?

a)0 < PI < 7

b)7<PI< 17

c)17<PI<27

d)PI>27

Ans:b (7<PI< 17)

30.If the natural water content of soil mass lies between its liquid limit and plastic limit, the soil mass is said to be in

a)liquid state

b)plastic state

c)semi-solid state

d)solid state

Ans:b (plastic state)

32.When the plastic limit of a soil is greater than the liquid limit, then the plasticity index is reported as

a)negative

b)zero

c)non-plastic (NP)

d)1

Ans:b (zero)

33.Toughness index is defined as the ratio of 
a) plasticity index to consistency index 
b) plasticity index to flow index  
c) liquidity index to flow index
d) consistency index to liquidity index

Ans:b (plasticity index to flow index)

34.If the plasticity index of a soil mass is zero, the soil is 
a) sand
b) silt 

c) clay

d) clayey silt

Ans:a (sand)

35.The admixture of coarser particles like sand or silt to clay causes a) decrease in liquid-limit and increase in plasticity index ?

b)decrease in liquid limit and no change in plasticity index

c)decrease in both liquid limit and plasticity index

d)increase in both liquid limit and plasticity index

Ans:c (decrease in both liquid limit and plasticity index)

36. Select the correct statement.

a)A uniform soil has more strength and stability than a non-uniform soil.

b)A uniform soil has less strength and stability than a non-uniform soil.

c)Uniformity coefficient does not affect strength and stability.

d)Uniformity coefficient of a poorly graded soil is more than that of a well graded soil.

Ans:b(A uniform soil has less strength and stability than a non-uniform soil.)

Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering Multiple Choice Questions

38.The water content of soil, which represents the boundary between plastic state and liquid state, is known as

a)liquid limit

b)plastic limit

c)shrinkage limit

d)plasticity index

Ans:a

39.Which of the following soils has more plasticity index ? 

a) sand

b) silt 

c) clay 

d) gravel

Ans:c

40. At liquid limit, all soils possess

a)same shear strength of small magnitude

b)same shear strength of large magnitude

c)different shear strengths of small magnitude

d)different shear strengths of large magnitude

Ans:a (same shear strength of small magnitude)

41.If the material of the base of the Casagrande liquid limit device on which the cup containing soil paste drops is softer than the standard hard rubber, then

a)the liquid limit of soil always increases

b)the liquid limit of soil always decreases

c)the liquid limit of soil may increase

d)the liquid limit of soil may decrease

Ans:a (the liquid limit of soil always increases)

42.According to IS classification, the range of silt size particles is 

a) 4.75 mm to 2.00 mm

b) 2.00 mm to 0.425 mm 

c) 0.425 mm to 0.075 mm 

d) 0.075 mm to 0.002 mm

Ans:d (0.075 mm to 0.002 mm)

43.Highway Research Board (HRB) classification of soils is based on 

a) particle size composition

b) plasticity characteristics

c) both particle size composition and plasticity characteristics

d) none of the above 

Ans:c (both particle size composition and plasticity characteristics)

prarocks

44.Inorganic soils with low compressibility are represented by 

a) MH

b) SL 

c) ML 

d) CH

Ans:c (ML )

45.Sand particles are made of  ?

a) rock minerals

b) kaolinite 

c) illite

d) montmorillonite

Ans:a (rock minerals)

prarocks

46.The clay mineral with the largest swelling and shrinkage characteristics is 

a) kaolinite

b) illite

c) montmorillonite 

d) none of the above

Ans:c (montmorillonite )

47.Dispersed type of soil structure is an arrangement comprising particles having 

a) face to face or parallel orientation

b) edge to edge orientation 
c) edge to face orientation

d) all of the above 

Ans:a (face to face or parallel orientation )

48. Effective stress is

a)the stress at particles contact

b)a physical parameter that can be measured

c)important because it is a function of engineering properties of soil

d)all of the above

Ans:c(important because it is a function of engineering properties of soil)

Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering Multiple Choice Questions

49.Rise of water table above the ground surface causes 
a) equal increase in pore water pressure and total stress 
b) equal decrease in pore water pressure and total stress
c) increase in pore water pressure but decrease in total stress 
d) decrease in pore water pressure but increase in total stress

Ans:a (equal increase in pore water pressure and total stress )

50.The total and effective stresses at a depth of 5 m below the top level of water in a swimming pool are respectively

a)zero and zero

b)0.5 kg/cm2 and zero

c)0.5 kg/cm2 and 0.5 kg/cm2

d)1.0 kg/cm2 and 0.5 kg/cm2

Ans:b(0.5 kg/cm2 and zero)

51. If the water table rises upto ground surface, then the

a)effective stress is reduced due to decrease in total stress only but pore water pressure does not change

b)effective stress is reduced due to increase in pore water pressure only but total

stress does not change

c)total stress is reduced due to increase in pore water pressure only but effec-tivestress does not change

d)total stress is increased due to de-crease in pore water pressure but effective stress does not change

Ans:b (effective stress is reduced due to increase in pore water pressure only but total stress does not change)

53.Quick sand is a

 a) type of sand

b) flow condition occurring in cohesive soils

c) flow condition occurring in cohesionless soils

d) flow condition occurring in both cohesive and cohesionless soils

Ans:c (flow condition occurring in cohesionless soils)

54.The hydraulic head that would produce a quick condition in a sand stratum of thickness 1.5 m, specific gravity 2.67 and voids ratio 0.67 is equal to

a)1.0m

b)1.5 m

c)2.0 m

d)3m

Ans:b (1.5 m)

55.Physical properties of a permeant which influence permeability are 

a) viscosity only

b) unit weight only

c) both viscosity and unit weight 

d) none of the above

Ans:c (both viscosity and unit weight )

56. Select the correct statement.

a)The greater the viscosity, the greater is permeability.

b)The greater the unit weight, the greater is permeability.

c)The greater the unit weight, the smaller is permeability.

d)Unit weight does not affect per-meability.

Ans:b (The greater the unit weight, the greater is permeability.)

57. Effective stress on soil

a)increases voids ratio and decreases permeability

b)increases both voids ratio and permeability

c)decreases both voids ratio and permeability

d)decreases voids ratio and increases permeability

Ans:c (decreases both voids ratio and permeability)

58.If the permeability of a soil is 0.8 mm/sec, the type of soil is 

a) gravel

b) sand 

c) silt 

d) clay

Ans:b ( sand )

59.Which of the following methods is more suitable for the determination of permeability of clayey soil ?

a)constant head method

b)falling head method

c)horizontal permeability test

d)none of the above

Ans:b (falling head method)

60.Which of the following methods is best suited for determination of permeability ofcoarse-grained soils ?

a)constant head method

b)falling head method

c)both the above

d)none of the above

Ans:a (constant head method)

61.Due to a rise in temperature, the viscosity and the unit weight of the percolating fluid are reduced to 60% and 90% respectively.

If other things remain constant, the coefficient of permeability

a)increases by 25%

b)increases by 50%

c)increases by 33.3%

d)decreases by 33.3%

Ans:b (increases by 50%)

62.Coefficient of permeability of soil ?
 a) does not depend upon temperature
b) increases with the increase in temperature
c) increases with the decrease in temperature 
d) none of the above

Ans:b (increases with the increase in temperature)

63. The average coefficient of permeability of natural deposits

a)parallel to stratification is always greater than that perpendicular to stratification

b)parallel to stratification is always less than that perpendicular to stratification

c)is always same in both directions

d)parallel to stratification may or may not be greater than that perpendicular to stratification

Ans:a(parallel to stratification is always greater than that perpendicular to stratification)

64.The total discharge from two wells situated near to each other is 

a) sum of the discharges from individual wells

b) less than the sum of the discharges from individual wells

c) greater than the sum of the discharges from individual wells d) equal to larger of the two discharges from individual wells

Ans:b (less than the sum of the discharges from individual wells)

65.The flownet for an earthen dam with 30 m water depth consists of 25 potential drops and 5 flow channels. The coefficient of permeability of dam material is 0.03 mm/sec. The discharge per meter length of dam is

a)0.00018 m3/sec

b)0.0045 m3/sec

c)0.18m3/sec

d)0.1125m3/sec

Ans:a (0.00018 m3/sec)

66.The most suitable method for drainage of fine grained cohesive soils is a) well ppint system

b) vacuum method 
c) deep well system

d) electroosmosis method

Ans:d ( electroosmosis method)

67.Total number of stress components at a point within a soil mass loaded at its boundary is

a) 3

b)6

c)9

d)16

Ans:c (9)

76.The slope of isochrone at any point at a given time indicates the rate of change of 
a) effective stress with time

b) effective stress with depth

c) pore water pressure with depth 
d) pore water pressure with time

Ans:c ( pore water pressure with depth )

77. Within the consolidation process of a saturated clay

a)a gradual increase in neutral pressure and a gradual decrease in effective pressure takes place and sum of the two is constant

b)a gradual decrease in neutral pressure and a gradual increase in effective pressure takes place and sum of the two is constant

c)both neutral pressure and effective pressure decrease

d)both neutral pressure and effective pressure increase

Ans:b (a gradual decrease in neutral pressure and a gradual increase in effective pressure takes place and sum of the two is constant)

Soil Mechanics and Foundation Questions

78.The value of compression index for a remoulded sample whose liquid limit is 50% is?

a)0.028

b)0.28

c)036

d) 0.036 

Ans:b

79.Which one of the following clays behaves like a dense sand ?
a)over-consolidated ciay with a high over-consolidation ratio
 b) over-consolidated clay with a low over-consolidation ratio
c) normally consolidated clay 
d) under-consolidated clay

Ans:a (over-consolidated ciay with a high over-consolidation ratio)

80.Coefficient of consolidation of a soil is affected by 
a) compressibility

b) permeability

c) both compressibility and permeability 
d) none of the above

Ans:c(both compressibility and permeability )

prarocks

81. Degree of consolidation is

a)directly proportional to time and inversely proportional to drainage path

b)directly proportional to time and inversely proportional to square of drainage path

c)directly proportional to drainage path and inversely proportional to time

d)directly proportional to square of drainage path and inversely proportional to time

Ans:b (directly proportional to time and inversely proportional to square of drainage path)

82.Time factor for a clay layer is 

a) a dimensional parameter

b) directly proportional to permeability of soil 

c) inversely proportional to drainage path

d) independent of thickness of clay layer

Ans:b (directly proportional to permeability of soil )

84.Clay layer A with single drainage and coefficient of consolidation Cv takes 6 months to achieve 50% consolidation. The time taken by clay layer B of the same thickness with double drainage and coefficient of consolidation Cv/2 to achieve the same degree of consolidation is

a)3 months

b)6 months

c)12 months

d)24 months

Ans:a (3 months)

85.Coefficient of consolidation for clays normally 

a) decreases with increase in liquid limit

b) increases with increase in liquid limit

c) first increases and then decreases with increase in liquid limit 

d) remains constant at all liquid limits

Ans:a (decreases with increase in liquid limit)

86.Direct measurement of permeability of the specimen at any stage of loading can be made

a)only in fixed ring type consolido-meter

b)only in floating ring type consolido-meter

c)both (a) and (b)

d)none of the above

Ans:a (only in fixed ring type consolido-meter)

87.Compressibility of sandy soils is a) almost equal to that of clayey soils

b)much greater than that of clayey soils

c)much less than that of clayey soils

d)none of the above

Ans:c (much less than that of clayey soils)

88. Select the correct statement.

a)coefficient of compressibility of an over-consolidated clay is less than that of a normally consolidated clay

b)coefficient of compressibility of an over-consolidated clay is greater than that of a normally consolidated clay

c)coefficient of compressibility is cons-tant for any clay

d)none of the above

Ans:a (coefficient of compressibility of an over-consolidated clay is less than that of a normally consolidated clay)

89.Coefficient of compressibility is  ?

a) constant for any type of soil

b)different for different types of soils and also different for a soil under different states of consolidation

c)different for different types of soils but same for a soil under different states of consolidation

d)independent of type of soil but depends on the stress history of soil

Ans:b (different for different types of soils and also different for a soil under different states of consolidation)

90.The ultimate consolidation settlement of a structure resting on a soil 

a) decreases with the increase in the initial voids ratio

b) decreases with the decrease in the plastic limit

c) increases with the increase in the initial voids ratio

d) increases with the decrease in the porosity of the soil

Ans:a (decreases with the increase in the initial voids ratio)

91.The ultimate consolidation settlement of a soil is 

a) directly proportional to the voids ratio

b) directly proportional to the compression index 

c) inversely proportional to the compression index 

d) none of the above

Ans:b (directly proportional to the compression index )

92.A normally consolidated clay settled 10 mm when effective stress was increased from 100 kN/m2 to 200 kN/ m2. If the effective stress is further increased from 200 kN/ m2 to 400 kN/ m2, then the settlement of the same clay is

a)10 mm

b)20 mm

c)40 mm

d)none of the above

Ans:a (10 mm)

93.Coarse grained soils are best compacted by a 
a) drum roller

b) rubber tyred roller 
c) sheep’s foot roller 
d) vibratory roller

Ans:d (vibratory roller)

94. With the increase in the amount of compaction energy ?

a)optimum water content increases but maximum dry density decreases

b)optimum water content decreases but maximum dry density increases

c)both optimum water content and maximum dry density increase

d)both optimum water content and maximum dry density decrease

Ans:b (optimum water content decreases but maximum dry density increases)

95.The maximum dry density upto which any soil can be compacted depends upon 

a) moisture content only

b) amount of compaction energy only

c) both moisture content and amount of compaction energy 

d) none of the above

Ans:c (both moisture content and amount of compaction energy 

97.For better strength and stability, the fine grained soils and coarse grained soils are compacted respectively as

a)dry of OMC and wet of OMC

b)wet of OMC and dry of OMC

c)wet of OMC and wet of OMC

d)dry of OMC and dry of OMC where OMC is optimum moisture content

Ans:b (wet of OMC and dry of OMC)

98. Select the incorrect statement.

a)Effective cohesion of a soil can never have a negative value.

b)Effective angle of internal friction for coarse grained soils is rarely below 30°.

c)Effective angle of internal friction for a soil increases as state of compact-nessincreases.

d)Effective angle of internal friction is a complicated function of mineralogy and clay size content.

Ans:a (Effective cohesion of a soil can never have a negative value.)

prarocks

99.For a loose sand sample and a dense sand sample consolidated to the same effective stress

a)ultimate strength is same and also peak strength is same

b)ultimate strength is different but peak strength is same

c)ultimate strength is same but peak strength of dense sand is greater than that of loose sand

d)ultimate strength is same but peak

Ans:c (ultimate strength is same but peak strength of dense sand is greater than that of loose sand)

100. The shear strength of a soil

a)is directly proportional to the angle of internal friction of the soil

b)is inversely proportional to the angle of internal friction of the soil

c)decreases with increase in normal stress

d)decreases with decrease in normal stress

Ans:d (decreases with decrease in normal stress)

101.In a consolidated drained test on a normally consolidated clay, the volume of the soil sample during shear ?

a)decreases

b)increases

c)remains unchanged

d)first increases and then decreases

Ans:a (decreases)

102.Skempton’s pore pressure coefficient B for saturated soil is

a) 1

b) zero

c) between 0 and 1

d) greater than 1 

Ans:a (1)

103.Shear strength of a soil is a unique function of 
a) effective stress only

b) total stress only

c) both effective stress and total stress d) none of the above

Ans:a (Effective stress only)

104. In a deposit of normally consolidated clay

a)effective stress increases with depth but water content of soil and un-drainedstrength decrease with depth

b)effective stress and water content increase with depth but undrained strength decreases with depth

c)effective stress and undrained strength increase with depth but water content decreases with depth

d)effective stress, water content and undrained strength decrease with depth

Ans:c (effective stress and undrained strength increase with depth but water content decreases with depth)

105.Select the incorrect statement. Effective angle of shearing resistance

a) increases as the size of particles increases 
b) increases as the soil gradation im-proves 
c) is limited to a maximum value of 45°

d) is rarely more than 30° for fine grained soil

Ans:c (is limited to a maximum value of 45°)

Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering Multiple Choice Questions

106.Unconfmed compressive strength test is 
a) undrained test

b)drained test

c)consolidated undrained test

d)consolidated drained test

Ans:a (undrained test)

107.A cylindrical specimen of saturated soil failed under an axial vertical stress of 100kN/m2 when it was laterally unconfmed. The failure plane was inclined to the horizontal plane at an angle of 45°.

The values of cohesion and angle of internal friction for the soil are respectively

a)0.5 N/mm2 and 30°

b)0.05 N/mm2 and 0°

c)0.2 N/mm2 and 0°

d)0.05 N/mm2 and 45°

Ans:b (0.05 N/mm2 and 0°)

109.The angle that Coulomb’s failure envelope makes with the horizontal is called
 a) cohesion

b) angle of internal friction 
c) angle of repose

d) none of the above

Ans:a (cohesion)

111.If a cohesive soil specimen is subjected to a vertical compressive load, the inclination of the cracks to the horizontal is

a)90°

b)45°

c)22.5°

d) 0°

Ans:b (45°)

prarocks

112. Select the incorrect statement.

a)In a direct shear box test, the plane of shear failure is predetermined.

b)Better control is achieved on the drainage of the soil in a triaxial compression test.

c)Stress distribution on the failure plane in the case of triaxial compression test is uniform.

d)Unconfined compression test can be carried out on all types of soils.

Ans:d (Unconfined compression test can be carried out on all types of soils.)

113.If the shearing stress is zero on two planes, then the angle between the two planes is ?

a)45°

b)90°

c)135°

d)225°

Ans:b (90°)

114.In the triaxial compression test, the application of additional axial stress (i.e. deviator stress) on the soil specimen produces shear stress on

a)horizontal plane only

b)vertical plane only

c)both horizontal and vertical planes

d)all planes except horizontal and vertical planes

Ans:d (all planes except horizontal and vertical planes)

116.In a triaxial compression test when drainage is allowed during the first stage (i. e. application of cell pressure) only and not during the second stage (i.e. application of deviator stress at constant cell pressure), the test is known as ?

a) consolidated drained test

b)consolidated undrained test

c)unconsolidated drained test

d)unconsolidated undrained test

Ans:b (consolidated undrained test)

120.During the first stage of triaxial test when the cell pressure is increased from 0.10 N/mm2 to 0.26 N/mm2, the pore water pressure increases from 0.07 N/mm2 to 0.15 “N/mm2. Skempton’s pore pressure parameter B is

a)0.5

b)-0.5

c)2.0

d)– 2.0

Ans:a (0.5)

121. Sensitivity of a soil can be defined as

a)percentage of volume change of soil under saturated condition

b)ratio of compressive strength of unconfined undisturbed soil to that of soil in a remoulded state

c)ratio of volume of voids to volume of solids

d)none of the above

Ans:b (ratio of compressive strength of unconfined undisturbed soil to that of soil in a remoulded state)

122.Rankine’s theory of earth pressure assumes that the back of the wall is

 a) plane and smooth

b) plane and rough

c) vertical and smooth 
d) vertical and rough 

Ans:c (vertical and smooth )

123.The coefficient of active earth pressure for a loose sand having an angle of internal friction of 30° is ?

a)1/3

b)3

c)1

d)1/2

Ans:a (1/3)

124.The major principal stress in an element of cohesionless soil within the backfill of a retaining wall is

a)vertical if the soil is in an active state of plastic equilibrium

b)vertical if the soil is in a passive state of plastic equilibrium

c)inclined at 45° to the vertical plane

d)none of the above

Ans:a (vertical if the soil is in an active state of plastic equilibrium)

126. The effect of cohesion on a soil is to

a)reduce both the active earth pressure intensity and passive earth pressure intensity

b)increase both the active earth pressure intensity and passive earth pressure intensity

c)reduce the active earth pressure in-tensity but to increase the passive earth pressure intensity

d)increase the active earth pressure in-tensity but to reduce the passive earth pressure intensity 

Ans:c (Reduce the active earth pressure in-tensity but to increase the passive earth pressure intensity)

127.A retaining wall 6m high supports a backfill with a surcharge angle of 10°. The back of the wall is inclined to the vertical at a positive batter angle of 5°. If the angle of wall friction is 7°, then the resultant active earth pressure will act at a distance of 2 m above the base and inclined to the horizontal at an angle of

a)7°

b)10°

c)12°

d)17°

Ans:c (12°)

128. Coefficient of earth pressure at rest is

a)less than active earth pressure but greater than passive earth pressure

b)greater than active earth pressure but less than passive earth pressure

c)greater than both the active earth pressure and passive earth pressure

d)less than both the active and passive earth pressures

Ans:b (greater than active earth pressure but less than passive earth pressure)

137.Bishop’s method of stability analysis 
a) is more conservative

b) neglects the effect of forces acting on the sides of the slices
 c) assumes the slip surface as an arc of a circle

d) all of the above

Ans:c (assumes the slip surface as an arc of a circle)

138.Allowable bearing pressure for a foundation depends upon 
a) allowable settlement only

b) ultimate bearing capacity of soil only

c) both allowable settlement and ultimate bearing capacity 
d) none of above

Ans:c (both allowable settlement and ultimate bearing capacity )

142.The rise of water table below the foundation influences the bearing capacity of soil mainly by reducing ?

a)cohesion and effective angle of shearing resistance

b)cohesion and effective unit weight of soil

c)effective unit weight of soil and effective angle of shearing resistance

d)effective angle of shearing resistance

Ans:b (cohesion and effective unit weight of soil)

143.Terzaghi’s general bearing capacity formula for a strip footing (CNc + y D Nq + 0.5 Y NTB) gives

a) safe bearing capacity

b) net safe bearing capacity 
c) ultimate bearing capacity

d) net ultimate bearing capacity 






where C = unit cohesion 
Y =unit weight of soil 
 D = depth of foundation 
 B = width of foundation  
Nc Nq, NY = bearing capacity factors

Ans:c (ultimate bearing capacity)

144.Terzaghi’s bearing capacity factors Nc, Nq and Nr are functions of 
a) cohesion only

b) angle of internal friction only

c) both cohesion and angle of internal friction d) none of the above

Ans:B (angle of internal friction only)

145.In the plate loading test for determining the bearing capacity of soil, the size of square bearing plate should be

a) less than 300 mm

b) between 300 mm and 750 mm

c) between 750 mm and 1 m

d) greater than 1 m

Ans:A (less than 300 mm)

146. Select the incorrect statement.

a)Bearing capacity of a soil depends upon the amount and direction of load.

b)Bearing capacity of a soil depends on the type of soil.

c)Bearing capacity of a soil depends upon shape and size of footing.

d)Bearing capacity of a soil is indepen-dent of rate of loading.

Ans: A (Bearing capacity of a soil depends upon the amount and direction of load.)

147.A 600 mm square bearing plate settles by 15 mm in plate load test on a Cohesionless soil under an intensity of loading of 0.2 N/ram2. The settlement of a prototype shallow footing 1 m square under the same intensity of loading is

a)15 mm

b)between 15 mm and 25 mm

c)25 mm

d)greater than 25 mm

Ans:b (between 15 mm and 25 mm)

148.A 300 mm square bearing plate settles by 15 mm in a plate load test on a cohesive soil when the intensity of loading is 0.2 N/mm2. The settlement of a prototype shallow footing 1 m square under the same intensity of loading is

a)15 mm

b)30 mm

c)50 mm

d)167 mm

Ans:c (50 mm)

149).Rise of water table in cohesionless soils upto ground surface reduces the net ultimate bearing capacity approximately by

a)25%

b)50%

c)75%

d)90%

Ans:b (50%)

150.Contact pressure beneath a rigid footing resting on cohesive soil is ?

a) less at edges compared to middle
b) more at edges compared to middle
c) uniform throughout
d) none of the above

 Ans:b (more at edges compared to middle)

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