Chapter 2 · MCQ Read Mode

Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering

The direct shear test and triaxial test are primarily used to determine:

The falling head permeability test is generally used for:

The one-dimensional consolidation (oedometer) test is used to determine:

USCS (Unified Soil Classification System) classifies soil based primarily on:

A boring log primarily records:

Sieve analysis is used to determine:

The uniformity coefficient (Cu) and coefficient of curvature (Cc), derived from a gradation curve, are used to assess:

The liquid limit (LL) of a soil is defined as the water content boundary between:

The plasticity index (PI) of a soil is calculated as:

The shrinkage limit (SL) is defined as the water content below which:

Effective stress is related to total stress and pore water pressure by:

Capillary rise above the groundwater table occurs due to:

A quick sand condition occurs when:

Seepage pressure in a soil mass arises from:

A flow net is a graphical tool consisting of:

Flow nets are commonly applied in the design of:

The compression index (Cc) represents:

Soil compaction primarily achieves densification by:

The optimum moisture content in a Proctor compaction test corresponds to:

Which of the following is generally most affected by long-term consolidation settlement due to compressibility?

Principal planes in soil mechanics are defined as planes on which:

The Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion is expressed as:

Graphically, shear failure in the Mohr-Coulomb framework occurs when:

A key limitation of the direct shear test, compared to the triaxial test, is that it:

The triaxial compression test allows for testing under which drainage conditions?

The unconfined compression test is essentially a triaxial test with:

The vane shear test is particularly useful for measuring:

Factor of safety in slope stability analysis is defined as:

The method of slices, used in slope stability analysis, works by:

Which of the following tends to REDUCE the stability of a slope?

A trial pit, as a soil exploration method, is best suited for:

The Standard Penetration Test (SPT) is an example of:

A disturbed soil sample, such as one obtained via a split-spoon sampler, is primarily suitable for:

An undisturbed soil sample is typically obtained using:

At-rest earth pressure (K₀) applies to the condition where:

Active earth pressure occurs when a retaining structure:

Compared to Rankine's theory, Coulomb's earth pressure theory is generally considered more general because it:

Sliding failure of a retaining wall refers to:

Adding a shear key beneath a retaining wall's base primarily helps resist:

Providing drainage (weep holes/drainage layer) behind a retaining wall primarily helps by:

The primary function of a foundation is to:

A shallow foundation is generally characterized by:

A deep foundation, such as a pile foundation, transfers load to supporting strata primarily via:

Which of the following is NOT typically a factor influencing foundation type selection?

Site investigation for foundation design primarily establishes:

A spread (isolated) footing is used to:

A mat (raft) foundation is typically chosen when:

A mat/raft foundation is best classified as:

Foundation depth in a deep foundation, compared to a shallow foundation, is:

A key function of a foundation, besides load transfer, is to:

Ultimate bearing capacity (qu) is defined as:

Allowable bearing capacity/pressure used for foundation design is:

A high groundwater table generally has what effect on bearing capacity?

General shear failure of a foundation is characteristic of:

Punching shear failure is characteristic of:

Terzaghi's general bearing capacity equation for a strip footing is:

For a purely cohesive (saturated clay, φ=0) soil under undrained conditions, Terzaghi's equation simplifies to approximately:

Consolidation of saturated fine-grained soil is best described as:

Secondary consolidation (secondary compression) is best described as: rearrangement

Immediate (elastic) settlement is most significant in:

A sand has e = 0.8 and another clay has e = 1.2; which is more pervious?

The soil which contains finest grain particles is ______.

The maximum size of grains of silt is about ______.

Stoke's law does not hold good if the size of the particle is smaller than ______.

In Stokes law, terminal velocity of particle is ______.

Stokes law is used to determine ______.

Which of the following statements is true for Hydrometer method of sedimentation Analysis?

The degree of saturation for fully saturated soil is ______.

A soil sample is having a specific gravity of 2.60 and a void ratio of 0.78. The water content in percentage required to fully saturate the soil at that void ratio will be ______.

What will be the degree of saturation of a soil sample whose specific gravity G = 2.7, void ratio e = 0.66 and water content w = 20%?

The water content of soil is defined as the ratio of ______.

What is it called, if increases in water content because of an increase in the volume of voids?

Critical gradient of a soil is normally ______.

The critical gradient of the seepage of water in a soil medium is ______.

A uniform collapsible sand stratum, 2.5 m thick, has specific gravity of 2.65, with a neutral void ratio of 0.65. The hydraulic head required to cause quick collapsible sand condition is ______.

The rise in water table position to the ground surface causes ______.

The rise of water table above the ground surface causes ______.

The decrease in pore water pressure per unit increase in pressure is called ______.

If the water table rises above ground level, the effective stress ______.

The first rational approach to the problem of seepage through soils was ______

The seepage medium can be replaced by ______ electric model having the same geometric ______.

During seepage through a soil, direction of seepage is always ______.

The seepage pressure always acts ______.

The seepage force in a soil is ______.

Seepage analysis is done on the assumption of ______.

Seepage force is the energy transfer between ______.

Flow between any two points in a soil depends only on the difference in ______.

Flow net can be drawn if the flow is ______.

The portion between two successive flow lines is known as ______.

A flow net is drawn to obtain ______.

A flow net can be used for which of the following purpose?

A flow line in seepage through a soil medium is defined as the ______.

Who was the first to give a graphical method of flow net construction?

In homogeneous soil, every transition in the shape of curves drawn in flow net must be ______.

The pressure exerted by the fluids in a pore to its surrounding soil mass is ______.

The falling head permeability test is used for ______.

The constant head permeability test is used for ______.

The permeability of a soil sample depends upon ______.

The coefficient of compressibility of soil is the ratio of ______.

By the following factor, the liquefaction of clay is caused ______.

Compression of soils occurs rapidly if voids are occupied by ______.

What is the compression called that resulting from a long-term static load and consequent escape of pore water?

Who is known as the father of Soil Mechanics?

The property of soil which allows water to flow through the soil is known as:

The velocity of percolation is defined as:

Which soil has the largest permeability?

Permeability of soil varies:

Select the correct statement. The permeability is:

Coefficient of permeability of soil:

Direct measurement of permeability of specimen at any stage of loading can be made:

The constant of proportionality between seepage velocity and hydraulic gradient is called:

A soil which doesn't permit the passage or seepage of any permeant through its voids is known as:

The coefficient of percolation and coefficient of permeability are related by:

Soil is considered as:

When the degree of saturation is zero, the soil mass represents:

When the degree of saturation is one, the soil mass represents:

Soils containing organic matters are:

Darcy's Law is applicable if the soil is:

The Reynolds number for laminar flow through soil is:

In most practical flow problems in soil mechanics, the flow is:

The law which states that velocity of flow through porous medium is directly proportional to hydraulic gradient is:

Valid range for percentage air content is:

The correct range of density index I_D is:

Valid range for degree of saturation S of soil in percentage is:

If water content of fully saturated soil is 100%, then the void ratio of the sample is:

The ratio of volume of voids to total volume of soil mass is called:

The void ratio of saturated soil is equal to the ______ of water content and specific gravity:

The ratio of the unit weight of soil solids to that of water is called:

Which relationship is true?

The presence of entrapped air in soil will:

Water content of soil can:

The presence of organic matter in soil mechanics:

Void ratios of two soils A and B are 0.80 and 1.20 respectively. Which one is more pervious?

A sand hase=0.8 and clay has e=1.2 Which is more pervious?

The soil which contains finest grain particles is:

The maximum size of grains of silt is about:

Stoke's law does not hold if the size of the particle is smaller than:

In Stokes' law, terminal velocity of particle is:

Stokes' law is used to determine:

Which statement is true for hydrometer method?

Degree of saturation for fully saturated soil is:

A soil sample has G=2.60 and e=0.78. Water content required for full saturation is:

G=2.7, e=0.66, w=20%. Degree of saturation is:

Water content of soil is defined as the ratio of:

What is it called if an increase in water content causes an increase in the volume of voids?

Maximum dry density up to which soil can be compacted depends upon:

Effective size of soil is:

Uniformity coefficient is:

A soil having uniformity coefficient more than 10 is called:

For a well-graded sand, coefficient of curvature should be:

If soil stays at the place above the parent rock where it is produced, it is called:

When products of rock weathering are not transported but remain at the place of formation, the soil is called:

Glacial soils are those soils which are:

The following type of soil is not glacier-deposited:

Residual soils are formed by:

Colluvial soils (talus) are transported by:

Water-transported soils are termed:

Soil transported by running water is called:

Loess is:

Cohesionless soils are formed due to:

According to Indian Standard, in a 2-mm sieve:

The smallest sieve according to Indian Standard is:

What is the maximum percentage of fines in clean gravel according to USCS?

A soil having particles of nearly the same size is known as:

The shear strength of a soil:

The shear strength of cohesionless soil is due to:

Shear strength of cohesionless soil doesn't depend on:

Major principal stress in a soil is represented by:

The normal stresses acting on planes of the soil are known as:

The circle obtained from a two-dimensional stress system is known as:

Which stress does not have any influence on the strength of a material?

Maximum shear stress for a soil mass is equal to:

The angle between two planes on which shearing stress is zero is:

The Mohr-Coulomb theory can be expressed algebraically by:

Mohr envelope can be considered to be straight if the angle of internal friction φ is assumed:

Critical shear stress causing failure depends upon:

The curve obtained by plotting normal and shear stress is called:

The shape of plot between shear and normal stresses according to Mohr's theory is:

The angle made by failure envelope with horizontal in Mohr's circle gives:

A plane inclined at an angle to the horizontal at which soil is expected to stay without sliding is:

In active stress, the major principal stress σ₁ acts in the:

The X and Y axes of Mohr's circle represent:

Mohr's circle is a graphical representation of plane stress problems showing:

Shearing resistance of a soil is constituted by:

Shear deformation of soil in a building can cause:

Significant depth is assumed up to a level at which net increase in vertical pressure becomes:

For finding active earth pressure with sloping surface, Rankine's theory makes additional assumption of:

The coefficient of active earth pressure is ______ the coefficient of passive earth pressure.

For an angle of internal friction of 30^\circ, values of active and passive earth pressures are:

Compute active pressure intensity when gamma=18 ,kN/m³, height = 6 m and phi=30 °

What will be the coefficient of passive earth pressure at a depth of 8 m in cohesionless soil with φ = 30°, water rises to ground level?

The height of fill Ze, equivalent to uniform surcharge intensity q, is:

Originally, Rankine's theory of lateral earth pressure can be applied to only:

Based on the assumptions of Rankine's theory, the soil mass is:

Compared to dry backfill, submerged backfill will exert:

Which cases for cohesionless backfill in Rankine's theory are considered?

The wedge-shaped portion of backfill tending to move with the wall is called:

The material retained or supported by the retaining structure is called:

A retaining wall is 10 m high, soil unit weight is 19 kN/m³ and φ = 35°. Total active thrust will be:

The factor responsible for inclination of resultant pressure to the retaining wall is:

Select the incorrect statement:

The choice of a particular shape for a well depends on:

Foundations can be broadly classified under:

The object of providing foundation to a structure is to:

A foundation is said to be shallow if its depth is:

Which is a type of shallow footing?

Shallow footing is one whose depth is:

Which is NOT a preliminary consideration for building a foundation?

Which is a type of shallow footing?

______ footing is used in load-bearing masonry construction.

According to Terzaghi, a foundation is said to be shallow if its depth is:

For the design of strap footing, which assumption is NOT made?

If the independent spread footing of two columns are connected by a beam, it is called:

For a number of columns constructed in a row, the type of foundation provided is:

A footing which supports two or more columns is termed as:

A combined footing is provided when:

A combined footing may be:

Trapezoidal combined footings are required when:

The type of footing if two columns have unequal loading

Which is the most commonly used shallow foundation?

When two column loads are unequal, which of the following can be provided?

A combined footing may be rectangular in shape if both columns carry:

The foundation that is used when the soil mass is sufficiently erratic is:

Strap dom footings are used in foundation:

Influence factor If for rigid rectangular footing with L/B = 1.5 is:

The design procedure of strap footing is essentially that of:

The design of rigid rectangular combined footing consists in determining:

In designing rectangular combined footing, ______ should be adopted as the design value.

Generally combined footing is assumed to rest on:

If independent spread footings of two columns are connected by a beam, it is called:

When allowable soil pressure is low or building loads are heavy, the footing used is:

Which statement is true regarding transfer of load from strap to soil used in strap footing?

Raft is subdivided into a series of beams to establish:

A raft foundation is preferred for:

When the area of all the footings covers more than 50% of total area of the structure, the foundation preferred is:

In raft footing, if C.G. of load coincides with centroid of raft, the upward load is considered as:

Usually, rafts are designed as:

The weight of raft is not considered in structural design because:

The net pressure can be calculated for raft having width greater than:

A pile foundation is used when:

The most economical shape of a well for construction of a large pier is:

______ forms the most common type of deep foundation for bridges:

Which of the following gives actual description of bi-axial test?

Which of the following is an advantage of using triaxial test?

The ratio of the unconfined compressive strength of undisturbed soil to the unconfined compressive strength of soil in the remoulded state is called ______.

The factor of safety of slopes is defined as ______.

Analysis of stability of slopes is used for determining ______.

The failure of slopes may take place due to ______.

Failure of the stability of slopes, generally occurs along ______.

If the failure of the finite slope occurs through the toe, it is called ______.

Which of the following is an example of slopes extending to infinity?

Who is known as the father of Soil Mechanics?

In the limiting case of stability, the angle of slope is referred to as ______.

If the soil properties for all identical depths below the surface are constant, it is a ______.

. A long natural slope of cohesionless soil is inclined at 12° to the horizontal. What will be the factor of safety if φ = 30°?

The shearing force acting along the slice of a curved surface of slippage causes the soil to slide ______.

For a base failure, the depth factor Df is ______.

The factor of safety with respect to height is given by ______ equation.

For a clay slope of height 35 m, stability number 0.08, bulk density 20 kN/m³ and cohesion 25 kN/m², the critical height of the slope will be ______.

An infinite slope is made with sand having an internal friction angle of 36°. What should be the maximum slope angle for a factor of safety of 1.5?

The following option is NOT made for the friction circle method of slope stability analysis.

Which of the following doesn't contribute to the stability of a slope?

The presence of organic matter in the soil will ______.

Which of the following is an assumption made in Bishop's theory of slope stability analysis?

Pick up the correct statement from the following:

What is the compression of the soil, under the short duration of moving or vibratory loads?

What is the coefficient of volume change mv?

In the semi-logarithmic plot, what does the virgin compression curve become?

What is the decrease in the volume of soil mass under stress called?

The oedometer is used for ______.

A clay is subjected to pressure in excess of its present overburden, is said to be ______.

Standard Proctor test is used for determining ______.

Standard Proctor test is used for ______.

Void ratios of two soil ‘A’ and ‘B’ are 0.80 and 1.20 respectively. Which one is more pervious?

In light compaction, the weight of the rammer recommended for Standard Proctor test is ______.

Compaction of soil is aimed at ______.

The process of compaction of a soil involves ______.

For the same soil, increase in compaction effort ______.

Compaction of a soil ______.

Compaction process may be accompanied by ______.

Compaction depends on ______.

The soil involved in the compaction is ______.

The example of modification of soil property with the help of admixtures is ______.

The important factor that governs the engineering behavior of soil is ______.

With increase in the amount of compaction energy ______.

The most effective method for compacting sand is by using ______.

The ratio of dry density obtained in the field to Proctor's maximum dry density is called ______.

Compaction is a process in which change in volume is due to ______.

Which roller is used for compacting clayey soils?

The densification of a soil by means of mechanical manipulation is called ______.

Which type of roller should be selected for effective compaction of coarse-grained soil?

Pneumatic-tyred rollers are suitable for compacting ______.

In compaction, each layer of soil thickness should be ______.

The process in which pore water from soil escapes when a load is applied is known as ______.

Which parameter affects the rate of compaction?

Relative compaction is defined as ______.

What are the methods used for general exploration?

General exploration gives information about which features?

Methods of site investigation are dependent upon ______.

In detailed exploration, the field test is conducted to determine ______.

Depending upon the details, site exploration may be classified as ______.

Various methods of site exploration can be grouped under which of the following?

The depth of exploration for isolated spread footing is ______.

For pile foundations, the depth of exploration at the start of the work is ______.

In rotary boring ______ is forced down the hollow drill rods.

Auger is suitable for ______.

In hand-operated rings in “auger and shell boring,” the depth can be used up to ______.

Exploratory borings in general exploration are carried out by using ______.

If sand filled behind a retaining wall is saturated with water, the possible lateral pressure is ______.

The resultant active pressure for dry backfill with no surcharge acts at ______ above the base.

Lateral earth pressure exerted when the retaining wall moves into the backfill is called ______.

Earth pressure at rest is the lateral pressure exerted by soil ______.

Active earth pressure is the lateral pressure exerted by soil ______.

Earth pressure at rest exerted on a retaining structure can be calculated using ______.

For earth pressure at rest, there will be no ______.

The coefficient of earth pressure at rest is ______.

The pressure distribution diagram for earth pressure at rest is ______.

Coefficient of earth pressure at rest is given by ______.

If K₀ = 0.4, find the value of μ.

If Poisson's ratio of soil is 0.4, its coefficient of earth pressure at rest is ______.

The value of K₀ for loose sand is _______.

cohesionless soil with φ = 45°, find K₀.

What is K₀ for φ = 26°?

If the angle of internal friction decreases, then K₀ ______.

The coefficient of active earth pressure for cohesionless granular soils is given by ______.

The coefficient of passive earth pressure for cohesionless granular soils is given by ______.

The position of backfill lying above the horizontal plane at the top of wall is called ______.

In site exploration, depth up to which increase in pressure is likely to cause shear failure is known as ______.

Compute passive pressure intensity when γ = 18 kN/m³, wall height = 6 m and Kₐ = 1/3.

A 6 m high wall retains submerged sand with saturated unit weight 20 kN/m³ and φ = 30°. Total active earth pressure is _______.

Negative skin friction on a pile develops when ______.

Pier foundation is also called ______.

What are the types of caissons that can be used as a foundation?

Steining is a component of which type of foundation?

Common types of well shape are ______.

Well foundations are also called ______.

Which caisson permits excavation in dry?

A disadvantage of using circular shape of well foundation is ______.

Sinking of the dredge is uniform in which shape of well?

Components considered in designing a well foundation include ______.

When a pile hammer hits the pile, total driving energy is equal to ______.

The greatest objection to pile-driving formulae is ______.

The maximum load which can be carried by a pile is defined as its ______.

Penetration resistance N for designing a raft should be taken at ______ intervals.

For mechanically stabilized bases, liquid limit should not exceed ______.

Pressure intensity beneath the footing depends upon ______.

Once the pressure distribution is known in reinforced concrete footing, ______ can be calculated.

In cohesive soil, pressure distribution beneath the footing is ______.

If resultant of soil pressure coincides with resultant of loads, the soil pressure is assumed to be ______.

Analytical methods for finding bearing capacity of footing are based on ______.

Safe bearing capacity of soil can be defined as ______.

State of equilibrium is fully developed in which bearing-capacity failure?

Analysis of complete bearing-capacity failure is usually termed as ______.

The value of factor of safety used for finding safe bearing capacity is ______.

Net bearing pressure used for design of foundation is ______.

Bearing capacity of soil doesn't depend upon ______.

Terzaghi's bearing-capacity factors are a function of ______.

According to assumptions in Terzaghi's analysis, the soil is ______.

In presence of water table, Terzaghi's ultimate bearing-capacity equation is modified as ______.

Which is a limitation of assumptions in Terzaghi's analysis?

According to Terzaghi's theory, ultimate bearing capacity for a strip footing at ground surface on purely cohesive soil is ______.

For purely cohesive soil, bearing capacity is given by which equation?