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SOIL MECHANICS AND FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

1. Cohesionless soil is

a. sand b. silt c. clay d. clay and silt

2. The minimum size of grains of silt soil is about :

a. 0.01mm b. 0.3mm c. 0.06mm d. 0.002mm

3. The maximum size of grains of silt soil is about

a. 0.06mm b. 0.1mm c. 0.5mm d. 2 mm

4. The maximum size of clay particle is

a. 0.1mm b. 0.03mm c. 0.002mm d. 0.0002mm

5. The void ratio of soils is

a. The ratio of voids to solids in volume b. The ratio of voids to gross volume

c. The ratio of solids to solids to voids in volume

d. The ratio of solid volume to gross volume to gross

6. The ratio of volume of air void to the volume of voids, is known as

a. Air content b. Wet porosity c. Percentage voids d. Degree of saturation

7. The ratio of volume of voids to the total volume of the given soil mass, is known as

a. Porosity b. Void Ratio c. Specific gravity d. Water content

8. Theoretically, the void ratio in soils can have the following values

a. >1 b. <1 c. >0.5 d. Can be less than or more than one

9. The ratio of weight of water to the weight of solids in a given mass of soil, is known as
 a. Void ratio b. Porosity c. Specific Gravity d. Water content

10. The degree of saturation in solis can be defined as the ratio of

a. Water of weight to the dry soil weight b. Volume of water to the gross Volume of soil

c. Volume of water to Volume of voids in soils

d. Weight of the water to weight of soil

11. The relationship between void ratio e and porosity ratio n is

a. b. e=n(1+e) c. d.

12. The functional equation for specific gravity (G) , water content (W) Void ratio (e) and degree of
saturation Sr is

a. b c. d.

13. The fundamental relation between percentage Air voids n a, specific gravity (G),water content
(w) and dry density Yd is

a. b.

c. d.

14. The ratio of the difference between the void ratio of the soil in its loosest state and its natural
state to the difference between the voids ratio in the loosest and the fully dense state is termed as

a. degree of density b. density index c. relative density d. any of the above

15. The water content of soils is defined as the ratio of

a. Volume of water to that of voids b. Water by weight to the dry soil weight

c. Volume of water to the gross volume of soil

d. Weight of water to that of the soil

16. The specific gravity of sandy soils is

 a. 1.5 b. 2.0 c. 2.2 d. 2.6

17. The bulk density of soil can be defined as

a. Ratio of the weight of the solids to the volume of solids

b. Ratio of unit weight of soil to that of water

c. Unit weight of soil

d. Unit weight of soil under saturated conditions

18. The dry density of soil can be defined as

a. Weight of dry solids to the total volume of the soil

b. Weight of the soil to the volume of solids

c. Unit weight of the soil to the unit weight of water

d. None of the above

19. The submerged density of a soil is the ratio of

a. Weight of solids to the total volume of the soil

b. Weight of the soil to the volume of solids

c. Unit weight of the soil to the unit weight of water

d. None of the above

20. The saturated density of a soil is the ratio of

a. Weight of soil in water to its volume

b. Weight of soil minus weight of equivalent water to volume of soil

c. Weight if soil less weight if water is voids to the volume of solids plus voids in the soil

d. Unit weight of saturated soil

21. The relation between dry density Yd bulk density ( ) and water contest (w) is

a. Weight of soil in water to its volume

b. Weight of soil minus weight of equivalent water to volume of soil

 c. Weight of soil less weight of water in voids to the volume of solids plus voids in the soil

d. Unit weight of saturated soil

22. A pycnometer is used to determine

a. Specific gravity and dry density b. Water content and void ratio

c Water content and void ratio d. dry density and void ratio

23. The water content of soils can be accurately determined by

a. Calcium Carbide b. Sand bath

c. Alcohol method d. Over drying method

24. The minimum water content in a soil at which the soil just begins to crumble when rolled into
threads 3mm in diameter is known nas

a. Plastic Limit b. Liquid Limit c. Shrinkage Limit d. Consistency Limit

25. The Liquid Limit is defined as

a. Amount of water which makes the soil go into the solid from the liquid state

b. Amount of water content which makes the soil go to the liquid state

c. Limit of water that makes the soil flow

d. Minimum water content at which soil can be rolled into 3mm dia threads

26. The maximum water content at which a reduction of water content will not cause a decrease in
the volume of a soil mass is known as

a. Liquid Limit b. Plastic Limit c. Shrinkage Limit d. Permeability Limit

27. The shear strength of a soil in the Plastic Limit state is

a. Zero b. Reasonable c. Small d. Close to saturated soil strength

28. The shear strength of the soil in the Liquid Limit state is

a. Zero b. Very Small c. Reasonable d. Close to saturated strength

29. The Liquid and Plastic Limits exists in

a. Sandy soils b. Silty soils c. Gravel soils d. Clay soils

30. The Plasticity index is :

a. Liquid Limit – Shrinkage Limit b. Liquid Limit – Plastic Limit

c. Plastic Limit – Liquid Limit d. Plastic Limit – Shrinkage Limit

31. When the plastic limit of the soil is greater than the Liquid Limit, than the plasticity index is

a. Negative b. Zero c. One d. More than one

32. When the plasticity index of the soil is zero, the soil is

a. Clay b. Silt c. Sand d. Silty Sand

33. The liquidity index is defined as ratio expressed as a percentage of

a. b.

c. d.

34. The shrinkage index is equal to

a. Liquid Limit – Plastic Limit b. Liquid Limit – Shrinkage Limit

c. Plastic Limit – Liquid Limit d. Plastic Limit – Shrinkage Limit

35. The consistency index of a soil is

a. b.

c. d. None of the above

36. The flow index in soils indicates

a. shear strength variation with water content b. Variation of plastic limit

c. Ratio of liquid limit to plastic limit d. None of the above

37. The toughness index is equal to

a. Ratio of plasticity index to the flow Limit

 b. Ratio of liquid limit to plastic limit

c. Limit of Liquid Limit

38. The sensitivity of a soil can be defined as

a. Percentage of swelling of the soil under saturated condition

b. Ratio of compressive strength of unconfined undisturbed soil that of remoulded state of soil

c. Ratio of voids to the solids

d. None of the above

39. The soils in India are classified according to

a. MIT classification b. Unified soil classification system

c. Particle size classification d. International classification system

40. The uniformity coefficient of soil is

a. b. c. d. None of the above

41. The effective of curvature of soil is given by

a. D10 b. D20 c. D30 d. D60

42. The coefficient curvature is defines as

a. b. c. d.

43. A fully saturated soil is called

a. One phase system b. two phase system with soil and air

c. two phase system with soil and water d. three phase system

44. The degree of saturation Sr of soils in percentage has value

a. Sr >0 b. Sr 0 c. 0 <S<100 d. 0 S 100

45. The percentage voids (n) has value

a. 0 < n<100 b. 0 n 100 c. n >0 d. n 0

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

a. 1.0 and 0 b. 0 and 1 c. 0.5 and 1 d. 1 and 0.5

47. The density of soil can be increased

a. by reducing the air voids b. by elastic compression of soil grains

c. by expelling water from soil pores d. all the above

48. If in a partially saturated soil, the degree of saturation is 40%, then air content of the soil is

a. 40% b. 50% c. 60% d. 100%

49. If the water content of a fully saturated soil mass is 100% then the voids will be

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

50. If the sand situ is in its densest state, then its relative density is

a. equal to zero b. equal to one c. between 0 and 1 d. greater than 1

51. The validity of Stoke’s law is limited to particle size not smaller than

a. 0.2mm b. 0.02mm c. 0.002mm d. 0.0002mm d. 0.00002mm

52. The particle size range is measured by

a. effective size b. uniformity coefficient

c. coefficient of curvature d. none of the above

53. Uniformity coefficient of a soil is

a. always less than 1 b. always equal to1

c. equal to or less than 1 d. equal to or greater than 1

54. Property of the soil, by which it recovers its original shape and volume immediately after
removal of the impressed external loads is known as

a. Elasticity b. Resilience c. Compressibility d. None of the above

55. The property of a soil due to which water percolates through it is known as
 a. Porosity b. Permeability c. Capillarity d. None of the above

56. The capillary water is the water which,

a. flows under gravity b. is held due to capillary action

c. is due to surface tension d. None of the above

57. Permeability of soil varies,

a. Inversely as square of grain size b. Inversely as grain size

c. Directly as grain size d. Square of grain size

58. The quantity of seepage of water in soil medium is

a. Proportional to the coefficient of permeability

b. Proportional to the head of the water at down stream

c. Inversely proportional to the coefficient of permeability

d. Inversely proportional head of the water at down stream

59. Quick sand is a

a. type of sand

b. Condition in which a cohesion less soil loses its strength because of upward flow of water

c. Moist sand containing small particles

d. condition which occurs in coarse sand

60. In a sand stratum of 1.5m thickness sp.gr. 2.67 and voids ratio 0.67, the head required for quick
condition is equal to

a. 3.0m b. 2.5m c. 2.0m d. 1.5m

61. The exit gradient of the seepage of water through a soil medium is,

a. Ratio of the head of u/s to that at d/s b. Ratio of the total head to the length of seepage

c. Slope of the flow line d. Ratio of the head loss to the length of the seepage

62. The critical exit gradient of the seepage of water in a soil is,
 a. b. c. d. none of the above

63. The critical exit gradient may occur when

a. flow is in upward direction b. seepage pressure is in upward direction

c. effective pressure is zero d. All the above

64. The critical exit gradient of the seepage of water in soils

a. Increases with a decrease in the specific gravity

b. Increases with increase in the specific gravity

c. Decreases with increases in the liquid limit

d. None of the above

65. The critical exit gradient of the seepage of water in soils is

a. Directly proportional to the void ratio

b. Increases with a decrease in void ratio

c. Increases with a decrease in specific gravity

d. Inversely proportional to the specific gravity

66. The flow line in seepage through a soil medium is

a. Direction of the flow particle b. Flow of movement of fine particles of soil

c. Path of particles of water through soil d. Line connecting points of equal head of water

67. The equipotential line in the seepage of water in a soil medium can be defined as

a. Line connecting points of equal head of water

b. Direction of the flow particle

c. Flow of movement of fine particles of soil

d. Path of particles of water through soil

68. The direction of seepage is

a. parallel to equipotential line b. perpendicular to equipotential line

 c. perpendicular to stream lines d. None of the above

69. The seepage force in the soil is

a. Parallel to equipotential lines b. Perpendicular to equipotential lines

c. Perpendicular to flow line d. Not related to equipotential lines

70. The flow net in the seepage of water through a soil medium is network of

a. flow lines and equipotential lines b. water particles and their movement in soil

c. Particles of flow of soil d. equipotential lines

71. Flow lines and equipotential lines are

a. Parallel to each other b. Perpendicular to each other

c. Not interesting lines d. Interesting lines at 900 to each other

72. Flow path is

a. the spaces between two adjacent flow lines b. the space between two equipotential lines

c. the direction of flow d. none of the above

73. A flow net can be used for the determination of

a. seepage b. hydrostatic pressure

c. seepage pressure d. All of the above

74. If Nf, Nd and H are total flow channels, total number of potential drops and total hydraulic head
difference respectively, the discharge q through complete flow is given by

a. b. c. d.

75. The consolidation of a soil involves,

a. Settlement of the soil b. gradual drainage and compression of pore water and pore air

c. Compression of air in the pores of soil d. None of the above

76. The compression resulting from a long term static load and consequent escape of pore water is
kn own as
 a. Consolidation b. Compaction c. Swelling d. None of the above

77. Compression of soil occurs rapidly if voids are filled with

a. air b.water c. both air and water d. None of the above

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

a. Strain to stress b. Stress to strain

c. rate of settlement to that of loading d. Modulus of sub grade to the settlement

79. The coefficient of the volume of compressibility in a soil

a. is proportional to the square of the void ratio

b. is proportional to the void ratio

c. Inversely proportional to the void ratio

d. decreases with an increases in the solid ratio

80. The coefficient of volume of compressibility of soil is

a. Equal to three times the coefficient of compressibility

b. Proportional to the coefficient of compressibility

c. Proportional to the cube coefficient of compressibility

d. Inversely proportional to the coefficient of compressibility

81. The compression index of a soil

a. decreases with an increases in the Liquid Limit

b. decreases with an increases in the Plastic Limit

c. Increases with an increases in the Liquid Limit

d. Is not related with Plastic Limit

82. Relation between degree of consolidation (T a) drainage path (H), coefficient of consolidation C v
and time required for a% consolidation ta is
 a. b. c. d. None of the above

83. The ratio of undrained strength of the in situ soil to the undrained strength of that sil determined
after remoulding it at the in situ water content is known as

a. Over consolidation ratio b. Sensitivity

c. Compression index d. None of the above

84. Sensitivity of a natural soil deposit is

a. equal to zero b. less than one

c. always more than one d. None of the above

85. The relation between compression index Cc and Liquid Limit in % (Wl) is given by

a. Cc = 0.009 (Wl-10%) b. Cc = 0.009Wl

c. Cc = (Wl – 10%) d. None of the above

86. The permeability of uniform sands is given by there K = D102 , where K is in cm/sec and D102 is
in mm

a. Terzaghi b. Hazen c. Skempton d. Mohr

87. Rate of consolidation

a. increases with decrease in temperature b. increases with increase in temperature

c. Independent of temperature d. None of the above

88. The coefficient of consolidation is measured in

a. cm2/gm b. cm2/sec c. gm/cm2/sec d. gm-cm/sec

89. Degree of consolidation is

a. directly proportional to time and inversely to drainage path

b. directly proportional to time and inversely to the square of drainage path

c. directly proportional to drainage path and inversely to time

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

90. It t is time required for 50% consolidation of a clay sample with single drainage, then the time
required to consolidate the same clay sample with same degree of consolidation but with double
drainage is

a. t/2 b. t/4 c. 2t d. 4t

91. The ultimate settlement of a soil is

a. directly proportional to the depth of soil strata

b. directly proportional to the depth of compressible soil strata

c. Inversely proportional to the depth of compressible soil strata

d. Not related with the depth of the soil

92. The ultimate settlement of a soil is

a. directly proportional to the compressive Index

b. directly proportional to the void ratio

c. Inversely proportional to the compression Index

d. None of the above

93. The effective stress in a soil is equal to

a. Force per neutral area b. Force per unit effective area

c. Stress shared by the particle of the soil d. Stress shared by the pure water

94. The neutral stress in a soil mass is,

a. Force per neutral area b. Force per unit effective area

c. Stress shared by the particles of the soil d. Stress shared by the pure water

95. The total stress in a soil is

a. Force per neutral area b. Force per unit effective area

c. Stress shared by the particles of the soil d. Stress shared by the pure water

96. The strength of a soil is generally identified by

a. Direct tensile stress b. Net stress

 c. Ultimate shear stress d. Direct ultimate compressive stress

97. The shear strength of a soil

a. In directly proportional to the depth of the soil

b. Is directly proportional to the angle if internal friction of soil

c. Increases with normal stress d. Decreases with an increase in the normal stress

98. The shear strength of a soil is proportional

a. Directly to the cohesion of the soil b. Directly to the angle of friction of the soil

c. Inversely to the angle of friction of the soil

d. None of the above

99. Shear strength of a soil is unique friction of

a. effective stress only b. total stress only

c. both total and effective stress d. None of the above

100. The shear strength of a soil is proportional

a. Directly to the angle of internal friction

b. Directly to the tangent of the angle of internal friction

c. Inversely to the angle of internal friction

d. None of the above

101. For the determination of shear strength in laboratory the test done is

a. Vane shear test b. Triaxial shear test

c. Direct shear test d. Unconfined shear test

102. The vane shear test is used for the insitu determination of the undrained strength of the intact
fully saturated

a. Clays b. Sands c. gravels d. Highly organic

103. The failure plane

a. Carries maximum shear stress b. Does not carry maximum shear stress
 c. Carries minimum shear stress d. None of the above

104. An unconfined compression test is a special case of

a. Triaxial compression test b. Direct shear test

c. Vane shear test d. None of the above

105. The angle of internal friction of clay is about

a. 5-200 b. 24 -300 c. 27 - 330 d. 30 -350

106. Angle of internal friction of silty sand

a. 5-200 b. 2 -300 c. 27 - 330 d. 30 -350

107. Cohesive soils are usually

a. Plastic and compressible b. Elastic and compressible

c. Plastic and incompressible d. None of the above

108. The angle of internal friction is maximum for

a. Angular grained, dense sand b. Angular grained, loose sand

c. Round grained, dense sand d. Round grained, loose sand

109. Angle if Internal friction is minimum for

a. Angulat grainee loose soil b. Angular grained dense soil

c. Rund grained loose soil d. Clay

110. The active earth pressure of a soil can be defined as lateral pressure exerted by the soil when

a. the retaining wall tends to move away from the back fill

b. the wall moves into the soil

c. the wall moves relative to the back fill

d. Any of the above

111. The passive earth pressure of a soil can be defined as lateral pressure exerted by the soil when
the relating wall tends to

a. move away from the back fill b. no movement relative to the back fill
 c. move into the soil d. Any of these

112. Earth pressure at rest can be defined as lateral pressure exerted by the soil when the retaining
wall tends to

a. move away from the back fill b. no movement relative to the back fill

c. move into the soil d. Any of these

113. The lateral earth pressure is

a. proportional to the depth of the soil

b. proportional to the square of the depth of the soil

c. proportional to the angle of internal friction

d. mass of the soil fill

114. The active earth pressure is proportional to

a. b. c. d.

where is the angle of internal friction of the soil

115. The passive earth pressure is proportional to

a. b. c. d.

116. The earth pressure at rest is proportional to

a. b. c. d.

117. Coeff. 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 greater than passive earth pressure

c. greater than both active and passive earth pressure

d. less than both active and passive earth pressure

118. The coefficient of the active earth pressure (Ka) is equal to

 a. b. c. d.

119. Total lateral earth pressure is proportional to

a. depth of soil b. square of depth of soil

c. angle of internal friction of soil d. None of the above

120. The assumption of Rankine’s theory of earth pressure is

a. The soil is semiinfinite, homogeneous, dry and cohensionless

b. Ground surface is a plane which may be inclined or horizontal

c. Back of the wall is vertical and smooth

d. All the above

121. The total active earth pressure due to dry back fill with no surcharge per unit length of a wall,
acts at H/3 above the base of the wall is directly proportional to

a. H b. c. H2 d. H3

122. The active earth pressure Pa exerted by the backfill with the sloping surface, on a wall of height
H acts at

a. H/2 above the base parallel to base b. H/3 above the base parallel to base

c. H/4 above the base parallel to base d. H/5 above the base parallel to base

123. If the coefficient of passive earth pressure kp is 1/3 then the coefficient of active earth pressure is

a. b. 1 c. 3 d.

124. The coefficient of active earth pressure for a loose sand having an angle of internal friction of 300
is

a. 1 b. c. d. 3

125. The shear strength of cohesive soils is equal to

 a. C = q/2 b. C = 0.5 q tan c. C = q d. C = q tan

126. The bearing capacity of a soil

a. depends on the size of the footing b. load intensity

c. depends on the load d. rate of loading

127. The bearing capacity of a soil depends on

a. grain size of the soil b. load intensity

c. on the load d. rate of loading

128. The safe B.C. of a soil can be defined as

a. ultimate load on the bearing area b. safe load on the bearing area

c. load intensity beyond which the soil should not be loaded

d. load intensity at which the soil fails

129. The ultimate B.C. of a soil can be defined as

a. ultimate load on the bearing area b. safe load on the bearing area

c. load intensity at which the soil fails

d. load intensity beyond which the soil should not be loaded

130. A foundation may be classified as shallow if

a. depth to width ratio is more than 2 b depth to width ratio is less than 2

c. length to width ratio is between 1 and 2 d. length to width ratio is more than 2

131. A foundation may be classified as deep of

a. depth to width ratio is more than 2 b depth to width ratio is less than 2

c. length to width ratio is more than 2 d. length to width ratio is between 1 and 2

132. A foundation may be classified as strip foundation if

a. length is very large b. length is very large compared with a uniform width

c. load is applied at long intervals d. None of the above

133. Teraghi’s analysis assumes

a. soil of homogeneous and isotropic

b. elastic zone has straight boundaries inclined at o the horizontal and plastic zones fully
developed

c. failure zones do not extend above the horizontal plane through the base of the footing

d. All the above

134. The maximum pressure which a soil can carry without shear failure is called

a. safe bearing capacity b. net bearing capacity

c. net ultimate bearing capacity d. ultimate bearing capacity

135. The maximum net pressure intensity causing shear failure of soil, is called

a. Safe B.C. b. Net B.C c. Net ultimate B.C d. Ultimate B.C

136. The minimum depth of building foundations on

a. sandy soil is 80cm to 100cm b. clay soils is 90cm to 160cm

c. rocky soils is 5cm to 50cm d. All the above

137. Allowable bearing pressure for a foundation depends on

a. allowable settlement only b. ultimate B.C. of soil only

c. both allowable settlement and ultimate B.C

d. None of the above

138. According to Rankine’s analysis, minimum depth of foundation is equal to

a. b. c. d.

139. The bearing capacity of a soil

a. Increases with a increase in the area of footing

b. Increases with a decreases in the area of footing

c. Is not affected by the size of the footing remains same

d. Decreases with a decrease in the size of footing