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Week 10: Quiz #5

Name of the Student:
Student ID:
Select the most appropriate answers to the following multiple-choice questions:
1. When a retaining structure does not move either to the right or to the left of its initial position, the ratio of the effective vertical stress to the
effective horizontal stress is generally represented by:
(a) K0
(b) Ka
(c) Kp
(d) None of the above
2. The total force per unit length of the retaining wall of height H/2 when it does not move either to the right or to the left of its initial position
is given as:
(a) P0  K 0H
1
(b) P0  K 0H 2
2
1
(c) P0  K 0H 2
8
1
(d) P0  K 0H 2
16
where all the symbols have their usual meanings.
3. The condition in which every point in a soil mass is on the verge of failure refers to:
(a) elastic equilibrium.
(b) plastic equilibrium.
(c) both (a) and (b).
(d) none of the above.
4. In the Rankine’s active state, the failure plane within the soil backfill makes an angle with the vertical given as:
(a) 45
(b)
(c)

(d)

5. The total active force on the retaining wall of height H from the cohesionless soil backfill acts below the top of the wall at a height of:
(a) H/3
(b) 2H/3
(c) H/4
(d) 3H/4
6. If the failure plane is parallel to the top ground surface of the slope, the slope is called:
(a) finite slope
(b) infinite slope
(c) natural slope
(d) man-made slope
7. For an infinite sandy slope inclined at an angle of 70 to the vertical, the drained angle of friction is 30. The factor of safety of this slope
will be:
(a) 0.63
(b) 1.0
(c) 1.59
(d) None of the above
8. For slopes in homogeneous clayey soils in undrained conditions, the critical failure circle is always a toe circle when the slope angle
(a) β < 35
(b) β > 35
(c) β < 53
(d) β > 53
9. Which of the following walls depends mainly on its own weight for stability?
(a) Gravity retaining wall
(b) Cantilever retaining wall
(c) Counterfort retaining wall
(d) All of the above
10. The minimum width of the top of the stem of retaining walls is about:
(a) 0.1 m
(b) 0.3 m
(c) 0.6 m
(d) 1.0 m
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Answers:
1(d) 2(c) 3(b) 4(c) 5(b) 6(b) 7(c) 8(d) 9(a) 10(b)