REVIEW INNOVATIONS

NOVEMBER 2023 CE BOARD EXAM REFRESHER GEO 1

INSTRUCTION: Select the correct answer for 6. Evaluate the design load (kN) for a
each of the following questions. Mark only circular footing of 1.5 m diameter.
one answer for each item by shading the box A. 210.2 C. 297.3
corresponding to the letter of your choice B. 118.9 D. 279.3
on the answer sheet provided. STRICTLY NO
ERASURES ALLOWED. GOOD LUCK. Situation 2. The results of a consolidated-
drained tri-axial test conducted on a
NOTE: A times B is represented by A×B or normally consolidated sand, are as
A*B. A raised to the power n is follows:
expressed as A^n. All problems are 1 Chamber confining stress = 250 kPa
point each. Deviator stress at failure = 350 kPa

1. In accordance with Rankine’s theory 7. Calculate the angle of friction of the

for lateral active earth pressure of a soil sample.
retaining wall, with horizontal A. 24.32° C. 18.32°
backfill, what angle of internal B. 21.67° D. 19.87°
friction, in degrees, results in a 8. Calculate the shear stress on the
coefficient of lateral earth pressure failure plane.
equal to 0.50? A. 140 kPa C. 130 kPa
A. 19.2° C. 16.9° B. 160 kPa D. 145 kPa
B. 18.7° D. 21.4° 9. Calculate the effective normal stress
on the plane of maximum shear.
2. What is the friction angle of the soil A. 207 kPa C. 425 kPa
when the coefficient lateral earth B. 504 kPa D. 525 kPa
pressure is 4?
A. 39.6° C. 21.7° Situation 3. According to the Westerguard
B. 36.9° D. 27.1° Theory, the vertical stress at a point
below the surface of a semi-infinite,
3. A sand mass with a void ratio of e = homogenous, isotropic soil mass due to
0.70 and Gs = 2.66 is given. Determine a point load A applied at the ground
the safe hydraulic gradient for the surface is given by the equation:
given flow system with a factor of
safety FS = 3. 0.318QN 1
A. 0.515 C. 0.325 P = N =
z2 r
B. 0.465 D. 0.285 (1 + 2( )2 )1.5
z
Where :
Situation 1. The column of a certain
building is supported by footing of r = horizontal distance of the point
depth 2 m into a cohesionless soil, from the vertical line of
for which the angle of internal application of the load
friction is 20° and the unit weight is
18 kN/m^3. Assume a factor of safety z = depth of point below ground surface
FS = 2.5.
Evaluate the vertical stress, in kPa, at a
kc kq kγ point below the ground for Q = 1500 kN if:
Strip 1.0 1 0.5
10. The point is 3 m directly below the
Square 1.3 1 0.4 point of application of the load.
A. 53 kPa C. 47 kPa
Circular 1.3 1 0.3 B. 58 kPa D. 42 kPa
11. The point is 6 m directly below the
point of application of the load.
Rectangle 1 + 0.3 B/L 1 0.5(1 – 0.2 B/L)
A. 14.5 kPa C. 16.7 kPa
B. 13.3 kPa D. 10.2 kPa
Use bearing factors: 12. The point is 6 m below the load but 3
Nc = 17.69, Nq = 7.44 & Nγ = 3.64 m horizontally from the application of
the load.
Using Terzaghi’s Formula for general A. 9.4 kPa C. 8.3 kPa
shear failure, B. 6.1 kPa D. 7.2 kPa

4. Evaluate the ultimate bearing capacity

(kPa) of a square footing of 2 m on a
side.
A. 330.2 C. 182.1
B. 128.1 D. 320.3
5. Evaluate the ultimate bearing capacity
(kPa) for a rectangular footing for
width 1.5 m and length 3 m.
A. 124.8 C. 142.8
B. 312.1 D. 321.1
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NOVEMBER 2023 CE BOARD EXAM REFRESHER GEO 1
Situation 4. The moist density and degree 23. “Loam” means:
of saturation of a soil sample are A. Silty with little sand
given in the following table: B. Sandy silt with little clay
C. Clayey sand exhibiting slight
Soil Density Degree of Saturation cohesion
(kg/m^3) (%) D. Mixture of sand, silt, and clay
1680 45 size particles in approximately
1808 75 equal proportions

13. Determine the void ratio. 24. Principle involved in the relationship
A. 0.65 C. 0.75 between submerged unit weight and
B. 0.45 D. 0.55 saturated unit weight of a soil is:
14. Determine the specific gravity of A. Darcy’s Law
solids. B. Stoke’s Law
A. 2.60 C. 2.65 C. Archimedes’ Principle
B. 2.70 D. 2.55 D. Equilibrium of floating bodies
15. Determine the weight of water in kg
for a 7 m^3 soil, when it is fully 25. What is soil in civil engineering?
saturated. A. The material in a relatively
A. 3180 C. 3314 thin surface zone within roots
B. 2989 D. 2748 occur
B. The unaggregated and uncemented
16. Ratio of volume of voids and volume of deposits of minerals and organic
soil. particles covering the earth’s
A. Porosity crust
B. Degree of Saturation C. The substance existing on the
C. Void Ratio earths surface, which grows and
D. None of the above develops plants
D. None of the above
17. Ratio of volume of voids and volume of
soil solids.
A. Void Ratio
B. Porosity
C. Degree of Saturation
D. None of the above

18. Ratio of volume of water and volume of

soil.
A. Degree of Saturation
B. Void Ratio
C. Porosity
D. None of the above

19. Which is true for porosity?

A. 0 < n < 100
B. 0 ≤ n ≤ 100
C. 0 ≤ n
D. 0 < n

20. Which is true for void ratio?

A. 0 < e < 100
B. 0 ≤ e ≤ 100
C. 0 ≤ e
D. 0 < e

21. Which is true for degree of

saturation?
A. 0 < S < 100
B. 0 ≤ S ≤ 100
C. 0 ≤ S
D. 0 < S

22. In the unit phase diagram for a soil

mass:
A. The volume of water is taken as
unity
B. The total volume is taken as
unity
C. The weight of solids is taken as
unity
D. The volume of solids is taken as
unity

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