Geosynthetics & Reinforced Soil Structures

Online Certification Course, IIT Madras

Design Codes for Reinforced Soil Retaining Walls

1. Which are the design codes commonly used for reinforced retaining walls?
a) BS 8006
b) FHWA-NHI-0043
c) IS 14716
d) ASTM D4354

2. Which of these codes gives guidelines for seismic design of reinforced retaining walls?
a) BS 8006
b) FHWA-NHI-0043
c) IS 14716
d) ASTM D4354

3. Which of the following is correct

a) BS 8006 is based on limit state design approach
b) Check for overturning and eccentricity is not considered in FHWA-NHI-0043
c) Check for overturning and eccentricity is considered in BS 8006
d) All the aspect of design of reinforced retaining wall is covered in BS 8006

4. Which type of backfill soil is preferred in reinforced soil retaining walls?

a) Silty clay with zero cohesion
b) Highly plastic clay with zero cohesion
c) Clayey sand with high cohesion
d) Granular soil

5. Which of the following statements are correct?

a) Lateral earth pressure coefficient for water is one
b) Later earth pressure coefficient for soil can be zero
c) Good drainage of back fill soil is not essential for back fill material
d) Installation damage of geosynthetic is high if the soil has large size particles

6. Which of the following statements are WRONG?

a) Cohesion of soil is consider during design of reinforced retaining wall
b) For design of reinforced retaining wall direct shear strength values are used
c) Constant volume friction angle is used for design of retaining walls
d) Strain of the soil along the length of the reinforcement is very high

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7. For a granular soil of 30 peak friction angle, what is the value of active earth pressure
coefficient?
a) 1/3
b) 3
c) 0
d) 1

8. Which of the following is correct ( is backfill slope angle and  is friction angle of soil )
a)  > 
b) Rankine theory does not consider the friction between wall and soil
c)  < 
d) Coulomb theory considers the friction generated between wall and soil

9. Which of the following should be considered for external stability calculation?

a) Stability against sliding
b) Stability against over turning
c) Global slip circle failure
d) Rupture failure of reinforcement

10. Which of the following is correct according to the load combinations given in BS 8006?
a) A factor of 1.5 is applied for all the loads in combination A
b) Combination A generates least reinforcement force and bearing pressure
c) Combination C is used to check the serviceability limit state
d) A factor of 1.5 is applied for dead load in combination C

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 Geosynthetics & Reinforced Soil Structures
Online Certification Course, IIT Madras
Different Types of Soil Retaining Structures

1. Dry granular soils can stand in stable condition when they are placed at an angle,
a. Equal to or less than the angle of repose
b. Less than the peak friction angle of the soil
c. The safe angle depends on the height of the slope
d. Can be safely placed at any angle due to apparent cohesion

2. Which type of structure is NOT suitable for deep excavations in restricted areas?
a. Diaphragm walls
b. Secant piles
c. Sheet Piles
d. Reinforced soil walls

3. Which type of system is best suited to improve the stability of existing soil slopes?
a. Polymeric reinforced soil system
b. Reinforcement layers made of steel
c. Soil nailing system
d. Combination of different systems

4. What are the disadvantages of reinforced concrete retaining walls?

a. Construction height is limited due to practical reasons
b. Long construction times
c. Self-weight is so high that foundation should be strong
d. They attract high seismic forces

5. Why is that the reinforced soil walls can withstand seismic forces better than reinforced
concrete walls?
a. The flexibility of the reinforced soil
b. Lower inertial forces
c. As the reinforced soil structures do not move under seismic forces
d. All the above

6. When the strength of reinforcement layers is kept constant, the vertical spacing of
reinforcement layers towards the bottom of the reinforced soil walls,
a. decreases
b. increases
c. remains constant as the strength is constant
d. Difficult to comment.

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7. What is the best option to reduce the foundation pressures most economically in retaining
walls?
a. Increase the length of reinforcement layers at bottom portion of wall
b. Decrease the vertical spacing of reinforcement layers
c. Increase the length of all reinforcement layers
d. Increase the strength of bottom most reinforcement layers

8. Trapezoidal walls are suitable in case of,

a. Weak foundation soils
b. Strong foundation soils
c. For low height of walls
d. For high height of walls

9. What is the name of the wall when the reinforcement layers overlap each others in
parallel walls built on each side of narrow approach roads?
a. Trapezoidal wall
b. Stepped wall
c. Back to back wall
d. Embedded wall

10. Some common reinforcements used in reinforced soil walls are,

a. Steel strips
b. Polymeric grids
c. Steel meshes
d. High strength natural (plant derived) materials

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 Geosynthetics & Reinforced Soil Structures
Online Certification Course, IIT Madras
Construction Aspects of Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Retaining Walls

1. Why is the inward batter provided in the reinforced soil retaining walls?
a. For aesthetic appearance
b. For achieving higher factor of safety
c. To compensate for post-construction lateral deformations
d. To compensate for post-construction settlements

2. Which type of construction in reinforced soil walls is called dry construction?

a. If water is not used for compacting the soil
b. The construction carried out during summer season
c. Modular blocks in reinforce earth wall are jointed with cement and concrete
d. Modular block interconnected with shear key alone

3. Why is the aggregate layer placed behind the facing blocks?

a. To act as cushion
b. To get better reaction from the facing block
c. To act as a drainage medium
d. To reduce the lateral earth pressures

4. What is the thickness of the drainage layer required behind the facing blocks?
a. 100 mm
b. Above 1 m
c. 300 – 500 mm
d. 200 mm

5. What is the function of the facing in the reinforced soil walls?

a. Aesthetic appearance
b. Prevent Soil erosion
c. Anchoring the reinforcement
d. Protection against vandalism

6. What is the percentage of compaction level expected for the back fills in retaining walls?
a. 80-90
b. 95-98
c. 100
d. 50

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7. What is the direction of compaction of the backfill soil in retaining walls?
a. Zig zag manner to achieve best coverage of soil
b. Perpendicular to the retaining wall
c. Parallel to the retaining wall
d. Optimal combination of perpendicular and parallel directions

8. What is the best facing type for water front structures?

a. Gabion facings
b. Modular blocks
c. Full-height panels
d. Geotextile wrap-around facing

9. Why are the vertical and horizontal joints in incremental panels covered with geotextiles
on the soil side?
a. For practical convenience
b. To prevent fines from escaping
c. To protect the drainage aggregate from aggressive chemicals in concrete facing
panels
d. For maintaining the continuity in soil support
10. Which type of connection between the facing panels and geosynthetic reinforcement is
best
a. Positive connection
b. Frictional connection
c. Frictional connection with a shear key
d. Connection is not necessary
11. The reason for providing leveling pad in a reinforced soil retaining wall is,
a. Act as a foundation for the facing panels
b. Act as a foundation for the entire retaining wall
c. To help maintain the levels along the length of the retaining wall
d. Does not serve any purpose in the wall

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