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Civil Engineering (MCQS) Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering SET 1
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1. In a liquid limit test, the moisture content at 10 blows was 70% and that at 100 blows was 20%. The liquid limit of the soil, is
35%
50%
65%
none of these.
2. The minimum water content at which the soil just begins to crumble when rolled into threads 3 mm in diameter, is known
liquid limit
plastic limit
shrinkage limit
permeability limit.
3. Pick up the correct statement from the following:
The rise of the ground surface due to frost action is called frost heave.
The freezing of water is accompained by a volume increase of 9%.
Below freezing point, higher soil suction develops.
All the above.
4. Which one of the following statements is true ?
Clays are more porous than sands
Pressure of organic matter in a soil decreases the bearing capacity of the soil
Aluminous cement is used for foundations in soils with chemical deposits
All the above.
5. The lateral earth pressure on a retaining wall
is equal to mass of the soil retained
proportional to the depth of the soil
proportional to the square of the depth of the soil
proportional to the internal friction of the soil
6. The internal molecular attraction of a soil, the cohesion
decreases as the moisture content increases
increases as the moisture content decreases
is more in well compacted clays
depends upon the external applied load.
7. The quantity of seepage of water through soils is proportional to
coefficient of permeability of soil
total head loss through the soil
neither (a) nor (b)
both (a) and (b).
8. When drainage is permitted under initially applied normal stress only and full primarily consolidation is allowed to take place, the test is known as
quick test
drained test
consolidated undrained test
none of these.
9. The minimum water content at which the soil retains its liquid state and also possesses a small shearing strength against flowing, is known
liquid limit
plastic limit
shrinkage limit
permeability limit.
10. Minimum size of the particles of silt soil, is
0.002 mm
0.04 mm
0.06 mm.
0.08 mm
11. The maximum value of effective stress in the past divided by the present value, is defined as over consolidation ratio (OCR). The O.C.R. of an over consolidated clay is
less than 1
1
more than 1
None of these.
12. Under-reamed piles are generally
driven piles
bored piles
precast piles
all the above.
13. Pick up the clay soil group which does not swell when wet from the following :
Kaolinite group
Illite group
Vermiculite group
Montrorillonite group.
14. Factor of safety against sliding of a slope, is the ratio of
actual cohesion to that required to maintain stability of slope
shear strength to shear stress along the surface
neither (a) nor (b)
both (a) and (b).
15. The ratio of the volume of voids to the volume of soil solids in a given soil mass, is known
porosity
specific gravity
void ratio
water content.
16. A compacted soil sample using 10% moisture content has a weight of 200 g and mass unit weight of 2.0 g/cm3. If the specific gravity of soil particles and water are 2.7 and 1.0, the degree of saturation of the soil is
11.10%
55.60%
69.60%
none of these.
17. A partially saturated sample of soil has a unit weight of 2.0 g/cm3 and specific gravity of soil particles is 2.6. If the moisture content in the soil is 20%, the degree of saturation is
20%
77%
92%
none of these.
18. According to Coulomb's wedge theory, the active earth pressure slides the wedge
down and outwards on a slip surface
up and inwards on a slip surface
horizontal upward and parallel to base
horizontal inward and parallel to base.
19. Degree of saturation of a natural soil deposit having water content 15%, specific gravity 2.50 and void ratio 0.5, is
50%
60%
75%
80%
20. The coefficient of compressibility of soil, is the ratio of
stress to strain
strain to stress
stress to settlement
rate of loading to that of settlement.
21. If the failure of a finite slope occurs through the toe, it is known as
slope failure
face failure
base failure
toe failure.
22. Rankine's theory of active earth pressure assumes
soil mass is homogeneous, dry and cohesionless
ground surface is a plane which may be horizontal or inclined
back of the wall is vertical and smooth
all the above.
23. The water content of soil is defined as the ratio of
volume of water to volume of given soil
volume of water to volume of voids in soil
weight of water to weight of air in voids
weight of water to weight of solids of given mass of soil.
24. Accurate determination of water content, is made by
calcium carbide method
sand bath method
alcohol method
oven-drying method.
25. Stoke's law sates that the velocity at which a grain settles out of suspension, the other factors remaining constant, is dependent upon
shape of grain
weight of grain
size of grain
shape, size and weight of grain.
26. Pick up the correct statement from the following:
When water table is above the base of a footing, the dry weight m should be used for soil below water table
When water table is located somewhat below the base of a footing, the elastic wedge is partly of moist soil and partly of submerged soil, and a suitable reduction factor is used
When water table is just at the base of the footing, no reduction factor is used
None of these.
27. Pick up the correct statement from the following :
In soils, the flow index indicates variation in shear strength with water content
Liquid limit minus plastic limit, is known as plasticity index of the soil
Plastic limit minus shrinkage limit, is known as shrinkage index of the soil
All the above.
28. The liquid limit and plastic limit exist in
sandy soils
silty soils
gravel soils
clay soils.
29. Back fill with a sloping surface exerts a total active pressure Pa on the wall of height H and acts at
H/4 above the base parallel to base
H/2 above the base parallel to base
H/3 above the base parallel to base
H/5 above the base parallel to base.
30. The ratio of the weight of given volume of soil solids to the weight of an equal volume of distilled water at the given temperature, is known
porosity
specific gravity
void ratio
water content.
31. The ultimate Settlement of a soil is directly proportional to:
depth of the compressible soil strata
compressive index
void ratio
both (a) and (b)
32. The seepage force in a soil, is
perpendicular to the equipotential lines
proportional to the exit graident
proportional to the head loss
all the above.
33. Pick up the correct statement from the following:
Sandy clayloam contains highest percentage of sand
Silty clayloam contains highest percentage of silt
Stiff boulder clay offers maximum shear strength
Soft chalk carries least safe load
34. The clay soil mainly consists of
Kaolinites
Montomorillonite
Illites
All the above.
35. The liquidity index is defined as a ratio expressed as percentage of
plastic limit minus the natural water content, to its plasticity index
natural water content minus its plastic limit to its plasticity index
natural water content plus its plastic limit to its plasticity index
liquid limit minus the natural water content to the plasticity index.
36. The fluid generally used for grouting is
cement and water mix
clay suspension
sodium silicate
all the above.
37. A coarse-grained soil has a voids ratio 0.75, and specific gravity as 2.75. The critical gradient at which quick sand condition occurs, is
0.25
0.5
0.75
1
38. Failure of the stability of slopes, generally occurs along
slip plane
a horizontal surface
a curved surface
all the surfaces.
39. Pick up the correct statement from the following:
Failure plane carries maximum shear stress
Failure plane does not carry maximum shear stress
Failure plane carries shear stress equal to maximum shear stress
None of these.
40. Geologic cycle for the formation of soil, is
Upheavel → transportation → deposition → weathering
Weathering → upheaval → transportation → deposition
Transportation → upheaval → weathering → deposition
Weathering → transportation → deposition → upheaval
41. The weight of a pycnometer containing 400 g sand and water full to the top is 2150 g. The weight of pycnometer full of clean water is 1950 g. If specific gravity of the soil is 2.5, the water content is
5%
10%
15%
20%
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