Soil Mechanics And Foundation Engineering MCQs

Option A: Unit weight of dry soil is greater than unit weight of wet soil

Option B: For dry soils, dry unit weight is less than total unit weight

Option C: Unit weight of soil increases due to submergence in water

Option D: Unit weight of soil decreases due to submergence in water

Correct Answer: Unit weight of soil decreases due to submergence in water ✔

Option A: Uniformity coefficient represents the shape of the particle size distribution curve

Option B: For a well graded soil, both uniformity coefficient and coefficient of curvature are nearly unity

Option C: A soil is said to be well graded if it has most of the particles of about the same size

Option D: none of the above

Correct Answer: none of the above ✔

Option A: A uniform soil has more strength and stability than a non-uniform soil

Option B: A uniform soil has less strength and stability than a non-uniform soil

Option C: Uniformity coefficient does not affect strength and stability

Option D: Uniformity coefficient of a poorly graded soil is more than that of a well graded soil

Correct Answer: A uniform soil has less strength and stability than a non-uniform soil ✔

Option A: The greater the viscosity, the greater is permeability

Option B: The greater the unit weight, the greater is permeability

Option C: The greater the unit weight, the smaller is permeability

Option D: Unit weight does not affect per-meability

Correct Answer: The greater the unit weight, the greater is permeability ✔

Option A: coefficient of compressibility of an over-consolidated clay is less than that of a normally consolidated clay

Option B: coefficient of compressibility of an over-consolidated clay is greater than that of a normally consolidated clay

Option C: coefficient of compressibility is cons-tant for any clay

Option D: none of the above

Correct Answer: coefficient of compressibility of an over-consolidated clay is less than that of a normally consolidated clay ✔

Option A: Effective cohesion of a soil can never have a negative value

Option B: Effective angle of internal friction for coarse grained soils is rarely below 30°

Option C: Effective angle of internal friction for a soil increases as state of compact-ness increases

Option D: Effective angle of internal friction is a complicated function of mineralogy and clay size content

Correct Answer: Effective cohesion of a soil can never have a negative value ✔

Option A: decreases

Option B: increases

Option C: remains unchanged

Option D: first increases and then decreases

Correct Answer: decreases ✔

Option A: increases as the size of particles increases

Option B: increases as the soil gradation im-proves

Option C: is limited to a maximum value of 45°

Option D: is rarely more than 30° for fine grained soil

Correct Answer: is limited to a maximum value of 45° ✔

Option A: In a direct shear box test, the plane of shear failure is predetermined

Option B: Better control is achieved on the drainage of the soil in a triaxial compression test

Option C: Stress distribution on the failure plane in the case of triaxial compression test is uniform

Option D: Unconfined compression test can be carried out on all types of soils

Correct Answer: Unconfined compression test can be carried out on all types of soils ✔

Option A: Bearing capacity of a soil depends upon the amount and direction of load

Option B: Bearing capacity of a soil depends on the type of soil

Option C: Bearing capacity of a soil depends upon shape and size of footing

Option D: Bearing capacity of a soil is indepen-dent of rate of loading

Correct Answer: Bearing capacity of a soil depends upon the amount and direction of load ✔

Option A: 25%

Option B: 50%

Option C: 75%

Option D: 90%

Correct Answer: 50% ✔

Option A: less at edges compared to middle

Option B: more at edges compared to middle

Option C: uniform throughout

Option D: none of the above

Correct Answer: more at edges compared to middle ✔

Option A: 15 mm

Option B: 30 mm

Option C: 50 mm

Option D: 167 mm

Correct Answer: 50 mm ✔

Option A: cohesion and effective angle of shearing resistance

Option B: cohesion and effective unit weight of soil

Option C: effective unit weight of soil and effective angle of shearing resistance

Option D: effective angle of shearing resistance

Correct Answer: cohesion and effective unit weight of soil ✔

Option A: cohesion only

Option B: angle of internal friction only

Option C: both cohesion and angle of internal friction

Option D: none of the above

Correct Answer: angle of internal friction only ✔

Option A: 15 mm

Option B: between 15 mm and 25 mm

Option C: 25 mm

Option D: greater than 25 mm

Correct Answer: 15 mm ✔

Option A: less than 300 mm

Option B: between 300 mm and 750 mm

Option C: between 750 mm and 1 m

Option D: greater than 1 m

Correct Answer: between 300 mm and 750 mm ✔

Option A: safe bearing capacity

Option B: net safe bearing capacity

Option C: ultimate bearing capacity

Option D: net ultimate bearing capacity where C = unit cohesion

Correct Answer: ultimate bearing capacity ✔

Option A: allowable settlement only

Option B: ultimate bearing capacity of soil only

Option C: both allowable settlement and ultimate bearing capacity

Option D: none of above

Correct Answer: both allowable settlement and ultimate bearing capacity ✔

Option A: less than active earth pressure but greater than passive earth pressure

Option B: greater than active earth pressure but less than passive earth pressure

Option C: greater than both the active earth pressure and passive earth pressure

Option D: less than both the active and passive earth pressures

Correct Answer: greater than active earth pressure but less than passive earth pressure ✔

Option A: reduce both the active earth pressure intensity and passive earth pressure intensity

Option B: increase both the active earth pressure intensity and passive earth pressure intensity

Option C: reduce the active earth pressure in-tensity but to increase the passive earth pressure intensity

Option D: increase the active earth pressure in-tensity but to reduce the passive earth pressure intensity

Correct Answer: reduce the active earth pressure in-tensity but to increase the passive earth pressure intensity ✔

Option A: is more conservative

Option B: neglects the effect of forces acting on the sides of the slices

Option C: assumes the slip surface as an arc of a circle

Option D: all of the above

Correct Answer: assumes the slip surface as an arc of a circle ✔

Option A: 7°

Option B: 10°

Option C: 12°

Option D: 17°

Correct Answer: 12° ✔

Option A: vertical if the soil is in an active state of plastic equilibrium

Option B: vertical if the soil is in a passive state of plastic equilibrium

Option C: inclined at 45° to the vertical plane

Option D: none of the above

Correct Answer: vertical if the soil is in an active state of plastic equilibrium ✔

Option A: plane and smooth

Option B: plane and rough

Option C: vertical and smooth

Option D: vertical and rough

Correct Answer: vertical and smooth ✔

Option A: cohesion

Option B: angle of internal friction

Option C: angle of repose

Option D: none of the above

Correct Answer: angle of internal friction ✔

Option A: horizontal plane only

Option B: vertical plane only

Option C: both horizontal and vertical planes

Option D: all planes except horizontal and vertical planes

Correct Answer: all planes except horizontal and vertical planes ✔

Option A: 0.5

Option B: -0.5

Option C: 2.0

Option D: – 2.0

Correct Answer: 0.5 ✔

Option A: 1/3

Option B: 3

Option C: 1

Option D: 1/2

Correct Answer: 1/3 ✔

Option A: percentage of volume change of soil under saturated condition

Option B: ratio of compressive strength of unconfined undisturbed soil to that of soil in a remoulded state

Option C: ratio of volume of voids to volume of solids

Option D: none of the above

Correct Answer: ratio of compressive strength of unconfined undisturbed soil to that of soil in a remoulded state ✔

Option A: consolidated drained test

Option B: consolidated undrained test

Option C: unconsolidated drained test

Option D: unconsolidated undrained test

Correct Answer: consolidated undrained test ✔

Option A: 45°

Option B: 90°

Option C: 135°

Option D: 225°

Correct Answer: 90° ✔

Option A: 90°

Option B: 45°

Option C: 22.5°

Option D: 0°

Correct Answer: 45° ✔

Option A: 0.5 N/mm2 and 30°

Option B: 0.05 N/mm2 and 0°

Option C: 0.2 N/mm2 and 0°

Option D: 0.05 N/mm2 and 45°

Correct Answer: 0.05 N/mm2 and 0° ✔

Option A: effective stress only

Option B: total stress only

Option C: both effective stress and total stress

Option D: none of the above

Correct Answer: effective stress only ✔

Option A: undrained test

Option B: drained test

Option C: consolidated undrained test

Option D: consolidated drained test

Correct Answer: undrained test ✔

Option A: effective stress increases with depth but water content of soil and un-drained strength decrease with depth

Option B: effective stress and water content increase with depth but undrained strength decreases with depth

Option C: effective stress and undrained strength increase with depth but water content decreases with depth

Option D: effective stress, water content and undrained strength decrease with depth

Correct Answer: effective stress and undrained strength increase with depth but water content decreases with depth ✔

Option A: 1

Option B: zero

Option C: between 0 and 1

Option D: greater than 1

Correct Answer: 1 ✔

Option A: is directly proportional to the angle of internal friction of the soil

Option B: is inversely proportional to the angle of internal friction of the soil

Option C: decreases with increase in normal stress

Option D: decreases with decrease in normal stress

Correct Answer: decreases with decrease in normal stress ✔

Option A: dry of OMC and wet of OMC

Option B: wet of OMC and dry of OMC

Option C: wet of OMC and wet of OMC

Option D: dry of OMC and dry of OMC where OMC is optimum moisture content

Correct Answer: wet of OMC and dry of OMC ✔

Option A: ultimate strength is same and also peak strength is same

Option B: ultimate strength is different but peak strength is same

Option C: ultimate strength is same but peak strength of dense sand is greater than that of loose sand

Option D: ultimate strength is same but peak

Correct Answer: ultimate strength is same but peak strength of dense sand is greater than that of loose sand ✔

Option A: optimum water content increases but maximum dry density decreases

Option B: optimum water content decreases but maximum dry density increases

Option C: both optimum water content and maximum dry density increase

Option D: both optimum water content and maximum dry density decrease

Correct Answer: optimum water content decreases but maximum dry density increases ✔

Option A: only in fixed ring type consolido-meter

Option B: only in floating ring type consolido-meter

Option C: both (A) and (B)

Option D: none of the above

Correct Answer: only in fixed ring type consolido-meter ✔

Option A: decreases with the increase in the initial voids ratio

Option B: decreases with the decrease in the plastic limit

Option C: increases with the increase in the initial voids ratio

Option D: increases with the decrease in the porosity of the soil

Correct Answer: decreases with the increase in the initial voids ratio ✔

Option A: 10 mm

Option B: 20 mm

Option C: 40 mm

Option D: none of the above

Correct Answer: 10 mm ✔

Option A: directly proportional to the voids ratio

Option B: directly proportional to the compression index

Option C: inversely proportional to the compression index

Option D: none of the above

Correct Answer: directly proportional to the compression index ✔

Option A: moisture content only

Option B: amount of compaction energy only

Option C: both moisture content and amount of compaction energy

Option D: none of the above

Correct Answer: both moisture content and amount of compaction energy ✔

Option A: drum roller

Option B: rubber tyred roller

Option C: sheep’s foot roller

Option D: vibratory roller

Correct Answer: vibratory roller ✔

Option A: constant for any type of soil

Option B: different for different types of soils and also different for a soil under different states of consolidation

Option C: different for different types of soils but same for a soil under different states of consolidation

Option D: independent of type of soil but depends on the stress history of soil

Correct Answer: different for different types of soils and also different for a soil under different states of consolidation ✔

Option A: almost equal to that of clayey soils

Option B: much greater than that of clayey soils

Option C: much less than that of clayey soils

Option D: none of the above

Correct Answer: much less than that of clayey soils ✔

Option A: 3 months

Option B: 6 months

Option C: 12 months

Option D: 24 months

Correct Answer: 3 months ✔

Option A: over-consolidated ciay with a high over-consolidation ratio

Option B: over-consolidated clay with a low over-consolidation ratio

Option C: normally consolidated clay

Option D: under-consolidated clay

Correct Answer: over-consolidated ciay with a high over-consolidation ratio ✔

Option A: directly proportional to time and inversely proportional to drainage path

Option B: directly proportional to time and inversely proportional to square of drainage path

Option C: directly proportional to drainage path and inversely proportional to time

Option D: directly proportional to square of drainage path and inversely proportional to time

Correct Answer: directly proportional to time and inversely proportional to square of drainage path ✔

Option A: decreases with increase in liquid limit

Option B: increases with increase in liquid limit

Option C: first increases and then decreases with increase in liquid limit

Option D: remains constant at all liquid limits

Correct Answer: decreases with increase in liquid limit ✔

Option A: a dimensional parameter

Option B: directly proportional to permeability of soil

Option C: inversely proportional to drainage path

Option D: independent of thickness of clay layer

Correct Answer: directly proportional to permeability of soil ✔

Option A: compressibility

Option B: permeability

Option C: both compressibility and permeability

Option D: none of the above

Correct Answer: compressibility ✔

Option A: well ppint system

Option B: vacuum method

Option C: deep well system

Option D: electroosmosis method

Correct Answer: electroosmosis method ✔

Option A: a gradual increase in neutral pressure and a gradual decrease in effective pressure takes place and sum of the two is constant

Option B: a gradual decrease in neutral pressure and a gradual increase in effective pressure takes place and sum of the two is constant

Option C: both neutral pressure and effective pressure decrease

Option D: both neutral pressure and effective pressure increase

Correct Answer: a gradual decrease in neutral pressure and a gradual increase in effective pressure takes place and sum of the two is constant ✔

Option A: parallel to stratification is always greater than that perpendicular to stratification

Option B: parallel to stratification is always less than that perpendicular to stratification

Option C: is always same in both directions

Option D: parallel to stratification may or may not be greater than that perpendicular to stratification

Correct Answer: parallel to stratification is always greater than that perpendicular to stratification ✔

Option A: 0.028

Option B: 0.28

Option C: 036

Option D: 0.036

Correct Answer: 0.28 ✔

Option A: effective stress with time

Option B: effective stress with depth

Option C: pore water pressure with depth

Option D: pore water pressure with time

Correct Answer: pore water pressure with depth ✔

Option A: 0.00018 nrVsec

Option B: 0.0045 m3/sec

Option C: 0.18m3/sec

Option D: 0.1125m3/sec

Correct Answer: 0.00018 nrVsec ✔

Option A: 3

Option B: 6

Option C: 9

Option D: 16

Correct Answer: 9 ✔

Option A: sum of the discharges from individual wells

Option B: less than the sum of the discharges from individual wells

Option C: greater than the sum of the discharges from individual wells

Option D: equal to larger of the two discharges from individual wells

Correct Answer: sum of the discharges from individual wells ✔

Option A: increases by 25%

Option B: increases by 50%

Option C: increases by 33.3%

Option D: decreases by 33.3%

Correct Answer: increases by 50% ✔

Option A: constant head method

Option B: falling head method

Option C: horizontal permeability test

Option D: none of the above

Correct Answer: falling head method ✔

Option A: does not depend upon temperature

Option B: increases with the increase in temperature

Option C: increases with the decrease in temperature

Option D: none of the above

Correct Answer: increases with the increase in temperature ✔

Option A: the stress at particles contact

Option B: a physical parameter that can be measured

Option C: important because it is a function of engineering properties of soil

Option D: all of the above

Correct Answer: important because it is a function of engineering properties of soil ✔

Option A: constant head method

Option B: falling head method

Option C: both the above

Option D: none of the above

Correct Answer: constant head method ✔

Option A: gravel

Option B: sand

Option C: silt

Option D: clay

Correct Answer: sand ✔

Option A: 1.0m

Option B: 1.5 m

Option C: 2.0 m

Option D: 3m

Correct Answer: 1.5 m ✔

Option A: increases voids ratio and decreases permeability

Option B: increases both voids ratio and permeability

Option C: decreases both voids ratio and permeability

Option D: decreases voids ratio and increases permeability

Correct Answer: decreases both voids ratio and permeability ✔

Option A: viscosity only

Option B: unit weight only

Option C: both viscosity and unit weight

Option D: none of the above

Correct Answer: both viscosity and unit weight ✔

Option A: 4.75 mm to 2.00 mm

Option B: 2.00 mm to 0.425 mm

Option C: 0.425 mm to 0.075 mm

Option D: 0.075 mm to 0.002 mm

Correct Answer: 0.075 mm to 0.002 mm ✔

Option A: effective stress is reduced due to decrease in total stress only but pore water pressure does not change

Option B: effective stress is reduced due to increase in pore water pressure only but total stress does not change

Option C: total stress is reduced due to increase in pore water pressure only but effec-tive stress does not change

Option D: total stress is increased due to de-crease in pore water pressure but effective stress does not change

Correct Answer: effective stress is reduced due to increase in pore water pressure only but total stress does not change ✔

Option A: particle size composition

Option B: plasticity characteristics

Option C: both particle size composition and plasticity characteristics

Option D: none of the above

Correct Answer: particle size composition ✔

Option A: equal increase in pore water pressure and total stress

Option B: equal decrease in pore water pressure and total stress

Option C: increase in pore water pressure but decrease in total stress

Option D: decrease in pore water pressure but increase in total stress

Correct Answer: equal increase in pore water pressure and total stress ✔

Option A: type of sand

Option B: flow condition occurring in cohesive soils

Option C: flow condition occurring in cohesionless soils

Option D: flow condition occurring in both cohesive and cohesionless soils

Correct Answer: type of sand ✔

Option A: zero and zero

Option B: 0.5 kg/cm2 and zero

Option C: 0.5 kg/cm2 and 0.5 kg/cm2

Option D: 1.0 kg/cm2 and 0.5 kg/cm2

Correct Answer: 0.5 kg/cm2 and zero ✔

Option A: kaolinite

Option B: illite

Option C: montmorillonite

Option D: none of the above

Correct Answer: montmorillonite ✔

Option A: rock minerals

Option B: kaolinite

Option C: illite

Option D: montmorillonite

Correct Answer: rock minerals ✔

Option A: face to face or parallel orientation

Option B: edge to edge orientation

Option C: edge to face orientation

Option D: all of the above

Correct Answer: face to face or parallel orientation ✔

Option A: MH

Option B: SL

Option C: ML

Option D: CH

Correct Answer: ML ✔

Option A: the liquid limit of soil always increases

Option B: the liquid limit of soil always decreases

Option C: the liquid limit of soil may increase

Option D: the liquid limit of soil may decrease

Correct Answer: the liquid limit of soil always increases ✔

Option A: sand

Option B: silt

Option C: clay

Option D: gravel

Correct Answer: clay ✔

Option A: liquid state

Option B: plastic state

Option C: semi-solid state

Option D: solid state

Correct Answer: plastic state ✔

Option A: plasticity index to consistency index

Option B: plasticity index to flow index

Option C: liquidity index to flow index

Option D: consistency index to liquidity index

Correct Answer: plasticity index to flow index ✔

Option A: same shear strength of small magnitude

Option B: same shear strength of large magnitude

Option C: different shear strengths of small magnitude

Option D: different shear strengths of large magnitude

Correct Answer: same shear strength of small magnitude ✔

Option A: liquid limit

Option B: plastic limit

Option C: shrinkage limit

Option D: plasticity index

Correct Answer: liquid limit ✔

Option A: decrease in liquid limit and increase in plasticity index

Option B: decrease in liquid limit and no change in plasticity index

Option C: decrease in both liquid limit and plasticity index

Option D: increase in both liquid limit and plasticity index

Correct Answer: decrease in both liquid limit and plasticity index ✔

Option A: negative

Option B: zero

Option C: non-plastic (NP)

Option D: 1

Correct Answer: zero ✔

Option A: sand

Option B: silt

Option C: clay

Option D: clayey silt

Correct Answer: sand ✔

A. 0 < PI < 7
B. 7<PI< 17
C. 17<PI27

Correct Answer: 7<PI< 17 ✔

Option A: the principle of test

Option B: the method of taking observations

Option C: the method of preparation of soil suspension

Option D: all of the above

Correct Answer: the method of taking observations ✔

Option A: always less than 1

Option B: always equal to 1

Option C: equal to or less than 1

Option D: equal to or gi eater than 1

Correct Answer: equal to or gi eater than 1 ✔

Option A: effective size

Option B: uniformity coefficient

Option C: coefficient of curvature

Option D: none of the above

Correct Answer: uniformity coefficient ✔

Option A: less than 0.0002 mm

Option B: greater than 0.2 mm

Option C: between 0.2 mm and 0.0002 mm

Option D: all of the above

Correct Answer: between 0.2 mm and 0.0002 mm ✔

Option A: 18.6 kN/m3

Option B: 20.0 kN/m3

Option C: 22.0 kN/m3

Option D: 23.2 kN/m3

Correct Answer: 20.0 kN/m3 ✔

Option A: oven drying method

Option B: sand bath method

Option C: alcohol method

Option D: calcium carbide method

Correct Answer: calcium carbide method ✔

Option A: both meniscus correction and dispersing agent correction are additive

Option B: both meniscus correction and dispersing agent correction are subtractive

Option C: meniscus correction is additive and dispersing agent correction is subtractive

Option D: meniscus correction is subtractive and dispersing agent correction is additive

Correct Answer: meniscus correction is additive and dispersing agent correction is subtractive ✔