Geotechnical Engineering MCQ Questions and Answers in Civil Engineering

Question. Plasticity index is defined as the range of water content between
(a) Liquid and plastic limit
(b) Plastic limit and semi solid limit
(c) Semi-solid limit and liquid limit
(d) Liquid limit and solid limit

Answer : A

Question. In active state of plastic equilibrium in a non cohesive soil with horizontal ground surface
(a) Major principal stress is horizontal
(b) Minor principal stress is vertical
(c) Major principal stress is vertical
(d) Minor and major principal stresses are equally inclined to horizontal

Answer : C

Question. Pick up the correct statement from the following:
(a) The void ratio in soils is defined as the ratio of the volume of voids to the volume of solids
(b) The bulk density of a soil is defined as the unit weight of the soil
(c) The dry density of a soil is defined as weight of solids to the total volume of the soil
(d) All the above

Answer : D

Question. If the natural water content of soil mass lies between its liquid limit and plastic limit, the soil mass is said to be in
(a) Liquid state
(b) Plastic state
(c) Semisolid state
(d) Solid state

Answer : B

Question. Effective stress is
(a) The stress at particles contact
(b) A physical parameter that can be measured
(c) Important because it is a function of engineering properties of soil
(d) All of the above

Answer : C

Question. A stratum of clay 2 m thick will get consolidated 80% in 10 years. For the 80% consolidation of 8 m thick stratum of the same clay, the time required is
(a) 100 years
(b) 120 years
(c) 140 years
(d) 160 years

Answer : D

Question. The shear resistance of a soil is constituted basically of the following component.
(a) The frictional resistance to translocation between the individual soil particles at their contact point
(b) To the structural relation to displacement of the soil because of the interlocking of the particles
(c) Cohesion and adhesion between the surfaces of the soil particles
(d) All the above

Answer : D

Question. The critical exist gradient of seepage water in soils, increases with
(a) An increase in specific gravity
(b) A decrease in specific gravity
(c) A decrease in void ratio
(d) Both (a) and (c)

Answer : D

Question. A soil mass is said to be in plastic equilibrium if
(a) It is stressed to maximum
(b) It is on the verge of failure
(c) It is in plastic stage
(d) It starts flowing

Answer : B

Question. If the material of the base of the Casagrande liquid limit device on which the cup containing soil paste drops is softer than the standard hard rubber, then
(a) The liquid limit of soil always increases
(b) The liquid limit of soil always decreases
(c) The liquid limit of soil may increase
(d) The liquid limit of soil may decrease

Answer : A

Question. Pick up the correct statement from the following:
(a) The object of classifying soils is to arrange them into groups according to their properties and behaviour
(b) A soil classification system is meant to provide an accepted and systematic method of describing the various types of soils eliminating personal factors
(c) The first category of soil classification is based on grain size of the soil
(d) All the above

Answer : D

Question. The angle of internal friction, is least for
(a) Angular-grained loose sand
(b) Angular -grained dense sand
(c) Round-grained loose sand
(d) Clays

Answer : D

Question. Which of the following is a measure of particle size range?
(a) Effective size
(b) Uniformity coefficient
(c) Coefficient of curvature
(d) None of the above

Answer : B

Question. Sand particles are made of
(a) Rock minerals
(b) Kaolinite
(c) Illite
(d) Montmorillonite

Answer : A

Question. The slope of isochrone at any point at a given time indicates the rate of change of
(a) Effective stress with time
(b) Effective stress with depth
(c) Pore water pressure with depth
(d) Pore water pressure with time

Answer : C

Question. The maximum dry density upto which any soil can be compacted depends upon
(a) Moisture content only
(b) Amount of compaction energy only
(c) Both moisture content and amount of compaction energy
(d) None of the above

Answer : C

Question. The Westergaard analysis is used for
(a) Sandy soils
(b) Cohesive soils
(c) Stratified soils
(d) Clayey soils

Answer : C

Question. If the specific gravity of a soil particle of 0.05 cm diameter is 2.67, its terminal velocity while settling in distilled water of viscosity, 0.01 poise, is
(a) 0.2200 cm/sec
(b) 0.2225 cm/sec
(c) 0.2250 cm/sec
(d) 0.2275 cm/sec

Answer : D

Question. A pycnometer is used to determine
(a) Water content and voids ratio
(b) Specific gravity and dry density
(c) Water content and specific gravity
(d) Voids ratio and dry density

Answer : C

Question. Highway Research Board (HRB) classification of soils is based on
(a) Particle size composition
(b) Plasticity characteristics
(c) Both particle size composition and plasticity characteristics
(d) None of the above

Answer : C

Question. The total discharge from two wells situated near to each other is
(a) Sum of the discharges from individual wells
(b) Less than the sum of the discharges from individual wells
(c) Greater than the sum of the discharges from individual wells
(d) Equal to larger of the two discharges from individual wells

Answer : B

Question. In a deposit of normally consolidated clay
(a) Effective stress increases with depth but water content of soil and undrained strength decrease with depth
(b) Effective stress and water content increase with depth but undrained strength decreases with depth
(c) Effective stress and undrained strength increase with depth but water content decreases with depth
(d) Effective stress, water content and undrained strength decrease with depth

Answer : C

Question. Rankine's theory of active earth pressure assumes
(a) Soil mass is homogeneous, dry and cohesionless
(b) Ground surface is a plane which may be horizontal or inclined
(c) Back of the wall is vertical and smooth
(d) All the above

Answer : D

Question. The triaxial apparatus is usually used for
(a) Unconsolidated-undrained test
(b) Consolidated-undrained test
(c) Drained test
(d) All the above tests

Answer : D

Question. Direct measurement of permeability of the specimen at any stage of loading can be made
(a) Only in fixed ring type consolidometer
(b) Only in floating ring type consolidometer
(c) Both (A) and (B)
(d) None of the above

Answer : A

Question. Soils containing organic matters
(a) Are of spongy nature
(b) Swell with decrease of moisture
(c) Shrink with increase of moisture content
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. Pick up the correct statement from the following:
(a) Kaolinite is most stable clay
(b) Kaolinite shows a very little sign of swelling on wetting
(c) Kaolinite is also called China clay
(d) All the above

Answer : D

Question. The angle that Coulomb's failure envelope makes with the horizontal is called
(a) Cohesion
(b) Angle of internal friction
(c) Angle of repose
(d) None of the above

Answer : A

Question. The intensity of active earth pressure at a depth of 10 metres in dry cohesionless sand with an angle of internal friction of 30° and with a weight of 1.8 t/m3, is
(a) 4 t/m2
(b) 5 t/m2
(c) 6 t/m2
(d) 7 t/m2

Answer : C

Question. Pick up the correct statement from the following:
(a) Sandy clayloam contains highest percentage of sand
(b) Silty clayloam contains highest percentage of silt
(c) Stiff boulder clay offers maximum shear strength
(d) Soft chalk carries least safe load

Answer : B

Question. If the voids of a soil mass are full of air only, the soil is termed as
(a) Air entrained soil
(b) Partially saturated soil
(c) Dry soil
(d) Dehydrated soil

Answer : C

Question. In a flow net
(a) Flow lines and equipotential lines cross each other at right angles
(b) Fields are rectangles whose length is twice the breadth
(c) Smaller the dimensions of the field, smaller will be the hydraulic gradient and velocity of flow through it
(d) For homogeneous soil, the curves are smooth and circular

Answer : A

Question. The specific gravity of Calcite is
(a) 2.65
(b) 2.72
(c) 2.85
(d) 2.90

Answer : B

Question. Which of the following methods is more suitable for the determination of permeability of clayey soil?
(a) Constant head method
(b) Falling head method
(c) Horizontal permeability test
(d) None of the above

Answer : B

Question. Within the consolidation process of a saturated clay
(a) A gradual increase in neutral pressure and a gradual decrease in effective pressure take place and sum of the two is constant
(b) A gradual decrease in neutral pressure and a gradual increase in effective pressure take place and sum of the two is constant
(c) Both neutral pressure and effective pressure decrease
(d) Both neutral pressure and effective pressure increase

Answer : B

Question. Compression of soil occurs rapidly if voids are filled with
(a) Air
(b) Water
(c) Partly with air and partly with water
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. The effect of cohesion on a soil is to
(a) Reduce both the active earth pressure intensity and passive earth pressure intensity
(b) Increase both the active earth pressure intensity and passive earth pressure intensity
(c) Reduce the active earth pressure intensity but to increase the passive earth pressure intensity
(d) Increase the active earth pressure intensity but to reduce the passive earth pressure intensity

Answer : C

Question. Select the incorrect statement.
(a) Bearing capacity of a soil depends upon the amount and direction of load
(b) Bearing capacity of a soil depends on the type of soil
(c) Bearing capacity of a soil depends upon shape and size of footing
(d) Bearing capacity of a soil is independent of rate of loading

Answer : A

Question. When the degree of saturation is zero, the soil mass under consideration represents
(a) One phase system
(b) Two phase system with soil and air
(c) Two phase system with soil and water
(d) Three phase system

Answer : B

Question. Bishop's method of stability analysis
(a) Is more conservative
(b) Neglects the effect of forces acting on the sides of the slices
(c) Assumes the slip surface as an arc of a circle
(d) All of the above

Answer : C

Question. Residual soils are formed by
(a) Glaciers
(b) Wind
(c) Water
(d) None of the above

Answer : D

Question. If the water content of a fully saturated soil mass is 100%, then the voids ratio of the sample is
(a) Less than specific gravity of soil
(b) Equal to specific gravity of soil
(c) Greater than specific gravity of soil
(d) Independent of specific gravity of soil

Answer : B

Question. Negative skin friction on piles
(a) Is caused due to relative settlement of the soil
(b) Is caused in soft clays
(c) Decreases the pile capacity
(d) All of the above

Answer : D

Question. When a cohesionless soil attains quick condition, it looses
(a) Shear strength
(b) Bearing capacity
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) Neither (a) nor (6)

Answer : C

Question. Degree of consolidation is
(a) Directly proportional to time and inversely proportional to drainage path
(b) Directly proportional to time and inversely proportional to square of drainage path
(c) Directly proportional to drainage path and inversely proportional to time
(d) Directly proportional to square of drainage path and inversely proportional to time

Answer : B

Question. The Mohr's straight theory is based on the following fact:
(a) Material fails essentially by shear
(b) Ultimate strength of the material is determined by the stress in the plane of slip
(c) Failure criterion is independent of the intermediate principal stress
(d) All the above

Answer : D

Question. Contact pressure beneath a rigid footing resting on cohesive soil is
(a) Less at edges compared to middle
(b) More at edges compared to middle
(c) Uniform throughout
(d) None of the above

Answer : B

Question. The shear strength of a soil
(a) Is directly proportional to the angle of internal friction of the soil
(b) Is inversely proportional to the angle of internal friction of the soil
(c) Decreases with increase in normal stress
(d) Decreases with decrease in normal stress

Answer : D

Question. The ultimate consolidation settlement of a structure resting on a soil
(a) Decreases with the increase in the initial voids ratio
(b) Decreases with the decrease in the plastic limit
(c) Increases with the increase in the initial voids ratio
(d) Increases with the decrease in the porosity of the soil

Answer : A

Question. A clay subjected to pressure in excess to its present over-burden, is said to be
(a) Pre-compressed
(b) Pre-consolidated
(c) Over-consolidated
(d) All the above

Answer : D

Question. The internal molecular attraction of a soil, the cohesion
(a) Decreases as the moisture content increases
(b) Increases as the moisture content decreases
(c) Is more in well compacted clays
(d) Depends upon the external applied load

Answer : C

Question. The shearing strength of a cohesion-less soil depends upon
(a) Dry density
(b) Rate of loading
(c) Confining pressure
(d) Nature of loading

Answer : C

Question. The ratio of the volume of water present in a given soil mass to the total volume of its voids, is known
(a) Porosity
(b) Void ratio
(c) Percentage voids
(d) Degree of saturation

Answer : D

Question. If there is no impervious boundary at the bottom of a hydraulic structure, stream lines tend to follow:
(a) A straight line
(b) A parabola
(c) A semi-ellipse
(d) A semi-circle

Answer : C

Question. The shear strength in plastic undrained clay, is due to
(a) Inter-granular friction
(b) Internal friction
(c) Cohesion
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. When the plastic limit of a soil is greater than the liquid limit, then the plasticity index is reported
(a) Negative
(b) Zero
(c) Non-plastic (NP)
(d) 1

Answer : B

Question. A saturated soil sample has water content of 40% and specific gravity of soil particles 2.7. The void ratio of the soil, is
(a) 0.4
(b) 0.52
(c) 1.08
(d) None of these

Answer : C

Question. A moist soil sample weighing 108 g has a volume of 60 c.c If water content is 25% and value of G = 2.52, the void ratio is
(a) 0.55
(b) 0.65
(c) 0.75
(d) 0.80

Answer : C

Question. Coefficient of permeability of soil
(a) Does not depend upon temperature
(b) Increases with the increase in temperature
(c) Increases with the decrease in temperature
(d) None of the above

Answer : B

Question. The property of a soil which allows it to be deformed rapidly without rupture, elastic rebound and also a volume change, is known
(a) Porosity
(b) Plasticity
(c) Permeability
(d) Ductility

Answer : B

Question. The change of moisture content of soils, changes the
(a) Value of the angle of repose
(b) Amount of compaction required
(c) Cohesive strength of soil
(d) All the above

Answer : D

Question. 260 g of wet soil was taken in a pycnometer jar of weight 400 g in order to find the moisture content in the soil, with specific gravity of soil particles 2.75. The weight of soil and remaining water filled in pycnometer without air bubbles was 1415 g and the weight of pycnometer filled with water alone was 1275 g. The moisture content in the soil is
(a) 24.2 %
(b) 18.2 %
(c) 53.8 %
(d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. The soil moisture driven off by heat, is called
(a) Free water
(b) Hydroscopic water
(c) Gravity water
(d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. On wetting, cohesive soils,
(a) Loose permeability
(b) Gain shear strength
(c) Loose elasticity
(d) Decrease their shear strength

Answer : D

Question. The shearing force acting along the slice of a curved surface of slippage, causes the soil to slide
(a) Down at the centre
(b) Down at the toe
(c) Upward at the centre
(d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. A sample of saturated soil has 30% water content and the specific gravity of soil grains is 2.6. The dry density of the soil mass in g/cm3, is
(a) 1.47
(b) 1.82
(c) 1.91
(d) None of these

Answer : D

Question. If a cohesive soil specimen is subjected to a vertical compressive load, the inclination of the cracks to the horizontal is
(a) 90°
(b) 45°
(c) 22.5°
(d) 0°

Answer : B

Question. If Nf, Nd and H are total number flow channels, total number of potential drops and total hydraulic head differences respectively, the discharge q through the complete flow is given by (where K is a constant)
(a) q = (Nf/Nd)
(b) q = KH (Nd/(Nf)
(c) q = KH (Nf/Nd)
(d) q = KH Nf/Nd)

Answer : C

Question. Pick up the correct statement from the following:
(a) A soil having pH value more than 7 is an acidic soil
(b) A soil having pH value less than 7 is an acidic soil
(c) A soil having pH value more than 7 is an alkaline soil
(d) A soil containing chemicals for the manufacture of Portland cement is preferred

Answer : B

Question. The angle of internal friction is maximum for
(a) angular-grained loose sand
(b) angular-grained dense sand
(c) round-grained dense sand
(d) round-grained loose sand

Answer : B

Question. The angle between the directions of the failure and the major principal plane, is equal to
(a) 90° + effective angle of shearing resistance
(b) 90° + half of the angle of shearing resistance
(c) 45° - half of the angle of shearing resistance
(d) 45° + half of the angle of shearing resistance

Answer : D