Explore topic-wise MCQs in Geotechnical Engineering.

This section includes 180 Mcqs, each offering curated multiple-choice questions to sharpen your Geotechnical Engineering knowledge and support exam preparation. Choose a topic below to get started.

151.

When the ratio of r/z equals to 0.5, the Boussinesq influence factor is ________ of the maximum.

A. 23%
B. 57%
C. 17.7%
D. 1.8%
Answer» C. 17.7%
152.

If a uniformly loaded circular area is divided into 44 sectors, then the influence value if is given by ___________

A. \(\frac{1}{44} \left[1-\left[\frac{1}{1+(\frac{a}{z})^2}\right]^\frac{3}{2}\right] \)
B. \(44\left[1-\left[\frac{1}{1+(\frac{a}{z})^2}\right]^\frac{3}{2}\right] \)
C. \(44\left[1-\left[\frac{1}{1+(\frac{a}{z})^2}\right]^\frac{5}{2}\right] \)
D. \(\frac{1}{44} \left[1-\left[\frac{1}{1+(\frac{a}{z})^2}\right]^\frac{5}{2}\right] \)
Answer» B. \(44\left[1-\left[\frac{1}{1+(\frac{a}{z})^2}\right]^\frac{3}{2}\right] \)
153.

Contact pressure is the ratio of ___________

A. area to normal load
B. normal load to tangential load
C. tangential load to normal load
D. normal load to true contact area
Answer» E.
154.

___________ is a compatibility equation.

A. \(\frac{∂^2 ε_y}{∂y^2} +\frac{∂^2 ε_y}{∂x^2} = \frac{∂^2 Γ_{xy}}{∂x∂y}\)
B. \(\frac{∂^2 ε_x}{∂y^2} +\frac{∂^2 ε_y}{∂x^2} = \frac{∂^2 Γ_{xy}}{∂x∂y}\)
C. \(\frac{∂^2 ε_x}{∂y^2} -\frac{∂^2 ε_y}{∂x^2} = \frac{∂^2 Γ_{xy}}{∂x∂y}\)
D. \(\frac{∂^2 ε_x}{∂y^2} *\frac{∂^2 ε_y}{∂x^2} = \frac{∂^2 Γ_{xy}}{∂x∂y}\)
Answer» C. \(\frac{∂^2 ε_x}{∂y^2} -\frac{∂^2 ε_y}{∂x^2} = \frac{∂^2 Γ_{xy}}{∂x∂y}\)
155.

For a saturated clay, the theoretical intensity of contact pressure at the centre is________

A. q
B. q/2
C. ¾ q
D. q/3
Answer» C. ¾ q
156.

There are __________ strain components for a three dimensional case.

A. 2
B. 3
C. 6
D. 8
Answer» D. 8
157.

In Terzaghi’s Theory of one dimensional consolidation, excess pore water drains out in __________

A. horizontal direction only
B. tangential direction only
C. vertical direction only
D. both horizontal and vertical direction
Answer» D. both horizontal and vertical direction
158.

The assumption of Boussinesq equation is that the soil is ______________

A. elastic
B. semi-elastic
C. plastic
D. semi-plastic
Answer» B. semi-elastic
159.

The equilibrium equation in Y-direction in terms of effected stress for a saturated soil body is given by __________

A. \(\frac{∂σ_x{‘}}{∂x}+\frac{∂τ_{yx}}{∂y}+\frac{∂τ_{zx}}{∂z}+X=0\)
B. \(\frac{∂τ_{xy}}{∂x}+\frac{∂σ_y{‘}}{∂y}+\frac{∂τ_{zy}}{∂z}+γ_w \frac{∂h}{∂y}=0\)
C. \(\frac{∂τ_{xz}}{∂x}+\frac{∂τ_{yz}}{∂y}+\frac{∂σ_z{‘}}{∂z}+Z=0\)
D. \(\frac{∂σ_x{‘}}{∂x}+\frac{∂τ_{yx}}{∂y}+\frac{∂τ_{zx}}{∂z}=0\)
Answer» C. \(\frac{∂τ_{xz}}{∂x}+\frac{∂τ_{yz}}{∂y}+\frac{∂σ_z{‘}}{∂z}+Z=0\)
160.

The assumption made by Boussinesq in the solutions is by the ____________

A. theory of plasticity
B. theory of elasticity
C. yield point
D. failure point
Answer» C. yield point
161.

At a point, there are/is _________ normal stress.

A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer» D. 4
162.

The problems due to stress distribution in soils due to a concentrated load was studied by _____________

A. G.B Airy
B. Terzaghi
C. Darcy
D. Boussinesq
Answer» E.
163.

The equilibrium equations in terms of total stresses formed by summing all forces on z-direction is ________

A. \(\frac{∂σ_x}{∂x} + \frac{∂τ_{yx}}{∂y} + \frac{∂τ_{zx}}{∂z} +Z=0\)
B. \(\frac{∂τ_{xy}}{∂x}+\frac{∂σ_y}{∂y}+\frac{∂τ_{zy}}{∂z}=0\)
C. \(\frac{∂τ_{xz}}{∂x} +\frac{∂τ_{yz}}{∂y} +\frac{∂σ_z}{∂z} +γ=0\)
D. \(\frac{∂σ_x}{∂x}+\frac{∂τ_{yx}}{∂y} +\frac{∂τ_{zx}}{∂z} = 0\)
Answer» D. \(\frac{∂σ_x}{∂x}+\frac{∂τ_{yx}}{∂y} +\frac{∂τ_{zx}}{∂z} = 0\)
164.

The following diagram represents the contact pressure of __________

A. real elastic material
B. intermediate soil
C. cohesionless soil
D. gravel
Answer» B. intermediate soil
165.

The relation between the shear stress component in xz-plane in Cartesian coordinates and polar coordinates for vertical line load is ___________

A. τxz=σᵣ tan²⁡θ
B. τxz=σᵣ cosec²⁡θ
C. τxz=σᵣ sinθcos⁡θ
D. τxz=σᵣ sin²θ
Answer» D. τxz=σᵣ sin²θ
166.

Find the load at depth 10m for a uniformly loaded circular area of radius 1000m. k=1. The vertical pressure σz is 80 kN/m².

A. 51kN/m²
B. 54 kN/m²
C. 80 kN/m²
D. 12kN/m²
Answer» D. 12kN/m²
167.

On simplifying the compatibility equation in terms of stresses with respect to Poisson’s ratio is given by _________

A. σz=γz
B. σx=σy=\(\frac{μ}{1-μ}γz\)
C. σx=σy=\(\frac{1}{μ} γz\)
D. σx=σy=μγz
Answer» C. σx=σy=\(\frac{1}{μ} γz\)
168.

The force systems acting on an elastic body in equilibrium are _______

A. body forces only
B. surface forces only
C. both body and surface forces
D. body stresses
Answer» D. body stresses
169.

If θ is the angle subtended by the edges of the strip load, then the Boussinesq’s vertical pressure σz due to strip load is given by ________

A. \(σ_z=\frac{q}{π}(θ+sinθ)\)
B. \(σ_z=\frac{q}{π}(θ-sinθ)\)
C. \(σ_z=\frac{q}{π}(sinθ)\)
D. \(σ_z=\frac{q}{π} θ\)
Answer» B. \(σ_z=\frac{q}{π}(θ-sinθ)\)
170.

The Boussinesq’s vertical pressure σz due to line load at a point situated vertically below the line load is given by ________

A. \(σ_z=\frac{2q’}{πz}\)
B. \(σ_z=\frac{3q’}{πz}\)
C. \(σ_z=\frac{2q’}{πz}\frac{1}{[1+(z)^2 ]^2} \)
D. \(σ_z=\frac{2q’}{z}\)
Answer» B. \(σ_z=\frac{3q’}{πz}\)
171.

For maximum vertical stress, the shear stress is _________ if the load is 20 kN and r=2m.

A. 0.4356 kN/m²
B. 0.244 kN/m²
C. 0.1518 kN/m²
D. 0.3625 kN/m²
Answer» E.
172.

In Newmark’s influence chart method, the point below which pressure is required should lie within the loaded area.

A. True
B. False
C. May be True or False
D. Can't say
Answer» C. May be True or False
173.

The Boussinesq’s vertical pressure σz under a uniformly loaded circular area is given by ________

A. \(σ_z=q\left[1-\left[\frac{1}{1+(\frac{a}{z})^2}\right]^{\frac{3}{2}}\right] \)
B. \(σ_z=q\left[1+\left[\frac{1}{1+(\frac{a}{z})^2}\right]^{\frac{3}{2}}\right] \)
C. \(σ_z=q\left[\frac{1}{1+(\frac{a}{z})^2}\right]^{\frac{3}{2}} \)
D. \(σ_z=q\left[1-\left[\frac{1}{1+(\frac{a}{z})^2}\right]^{\frac{5}{2}}\right] \)
Answer» B. \(σ_z=q\left[1+\left[\frac{1}{1+(\frac{a}{z})^2}\right]^{\frac{3}{2}}\right] \)
174.

Hooke’s law states that within elastic limit, ______

A. stress is directly proportional to strain
B. stress is inversely proportional to strain
C. stress does not depend on strain
D. stress is equal to strain
Answer» B. stress is inversely proportional to strain
175.

The σₓ in terms of stress function is given by __________

A. \(\frac{∂Φ}{∂z}\)
B. \(\frac{∂^2 Φ}{∂z^2}\)
C. \(\frac{∂^2 Φ}{∂x2}\)
D. \(\frac{∂Φ}{∂x}\)
Answer» C. \(\frac{∂^2 Φ}{∂x2}\)
176.

The boundary condition equation for X̅, where X̅ is the component of the surface force in x-direction per unit area is ___________

A. a
B. b
C. c
D. d
Answer» D. d
177.

The normal stress component acting at the centre, in the given diagram, will be _________ to the face (B D D1 B1).

A. increased to \((σ_y+\frac{∂σ_y}{∂y}\frac{dy}{2}) \)
B. decreased to \((σ_y-\frac{∂σ_y}{∂y}\frac{dy}{2}) \)
C. equal to σy
D. equal to σz
Answer» B. decreased to \((σ_y-\frac{∂σ_y}{∂y}\frac{dy}{2}) \)
178.

The normal stress component acting at the centre, in the given diagram, will be _________ to the face (A C C1 A1).

A. increased to \((σ_y+\frac{∂σ_y}{∂y}\frac{dy}{2}) \)
B. decreased to \((σ_y-\frac{∂σ_y}{∂y}\frac{dy}{2}) \)
C. equal to σy
D. equal to σz
Answer» C. equal to σy
179.

The boundary condition equation for Y̅, where Y̅ is the component of the surface force in y-direction per unit area is ___________

A. a
B. b
C. c
D. d
Answer» B. b
180.

The boundary condition equation for Z̅, where Z̅ is the component of the surface force in z-direction per unit area is ___________

A. a
B. b
C. c
D. d
Answer» C. c