Explore topic-wise MCQs in Civil Engineering.

This section includes 94 Mcqs, each offering curated multiple-choice questions to sharpen your Civil Engineering knowledge and support exam preparation. Choose a topic below to get started.

1.

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» B. The liquid limit of soil always decreases
2.

In the triaxial compression test, the application of additional axial stress (i.e. deviator stress) on the soil specimen produces shear stress on

A. Horizontal plane only
B. Vertical plane only
C. Both horizontal and vertical planes
D. All planes except horizontal and vertical planes
Answer» E.
3.

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» D. None of these
4.

The maximum shear stress occurs on the filament which makes an angle with the horizontal plane equal to

A. 30
B. 45
C. 60
D. 90
Answer» C. 60
5.

The total and effective stresses at a depth of 5 m below the top level of water in a swimming pool are respectively

A. Zero and zero
B. 0.5 kg/cm and zero
C. 0.5 kg/cm and 0.5 kg/cm
D. 1.0 kg/cm and 0.5 kg/cm
Answer» C. 0.5 kg/cm and 0.5 kg/cm
6.

The compression resulting from a long term static load and consequent escape of pore water, is known as

A. Compaction
B. Consolidation
C. Swelling
D. None of these
Answer» C. Swelling
7.

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» D. A semi-circle
8.

Which of the following methods is most accurate for the determination of the water content of soil?

A. Oven drying method
B. Sand bath method
C. Calcium carbide method
D. Pycnometer method
Answer» B. Sand bath method
9.

In the plate loading test for determining the bearing capacity of soil, the size of square bearing plate should be

A. Less than 300 mm
B. Between 300 mm and 750 mm
C. Between 750 mm and 1 m
D. Greater than 1 m
Answer» C. Between 750 mm and 1 m
10.

If the specific gravity and voids in soil sample are G and e respectively, the hydraulic gradient i, is

A. (G - 1)/(1 + e)
B. (G + 1)/(1 - e)
C. (1 - G)/(1 + e)
D. (1 + G)/(1 + e)
Answer» B. (G + 1)/(1 - e)
11.

For a clay slope of height of 10 m, the stability number is 0.05, = 2.0 t/m3, C = 2.5 t/m2, the critical height of the slope of the soil, is

A. 4.0 m
B. 12.5 m
C. 25.0 m
D. 15.0 m
Answer» D. 15.0 m
12.

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» E.
13.

If the cohesive force (c), is 1.5 t/m2, the density ) of the soil is 2.0 t/m3, factor of safety (F) is 1.5 and stability factor (Sn) is 0.05, the safe height of a slope is

A. 5 metres
B. 8 metres
C. 10 metres
D. 12 metres
Answer» D. 12 metres
14.

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» C. 22.5
15.

The water content of soil, which represents the boundary between plastic state and liquid state, is known as

A. Liquid limit
B. Plastic limit
C. Shrinkage limit
D. Plasticity index
Answer» B. Plastic limit
16.

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» E.
17.

If voids ratio is 0.67, water content is 0.188 and specific gravity is 2.68, the degree of saturation of the soil, is

A. 25 %
B. 40 %
C. 60 %
D. 75 %
Answer» E.
18.

An unsaturated 100 cm3 sample of soil weighs 190 g. If its dried weight is 160 g, water content of the soil, is

A. 0.188
B. 0.288
C. 0.388
D. 0.588
Answer» B. 0.288
19.

A 600 mm square bearing plate settles by 15 mm in plate load test on a cohesion-less soil under an intensity of loading of 0.2 N/ram². The settlement of a prototype shallow footing 1 m square under the same intensity of loading is

A. 15 mm
B. Between 15 mm and 25 mm
C. 25 mm
D. Greater than 25 mm
Answer» C. 25 mm
20.

For proper field control, which of the following methods is best suited for quick determination of water content of a soil mass?

A. Oven drying method
B. Sand bath method
C. Alcohol method
D. Calcium carbide method
Answer» E.
21.

The total and effective stresses at a depth of 5 m below the top level of water in a swimmingpool are respectively

A. Zero and zero
B. 0.5 kg/cm² and zero
C. 0.5 kg/cm² and 0.5 kg/cm²
D. 1.0 kg/cm² and 0.5 kg/cm²
Answer» C. 0.5 kg/cm² and 0.5 kg/cm²
22.

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» B. Fields are rectangles whose length is twice the breadth
23.

Transporting and re-depositing soils, is done by

A. Water
B. Glacier
C. Gravity
D. All the above
Answer» E.
24.

A saturated soil sample has water content of 40% and specific gravity of soil particles 2.7. Thevoid ratio of the soil, is

A. 0.4
B. 0.52
C. 1.08
D. None of these
Answer» D. None of these
25.

Stoke's law is valid only if the size of particle is

A. Less than 0.0002 mm
B. Greater than 0.2 mm
C. Between 0.2 mm and 0.0002 mm
D. All of the above
Answer» D. All of the above
26.

If S, L and R are the arc length, long chord and radius of the sliding circle then the perpendicular distance of the line of the resultant cohesive force, is given by

A. a = S.R/ L
B. a = L.S/R
C. a = L.R/S
D. None of these
Answer» B. a = L.S/R
27.

The maximum shear stress occurs on the filament which makes an angle with the horizontal planeequal to

A. 30°
B. 45°
C. 60°
D. 90°
Answer» C. 60°
28.

If Cv is the coefficient of consolidation,t is the time and d is drainage path of one dimensional consolidation of soil, the time factor Tv, is given by

A. Tv = d²/Cvt
B. Tv = t²/d²Cv
C. Tv = Cv3/d²t
D. Tv = Cvt/dt²
Answer» E.
29.

Terzaghi's theory of one dimensional consolidation assumes

A. Load is applied in one direction
B. Coefficient of permeability is constant
C. Excess pore water drains out only in the vertical direction
D. All the above
Answer» E.
30.

The hydraulic head that would produce a quick condition in a sand stratum of thickness 1.5m, specific gravity 2.67 and voids ratio 0.67 is equal to

A. 1.0 m
B. 1.5 m
C. 2.0 m
D. 3 m
Answer» C. 2.0 m
31.

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» C. Coefficient of curvature
32.

Stoke's law states that the velocity at which a grain settles out of suspension, the other factors remaining constant, is dependent upon

A. Shape of grain
B. Weight of grain
C. Size of grain
D. Shape, size and weight of grain
Answer» E.
33.

The relationship between void ratio (e) and porosity ratio (n) is:

A. n = (1 + e )/(1 - e)
B. e = (1 + n)/(1 - e)
C. n = e/(1 - e)
D. e = n/(1 - n)
Answer» E.
34.

Which of the following methods is best suited for determination of permeability of coarsegrained soils?

A. Constant head method
B. Falling head method
C. Both the above
D. None of the above
Answer» B. Falling head method
35.

In the triaxial compression test, the application of additional axial stress (i.e. deviator stress)on the soil specimen produces shear stress on

A. Horizontal plane only
B. Vertical plane only
C. Both horizontal and vertical planes
D. All planes except horizontal and vertical planes
Answer» E.
36.

An unsaturated 100 cm3 sample of soil weighs 190 g. If its dried weight is 160 g, watercontent of the soil, is

A. 0.188
B. 0.288
C. 0.388
D. 0.588
Answer» B. 0.288
37.

For determine the specific gravity of soil solids, using a pycnometer of 500 cc., the following data is available : Weight of dry empty pycnometer = 125 g Weight of dried soil and pycnometer = 500 g Weight of dried soil and distilled = 850 g water filled in pycnometer up to top The specific gravity of soil solids, is

A. 2.0
B. 2.25
C. 2.50
D. 2.75
Answer» D. 2.75
38.

If voids ratio is 0.67, water content is 0.188 and specific gravity is 2.68, the degree ofsaturation of the soil, is

A. 25 %
B. 40 %
C. 60 %
D. 75 %
Answer» E.
39.

Pick up the clay soil group which does not swell when wet from the following:

A. Kaolinite group
B. Mite group
C. Vermiculite group
D. Montrorillonite group
Answer» C. Vermiculite group
40.

The water content of soil, which represents the boundary between plastic state and liquid state,is known as

A. Liquid limit
B. Plastic limit
C. Shrinkage limit
D. Plasticity index
Answer» B. Plastic limit
41.

The equation = C + is given by

A. Rankine
B. Coulomb
C. all
D. Mohr
Answer» C. all
42.

For a clay slope of height of 10 m, the stability number is 0.05, = 2.0 t/m3, C = 2.5 t/m2,the critical height of the slope of the soil, is

A. 4.0 m
B. 12.5 m
C. 25.0 m
D. 15.0 m
Answer» D. 15.0 m
43.

Due to a rise in temperature, the viscosity and the unit weight of the percolating fluid are reduced to 60% and 90% respectively. If other things remain constant, the coefficient of permeability

A. Increases by 25 %
B. Increases by 50 %
C. Increases by 33.3 %
D. Decreases by 33.3 %
Answer» C. Increases by 33.3 %
44.

If the cohesive force (c), is 1.5 t/m2, the density ) of the soil is 2.0 t/m3, factor of safety (F) is 1.5and stability factor (Sn) is 0.05, the safe height of a slope is

A. 5 metres
B. 8 metres
C. 10 metres
D. 12 metres
Answer» D. 12 metres
45.

Which of the following methods is most accurate for the determination of the water contentof soil?

A. Oven drying method
B. Sand bath method
C. Calcium carbide method
D. Pycnometer method
Answer» B. Sand bath method
46.

If there is no impervious boundary at the bottom of a hydraulic structure, stream lines tendto follow:

A. A straight line
B. A parabola
C. A semi-ellipse
D. A semi-circle
Answer» D. A semi-circle
47.

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» E.
48.

Terzaghi's bearing capacity factors Nc, Nq and Nr are functions of

A. Cohesion only
B. Angle of internal friction only
C. Both cohesion and angle of internal friction
D. None of the above
Answer» C. Both cohesion and angle of internal friction
49.

The ratio of the volume of water present in a given soil mass to the total volume of itsvoids, is known

A. Porosity
B. Void ratio
C. Percentage voids
D. Degree of saturation
Answer» E.
50.

Maximum size of clay particles is:

A. 0.002 mm
B. 0.04 mm
C. 0.06 mm
D. 0.08 mm
Answer» B. 0.04 mm