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.

51.

Rise of water table in cohesion-less soils upto ground surface reduces the net ultimate bearing capacity approximately by

A. 25 %
B. 50 %
C. 75 %
D. 90 %
Answer» C. 75 %
52.

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
53.

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» E.
54.

A triaxial shear test is preferred to direct shear test, because

A. It can be performed under all three drainage conditions with complete control
B. Precise measurement of pore pressure and change in volume during test, is not possible
C. Stress distribution on the failure plane, is non uniform
D. None of these
Answer» B. Precise measurement of pore pressure and change in volume during test, is not possible
55.

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» B. Angle of internal friction
56.

If the material of the base of the Casagrande liquid limit device on which the cup containingsoil 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
57.

For a homogeneous earth dam 50 m high having 2 m free broad, a flow net was constructed and the results were : Number of potential drops = 2.4 Number of flow channels = 0.4. If co - efficiency of permeability of the dam material is 3 × 10-3 cm3/sec, the discharge per metre length of dam, is

A. 12 × 10- 5 m3/sec
B. 24 × 10-3 m3/sec
C. 6 × 10-5 m3/sec
D. 24 × 10- 5 m3/sec
Answer» E.
58.

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

A. Less than 1
B. 1
C. More than 1
D. None of these
Answer» D. None of these
59.

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)
60.

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» C. Horizontal permeability test
61.

Select the correct range of density index, ID

A. ID > 0
B. ID < 0
C. 0 < ID < 1
D. 0 < ID < 1
Answer» E.
62.

Fine sand possesses

A. Good plasticity
B. Limited plasticity
C. Reasonable plasticity
D. Clay
Answer» E.
63.

Skempton's pore pressure coefficient B for saturated soil is

A. 1
B. Zero
C. Between 0 and 1
D. Greater than 1
Answer» B. Zero
64.

Which one of the following clays behaves like a dense sand?

A. Over-consolidated clay with a high over-consolidation ratio
B. Over-consolidated clay with a low over-consolidation ratio
C. Normally consolidated clay
D. Under-consolidated clay
Answer» B. Over-consolidated clay with a low over-consolidation ratio
65.

A normally consolidated clay settled 10 mm when effective stress was increased from 100 kN/m² to 200 kN/m². If the effective stress is further increased from 200 kN/m² to 400 kN/m², then the settlement of the same clay is

A. 10 mm
B. 20 mm
C. 40 mm
D. None of the above
Answer» B. 20 mm
66.

The total weight of a pycnometer with water and oven dried soil 20 ( g) is 1600 g. The pycnometer filled with water alone weighs 1500 g. The specific gravity of the soil, is

A. 1.0
B. 1.5
C. 2.0
D. 2.5
Answer» D. 2.5
67.

Which of the following types of soil is transported by gravitational forces?

A. Loess
B. Talus
C. Drift
D. Dune sand
Answer» C. Drift
68.

If the coefficients of volume change and compressibility of a soil sample are 6.75 × 10-2 and 3 × 10-2 respectively, the void ratio of the soil sample, is

A. 1.10
B. 1.15
C. 1.20
D. 1.30
Answer» E.
69.

A soil sample of mass specific gravity 1.92 has moisture content 30%. If the specific gravity of solids is 2.75, the void ratio, is

A. 0.858
B. 0.860
C. 0.862
D. 0.864
Answer» D. 0.864
70.

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» D. All of the above
71.

A soil sample of mass specific gravity 1.92 has moisture content 30%. If the specific gravity of solids is 2.75, the degree of saturation, is

A. 95.4 %
B. 95.5 %
C. 95.6 %
D. 95.7 %
Answer» E.
72.

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» C. Non-plastic (NP)
73.

A stratum of clay 2 m thick will get consolidated 80% in 10 years. For the 80% consolidationof 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.
74.

The compressibility of clays is caused due to:

A. Expulsion of double layer water from in between the grains
B. Sliping of particles to new positions of greater density
C. Bending of particles as elastic sheets
D. All the above
Answer» E.
75.

In the plate loading test for determining the bearing capacity of soil, the size of squarebearing 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
76.

If a cohesive soil specimen is subjected to a vertical compressive load, the inclination of thecracks to the horizontal is

A. 90°
B. 45°
C. 22.5°
D.
Answer» C. 22.5°
77.

Porosity and void ratio are related by:

A. e = n⁄(1-n)
B. n = e⁄(1-e)
C. 1-e = n
D. (1+n)⁄n = e-1
E. 1-e = nd) (1+n)⁄n = e-1
Answer» B. n = e⁄(1-e)
78.

Percentage air voids is denoted as:

A. v
B. na
C. s
D. av
Answer» C. s
79.

The mass density of water at 4oC is:

A. 1000g/ml
B. 1kg/m3
C. 1000Mg/m3
D. 1000kg/m3
Answer» E.
80.

Fine particles are those particles with size less than _______ mm diameter.

A. 0.023
B. 0.090
C. 0.075
D. 4.75
Answer» D. 4.75
81.

In Geotechnical Engineering, soil is considered as a _________ phase material.

A. 3
B. 2
C. 1
D. 4
Answer» B. 2
82.

According to Darcy’s Law:

A. q=iA
B. q=kA
C. q∞iA
D. q∞kA
Answer» D. q∞kA
83.

THE_MASS_DENSITY_OF_WATER_AT_4OC_IS:?$

A. 1000g/ml
B. 1kg/m<sup>3</sup>
C. 1000Mg/m<sup>3</sup>
D. 1000kg/m<sup>3</sup>
Answer» E.
84.

Porosity and void ratio are related by:$

A. e = <sup>n</sup>‚ÅÑ<sub>(1-n)</sub>
B. n = <sup>e</sup>‚ÅÑ<sub>(1-e)</sub>
C. 1-e = n
D. <sup>(1+n)</sup>‚ÅÑ<sub>n</sub> = e-1
Answer» B. n = <sup>e</sup>‚Äö√Ñ√∂‚àö√ñ‚àö√´<sub>(1-e)</sub>
85.

Percentage air voids is denoted as:$

A. v
B. n<sub>a</sub>
C. s
D. a<sub>v</sub>
Answer» C. s
86.

Fine particles are those particles with size less than _______ mm diameter?

A. 0.023
B. 0.090
C. 0.075
D. 4.75
Answer» D. 4.75
87.

In Geotechnical Engineering, soil is considered as a _________ phase material?

A. 3
B. 2
C. 1
D. 4
Answer» B. 2
88.

____________ is the measure of loss of strength with remoulding, with water content unchanged.

A. Compressibility
B. Sensitivity
C. Stability
D. Thixotropy
Answer» C. Stability
89.

Which of the following does not happen when compaction is done?

A. Permeability decreases
B. Water content increases
C. Shear strength decreases
D. Compressibility decreases
Answer» D. Compressibility decreases
90.

____________ index is used to find settlement of soil.

A. Compression
B. Expansion
C. Recompression
D. Reloading
Answer» B. Expansion
91.

Triaxial compression test is used to find __________ of soil.

A. Compressive strength
B. Permeability
C. Specific gravity
D. Shear strength
Answer» E.
92.

According to Darcy’s Law:$

A. q=iA
B. q=kA
C. q‚àûiA
D. q‚àûkA
Answer» D. q‚Äö√Ñ√∂‚àö‚Ć‚àö¬™kA
93.

Who is the father of Geotechnical Engineering?

A. Christian Otto Mohr
B. Clausius Cleyperon
C. John Smith
D. Karl Von Terzaghi
Answer» E.
94.

Water content is given by:

A. Weight of water/mass of soil
B. Mass of water/mass of solid
C. Mass of water/mass of soil
D. Mass of water/weight of solid
Answer» C. Mass of water/mass of soil