MCQOPTIONS
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MCQOPTIONS
This section includes 112 Mcqs, each offering curated multiple-choice questions to sharpen your Geotechnical Engineering knowledge and support exam preparation. Choose a topic below to get started.
| 1. |
What will be the shearing resistance of a sample of clay in an unconfined compression test, falls under a load of 150 N? Take change of cross-section Af=2181.7 mm2. |
| A. | 68.75 kN/m2 |
| B. | 34.38 kN/m2 |
| C. | 11.35 kN/m2 |
| D. | 0.6875 kN/m2 |
| Answer» C. 11.35 kN/m2 | |
| 2. |
A cylindrical soil specimen of saturated clay, 3.50 cm diameter and 8 cm length, testing machine. The specimen failed under a vertical load of 50 kg together with an accompanying additional deformation of 8 mm. What is the unconfined compressive strength of this clay? |
| A. | 4.67 kg/cm2 |
| B. | 5.0 kg/cm2 |
| C. | 5.5 kg/cm2 |
| D. | 6.0 kg/cm2 |
| Answer» B. 5.0 kg/cm2 | |
| 3. |
Field test for determining shear strength of soil is: |
| A. | Vane shear test |
| B. | Direct shear test |
| C. | Triaxial shear test |
| D. | UCS test |
| Answer» B. Direct shear test | |
| 4. |
A dry sand specimen is put through a tri-axial test the cell pressure is 50 kPa and the deviator stress at failure is 100 kPa. The angle of internal friction for the sand specimen is |
| A. | 15° |
| B. | 30° |
| C. | 45° |
| D. | 55° |
| Answer» C. 45° | |
| 5. |
Most of the shear tests are done on equipment which are |
| A. | stress-controlled |
| B. | strain-controlled |
| C. | drainage-controlled |
| D. | volume-controlled |
| Answer» C. drainage-controlled | |
| 6. |
Considerable loss of shear strength due to shock or disturbance is exhibited by |
| A. | Under-consolidated clays |
| B. | Normally consolidated clays |
| C. | Over consolidated clays |
| D. | Organic soil |
| Answer» B. Normally consolidated clays | |
| 7. |
In a triaxial compression test, the major principal stress was 90 kPa and the minor principal stress was 30 kPa, at failure. The pore pressure at failure was observed to be 10 kPa. The tangent of the angle of shearing resistance of the sandy soil that was tested was |
| A. | \(\frac{1}{2}\) |
| B. | \(\frac{1}{3}\) |
| C. | \(\frac{2}{3}\) |
| D. | \(\frac{3}{4}\) |
| Answer» E. | |
| 8. |
In the consolidated undrained triaxial test on a saturated soil sample, the pore water pressure is zero: |
| A. | During shearing stage only. |
| B. | At the end of consolidation stage only. |
| C. | Both at the end of consolidation and during shearing stages. |
| D. | Under none of the above conditions. |
| Answer» C. Both at the end of consolidation and during shearing stages. | |
| 9. |
Expansion of soil under shear is called |
| A. | liquefaction |
| B. | volumetric deformation |
| C. | critical expansion |
| D. | dilatancy |
| Answer» E. | |
| 10. |
In Mohr’s diagrams a point above Mohr’s envelope indicates: |
| A. | Imaginary condition |
| B. | Safe condition |
| C. | Imminent failure condition |
| D. | Condition of maximum obliquity |
| Answer» B. Safe condition | |
| 11. |
Match list I (Test) with list II (property) and select the correct answer-List IList IIA. Proctor test 1. Grain size analysis B. Vane test2. Shear strength C. Penetration test 3. Bearing capacity D. Hydrometer test 4. Compaction |
| A. | A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3 |
| B. | A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3 |
| C. | A-4, B-2, C-3, D-1 |
| D. | A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1 |
| Answer» D. A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1 | |
| 12. |
In an unconfined compression test on stiff clay, if the failure plane made an angle of 53° to the horizontal, what would be the angle of shearing resistance? |
| A. | 12° |
| B. | 14° |
| C. | 16° |
| D. | 18° |
| Answer» D. 18° | |
| 13. |
For a sandy soil. the angle of internal friction is 30°. If the major principal stress is 50 kN/m2 at failure. then the corresponding minor principal stress will be |
| A. | 12.2 |
| B. | 16.66 |
| C. | 20.8 |
| D. | 27.2 |
| Answer» C. 20.8 | |
| 14. |
In an undrained tri-axial test on a saturated clay, the Poisson’s ratio is |
| A. | \(\frac{{{\sigma _3}}}{{{\sigma _1} + {\sigma _3}\;}}\) |
| B. | \(\frac{{{\sigma _3}}}{{{\sigma _1} - {\sigma _3}\;}}\) |
| C. | \(\frac{{{\sigma _1} - {\sigma _3}}}{{{\sigma _3}\;}}\) |
| D. | \(\frac{{{\sigma _1} + {\sigma _3}}}{{{\sigma _3}\;}}\) |
| Answer» B. \(\frac{{{\sigma _3}}}{{{\sigma _1} - {\sigma _3}\;}}\) | |
| 15. |
During unconfined compression test a soil sample failed at 150 N. The cross-sectional area of sample at failure was 2000 mm2, then the shear strength of soil will be: |
| A. | 75 kN/m2 |
| B. | 375 kN/m2 |
| C. | 133 kN/m2 |
| D. | 37.5 kN/m2 |
| Answer» E. | |
| 16. |
For which of the following types of sand is the angle of internal fraction maximum? |
| A. | Angular-grained dense sand |
| B. | Angular-grained loose and |
| C. | Round-grained loose sand |
| D. | Round-grained dense sand |
| Answer» B. Angular-grained loose and | |
| 17. |
An undrained triaxial compression test is carried out on saturated clay sample under a cell pressure of 100 kN/m2. The sample failed at a deviator stress of 200 kN/m2. The cohesion of the given sample of clay is |
| A. | 100 kN/m2 |
| B. | 150 kN/m2 |
| C. | 200 kN/m2 |
| D. | 50 kN/m2 |
| Answer» B. 150 kN/m2 | |
| 18. |
A soil mass is said to be in plastic equilibrium, if: |
| A. | It is in plastic stage |
| B. | It is stressed to maximum |
| C. | It starts flowing |
| D. | It is on the verge of failure |
| Answer» E. | |
| 19. |
In a triaxial test carried out on a sand sample with cell pressure 20 kPa, the observed value of applied stress at the point of failure is 40 kPa. The angle of internal friction on the soil is |
| A. | 10 degree |
| B. | 15 degree |
| C. | 20 degree |
| D. | 45 degree |
| E. | 30 degree |
| Answer» F. | |
| 20. |
Consider the following statements related to the pore pressure parameters. A and B:P. A always lies between 0 and 1.0Q. A can be less than 0 or greater than 1.0R. B always lies between 0 and 1.0S. B can be less than 0 or greater than 1.0For these statements, which one of the following options is correct? |
| A. | P and R |
| B. | P and S |
| C. | Q and R |
| D. | Q and S |
| Answer» D. Q and S | |
| 21. |
In an undrained triaxial test on a saturated clay, the Poisson's ratio is |
| A. | σ3 / (σ1 + σ3) |
| B. | σ3 / (σ1 - σ3) |
| C. | (σ1 + σ3) /σ3 |
| D. | (σ1 - σ3) /σ3 |
| E. | σ3 / σ1 |
| Answer» B. σ3 / (σ1 - σ3) | |
| 22. |
In an unconsolidated untrained triaxial test, it is observed that an increase in cell pressure from 150 kPa to 250 kPa leads to a pore pressure increase of 80 kPa. It is further observed that, an increase of 50 kPa in deviatoric stress results in an increase of 25 kPa in the pore pressure. The value of Skempton’s pore pressure parameter B is: |
| A. | 0.5 |
| B. | 0.625 |
| C. | 0.8 |
| D. | 1 |
| Answer» D. 1 | |
| 23. |
A soil sample is subjected to a hydrostatic pressure σ. The Mohr circle for any point in the soil sample would be |
| A. | A circle of radius σ and center at the origin |
| B. | A circle of radius σ and center at a distance σ from the origin |
| C. | A point at a distance σ from the origin |
| D. | A circle of diameter σ and center at the origin |
| Answer» D. A circle of diameter σ and center at the origin | |
| 24. |
If the unconfined compressive strength of a clay in undisturbed and remolded state are 4.8 kg/sq.cm and 1.6 kg/sq.cm respectively, then the sensitivity of the clay is |
| A. | 0.33 |
| B. | 3 |
| C. | 1.5 |
| D. | 0.5 |
| E. | 1 |
| Answer» C. 1.5 | |
| 25. |
An excavation is made with a vertical face in a clay soil which has Cu = 50 kN/m2, γt = 18 kN/m3 and sn = 0.261. The maximum depth of a stable excavation will be nearly |
| A. | 10.6 m |
| B. | 12.4 m |
| C. | 14.2 m |
| D. | 16.0 m |
| Answer» B. 12.4 m | |
| 26. |
In the van shear test of soil, the length of vane is usually kept equal to __________ its overall width. |
| A. | half |
| B. | one - fourth |
| C. | double |
| D. | four times |
| Answer» D. four times | |
| 27. |
A clear dry sand sample is tested in direct shear test. The normal stress and the shear stress at failure are both equal to 120 kN/m2. The angle of shearing resistance of the sand will be |
| A. | 25 degree |
| B. | 35 degree |
| C. | 45 degree |
| D. | 55 degree |
| Answer» D. 55 degree | |
| 28. |
Consider the following statements:1. The water content of a soil remains unchanged during entire duration of a ‘quick test.2. Effective stress cum shear parameters of clay can be obtained from drained triaxial shear test.3. Strain-controlled shear test is a good option since this test procedure maintains better control on the rate of loading than other tests.Which of the above statements is/ are correct? |
| A. | 1, 2 and 3 |
| B. | 1 only |
| C. | 1 and 3 only |
| D. | 2 and 3 only |
| Answer» B. 1 only | |
| 29. |
A soft saturated clayey soil tested unconfined gave axial stress of 50 kN/m2 at failure. The shear strength of the soil is |
| A. | 50 kN/m2 |
| B. | 100 kN/m2 |
| C. | 25 kN/m2 |
| D. | None of the above |
| Answer» D. None of the above | |
| 30. |
If the angle of internal friction (ϕ) = 30° for a soil, the angle of failure plane relative to the major principle plane in a triaxial test will be: |
| A. | 60° |
| B. | 30° |
| C. | 45° |
| D. | 67.6° |
| Answer» B. 30° | |
| 31. |
For a saturated cohesive soil, a triaxial test yields the angle of internal friction (φ) as zero. The conducted test is |
| A. | Consolidated Drained (CD) test |
| B. | Consolidated Undrained (CU) test |
| C. | Unconfined Compression (UC) test |
| D. | Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) test |
| Answer» E. | |
| 32. |
A shear box test was performed to give the following results for a cohesive soil sample.Result:(1)(2)Normal stress σ (kN/m2)150250Shear stress at failure τ (kN/m2)110120 The value of c and tan ϕ are; |
| A. | tan ϕ = 0.1 and c = 95 kN/m2 |
| B. | tan ϕ = 0.8 and c = 70 kN/m2 |
| C. | tan ϕ = 1.0 and c = 108 kN/m2 |
| D. | tan ϕ = 1.2 and c = 108 kN/m2 |
| Answer» B. tan ϕ = 0.8 and c = 70 kN/m2 | |
| 33. |
An undrained triaxial compression test is carried out on a saturated clay sample under a cell pressure of 50 kN/m2. The sample failed at a deviator stress of 100 kN/m2. The cohesion of this clay sample would be |
| A. | 25 kN/m2 |
| B. | 50 kN/m2 |
| C. | 75 kN/m2 |
| D. | 100 kN/m2 |
| Answer» C. 75 kN/m2 | |
| 34. |
In-situ vane shear test is used to measure shear strength of:- |
| A. | Sandy soil |
| B. | Stiff clays |
| C. | Very soft and sensitive clays |
| D. | Gravel |
| Answer» D. Gravel | |
| 35. |
A deformable body under its strength limit undergoes deformation till |
| A. | It breaks |
| B. | It elongates plastically |
| C. | It attains the balance of applied forces and moments with inertia forces and inertia moments |
| D. | It buckles |
| Answer» D. It buckles | |
| 36. |
In Unconfined compression test of a soil, it is assumed that ______ moisture is lost. |
| A. | no |
| B. | 30% |
| C. | 70% |
| D. | 100% |
| Answer» B. 30% | |
| 37. |
Calculate the shear strength in terms of effective stress soil on a plane within a saturated soil mass at a point where the total normal stress is 295 kPa and pore water pressure is 120 kPa when c’ = 12 kPa and angle of internal friction is 30°. (take tan30 = 0.578) |
| A. | 75.68 kPa |
| B. | 113.15 kPa |
| C. | 135.64 kPa |
| D. | 85.06 kPa |
| Answer» C. 135.64 kPa | |
| 38. |
For assessing the long-term stability of a slope in stiff fissured clay which type of the following laboratory test has to be done |
| A. | Undrained triaxial test |
| B. | Drained triaxial test |
| C. | Consolidated undrained test |
| D. | Quick vane shear test |
| Answer» C. Consolidated undrained test | |
| 39. |
A shear test was conducted on a soil sample. At failure, the ratio of \(\dfrac{\sigma_1 - \sigma_2}{2}\) to \(\dfrac{\sigma_1 + \sigma_2}{2}\) is equal to unity. Which of the following shear tests represents this condition? |
| A. | Undrained triaxial tensile test |
| B. | Drained triaxial compression test |
| C. | Undrained triaxial compression test |
| D. | Unconfined compression test |
| Answer» E. | |
| 40. |
Consider the following statements regarding Soil Testing:1) The origin and pole are at the same point in a Mohr’s circle2) The shear stress is maximum on the failure plane3) Mohr’s circle drawn with data from an unconfined compression test passes through the origin4) Maximum shear stress occurs on a plane inclined at 45° to the principal planeWhich of the above statements are correct? |
| A. | 1 and 2 only |
| B. | 2 and 3 only |
| C. | 3 and 4 only |
| D. | 1 and 4 only |
| Answer» D. 1 and 4 only | |
| 41. |
Following are the statements related to the stress paths in a triaxial testing of soils.P. If σ1 = σ3, the stress point lies at the origin of the p – q plotQ. If σ1 = σ3, the stress point lies on the p axis of the p – q plotR. If σ1 > σ3, both the stress points p and q are positive.For the above statements, the correct combination is |
| A. | P-False; Q-True; R-True |
| B. | P-True; Q-False; R-True |
| C. | P-False; Q-True; R-False |
| D. | P-True; Q-True; R-False |
| Answer» B. P-True; Q-False; R-True | |
| 42. |
An initial cross-sectional area of a clay sample was 15 cm2. The failure strain was 25% in an unconfined compression test. The corrected area of the sample at failure would be |
| A. | 15 cm2 |
| B. | 20 cm2 |
| C. | 25 cm2 |
| D. | 30 cm2 |
| Answer» C. 25 cm2 | |
| 43. |
A soil has an angle of shearing of 30° and cohesion of 35 kN/m2. If the specimen of this soil is subjected to a tri-axial compression test, then the value of lateral pressure in the cell for failure to occur at total stress of 300 kN/m2 will be |
| A. | 243.21 kN/m2 |
| B. | 44.41 kN/m2 |
| C. | 103.21 kN/m2 |
| D. | 59.59 kN/m2 |
| Answer» E. | |
| 44. |
Consistency as applied to cohesive soils is an indicator of its: |
| A. | Moisture content |
| B. | Porosity |
| C. | Shear strength |
| D. | Density |
| Answer» D. Density | |
| 45. |
In direct shear test, the soil load is subjected to more stress at _____________ |
| A. | Centre |
| B. | Edges |
| C. | Top and bottom |
| D. | All of the mentioned |
| Answer» C. Top and bottom | |
| 46. |
Mohr envelope can be considered to be straight if the angle of internal friction φ is assumed to be __________ |
| A. | 90° |
| B. | >90° |
| C. | <90° |
| D. | None of the mentioned |
| Answer» E. | |
| 47. |
The unconfined compression test is generally applicable to ____________ |
| A. | Unsaturated clay |
| B. | Saturated clay |
| C. | Fine grained soil |
| D. | Coarse grained soil |
| Answer» C. Fine grained soil | |
| 48. |
The shearing of cohesive soil in drained test requires ___________ days. |
| A. | 2 |
| B. | 1 to 2 |
| C. | 2 to 5 |
| D. | 1 |
| Answer» D. 1 | |
| 49. |
If the pore pressure is measured during un-drained stage of the test, the result can be expressed in terms of __________ |
| A. | C’ and φ |
| B. | cu |
| C. | None of the mentioned |
| D. | All of the mentioned |
| Answer» B. cu | |
| 50. |
Pore pressure developed in the tri axial test can be measured by ____________ |
| A. | Bishop’s apparatus |
| B. | Pore pressure apparatus |
| C. | Terzaghi’s apparatus |
| D. | Mohr’s apparatus |
| Answer» B. Pore pressure apparatus | |