Explore topic-wise MCQs in Geotechnical Engineering.

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.

51.

The vertical stress on the solid cylindrical test apparatus is applied by ____________

A. Major principal stress
B. Minor principal stress
C. Intermediate principal stress
D. All of the mentioned
Answer» B. Minor principal stress
52.

The parameter φ in coulomb’s equation “S = c + σ tan φ”, represents ___________

A. Shearing resistance and Angle of internal friction
B. Angle of slope
C. None of the mentioned
D. All of the mentioned
Answer» B. Angle of slope
53.

The equation for the unconsolidated un drainage strength of clay is __________

A. τ = c + σ tan φ
B. τf = ccu + σ tan φcu
C. τ = c + σ
D. τ = σ tan φ
Answer» C. τ = c + σ
54.

The commonly used apparatus used for performing shear box test is ___________

A. Shear-box apparatus
B. Bishop’s pore pressure apparatus
C. Tri axial shear test apparatus
D. None of the mentioned
Answer» B. Bishop’s pore pressure apparatus
55.

The maximum shear stress τmax, for a soil mass is equal to ___________

A. (σ1 – σ3 )/2
B. (σ1 + σ3 )/2
C. (σ1×σ3 )/2
D. (σ3 – σ1 )/2
Answer» B. (σ1 + σ3 )/2
56.

Which of the following is a disadvantage of the shear box test?

A. Stress condition of soil is complex
B. The test cannot be used for coarse grained soil
C. No control on the drainage of soil
D. The shear box test is more complex test
Answer» B. The test cannot be used for coarse grained soil
57.

Which of the following strength test is commonly used in the laboratory?

A. Direct shear test
B. Confined compression test
C. Tri axial shear test
D. Unconfined shear test
Answer» D. Unconfined shear test
58.

Which of the following stresses does not have any influence on strength of a material?

A. Major principal stress
B. Minor principal stress
C. Intermediate principal stress
D. Shearing stress
Answer» D. Shearing stress
59.

Negative pore pressure in clay or sand is developed due to __________

A. Expansion on loading
B. Over loading
C. Loose structure
D. Compaction
Answer» B. Over loading
60.

When the sol is in the state of stress, it is said to be in _____________

A. Constant state
B. Plastic equilibrium
C. Stress conditioned state
D. Equilibrium condition
Answer» C. Stress conditioned state
61.

The deviator stress developed in the proving ring, through the applied pressure is equal to are____________

A. σ1 + σ3
B. σ1 – σ3
C. σ2 – σ3
D. σ2 + σ1
Answer» C. σ2 – σ3
62.

The critical shear stress causing failure of material depends upon ____________

A. Properties of the material and normal stress on the plane
B. Intermediate principal stress
C. None of the mentioned
D. All of the mentioned
Answer» B. Intermediate principal stress
63.

The drained test is also known as ___________

A. Direct shear test
B. Slow test
C. Vane shear test
D. Quick test
Answer» C. Vane shear test
64.

Theory of failure, was first proposed by ____________

A. Coulomb
B. Mohr
C. Casagrande
D. Darcy
Answer» B. Mohr
65.

The unconfined compression test is derived from _____________

A. Direct shear test
B. Vane shear test
C. Tri axial compression tests
D. Drained test
Answer» D. Drained test
66.

The value of pore pressure parameter, at failure for saturated clay is __________

A. 1.2 to 2.5
B. 2 to 3
C. 0.3 to 0.7
D. 0.7 to 1.3
Answer» C. 0.3 to 0.7
67.

When the Mohr circle is drawn in confined compression test, its radius will be equal to ____________

A. Cu
B. qu
C. Ru
D. None of the mentioned
Answer» B. qu
68.

Bishop’s apparatus does not contain which one of the following equipment?

A. Porous disc
B. Top cap
C. Rollers
D. All of the mentioned
Answer» E.
69.

The curve obtained by plotting the normal and shear stress is called as ___________

A. Mohr’s envelope
B. Coulomb envelope
C. Strength envelope
D. Stress envelope
Answer» D. Stress envelope
70.

Stress component on planes of a loaded soil mass depends upon ____________

A. Stress acting on plane
B. Direction of plane
C. Shearing resistance
D. All of the mentioned
Answer» C. Shearing resistance
71.

Which of the following is coulomb’s strength equation?

A. S = c + tan φ
B. C = s + c tan φ
C. S = c + σ tan φ
D. S = tan φ
Answer» D. S = tan φ
72.

Which of the following is an advantage of using tri axial test?

A. Accurate result is not possible
B. The plane of shear failure is predetermined
C. Stress conditions are complex
D. Precise measurement
Answer» E.
73.

A major difference between the direct shear test and tri axial shear test is _____________

A. Control on the drainage level
B. Stress condition
C. None of the mentioned
D. All of the mentioned
Answer» B. Stress condition
74.

The Tri axial compression test was introduced by __________

A. A. casagrande and Karl Terzaghi
B. Mohr
C. None of the mentioned
D. All of the mentioned
Answer» B. Mohr
75.

In unconfined compression test the value of σ2 and σ3 is equal to ____________

A. 1
B. 0
C. 0.5
D. ½
Answer» C. 0.5
76.

According to Coulomb, the relationship between shear strength and normal stress could be represented by _________

A. Linear curve
B. Parabolic curve
C. Straight line
D. None of the mentioned
Answer» C. Straight line
77.

The unconfined compression test was first designed by _________

A. A. casagrande and Goyal
B. Singh
C. None of the mentioned
D. All of the mentioned
Answer» B. Singh
78.

Which of the following outlet is provided at the base of the tri axial test apparatus?

A. Cell fluid inlet
B. Pore water outlet
C. Drainage outlet
D. All of the mentioned
Answer» E.
79.

Factor affecting pore pressure parameters is ___________

A. Type of shear
B. Temperature
C. Nature of the fluid
D. All of the mentioned
Answer» E.
80.

In plastic failure, load corresponding to __________ strain is arbitrarily taken as the failure load.

A. 10 %
B. 5 %
C. 20 %
D. 50 %
Answer» D. 50 %
81.

The normal stresses acting on planes of the soil are known as _____________

A. Major principal stresses
B. Principal stresses
C. Minor principal stresses
D. Principal planes
Answer» B. Principal stresses
82.

Shearing resistance can be determined in the laboratory by _________ methods.

A. 2
B. 6
C. 4
D. 8
Answer» D. 8
83.

The direct shear test can also be called as ___________

A. Simple shear test
B. Stress test
C. Strain controlled shear box test
D. All of the mentioned
Answer» C. Strain controlled shear box test
84.

Which of the following shear test is developed based on drainage conditions?

A. Quick test and Consolidated un drained test
B. Direct shear test
C. None of the mentioned
D. All of the mentioned
Answer» B. Direct shear test
85.

To conduct un-drained test, which of the following is used?

A. Slope grids
B. Perforated grids
C. Plain grids
D. All of the mentioned
Answer» D. All of the mentioned
86.

The Mohr-Coulomb theory can be expressed algebraically by which of the following equation?

A. S = c + σ tan φ
B. τf = s = F(σ)
C. s = F(σ)
D. τf = F(σ)
Answer» C. s = F(σ)
87.

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
88.

Major principal stress in a soil is represented by the symbol ________________

A. σ1
B. σ2
C. σ3
D. σ4
Answer» B. σ2
89.

The deviator stress σd is given by __________

A. σd = σ1 + σ
B. σd = σ3 – σ1
C. σd=additional axial load/A2
D. σd = σ1 – σ3
Answer» D. σd = σ1 – σ3
90.

The change in the pore pressure during an un-drained shear can be explained by ___________

A. Lateral pressure
B. Effective stress
C. Pore pressure parameter
D. Mohr’s circle
Answer» D. Mohr’s circle
91.

The circle obtained from two dimensional stress system is known as ________

A. Principal stress circle
B. Mohr circle
C. Shearing stress circle
D. None of the mentioned
Answer» C. Shearing stress circle
92.

Which of the following parameter is used to represent unconfined compressive strength at failure?

A. τf
B. cu
C. qu
D. Au
Answer» D. Au
93.

Stress condition in the Unconfined compression test represents ____________

A. Drained test
B. Un-drained test
C. Quick test
D. All of the mentioned
Answer» C. Quick test
94.

The un-drained test is carried out on sample of clay, silt, and peat to determine _____________

A. Shear Strength of natural ground and Sensitivity
B. Pore pressure
C. None of the mentioned
D. All of the mentioned
Answer» B. Pore pressure
95.

In an un-drained test on saturated clays, both σ1’ and σ3’ is independent of ____________

A. Pore pressure
B. Shear strength
C. Cell pressure
D. Effective pressure
Answer» D. Effective pressure
96.

The consolidated-un drained test can be performed in ___________ methods.

A. 3
B. 2
C. 4
D. 1
Answer» C. 4
97.

The shear strength in cohesion less soil is due to ___________

A. Internal friction
B. Cohesion
C. Inter granular friction
D. Inter particle force
Answer» D. Inter particle force
98.

The shearing resistance of a soil is constituted by ___________

A. Structural resistance and Frictional resistance
B. Shearing strength
C. None of the mentioned
D. All of the mentioned
Answer» B. Shearing strength
99.

The failure condition for a soil can be expressed in terms of limiting shear stress, called __________

A. Principal stresses and Shear strength
B. Shearing resistances
C. None of the mentioned
D. All of the mentioned
Answer» B. Shearing resistances
100.

The planes that exist in soil mass is ______________

A. Principal plane
B. Principal stress
C. Stress plane
D. None of the mentioned
Answer» B. Principal stress