If the water content of a fully saturated soil mass is 100%, then the voids ratio of the sample is________________?

greater than specific gravity of soil

less than specific gravity of soil

equal to specific gravity of soil

greater than specific gravity of soil

independent of specific gravity of soil

If the water table rises upto ground surface, then the___________________?

total stress is reduced due to increase in pore water pressure only but effec-tive stress does not change

effective stress is reduced due to decrease in total stress only but pore water pressure does not change

effective stress is reduced due to increase in pore water pressure only but total stress does not change

total stress is reduced due to increase in pore water pressure only but effec-tive stress does not change

total stress is increased due to de-crease in pore water pressure but effective stress does not change

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______________?

the liquid limit of soil always decreases

the liquid limit of soil always increases

the liquid limit of soil always decreases

the liquid limit of soil may increase

the liquid limit of soil may decrease

Highway Research Board (HRB) classification of soils is based on__________________?

both particle size composition and plasticity characteristics

For better strength and stability, the fine grained soils and coarse grained soils are compacted respectively as____________________?

dry of OMC and dry of OMC where OMC is optimum moisture content

For a loose sand sample and a dense sand sample consolidated to the same effective stress_____________?

ultimate strength is same but peak

ultimate strength is same and also peak strength is same

ultimate strength is different but peak strength is same

ultimate strength is same but peak strength of dense sand is greater than that of loose sand

ultimate strength is same but peak

Effective stress is______________?

the stress at particles contact

a physical parameter that can be measured

important because it is a function of engineering properties of soil

Effective stress on soil_____________?

decreases voids ratio and increases permeability

increases voids ratio and decreases permeability

increases both voids ratio and permeability

decreases both voids ratio and permeability

decreases voids ratio and increases permeability

Dispersed type of soil structure is an arrangement comprising particles having______________?

face to face or parallel orientation

Direct measurement of permeability of the specimen at any stage of loading can be made_______________?

only in floating ring type consolido-meter

only in fixed ring type consolido-meter

only in floating ring type consolido-meter

Degree of consolidation is________________?

directly proportional to drainage path and inversely proportional to time

directly proportional to time and inversely proportional to drainage path

directly proportional to time and inversely proportional to square of drainage path

directly proportional to drainage path and inversely proportional to time

directly proportional to square of drainage path and inversely proportional to time

Contact pressure beneath a rigid footing resting on cohesive soil is_________________?

less at edges compared to middle

more at edges compared to middle

Compressibility of sandy soils is______________?

almost equal to that of clayey soils

much greater than that of clayey soils

much less than that of clayey soils

Coefficient of permeability of soil______________?

increases with the decrease in temperature

does not depend upon temperature

increases with the increase in temperature

increases with the decrease in temperature

Coefficient of earth pressure at rest is__________________?

greater than both the active earth pressure and passive earth pressure

less than active earth pressure but greater than passive earth pressure

greater than active earth pressure but less than passive earth pressure

greater than both the active earth pressure and passive earth pressure

less than both the active and passive earth pressures

Coefficient of consolidation for clays normally_______________?

increases with increase in liquid limit

decreases with increase in liquid limit

increases with increase in liquid limit

first increases and then decreases with increase in liquid limit

remains constant at all liquid limits

Coefficient of compressibility is_______________?

different for different types of soils but same for a soil under different states of consolidation

different for different types of soils and also different for a soil under different states of consolidation

different for different types of soils but same for a soil under different states of consolidation

independent of type of soil but depends on the stress history of soil

Coefficient of consolidation of a soil is affected by_______________?

both compressibility and permeability

Bishop’s method of stability analysis_______________?

neglects the effect of forces acting on the sides of the slices

assumes the slip surface as an arc of a circle

At liquid limit, all soils possess________________?

same shear strength of large magnitude

same shear strength of small magnitude

same shear strength of large magnitude

different shear strengths of small magnitude

different shear strengths of large magnitude

Allowable bearing pressure for a foundation depends upon_______________?

ultimate bearing capacity of soil only

both allowable settlement and ultimate bearing capacity

A pycnometer is used to determine_______________?

specific gravity and dry density

water content and specific gravity

A fully saturated soil is said to be________________?

two phase system with soil and air

two phase system with soil and water

95 + Mcqs in Soil Mechanics & Foundation Engineering in Civil Engineering Page 2 McqOptions

51.	If the water content of a fully saturated soil mass is 100%, then the voids ratio of the sample is________________?
A.	less than specific gravity of soil
B.	equal to specific gravity of soil
C.	greater than specific gravity of soil
D.	independent of specific gravity of soil
Answer» C. greater than specific gravity of soil

Discussion

52.	If the water table rises upto ground surface, then the___________________?
A.	effective stress is reduced due to decrease in total stress only but pore water pressure does not change
B.	effective stress is reduced due to increase in pore water pressure only but total stress does not change
C.	total stress is reduced due to increase in pore water pressure only but effec-tive stress does not change
D.	total stress is increased due to de-crease in pore water pressure but effective stress does not change
Answer» C. total stress is reduced due to increase in pore water pressure only but effec-tive stress does not change

Discussion

53.	If the volume of voids is equal to the volume of solids in a soil mass, then the values of porosity and voids ratio respectively are________________?
A.	1.0 and 0.0
B.	0.0 and 1.0
C.	0.5 and 1.0
D.	1.0 and 0.5
Answer» D. 1.0 and 0.5

Discussion

54.	If the voids of a soil mass are full of air only, the soil is termed as_______________?
A.	air entrained soil
B.	partially saturated soil
C.	dry soil
D.	dehydrated soil
Answer» D. dehydrated soil

Discussion

55.	If the shearing stress is zero on two planes, then the angle between the two planes is________________?
A.	45°
B.	90°
C.	135°
D.	225°
Answer» C. 135°

Discussion

56.	If the sand in-situ is in its densest state, then the relative density of sand is_____________?
A.	zero
B.	1
C.	between 0 and 1
D.	greater than 1
Answer» C. between 0 and 1

Discussion

57.	If the plasticity index of a soil mass is zero, the soil is______________?
A.	sand
B.	silt
C.	clay
D.	clayey silt
Answer» B. silt

Discussion

58.	If the permeability of a soil is 0.8 mm/sec, the type of soil is_______________?
A.	gravel
B.	sand
C.	silt
D.	clay
Answer» C. silt

Discussion

59.	If the natural water content of soil mass lies between its liquid limit and plastic limit, the soil mass is said to be in______________?
A.	liquid state
B.	plastic state
C.	semi-solid state
D.	solid state
Answer» C. semi-solid state

Discussion

60.	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

Discussion

61.	If the degree of saturation of a partially saturated soil is 60%, then air content of the soil is______________?
A.	40%
B.	60%
C.	80%
D.	100%
Answer» B. 60%

Discussion

62.	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°

Discussion

63.	Highway Research Board (HRB) classification of soils is based on__________________?
A.	particle size composition
B.	plasticity characteristics
C.	both particle size composition and plasticity characteristics
D.	none of the above
Answer» D. none of the above

Discussion

64.	For better strength and stability, the fine grained soils and coarse grained soils are compacted respectively as____________________?
A.	dry of OMC and wet of OMC
B.	wet of OMC and dry of OMC
C.	wet of OMC and wet of OMC
D.	dry of OMC and dry of OMC where OMC is optimum moisture content
Answer» C. wet of OMC and wet of OMC

Discussion

65.	For a loose sand sample and a dense sand sample consolidated to the same effective stress_____________?
A.	ultimate strength is same and also peak strength is same
B.	ultimate strength is different but peak strength is same
C.	ultimate strength is same but peak strength of dense sand is greater than that of loose sand
D.	ultimate strength is same but peak
Answer» D. ultimate strength is same but peak

Discussion

66.	Effective stress is______________?
A.	the stress at particles contact
B.	a physical parameter that can be measured
C.	important because it is a function of engineering properties of soil
D.	all of the above
Answer» D. all of the above

Discussion

67.	Effective stress on soil_____________?
A.	increases voids ratio and decreases permeability
B.	increases both voids ratio and permeability
C.	decreases both voids ratio and permeability
D.	decreases voids ratio and increases permeability
Answer» D. decreases voids ratio and increases permeability

Discussion

68.	During the first stage of triaxial test when the cell pressure is increased from 0.10 N/mm2 to 0.26 N/mm2, the pore water pressure increases from 0.07 N/mm2 to 0.15 “N/mm2. Skempton’s pore pressure parameter B is___________________?
A.	0.5
B.	-0.5
C.	2.0
D.	– 2.0
Answer» B. -0.5

Discussion

69.	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%

Discussion

70.	Dispersed type of soil structure is an arrangement comprising particles having______________?
A.	face to face or parallel orientation
B.	edge to edge orientation
C.	edge to face orientation
D.	all of the above
Answer» B. edge to edge orientation

Discussion

71.	Direct measurement of permeability of the specimen at any stage of loading can be made_______________?
A.	only in fixed ring type consolido-meter
B.	only in floating ring type consolido-meter
C.	both (A) and (B)
D.	none of the above
Answer» B. only in floating ring type consolido-meter

Discussion

72.	Degree of consolidation is________________?
A.	directly proportional to time and inversely proportional to drainage path
B.	directly proportional to time and inversely proportional to square of drainage path
C.	directly proportional to drainage path and inversely proportional to time
D.	directly proportional to square of drainage path and inversely proportional to time
Answer» C. directly proportional to drainage path and inversely proportional to time

Discussion

73.	Contact pressure beneath a rigid footing resting on cohesive soil is_________________?
A.	less at edges compared to middle
B.	more at edges compared to middle
C.	uniform throughout
D.	none of the above
Answer» C. uniform throughout

Discussion

74.	Constant head permeameter is used to test permeability of_______________?
A.	silt
B.	clay
C.	coarse sand
D.	fine sand
Answer» D. fine sand

Discussion

75.	Compressibility of sandy soils is______________?
A.	almost equal to that of clayey soils
B.	much greater than that of clayey soils
C.	much less than that of clayey soils
D.	none of the above
Answer» D. none of the above

Discussion

76.	Coefficient of permeability of soil______________?
A.	does not depend upon temperature
B.	increases with the increase in temperature
C.	increases with the decrease in temperature
D.	none of the above
Answer» C. increases with the decrease in temperature

Discussion

77.	Coefficient of earth pressure at rest is__________________?
A.	less than active earth pressure but greater than passive earth pressure
B.	greater than active earth pressure but less than passive earth pressure
C.	greater than both the active earth pressure and passive earth pressure
D.	less than both the active and passive earth pressures
Answer» C. greater than both the active earth pressure and passive earth pressure

Discussion

78.	Coefficient of consolidation for clays normally_______________?
A.	decreases with increase in liquid limit
B.	increases with increase in liquid limit
C.	first increases and then decreases with increase in liquid limit
D.	remains constant at all liquid limits
Answer» B. increases with increase in liquid limit

Discussion

79.	Coefficient of compressibility is_______________?
A.	constant for any type of soil
B.	different for different types of soils and also different for a soil under different states of consolidation
C.	different for different types of soils but same for a soil under different states of consolidation
D.	independent of type of soil but depends on the stress history of soil
Answer» C. different for different types of soils but same for a soil under different states of consolidation

Discussion

80.	Coefficient of consolidation of a soil is affected by_______________?
A.	compressibility
B.	permeability
C.	both compressibility and permeability
D.	none of the above
Answer» D. none of the above

Discussion

81.	Coarse grained soils are best compacted by a_______________?
A.	drum roller
B.	rubber tyred roller
C.	sheep’s foot roller
D.	vibratory roller
Answer» E.

Discussion

82.	Clay layer A with single drainage and coefficient of consolidation Cv takes 6 months to achieve 50% consolidation. The time taken by clay layer B of the same thickness with double drainage and coefficient of consolidation Cv/2 to achieve the same degree of consolidation is_________________?
A.	3 months
B.	6 months
C.	12 months
D.	24 months
Answer» B. 6 months

Discussion

83.	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

Discussion

84.	At liquid limit, all soils possess________________?
A.	same shear strength of small magnitude
B.	same shear strength of large magnitude
C.	different shear strengths of small magnitude
D.	different shear strengths of large magnitude
Answer» B. same shear strength of large magnitude

Discussion

85.	Allowable bearing pressure for a foundation depends upon_______________?
A.	allowable settlement only
B.	ultimate bearing capacity of soil only
C.	both allowable settlement and ultimate bearing capacity
D.	none of above
Answer» D. none of above

Discussion

86.	According to IS classification, the range of silt size particles is_________________?
A.	4.75 mm to 2.00 mm
B.	2.00 mm to 0.425 mm
C.	0.425 mm to 0.075 mm
D.	0.075 mm to 0.002 mm
Answer» E.

Discussion

87.	According to Atterberg, the soil is said to be of medium plasticity if the plasticity index PI is____________?
A.	0 < PI < 7
B.	7< 17
C.	17
Answer» C. 17

Discussion

88.	A soil has a bulk density of 22 kN/m3 and water content 10 %. The dry density of soil is_______________?
A.	18.6 kN/m3
B.	20.0 kN/m3
C.	22.0 kN/m3
D.	23.2 kN/m3
Answer» C. 22.0 kN/m3

Discussion

89.	A retaining wall 6m high supports a backfill with a surcharge angle of 10°. The back of the wall is inclined to the vertical at a positive batter angle of 5°. If the angle of wall friction is 7°, then the resultant active earth pressure will act at a distance of 2 m above the base and inclined to the horizontal at an angle of_________________?
A.	7°
B.	10°
C.	12°
D.	17°
Answer» D. 17°

Discussion

90.	A pycnometer is used to determine_______________?
A.	water content and voids ratio
B.	specific gravity and dry density
C.	water content and specific gravity
D.	voids ratio and dry density
Answer» D. voids ratio and dry density

Discussion

91.	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

Discussion

92.	A fully saturated soil is said to be________________?
A.	one phase system
B.	two phase system with soil and air
C.	two phase system with soil and water
D.	three phase system
Answer» D. three phase system

Discussion

93.	A cylindrical specimen of saturated soil failed under an axial vertical stress of 100kN/m2 when it was laterally unconfmed. The failure plane was inclined to the horizontal plane at an angle of 45°. The values of cohesion and angle of internal friction for the soil are respectively______________________?
A.	0.5 N/mm2 and 30°
B.	0.05 N/mm2 and 0°
C.	0.2 N/mm2 and 0°
D.	0.05 N/mm2 and 45°
Answer» C. 0.2 N/mm2 and 0°

Discussion

94.	A 600 mm square bearing plate settles by 15 mm in plate load test on a cohesionless 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

Discussion

95.	A 300 mm square bearing plate settles by 15 mm in a plate load test on a cohesive soil when the intensity of loading is 0.2 N/mm2. The settlement of a prototype shallow footing 1 m square under the same intensity of loading is___________________?
A.	15 mm
B.	30 mm
C.	50 mm
D.	167 mm
Answer» D. 167 mm

Discussion

Explore topic-wise MCQs in Civil Engineering.

If the water content of a fully saturated soil mass is 100%, then the voids ratio of the sample is________________?

If the water table rises upto ground surface, then the___________________?

If the volume of voids is equal to the volume of solids in a soil mass, then the values of porosity and voids ratio respectively are________________?

If the voids of a soil mass are full of air only, the soil is termed as_______________?

If the shearing stress is zero on two planes, then the angle between the two planes is________________?

If the sand in-situ is in its densest state, then the relative density of sand is_____________?

If the plasticity index of a soil mass is zero, the soil is______________?

If the permeability of a soil is 0.8 mm/sec, the type of soil is_______________?

If the natural water content of soil mass lies between its liquid limit and plastic limit, the soil mass is said to be in______________?

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______________?

If the degree of saturation of a partially saturated soil is 60%, then air content of the soil is______________?

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

Highway Research Board (HRB) classification of soils is based on__________________?

For better strength and stability, the fine grained soils and coarse grained soils are compacted respectively as____________________?

For a loose sand sample and a dense sand sample consolidated to the same effective stress_____________?

Effective stress is______________?

Effective stress on soil_____________?

During the first stage of triaxial test when the cell pressure is increased from 0.10 N/mm2 to 0.26 N/mm2, the pore water pressure increases from 0.07 N/mm2 to 0.15 “N/mm2. Skempton’s pore pressure parameter B is___________________?

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__________________?

Dispersed type of soil structure is an arrangement comprising particles having______________?

Direct measurement of permeability of the specimen at any stage of loading can be made_______________?

Degree of consolidation is________________?

Contact pressure beneath a rigid footing resting on cohesive soil is_________________?

Constant head permeameter is used to test permeability of_______________?

Compressibility of sandy soils is______________?

Coefficient of permeability of soil______________?

Coefficient of earth pressure at rest is__________________?

Coefficient of consolidation for clays normally_______________?

Coefficient of compressibility is_______________?

Coefficient of consolidation of a soil is affected by_______________?

Coarse grained soils are best compacted by a_______________?

Clay layer A with single drainage and coefficient of consolidation Cv takes 6 months to achieve 50% consolidation. The time taken by clay layer B of the same thickness with double drainage and coefficient of consolidation Cv/2 to achieve the same degree of consolidation is_________________?

Bishop’s method of stability analysis_______________?

At liquid limit, all soils possess________________?

Allowable bearing pressure for a foundation depends upon_______________?

According to IS classification, the range of silt size particles is_________________?

According to Atterberg, the soil is said to be of medium plasticity if the plasticity index PI is____________?

A soil has a bulk density of 22 kN/m3 and water content 10 %. The dry density of soil is_______________?

A pycnometer is used to determine_______________?

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 fully saturated soil is said to be________________?

A 600 mm square bearing plate settles by 15 mm in plate load test on a cohesionless 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 300 mm square bearing plate settles by 15 mm in a plate load test on a cohesive soil when the intensity of loading is 0.2 N/mm2. The settlement of a prototype shallow footing 1 m square under the same intensity of loading is___________________?