The angle between the directions of the failure and the major principal plane, is equal to

90° + effective angle of shearing resistance

90° + half of the angle of shearing resistance

45° - half of the angle of shearing resistance

45° + half of the angle of shearing resistance.

The maximum load carried by a pile, when it continues to sink without further increase of load, is known as

ultimate load carrying capacity

The Mohr's straight theory is based on the following fact :

Material fails essentially by shear

Ultimate strength of the material is determined by the stress in the plane of slip

Failure criterion is independent of the intermediate principal stress

The ratio of settlement at any time 't' to the final settlement, is known as

consolidation of undisturbed soil.

The neutral stress in a soil mass is

stress taken up by solid particles.

stess taken up by the pore water

stress taken up by solid particles.

The consistency index of a soil is defined as the ratio of

natural water content of a soil minus plastic limit to the plasticity index of the soil

liquid limit plus the natural water content to the plasticity index of the soil

liquid limit minus the natural water content to the plasticity index of the soil

natural water content of a soil minus plastic limit to the plasticity index of the soil

natural water content of a soil plus its plastic limit to the plasticity index of the soil.

The liquidity index is defined as a ratio expressed as percentage of

natural water content plus its plastic limit to its plasticity index

plastic limit minus the natural water content, to its plasticity index

natural water content minus its plastic limit to its plasticity index

natural water content plus its plastic limit to its plasticity index

liquid limit minus the natural water content to the plasticity index.

A direct shear test possesses the following disadvantage:

A relatively thin thickness of sample permits quick drainage

A relatively thin thickness of sample permits quick dissipation of pore pressure developed during the test

As the test progresses the area under shear, gradually changes

During seepage through a soil, direction of seepage is always

parallel to equipotential lines

perpendicular to equipotential lines

For shear strength, triaxial shear test is suitable because

it can be performed under all three drainage conditions

precise measurement of the pore pressure and volume change during the test is possible

stress distribution on the failure plane, is uniform

Pick up the correct definition from the following:

The lateral pressure exerted by the soil when the retaining wall moves away from the back fill, is generally known as active earth pressure of the soil

The lateral pressure exerted by the soil when the retaining wail moves towards the soil, is generally known as 'Passive earth pressure of the soil'

The lateral pressure exerted by the soil when the retaining wall has no movement relative to the back fill, is known as 'earth pressure at rest of the soil'

The bearing capacity of a soil depends upon

cohesive properties of particles

372 + Mcqs in Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering in Surveying Page 2 McqOptions

51.	The pressure that builds up in pore water due to load increment on the soil, is termed
A.	excess pore pressure
B.	excess hydrostatic pressure
C.	hydrodynamic pressure
D.	all the above.
Answer» E.

52.	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

53.	The ratio of volume of air voids to the volume of total voids, is known as
A.	air content
B.	percentage air voids
C.	percentage voids
D.	porosity.
Answer» B. percentage air voids

54.	The weight of a pycnometer containing 400 g sand and water full to the top is 2150 g. The weight of pycnometer full of clean water is 1950 g. If specific gravity of the soil is 2.5, the water content is
A.	5%
B.	10%
C.	15%
D.	20%
Answer» E.

55.	When the seepage pressure becomes equal to the pressure due to submerged weight of a soil, the effective pressure is reduced to zero and the soil particles have a tendency to move up in the direction of flow. This phenomenon is generally known
A.	quick condition
B.	boiling condition
C.	quick sand
D.	all the above.
Answer» E.

56.	If the unit weight of sand particles is 2.696 g/cc. and porosity in loose state is 44%, the critical hydraulic gradient for quick sand condition, is
A.	0.91
B.	0.92
C.	0.93
D.	0.95
Answer» E.

58.	A soil sample of mass specific gravity 1.92, has a 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.

59.	The maximum load carried by a pile, when it continues to sink without further increase of load, is known as
A.	ultimate load carrying capacity
B.	ultimate bearing capacity
C.	ultimate bearing resistant
D.	all the above.
Answer» E.

61.	If the coefficient of the active pressure Ka is 1/3, the coefficient of passive pressure Kp, is
A.	1/3
B.	2/3
C.	1
D.	3
Answer» E.

62.	The ratio of settlement at any time 't' to the final settlement, is known as
A.	co-efficient of consolidation
B.	degree of consolidation
C.	consolidation index
D.	consolidation of undisturbed soil.
Answer» C. consolidation index

63.	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.

66.	'Talus' is the soil transported by
A.	wind
B.	water
C.	glacier
D.	gravitational force.
Answer» E.

67.	Through a point in a loaded soil mass, there exists n typical planes mutually orthogonal on which the stress is wholly normal and no shear stress acts, if n is
A.	1
B.	2
C.	3
D.	4
Answer» D. 4

71.	Under-reamed piles are generally
A.	driven piles
B.	bored piles
C.	precast piles
D.	all the above.
Answer» C. precast piles

72.	If the failure of a finite slope occurs through the toe, it is known as
A.	slope failure
B.	face failure
C.	base failure
D.	toe failure.
Answer» E.

64.	The neutral stress in a soil mass is
A.	force per neutral area
B.	force per effective area
C.	stess taken up by the pore water
D.	stress taken up by solid particles.
Answer» D. stress taken up by solid particles.

68.	The angle of internal friction is maximum for
A.	angular-grained loose sand
B.	angular-grained dense sand
C.	round-grained dense sand
D.	round-grained loose sand
Answer» C. round-grained dense sand

69.	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.

70.	For testing a saturated clay for shear strength, the test recommended, is
A.	direct shear test
B.	triaxial compression test
C.	unconfined compression test
D.	all the above.
Answer» D. all the above.

74.	The fluid generally used for grouting is
A.	cement and water mix
B.	clay suspension
C.	sodium silicate
D.	all the above.
Answer» E.

75.	The specific gravity of Calcite is
A.	2.65
B.	2.72
C.	2.85
D.	2.90
Answer» C. 2.85

76.	If the natural moisture content, the liquid limit and plastic limit of a soil sample are stated as 30.5%, 42.5% and 22.5% respectively, the ratio of liquidity index and plastic index, is
A.	1/3
B.	1/2
C.	2
D.	2.5
Answer» D. 2.5

78.	A soil has bulk density 2.30 g/cm³ and water content 15 per cent, the dry density of the sample, is
A.	1.0 g/cm²
B.	1.5 g/cm³
C.	2.0 g/cm³
D.	2.5 g/cm³
Answer» D. 2.5 g/cm³

79.	A partially saturated soil is classified as
A.	one phase soil
B.	two phase soil
C.	three phase soil
D.	four phase soil.
Answer» D. four phase soil.

80.	The reduction in volume of soil due to squeezing out of water from the voids, is termed
A.	primary consolidation
B.	primary compression
C.	primary time effect
D.	all the above.
Answer» E.

Explore topic-wise MCQs in Surveying.

The pressure that builds up in pore water due to load increment on the soil, is termed

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

The ratio of volume of air voids to the volume of total voids, is known as

The weight of a pycnometer containing 400 g sand and water full to the top is 2150 g. The weight of pycnometer full of clean water is 1950 g. If specific gravity of the soil is 2.5, the water content is

When the seepage pressure becomes equal to the pressure due to submerged weight of a soil, the effective pressure is reduced to zero and the soil particles have a tendency to move up in the direction of flow. This phenomenon is generally known

If the unit weight of sand particles is 2.696 g/cc. and porosity in loose state is 44%, the critical hydraulic gradient for quick sand condition, is

The angle between the directions of the failure and the major principal plane, is equal to

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

The maximum load carried by a pile, when it continues to sink without further increase of load, is known as

The Mohr's straight theory is based on the following fact :

If the coefficient of the active pressure Ka is 1/3, the coefficient of passive pressure Kp, is

The ratio of settlement at any time 't' to the final settlement, is known as

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

The neutral stress in a soil mass is

The consistency index of a soil is defined as the ratio of

'Talus' is the soil transported by

Through a point in a loaded soil mass, there exists n typical planes mutually orthogonal on which the stress is wholly normal and no shear stress acts, if n is

The angle of internal friction is maximum for

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

For testing a saturated clay for shear strength, the test recommended, is

Under-reamed piles are generally

If the failure of a finite slope occurs through the toe, it is known as

The liquidity index is defined as a ratio expressed as percentage of

The fluid generally used for grouting is

The specific gravity of Calcite is

If the natural moisture content, the liquid limit and plastic limit of a soil sample are stated as 30.5%, 42.5% and 22.5% respectively, the ratio of liquidity index and plastic index, is

A direct shear test possesses the following disadvantage:

A soil has bulk density 2.30 g/cm³ and water content 15 per cent, the dry density of the sample, is

A partially saturated soil is classified as

The reduction in volume of soil due to squeezing out of water from the voids, is termed

Accurate determination of water content, is made by

During seepage through a soil, direction of seepage is always

The maximum net pressure intensity causing shear failure of soil, is known

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

The minimum depth of building foundations on

For shear strength, triaxial shear test is suitable because

Pick up the correct definition from the following:

A decrease in water content results in a reduction of the volume of a soil in

For determining the moisture content of a soil sample, the following data is available Weight of container = 260 g, Weight of soil sample and = 320 g container, Weight of soil sample (dried) and = 310 g container. The moisture content of the soil sample, is

Failure of the stability of slopes, generally occurs along

The void ratio of a soil sample decreases from 1.50 to 1.25 when the pressure is increased from 25 tonnes/m² to 50 tonnes/m², the coefficient of compressibility is

The shearing strength of a cohesion-less soil depends upon

The bearing capacity of a soil depends upon

The active earth pressure of a soil is proportional to (where φ is the angle of friction of the soil)

A structure is erected on an impervious clay whose thickness is 12 m. Drainage is possible both at upper and lower surfaces. Coefficient of consolidation is 0.015 cm² per minute. For attaining 50% consolidation with a time factor 0.20, the number of days required

For determining the ultimate bearing capacity of soil, the recommended size of a square bearing plate to be used in load plate test should be 30 to 75 cm square with a minimum thickness of

In a liquid limit test, the moisture content at 10 blows was 70% and that at 100 blows was 20%. The liquid limit of the soil, is

The maximum water content at which a reduction in water content does not cause a decrease in volume of a soil mass, is known

A coarse-grained soil has a voids ratio 0.75, and specific gravity as 2.75. The critical gradient at which quick sand condition occurs, is

81.	Accurate determination of water content, is made by
A.	calcium carbide method
B.	sand bath method
C.	alcohol method
D.	oven-drying method.
Answer» E.

82.	During seepage through a soil, direction of seepage is always
A.	parallel to equipotential lines
B.	perpendicular to stream lines
C.	perpendicular to equipotential lines
D.	none of these.
Answer» D. none of these.

83.	The maximum net pressure intensity causing shear failure of soil, is known
A.	safe bearing capacity
B.	net safe bearing capacity
C.	net ultimate bearing capacity
D.	ultimate bearing capacity.
Answer» D. ultimate bearing capacity.

84.	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.

85.	The minimum depth of building foundations on
A.	sandy soils is 80 cm to 100 cm
B.	clay soils is 90 cm to 160 cm
C.	rocky soils is 5 cm to 50 cm
D.	all the above.
Answer» E.

88.	A decrease in water content results in a reduction of the volume of a soil in
A.	liquid state
B.	plastic state
C.	semi solid state
D.	all of these.
Answer» E.

89.	For determining the moisture content of a soil sample, the following data is available Weight of container = 260 g, Weight of soil sample and = 320 g container, Weight of soil sample (dried) and = 310 g container. The moisture content of the soil sample, is
A.	15%
B.	18%
C.	20%
D.	25%
Answer» D. 25%

90.	Failure of the stability of slopes, generally occurs along
A.	slip plane
B.	a horizontal surface
C.	a curved surface
D.	all the surfaces.
Answer» D. all the surfaces.

91.	The void ratio of a soil sample decreases from 1.50 to 1.25 when the pressure is increased from 25 tonnes/m² to 50 tonnes/m², the coefficient of compressibility is
A.	0.01
B.	0.02
C.	0.05
D.	0.001
Answer» B. 0.02

92.	260 g of wet soil was taken in a pycnometer jar of weight 400 g in order to find the moisture content in the soil, with specific gravity of soil particles 2.75. The weight of soil and remaining water filled in pycnometer without air bubbles was 1415 g and the weight of pycnometer filled with water alone was 1275 g. The moisture content in the soil is
A.	24.2%
B.	18.2%
C.	53.8%
D.	none of these.
Answer» C. 53.8%