Explore topic-wise MCQs in Civil Engineering.

This section includes 155 Mcqs, each offering curated multiple-choice questions to sharpen your Civil Engineering knowledge and support exam preparation. Choose a topic below to get started.

1.

The water content of soil, which represents the boundary between plastic state and liquid state, is known as

A. iquid limit
B. lastic limit
C. hrinkage limit
D. lasticity index
Answer» B. lastic limit
2.

Bishop’s method of stability analysis

A. s more conservative
B. eglects the effect of forces acting on the sides of the slices
C. ssumes the slip surface as an arc of a circle
D. ll of the above
Answer» D. ll of the above
3.

Constant head permeameter is used to test permeability of

A. ilt
B. lay
C. oarse sand
D. ine sand
Answer» D. ine sand
4.

If the water table rises upto ground surface, then the

A. ffective stress is reduced due to decrease in total stress only but pore water pressure does not change
B. ffective stress is reduced due to increase in pore water pressure only but total stress does not change
C. otal stress is reduced due to increase in pore water pressure only but effective stress does not change
D. otal stress is increased due to decrease in pore water pressure but effective stress does not change
Answer» C. otal stress is reduced due to increase in pore water pressure only but effective stress does not change
5.

Coarse grained soils are best compacted by a

A. rum roller
B. ubber tyred roller
C. heep’s foot roller
D. ibratory roller
Answer» E.
6.

Highway Research Board (HRB) classification of soils is based on

A. article size composition
B. lasticity characteristics
C. oth particle size composition and plasticity characteristics
D. one of the above
Answer» D. one of the above
7.

In the triaxial compression test, the application of additional axial stress (i.e. deviator stress) on the soil specimen produces shear stress on

A. orizontal plane only
B. ertical plane only
C. oth horizontal and vertical planes
D. ll planes except horizontal and vertical planes
Answer» E.
8.

In hydrometer analysis for a soil mass

A. oth meniscus correction and dispersing agent correction are additive
B. oth meniscus correction and dispersing agent correction are subtractive
C. eniscus correction is additive and dispersing agent correction is subtractive
D. eniscus correction is subtractive and dispersing agent correction is additive
Answer» D. eniscus correction is subtractive and dispersing agent correction is additive
9.

The major principal stress in an element of cohesion-less soil within the backfill of a retaining wall is

A. ertical if the soil is in an active state of plastic equilibrium
B. ertical if the soil is in a passive state of plastic equilibrium
C. nclined at 45° to the vertical plane
D. one of the above
Answer» B. ertical if the soil is in a passive state of plastic equilibrium
10.

The ultimate consolidation settlement of a structure resting on a soil

A. ecreases with the increase in the initial voids ratio
B. ecreases with the decrease in the plastic limit
C. ncreases with the increase in the initial voids ratio
D. ncreases with the decrease in the porosity of the soil
Answer» B. ecreases with the decrease in the plastic limit
11.

Inorganic soils with low compressibility are represented by

A. H
B. L
C. L
D. H
Answer» D. H
12.

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. 0
D. 2
Answer» B. 0.5
13.

The slope of isochrone at any point at a given time indicates the rate of change of

A. ffective stress with time
B. ffective stress with depth
C. ore water pressure with depth
D. ore water pressure with time
Answer» D. ore water pressure with time
14.

Time factor for a clay layer is

A. dimensional parameter
B. irectly proportional to permeability of soil
C. nversely proportional to drainage path
D. ndependent of thickness of clay layer
Answer» C. nversely proportional to drainage path
15.

Quick sand is a

A. ype of sand
B. low condition occurring in cohesive soils
C. low condition occurring in cohesionless soils
D. low condition occurring in both cohesive and cohesionless soils
Answer» D. low condition occurring in both cohesive and cohesionless soils
16.

A plane inclined at an angle ‘φ’ to the horizontal at which the soil is expected to stay in the absence of any lateral support, is known as

A. atural slope line
B. epose line
C. he φ line
D. ll the above
Answer» E.
17.

Coefficient of compressibility is

A. onstant for any type of soil
B. ifferent for different types of soils and also different for a soil under different states of consolidation
C. ifferent for different types of soils but same for a soil under different states of consolidation
D. ndependent of type of soil but depends on the stress history of soil
Answer» C. ifferent for different types of soils but same for a soil under different states of consolidation
18.

Terzaghi’s theory of one dimensional consolidation assumes

A. oil is homogeneous and fully saturated
B. ater and soil particles are incompressible
C. eformation of the soil, is entirely due to change in volume
D. ll the above
Answer» E.
19.

Compressibility of sandy soils is

A. lmost equal to that of clayey soils
B. uch greater than that of clayey soils
C. uch less than that of clayey soils
D. one of the above
Answer» D. one of the above
20.

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

A. 0%
B. 0%
C. 0%
D. 00%
Answer» B. 0%
21.

Shear strength of a soil is a unique function of

A. ffective stress only
B. otal stress only
C. oth effective stress and total stress
D. one of the above
Answer» B. otal stress only
22.

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

A. and
B. ilt
C. lay
D. layey silt
Answer» B. ilt
23.

Stoke’s law is valid only if the size of particle is

A. ess than 0.0002 mm
B. reater than 0.2 mm
C. etween 0.2 mm and 0.0002 mm
D. ll of the above
Answer» D. ll of the above
24.

Rise of water table above the ground surface causes

A. qual increase in pore water pressure and total stress
B. qual decrease in pore water pressure and total stress
C. ncrease in pore water pressure but decrease in total stress
D. ecrease in pore water pressure but increase in total stress
Answer» B. qual decrease in pore water pressure and total stress
25.

The hydrometer method of sedimentation analysis differs from the pipette analysis mainly in

A. he principle of test
B. he method of taking observations
C. he method of preparation of soil suspension
D. ll of the above
Answer» C. he method of preparation of soil suspension
26.

The effect of cohesion on a soil is to

A. educe both the active earth pressure intensity and passive earth pressure intensity
B. ncrease both the active earth pressure intensity and passive earth pressure intensity
C. educe the active earth pressure in-tensity but to increase the passive earth pressure intensity
D. ncrease the active earth pressure in-tensity but to reduce the passive earth pressure intensity [GATE 99]
Answer» D. ncrease the active earth pressure in-tensity but to reduce the passive earth pressure intensity [GATE 99]
27.

Allowable bearing pressure for a foundation depends upon

A. llowable settlement only
B. ltimate bearing capacity of soil only
C. oth allowable settlement and ultimate bearing capacity
D. one of above
Answer» D. one of above
28.

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

A.
B.
C. 35°
D. 25°
Answer» C. 35°
29.

Which of the following methods is best suited for determination of permeability of coarse-grained soils ?

A. onstant head method
B. alling head method
C. oth the above
D. one of the above
Answer» B. alling head method
30.

Select the incorrect statement. Effective angle of shearing resistance

A. ncreases as the size of particles increases
B. ncreases as the soil gradation im-proves
C. s limited to a maximum value of 45°
D. s rarely more than 30° for fine grained soil
Answer» D. s rarely more than 30° for fine grained soil
31.

Contact pressure beneath a rigid footing resting on cohesive soil is

A. ess at edges compared to middle
B. ore at edges compared to middle
C. niform throughout
D. one of the above
Answer» C. niform throughout
32.

A tri-axial shear test is preferred to direct shear test, because

A. t can be performed under all three drainage conditions with complete control
B. recise measurement of pore pressure and change in volume during test, is not possible
C. tress distribution on the failure plane, is non uniform
D. one of these
Answer» B. recise measurement of pore pressure and change in volume during test, is not possible
33.

Toughness index is defined as the ratio of

A. lasticity index to consistency index
B. lasticity index to flow index
C. iquidity index to flow index
D. onsistency index to liquidity index
Answer» C. iquidity index to flow index
34.

The maximum dry density upto which any soil can be compacted depends upon

A. oisture content only
B. mount of compaction energy only
C. oth moisture content and amount of compaction energy
D. one of the above
Answer» D. one of the above
35.

In a deposit of normally consolidated clay

A. ffective stress increases with depth but water content of soil and un-drained strength decrease with depth
B. ffective stress and water content increase with depth but undrained strength decreases with depth
C. ffective stress and undrained strength increase with depth but water content decreases with depth
D. ffective stress, water content and undrained strength decrease with depth
Answer» D. ffective stress, water content and undrained strength decrease with depth
36.

With the increase in the amount of compaction energy

A. ptimum water content increases but maximum dry density decreases
B. ptimum water content decreases but maximum dry density increases
C. oth optimum water content and maximum dry density increase
D. oth optimum water content and maximum dry density decrease[ES 93]
Answer» C. oth optimum water content and maximum dry density increase
37.

The most suitable method for drainage of fine grained cohesive soils is

A. ell ppint system
B. acuum method
C. eep well system
D. lectroosmosis method
Answer» E.
38.

Sensitivity of a soil can be defined as

A. ercentage of volume change of soil under saturated condition
B. atio of compressive strength of unconfined undisturbed soil to that of soil in a remoulded state
C. atio of volume of voids to volume of solids
D. one of the above
Answer» C. atio of volume of voids to volume of solids
39.

At liquid limit, all soils possess

A. ame shear strength of small magnitude
B. ame shear strength of large magnitude
C. ifferent shear strengths of small magnitude
D. ifferent shear strengths of large magnitude
Answer» B. ame shear strength of large magnitude
40.

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. °
B.
C.
D.
Answer» D. 7°
41.

The rise of water table below the foundation influences the bearing capacity of soil mainly by reducing

A. ohesion and effective angle of shearing resistance
B. ohesion and effective unit weight of soil
C. ffective unit weight of soil and effective angle of shearing resistance
D. ffective angle of shearing resistance
Answer» C. ffective unit weight of soil and effective angle of shearing resistance
42.

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

A. nly in fixed ring type consolido-meter
B. nly in floating ring type consolido-meter
C. oth (A) and (B)
D. one of the above
Answer» B. nly in floating ring type consolido-meter
43.

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

A. ess than specific gravity of soil
B. qual to specific gravity of soil
C. reater than specific gravity of soil
D. ndependent of specific gravity of soil
Answer» C. reater than specific gravity of soil
44.

Which of the following methods is more suitable for the determination of permeability of clayey soil ?

A. onstant head method
B. alling head method
C. orizontal permeability test
D. one of the above
Answer» C. orizontal permeability test
45.

For proper field control, which of the following methods is best suited for quick determination of water content of a soil mass ?

A. ven drying method
B. and bath method
C. lcohol method
D. alcium carbide method
Answer» E.
46.

The average coefficient of permeability of natural deposits

A. arallel to stratification is always greater than that perpendicular to stratification
B. arallel to stratification is always less than that perpendicular to stratification
C. s always same in both directions
D. arallel to stratification may or may not be greater than that perpendicular to stratification
Answer» B. arallel to stratification is always less than that perpendicular to stratification
47.

Unconfmed compressive strength test is

A. ndrained test
B. rained test
C. onsolidated undrained test
D. onsolidated drained test
Answer» B. rained test
48.

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. .5 N/mm² and 30°
B. .05 N/mm² and 0°
C. .2 N/mm² and 0°
D. .05 N/mm² and 45°
Answer» C. .2 N/mm² and 0°
49.

Physical properties of a permeant which influence permeability are

A. iscosity only
B. nit weight only
C. oth viscosity and unit weight
D. one of the above
Answer» D. one of the above
50.

The ultimate consolidation settlement of a soil is

A. irectly proportional to the voids ratio
B. irectly proportional to the compression index
C. nversely proportional to the compression index
D. one of the above
Answer» C. nversely proportional to the compression index