GEOTECHNICAL

ENGINEERING
Question:
The earth pressure exerted on the wall which
causes the wall to move away from the soil. The
earth surface will tend to be lowered, and the
lateral pressure on the wall will be decreased. If
the wall moves far enough away, shear failure of
the soil will occur, and a sliding soil wedge will tend
to move forward and downward.
Answer:

Active earth pressure

Question:
The ratio of plasticity index to the percentage
of clay-size fraction by weight.
Answer:

Activity
Question:

Developed a new engineering soil

classification system known as Unified
Soil Classification System (USCS).
Answer:

Arthur Casagrande
Question:
This defined the boundaries of four states in terms
of limits as follows, (1) liquid limit, the boundary
between the liquid and plastic states, (2) plastic
limit, the boundary between the plastic and semi-
solid state and (3) shrinkage limit, the boundary
between the semi-solid and solid states.
Answer:

Atterberg Limits
Question:

Refers to the ability of a soil to

support or hold up a foundation
and structure.
Answer:

Bearing capacity
Question:

Is defined as the process by which the

soil particles are artificially rearranged
and packed together into a state of closer
contact by mechanical means in order to
decrease its porosity and thereby
increase its dry density.
Answer:

Compaction
Question:

This is the capacity factor in Terzaghi’s

bearing capacity formula which cites the
influence of the soil’s cohesion on its
bearing capacity.
Answer:

Bearing capacity factor Nc

Question:

This is the capacity factor in Terzaghi’s

bearing capacity formula which cites the
influence of surcharge on its bearing
capacity.
Answer:

Bearing capacity factor Nq

Question:
The Swedish soil scientist who developed a series
of tests to evaluate the relationship between
moisture content and soil consistency.
Answer:

Albert Atterberg
Question:

This is the capacity factor in Terzaghi’s

bearing capacity formula which cites the
influence of soil weight and foundation
width or radius.
Answer:

Bearing capacity factor Ny

Question:
The rise of water in a small diameter tuber inserted
into the water the rise being caused by both
cohesion of the waters molecules (surface tension)
and adhesion of the water to the tubes wall.
Answer:

Capillary
Question:
He developed an apparatus for the liquid limit test
that consists of a semi-spherical brass cup that is
repeatedly dropped onto a hard rubber base from
a height of 10 mm by a cam-operated mechanism.
Answer:

Casagrande
Question:

It is the test necessary to

determine index properties.
Answer:

Classification test
Question:

A type of soil where the fine fractions

of the soil have a plasticity index of 11
or more.
Answer:

Clayey
Question:

It consists of gravel and sand where

the individual particles are large
enough to be distinguished without
magnification.
Answer:

Coarse Grained Soil

Question:

The ratio of the horizontal to

vertical effective stresses.
Answer:

Coefficient of lateral earth pressure

Question:

Refers to the loading per unit area that

the soil is able to support without unsafe
movement.
Answer:

Allowable bearing capacity

Question:
It is the working pressure that would ensure a
margin of safety against collapse of the structure
from shear failure.
Answer:

Allowable bearing capacity

or Safe bearing capacity
Question:

Another term for coefficient of

gradation.
Answer:

Coefficient of curvature
Or Coefficient of concavity
Question:

The ratio of lateral stress to the

vertical stress.
Answer:

Coefficient of earth pressure

Question:

The ratio of the square of the diameter

corresponding to 30% finer to the product
of the effective size and diameter
corresponding to 60% finer.
Answer:

Coefficient of gradation
Question:

Is a proportionality constant to
determine the flow velocity of
water through soils.
Answer:

Coefficient of permeability
Question:

The ratio of the effective active

pressure on the vertical plane to the
vertical effective overburden
pressure.
Answer:

Coefficient of Rankine’s active pressure

Question:

The ratio of the effective passive

pressure on the vertical plane to the
vertical effective overburden
pressure.
Answer:

Coefficient of Rankine’s passive pressure

Question:

Shear strength of a soil when

tested with no lateral load applied
to the specimen.
Answer:

Cohesion
Question:

Soil deposits that experience

significant decrease in volume
when exposed to water.
Answer:

Collapsible soils
Question:

Soils formed by movement of

soil from its original place by
gravity such as during
landslides.
Answer:

Colluvial soils
Question:

The densification of soil by

removal of air, which requires
mechanical energy.
Answer:

Compaction
Question:

It is the slope of the field consolidation

line. It is an index used for calculation of
field settlement caused by consolidation
of soil.
Answer:

Compression index
Question:

Refers to the texture and firmness

of a soil and is often directly
related to the strength.
Answer:

Consistency
Question:
A tri-axial test similar to the consolidated
undrained test except that the specimen is
allowed to drain as the axial load is applied
so that high excess pore pressures do not
develop. Because the permeability of clayey
soils is low, the axial load must be added
very slowly during consolidated drained test
so that excess pore pressure can be
dissipated.
Answer:

Consolidated drained test

Question:
A tri-axial test which is performed by placing
the specimen in the chamber and
introducing lateral pressure. The sample is
then allowed to consolidate under the lateral
pressure by leaving the drain lines open.
The drain lines are then closed and axial
stress is increased without allowing further
drainage.
Answer:

Consolidated undrained test

Question:

A time dependent settlement of soils

resulting from the expulsion of water from
the soil pores. Any volume decrease of a
soil mass.
Answer:

Consolidation
Question:

Two standard laboratory tests

used to determine the
hydraulic conductivity of soil.
Answer:

Constant head test and the falling head test

Question:

A stress state reached in a soil

when continuous shearing occurs
at constant shear stress and
constant volume.
Answer:

Critical state
Question:

The void ratio that exists prior to a

shearing process in which the net
volume change at failure is zero.
Answer:

Critical void ratio

Question:

Another term for tri-axial test.

Answer:

Cylindrical compression test

Question:

Average particle diameter of

soil.
Answer:

D50
Question:

The constant of proportionality, a factor

that indicates if the volume of flow is to
be great or small, relates to the ease or
difficulty with which the water moves
through the soil.
Answer:

Darcy’s coefficient of permeability

Question:
The quantity of water flowing through the soil
in a given period was proportional to the soil
area normal to the direction of flow and the
difference in water levels indicated in the
piezometers, and inversely proportional to
the length of soil between piezometers
through which flow took place.
Answer:

Darcy’s Law
Question:

Foundation that have a depth of

embedment to width ratio is
greater than four(4).
Answer:

Deep foundation
Question:

The ratio of the volume of

water to the volume of voids.
Answer:

Degree of saturation
Question:

The ratio of the unconfined compression

strength in an undisturbed state to that in
a remolded state.
Answer:

Degree of sensitivity
Question:
A test (also known as water mobility or
shaking test) consists of placing a part of
moist soil in the palm of the hand and then
shaking the hand. If a shiny, moist surface
appears on the soil after shaking it in the
open hand and then becomes dull and dry
when the pat is squeezed by closing the
hand a non plastic soil (silt) is indicated.
Answer:

Dilatancy test
Question:

Is defined as the ratio of the

difference between liquid limit and the
natural water content to the plasticity
index of a soil.
Answer:

Consistency index
Question:

A measure of the change in

volume of soil when it is
distorted by shearing.
Answer:

Dilation
Question:

The pressure acting between

a footing’s base and the soil
below.
Answer:

Contact pressure
Question:

A shear test where in the shear box that

contains the soil specimen is generally
kept inside a container that can be filled
with water to saturate the specimen.
Answer:

Direct shear test

Question:

A shear test made on saturated soil

specimen by keeping the rate of loading
slowly enough so that the excess pore
water pressure generated in the soil is
completely dissipated by drainage.
Answer:

Drain direct shear test

Question:

The weight per unit volume of

soil, excluding water.
Answer:

Dry unit weight

Question:
French scientist who used the principles of
calculus for maxima-minima to determine the true
position of the sliding surface in soil behind a
retaining wall.
Answer:

Charles Coulomb
Question:

A technique used for the densification

of granular soil deposits which
consists primarily of dropping a heavy
weight repeatedly on the ground at
regular intervals.
Answer:

Dynamic compaction
Question:

Refers to the lateral pressure

caused by earth that is prevented
from lateral movement by an
unyielding wall.
Answer:

Earth pressure at rest

Question:

Is a measure of the shear

strength of soil.
Answer:

Effective friction angle

Question:

The average particle diameter of

the soil at 10 percentile, that is
10% of the particles are smaller
than this size.
Answer:

Effective particle size (D10)

Question:

A parameter of a soil which

indicates the diameter in the
particle size distribution curve
corresponding to 10% finer.
Answer:

Effective size
Question:

The weight of soil solids in a

submerged soil per unit
volume.
Answer:

Effective unit weight

Question:

It is the depth below the

ground surface where the
base of the foundation rests.
Answer:

Embedment depth
Question:

The longest vertical path that

a water particle will take to the
drainage surface.
Answer:

Drainage path
Question:

It is one that transfers almost all

the structural load to the soil at
the bottom end of the pile.
Answer:

End bearing
Or Point bearing pile
Question:

A pile that is driven until it rests on a

hard, impenetrable layer of soil or rock,
the load of the structure is transmitted
primarily axially through the pile to the
impenetrable layer.
Answer:

End-bearing pile
Question:

It is a line representing
constant head.
Answer:

Equipotential line
Question:

It is the ratio of the ultimate net

bearing capacity to the allowable
bearing capacity or to the applied
maximum vertical stress.
Answer:

Factor of safety
Or Safety factor
Question:

Types of soil which have at

least 50% passing the #200
sieve.
Answer:

Fine grained soils

Question:

Index is measured as the

slope of flow curve.
Answer:

Flow index
Question:

It is the flow path of a particle

of water.
Answer:

Flow line
Question:

It is a graphical representation
of a flow field.
Answer:

Flow net
Question:

It is a foundation consisting of a small

slab for transmitting the structural load to
the underlying soil.
Answer:

Footing
Question:

It is a structure that transmits

loads to the underlying soils.
Answer:

Foundation
Question:

A pile carrying the load of

structure primarily by skin friction
or adhesion between the surface
of the pile and adjacent soil.
Answer:

Friction pile
Question:

The vertical expansion of soil

caused by freezing water which
cause the soil mass to move
upward.
Answer:

Frost heave
Question:

When the temperature in a soil mass

drops below water’s freezing point, water
in the voids freezes and therefore
expands, causing the soil mass to move
upward. The freezing water within causes
vertical expansion of soil.
Answer:

Frost heave
Question:

The shear produce by dense

sand and stiff clay.
Answer:

General shear
Question:

The subdiscipline of civil engineering that

involves natural materials found close to
the surface of the earth which includes
the application of the principles of soil
mechanics, and rock materials to the
design of foundations, retaining
structures and earth structures.
Answer:

Geotechnical engineering
Question:

Water under gravity in excess of

that required to fill the soil pores.
Answer:

Groundwater
Question:

To evaluate the quality of soil as a

highway sub grade material, one must
also incorporate a number which is
expressed in terms of the following
parameters, the percentage passing
through the no. 200 sieve, the liquid limit
and plasticity index.
Answer:

Group index
Question:

This refers to volumetric weight,

3
usually expressed as kN/m or pound
per cu.ft. – of a soil in the undisturbed
condition or in a compacted fill.
Answer:

In place density
Question:

A soil property which indicates

the ease with which water will
flow through the soil.
Answer:

Permeability
Question:

The shear produce by

loose sand and soft clay.
Answer:

Local shear
Question:

Another term for coefficient

of permeability.
Answer:

Hydraulic conductivity
Question:

Resultant from the cooling and

hardening of molten rock cold
magma, which originated deep
with in the earth.
Answer:

Igneous rock
Question:

Soils formed by deposition in

the seas.
Answer:

Marine soils
Question:
Those properties that help define a soils
engineering qualities and that are used to
assist in determining accurate classification
or properties of soil that indicate the type
and condition of the soil and provide a
relationship to structural properties such as
strength and compressibility or tendency for
swelling and permeability.
Answer:

Index properties
Question:
It is a condition that can occur when
saturated cohesionless sand deposits exist
in a relatively loose condition. It usually
occur where serious ground settlement can
occur in areas underlain by saturated sand
in a loose condition, such deposits can loose
much of their shear strength due to
vibrations or seismic shocks.
Answer:

Liquefaction
Question:

The amount of water which must

be added to change a soil from its
plastic limit to its liquid limit is an
indication of this of the soil.
Answer:

Plasticity
Question:

Is defined as the ratio of its unconfined

compression strength in the natural or
undisturbed state to that in the remolded
state, without and change In the water
content.
Answer:

Sensitivity
Question:

One of the methods of the

mechanical analysis in
determining the size range of
particles smaller than 0.075 mm
in diameter.
Answer:

Hydrometer Analysis
Question:

The ratio of over consolidation

pressure to present overburden
pressure.
Answer:

Over Consolidation Ratio

Question:

It is the determination of the size

range of particles present in a
soil, expressed as a percentage
of the total dry weight.
Answer:

Mechanical Analysis
Question:

Refers to the weight or force that

acts at the point, or on the
surfaces, where the soil particles
are in contact.
Answer:

Inter granular weight

Question:

The ratio of volume of voids to

the total volume.
Answer:

Porosity
Question:

A device use to measure the

specific gravity.
Answer:

Pycnometer
Question:

The change in volume of a fined-grained

soil caused by the adjustment of the soil
fabric(internal structure) after primary
consolidation has been completed.
Answer:

Secondary compression
Question:

The study of water

movements across the earth.
Answer:

Hydrology
Question:
In the construction of highway
embankments, earth dams, loose soils must
be compacted to increase their unit weights,
and increase the bearing capacity of
foundation constructed over them. Vibroflot
devices are also used for compacting
granular soil deposits to a considerable
depth.
Answer:

Vibroflotation
Question:

The measure of how easily water

flows through the soil and it
decreases with the increase of
moisture content.
Answer:

Hydraulic Conductivity
Question:

The change in volume of a fined-grained

soil caused by the expulsion of water
from the voids and the transfer of load
from the excess pore water pressure to
the soil particles.
Answer:

Primary consolidation
Question:

A type of settlement which is caused

by the elastic deformation of dry soil
and of moist and saturated soils
without any change in moisture
content.
Answer:

Immediate settlement
Question:

Is the ratio of difference between the

natural water content and the plastic limit
to the plasticity index.
Answer:

Liquidity index
Question:
The earth pressure exerted on the wall
which causes the wall to move towards the
soil. The earth surface will tend to be raised,
and lateral pressure on the wall will be
increased. If the wall moves far enough
towards the soil, shear failure of the soil will
occur, and a sliding soil wedge will tend to
move backward and upward.
Answer:

Passive earth pressure

Question:

It is one in which the ratio of the

embedment depth to the minimum plan
dimension, which is usually the width, is
𝐷𝑓
≤ 2.5
𝐵
Answer:

Shallow foudation
Question:

The ratio of the diameter

corresponding to 60% finer to the
effective size of the soil.
Answer:

Uniformity coefficient
Question:

The ratio of the weight of water to

the weight of solids in a given
volume of soil.
Answer:

Water content
Question:

Ratio of plasticity index to the

flow index.
Answer:

Toughness index
Question:
A tri-axial test carried out by placing the
specimen in the chamber and introducing
lateral (confining) pressure without allowing
the specimen to consolidate (drain) under
the lateral pressure. An axial load is then
applied without allowing drainage of the
sample. This test can be run quickly
because the specimen is not required to
consolidate under the lateral pressure or
drain during application of the axial load.
Answer:

Unconsolidated undrained test

Question:
A type of test to determine the shear
strength properties of soil and soil bearing
capacity which is done by using a 50 mm
split spoon sampler which is used in
conjunction with a 64 kg drive weight. This
test gives the number of blows N to drive the
sampler 0.3 m. into undisturbed soil by using
a 64 kg weight falling at a height of 0.76 m.
Answer:

Standard penetration test

Question:

The application of the

principles of soil mechanics to
practical problems.
Answer:

Soils Engineering
Question:

Two laboratory test to

measure the grain size
distribution of soil.
Answer:

Hydrometer analysis
And Sieve analysis
Question:

Another term for specific

permeability.
Answer:

Intrinsic permeability
Question:

The max. dry unit weight that a

soil can attain in using a specified
means of compaction.
Answer:

Max. dry unit weight

Question:

The moisture content at the

point of transition from plastic
to liquid state.
Answer:

Liquid Limit
Question:

The water content required to

allow a soil to attain its max.
dry unit weight.
Answer:

Optimum water content

Question:

Skin friction that causes down

drag.
Answer:

Negative skin friction

Question:

The moisture content in percent,

at which the soil crumbles, when
rolled into threads of 3.2 mm in
diam.
Answer:

Plastic limit
Question:

The laboratory test generally

used to obtain the maximum dry
unit weight of compaction and the
optimum moisture content.
Answer:

Proctor compaction
Question:

It is the stress (similar to frictional

stress in pipes) imposed on a soil
as water flows through it.
Answer:

Seepage stress
Question:

Is defined as the difference between the

plastic and shrinkage limits of a soil; in
other words, it is the range of water
content within which a soil is in a semi-
solid state of consistency.
Answer:

Shrinkage index
Question:

It is the behavior of a soil as a

viscous fluid when seepage
reduces the effective stress to
zero.
Answer:

Static liquefaction
Question:

It is the phenomenon of strength loss –

strength gain with no changes in volume
or water content. It is a process of
softening caused by remolding followed
by a time-dependent return to the original
harder state.
Answer:

Thixotropy
Question:

The ratio of the volume of

voids to the volume of solids.
Answer:

Void ratio
Question:

The constant-head permeability

apparatus use for testing the coarse-
grained soils, such as sands, where
the volume of flow through the soil will
be relatively large.
Answer:

Permeameter
Question:

The maximum effective past

pressure on the soil.
Answer:

Pre consolidation pressure

Question:

The weight of saturated soil

per unit volume.
Answer:

Saturated unit weight

Question:

The branch of science that deals

with the study of physical
properties of soil and the behavior
of soil masses subjected to
various types of forces.
Answer:

Soil Mechanics
Question:

A type of soil where the fine

fractions of the soil have a
plasticity index of 10 or less.
Answer:

Silty
Question:

Develop the basic principles

covering the bearing capacity
theory.
Answer:

Terzaghi and Peck

Question:

Three different methods of

field density test.
Answer:

Sand Cone Method, Rubber Balloon Method,

and Nuclear Method
Question:

Foundations that have a depth of

embedment to width ratio is less
than four.
Answer:

Shallow foundation
Question:

A type of settlement which is observed in

saturated cohesive soils and is the result
of the plastic adjustment of soil fabric.
Answer:

Secondary consolidation settlement

Question:

It is the maximum pressure

that the soil can support.
Answer:

Ultimate bearing capacity

Question:

The grain size distribution of the

back fill material is an important
factor that controls the rate of
densification and this rating of
backfill is defined by a quantity.
Answer:

Suitability number
Question:

Past maximum effective stress of

the maximum vertical effective
stress that a soil was subjected to
in the past.
Answer:

Pre consolidation stress

Question:

The max. internal resistance

to applied shearing forces.
Answer:

Shear strength of a soil

Question:

Is defined as the ratio of the volume

change expressed as per cent of the
dry volume to the corresponding
change in moisture content from the
initial value to the shrinkage limit.
Answer:

Shrinkage ratio
Question:

Is the ratio of the unit weight

of a given material to the unit
weight of water.
Answer:

Specific gravity
Question:

Plasticity index defines the range

of water content for which the soil
behaves like a plastic material,
but the liquidity index gives a
measure.
Answer:

Strength
Question:

It is the maximum pressure

that the soil can support
above its current overburden
pressure.
Answer:

Ultimate net bearing capacity

Question:

A measure of uniformity and is generally

encountered in geologic works and
𝐷75
expressed as: 𝑆𝑜 =
𝐷25
Answer:

Sorting coefficient
Question:

A wall footing having length to

width ratio is more than 5.
Answer:

Strip footing
Question:

A type of settlement which is the result of

a volume change in saturated cohesive
soils because of expulsion of the water
that occupies the void spaces.
Answer:

Primary consolidation settlement

Question:

The in situ void ratio divided by

the void ratio when the soil is in
its densest and its loosest
condition.
Answer:

Relative density
Question:

The ratio of primary to total

compression.
Answer:

Primary compression ratio

Question:

The moisture content at which the

maximum dry unit weight is
attained.
Answer:

Optimum moisture content

Question:

The average slope of the

unloading/reloading curves in a
plot of the logarithm of vertical
effective stress versus void ratio.
Answer:

Recompression index
Question:

Materials that are derive from

the weathering of rocks.
Answer:

Soils
Question:

The weight of soil per unit

volume.
Answer:

Unit weight
Question:

A relatively simple means of soil

stabilization that is carried out by
adding soil material is usually
mechanically mixed with the natural
soil and worked together, after which
the mixture is compacted.
Answer:

Mechanical stabilization
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMINATIONS
Question #1:
CE Board May 2012
If we increase the compaction energy, what will happen
to the max. dry density (MDD)?
a) The dry unit weight of soil will increase.
b) The dry unit weight of soil will decrease.
c) The dry unit weight of soil will not change.
d) none of the above
Answer:

a) The dry unit weight of soil will increase.

Question #2:
CE Board May 2012
The ground water table is located at a certain depth below
the ground surface. This will cause an upward seepage.
What will be the resulting effective stress at a certain point
below the ground water table due to the upward seepage.
a) This will cause the decrease of the effective stress
at that point.
b) This will cause the increase of the effective stress at
that point.
c) This will cause the effective stress equal to zero.
d) none of the above
Answer:

a) This will cause the decrease of the

effective stress at that point.
Question #3:
Ratio of the equivalent diameter of a bulky particle to the
length of the particle is called:
a) porosity
b) angularity
c) celerity
d) sphericity
Answer:

d) sphericity
Question #4:
A method of mechanical analysis in determining the size
range of particles larger than 0.075 mm in diameter is
called:
a) hydrometer analysis
b) sieve analysis
c) sorting analysis
d) fall cone method of analysis
Answer:

b) Sieve analysis
Question #5:
A method of mechanical analysis in determining the size
range of particles smaller than 0.075 mm in diameter is
called:
a) sorting analysis
b) sieve analysis
c) hydrometer analysis
d) fall cone method of analysis
Answer:

c) Hydrometer analysis
Question #6:
The diameter in the particle-size distribution curve
corresponding to 10% finer is called:
a) Effective size
b) Uniformity coefficient
c) Coefficient of gradation
d) Sorting coefficient
Answer:

a) Effective size
Question #7:
The ratio of the diameter corresponding to 60% finer to
the effective size is called:
a) coefficient of gradation
b) sorting coefficient
c) uniformity coefficient
d) coefficient of restitution
Answer:

c) Uniformity coefficient
Question #8:
The ratio of the square of the diameter corresponding to
30% finer to the product of the effective size and
diameter corresponding to 60% finer is called:
a) coefficient of gradation
b) sorting coefficient
c) coefficient of gradation
d) uniformity coefficient
Answer:

a) Coefficient of gradation
Question #9:
Sorting coefficient is equal to:

𝑫𝟔𝟎 𝑫𝟐 𝟑𝟎
a) c)
𝑫𝟑𝟎 𝑫𝟏𝟎 𝑫𝟔𝟎 𝑫𝟏𝟎

𝑫𝟑𝟎 𝑫𝟕𝟓
b) d)
𝑫𝟔𝟎 𝑫𝟐𝟓
Answer:

𝐷75
d)
𝐷25
Question #10:
The ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume:
a) porosity
b) void ratio
c) degree of saturation
d) moisture content
Answer:

a) porosity
Question #11:
The weight of soil per unit volume:
a) saturated unit weight
b) unit weight
c) effective unit weight
d) density of soil
Answer:

b) Unit weight
Question #12:
The ratio of the weight of water to the weight of solids in
a given volume of soil is called:
a) water content
b) void ratio
c) porosity
d) degree of saturation
Answer:

a) Water content
Question #13:
Ratio of the weight of soil solids to the total volume is
called:
a) effective unit weight
b) moist unit weight
c) dry unit weight
d) saturated unit weight
Answer:

c) Dry unit weight

Question #14:
The ratio of the total mass of soil sample to the total
volume of soil is called:
a) density of soil
b) unit weight of soil
c) dry unit weight of soil
d) dry density of soil
Answer:

a) Density of soil
Question #15:
The ratio of the mass of soil solids to the total volume of
soil:
a) dry unit weight of soil
b) saturated unit weight of soil
c) dry density of soil
d) moist unit weight of soil
Answer:

c) Dry density of soil

Question #16:
The ratio of the volume of water to the volume of voids is
called:
a) Degree of saturation
b) void ratio
c) porosity
d) moisture content
Answer:

a) Degree of saturation
Question #17:
The ratio of the volume of voids to the volume of solids:
a) moisture content
b) porosity
c) degree of saturation
d) void ratio
Answer:

d) Void ratio
Question #18:
Dry unit weight is expressed as:

(𝑮𝒔 −𝟏)𝜸𝒘 𝟏+𝝎

a) 𝜸𝒅 = c) 𝜸𝒅 = 𝜸
𝟏+𝒆

(𝟏+𝝎)𝑮𝒔 𝜸𝒘 𝑮 𝒔 𝜸𝒘
b) 𝜸𝒅 = d) 𝜸𝒅 =
𝟏+𝒆 𝟏+𝒆
Answer:

𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤
d) 𝛾𝑑 =
1+𝑒
Question #19:
Saturated unit weight of soil is expressed as:
𝑮𝒔 𝜸𝒘 (𝑮𝒔 +𝒆)𝜸𝒘
a) 𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 = 𝟏+𝝎
c) 𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 = 𝟏+𝒆

𝑮𝒔 (𝟏+𝝎)𝜸𝒘 𝑮𝒔 (𝟏+𝒆)𝜸𝒘
b) 𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 = d) 𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 =
𝟏+𝒆 𝟏+𝝎
Answer:

(𝐺𝑠 +𝑒)𝛾𝑤
c) 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 =
1+𝑒
Question #20:
Moisture content of a saturated soil is expressed as:
(𝟏−𝒏)𝑮𝒔 𝑮𝒔 𝒆
a) 𝝎 = c) 𝝎 = 𝑺
𝒏

𝒏 𝑾𝒔
b) 𝝎 = d) 𝝎 =
(𝟏−𝒏)𝑮𝒔 𝑾𝒘
Answer:

𝑛
b) 𝜔 =
(1−𝑛)𝐺𝑠
Question #21:
The moisture content, in percent, at which the transition
from solid to semi-solid takes place is defined as:
a) shrinkage limit
b) plastic limit
c) liquid limit
d) liquidity index
Answer:

a) Shrinkage limit
Question #22:
The moisture content at the point of transition from semi-
solid to plastic state is defined as:
a) plasticity index
b) shrinkage limit
c) liquid limit
d) plastic limit
Answer:

d) Plastic limit
Question #23:
The moisture content from plastic to liquid state is
defined as:
a) plastic limit
b) shrinkage limit
c) liquid limit
d) Atterberg’s limit
Answer:

c) Liquid limit
Question #24:
A method of determining liquid limit as the moisture
content cone of apex angle 30 and weight of 0.78 N will
penetrate a distance d = 20 mm in 5 seconds when
allowed to drop from a position of point contact with the
soil surface is called:
a) flow index method
b) one point method
c) Fall cone method
d) none of the above
Answer:

c) Fall cone method

Question #25:
Difference between the liquid limit and the plastic limit of
a soil is called:
a) plasticity index
b) liquidity index
c) flow index
d) shrinkage limit
Answer:

a) Plasticity index
Question #26:
The moisture content, in percent, at which the volume of
soil mass ceases to change is defined as:
a) liquid limit
b) plastic limit
c) shrinkage limit
d) plasticity index
Answer:

c) Shrinkage limit
Question #27:
The difference between the initial moisture content when
the soil is placed in the shrinkage limit dish and the
change in moisture content, that is between the initial
moisture content and the moisture content at the
shrinkage limit is called:
a) plastic limit
b) shrinkage limit
c) plasticity index
d) liquid limit
Answer:

b) Shrinkage limit
Question #28:
The ratio of the volume change of soil as a percentage of
the dry volume to the corresponding change in moisture
content is called:
a) liquidity index
b) shrinkage ratio
c) plasticity index
d) consistency index
Answer:

b) Shrinkage ratio
Question #29:
The relative consistency of a cohesive soil in the natural
state can be defined by a ratio called:
a) liquidity index
b) plasticity index
c) flow index
d) shrinkage ratio
Answer:

a) Liquidity index
Question #30:
The ratio of the plasticity index to the percentage of clay
size fraction by weight is called:
a) Activity
b) shrinkage ratio
c) liquidity index
d) flow index
Answer:

a) Activity
Question #31:
The geometric arrangement of soil particles with respect
to one another is called:
a) Honeycombed structure
b) soil structure
c) dispense structure
d) flocculent structures
Answer:

b) Soil structure
Question #32:
What is the effect of compaction of soil:
a) Decreases the amount of settlement of
structures.
b) Increases the amount of settlement of structures
c) Maintains the settlement of the structures.
d) Decreases the stability of slopes of
embankment.
Answer:

a) Decreases the amount of settlement of

structures.
Question #33:
The densification of soil by removal of air, which requires
mechanical energy is called:
a) densification
b) compaction
c) consolidation
d) liquefaction
Answer:

b) compaction
Question #34:
When the moisture content is gradually increased and
the same compactive effort is used for compaction:
a) It will increase the weight of the soil solids in a
unit volume.
b) It will decrease the weight of the soil solids in a
unit volume.
c) It does not have any change in the weight of the
soil solid in a unit volume.
d) none of the above
Answer:

a) It will increase the weight of the soil solids

in a unit volume.
Question #35:
The moisture content at which the maximum dry unit
weight is attained is generally referred to as:
a) liquid limit
b) shrinkage limit
c) plastic limit
d)optimum moisture content
Answer:

d) Optimum moisture content

Question #36:
The laboratory test generally used to obtained the max.
dry unit weight of campaction and the optimum moisture
content is called:
a)proctor compact test
b) sand cone method
c) vibroflotation
d)rubber balloon method
Answer:

a) Proctor compact test

Question #37:
When the moisture content increases:
a) the hydraulic conductivity will decrease
b) the hydraulic conductivity will increase
c) the hydraulic conductivity will not be affected
d) none of the above
Answer:

a) the hydraulic conductivity will decrease

Question #38:
The desirable backfill materials are those with:
a) bigger suitability number
b) smaller suitability number
c) suitability number has no effect
d) none of the above
Answer:

b) smaller suitability number

Question #39:
A measure of how easily water flows through the soil is
called:
a) hydraulic conductivity
b) permeability
c) flow nets
d) seepage
Answer:

a) Hydraulic conductivity
Question #40:
The sum of the vertical components of the force
developed at the points of contact of the solid particles
per unit cross-sectional area of the soil mass is called:
a) Total stress
b) Uplift
c) Effective stress
d) Boiling
Answer:

c) Effective stress
Question #41:
Settlement caused by elastic deformation of dry soil and
of moist, and saturated soils without any change in the
moisture content is called:
a) primary consolidation settlement
b) secondary consolidation settlement
c) immediate settlement
d) pre consolidation settlement
Answer:

c) Immediate settlement
Question #42:
A settlement caused by the volume change in saturation
cohesive soils because of expulsion of water that
occupies the void spaces:
a) elastic settlement
b) secondary consolidation settlement
c) immediate settlement
d) primary consolidation settlement
Answer:

d) Primary consolidation settlement

Question #43:
A type of clay whose present effective overburden
pressure is the maximum pressure that the soil was
subjected to in the part:
a) normally consolidated
b) over consolidated
c) Alluvial soil
d) silt
Answer:

a) Normally consolidated
Question #44:
When dried, a clay soil possesses very high strength. A silt
soil possesses little or no plasticity and when dried has little
strength. If a small sample of moist silt is shaken easily by
rapidly in the palm of the hand, water will appear on the
surface of the sample but disappear when shaking stops.
This is referred to as :
a) liquefaction
b) dilatancy
c) permeability
d) capillarity
Answer:

d) dilatancy
Question #45:
Serious ground settlement can also occur in areas
underlain by saturated sand in a loose condition, such
deposits can loose much of their shear strength when
significant vibration or seismic shock occurs. The actual
occurrence is termed as:
a) consolidation
b) dilatancy
c) liquefaction
d) thixotropy
Answer:

c) liquefaction
Question #46:
A process of softening caused by remolding followed by a
time dependent return to the original harder state. This
phenomenon of strength loss, strength gain, with no
changes in volume or water content is termed as:
a) thixotropy
b) dilatancy
c) liquefaction
d) consolidation
Answer:

a) thixotropy
Question #47:
Those properties of a soil that indicate the type and
condition of the soil and provide a relationship to
structural properties, such as the strength and
compressibility or tendency for swelling and permeability
are called:
a) consistency
b) sensitivity
c) index properties
d) plasticity
Answer:

c) Index properties
Question #48:
The ratio of the unconfined compressive strength of
undisturbed clay to the unconfined compressive strength
of a remolded clay is called:
a) sensitivity
b) consistency
c) dilatancy
d) thixotropy
Answer:

a) sensitivity
Question #49:
The texture and firmness of a soil and is often directly
related to the strength which is conventionally described
as soft, medium stiff or hard is termed as:
a) plasticity
b) consistency
c) dilatancy
d) elasticity
Answer:

b) consistency
Question #50:
The father of modern soil mechanics:
a) Terzaghi
b) Peck
c) Casagrande
d) Atterberg
Answer:

a) Terzaghi
Question #51:
Developed the liquid limit device which consists essentially of
a cup that is raised and dropped 10 mm by a manually
rotated handle. In performing a liquid test, a standard groove
is cut in a remolded soil sample in the cup using a standard
grooving tool. The liquid limit is that water content at which
the standard groove will close a distance of 12.7 mm along
the bottom of the groove at exactly 25 blows (drops) of the
cup.:
a) Peck
b) Atterberg
c) Terzhagi
d) Casagrande
Answer:

d) Casagrande
Question #52:
A method of soil classification system where classifications
are on the basis of coarse and fine-grained soils and retain
the four common groupings of soil such as gravel, sand, silt
and clay. The symbols are easily associated with the
classification, being simply the first letter of the soil type
except for silt, which has the designation M. This includes the
use of a plasticity chart for aiding the classification of fine-
grained soils:
a) USCS
b) AASHTO
c) ASTM
d) USDA
Answer:

a) USCS
Question #53:
A method of soil classification system which classifies soil
material into 8 groups, with assignment to a particular group
based on determination of particle size distribution, liquid
limit and plasticity index and presence of organic material. A
plasticity chart aids identification of the fine-grain soil faction.
Comparisons of soils within the same order are made from a
group index value. This method is known as:
a) AASHTO
b) USCS
c) ASTM
d) USDA
Answer:

a) AASHTO
Question #54:
Settlement resulting from the compressibility of soil varies
depending on whether a soil is cohesionless or cohesive.
The rate of settlement of the structures supported by
cohesionless soils (such as sand and gravel).
a) settlement will occur slowly
b) there will be no settlement
c) settlement will occur faster
d) none of the above
Answer:

c) Settlement will occur faster

Question #55:
When soil is compressed, its volume is decreased. This
decrease in volume result to:
a) reduction in void ratio
b) increase in void ratio
c) maintain its void ratio
d) none of the above
Answer:

a) Reduction in void ratio

Question #56:
If saturated soil is subjected to the weight of the building
and water is subsequently squeezed out or otherwise
lost, resulting soil compression can cause undue building
settlement. If water is added to the soil, soil expansion
may occur causing:
a) additional settlement
b) building uplift
c) maintains the amount of settlement
d) none of the above
Answer:

b) Building uplift
Question #57:
For a soil in its densest condition, the void ratio is the
lowest. What would be the effect of the shear strength of
the soil?
a) It exhibits the lowest shear strength.
b) It exhibits the highest shear strength.
c) It causes failure to the foundation.
d) none of the above
Answer:

b) It exhibits the highest shear strength.

Question #58:
The shear strength for a non cohesive soil is:
a) lesser than cohesive soil
b) bigger than cohesive soil
c) same as cohesive soil
d) none of the above
Answer:

a) Lesser than cohesive soil

Question #59:
A kind of test to determine the relative density and
consistency of soil is called:
a) standard proctor compaction test
b) permeability test
c) Atterbergs limit
d) standard penetration test
Answer:

d) Standard penetration test

Question #60:
A type of test to determine the soils optimum moisture
content and maximum dry unit weight.
a) Standard penetration test
b) Permeability test
c) Standard Proctor Compaction Test
d) Liquid limit test
Answer:

c) Standard Proctor Compaction Test

Question #61:
Method used to improve the properties of a natural soil
by pre loading the soil or by adding other special soil,
chemical material or some kind of fabric materials to the
soil.
a) soil stabilization
b) standard proctor test
c) liquid limit test
d) standard penetration test
Answer:

a) Soil stabilization
Question #62:
A family of manufactured materials (sheet or net like)
products made of plastics or fiberglass to stabilized and
reinforce soil masses, such as erosion control of earths
slope surface, reinforcing backfill of retaining walls,
reinforcing slopes or embankment, slope protection of
open channels and drainage control.
a) Gabion
b) Synthetic fibers
c) Geotechnical insulation
d) Geosynthetics
Answer:

d) Geosynthetics
Question #63:
The rise of water or another liquid in a small diameter
tube inserted into the water, the rise being caused by
both cohesion of the waters molecules and adhesion of
the water to the tubes wall:
a) capillary
b) pressure head
c) surface tension
d) equipotential drops
Answer:

a) capillary
Question #64:
Lines connecting points on different flow lines having
equal total energy heads in a flow nets is called:
a) flow line
b) Equipotential lines
c) straight line
d) seepage line
Answer:

b) Equipotential lines
Question #65:
Water expands when it is cooled and freezes. When the
temperature in a soil mass drops below water’s freezing
point, water in the voids freezes and therefore expands,
causing the soil mass to move upward. This vertical
expansion of soil caused by freezing water within is
known as:
a) Frost uplift
b) surface tension
c) Frost heave
d) Frozen pressure
Answer:

c) Frost heave
Question #66:
In a flow net, water seeps through the permeable stratum
beneath the foundation from the upstream side to the
downstream side. The solid lines in the flow net is called:
a) equipotential lines
b) seepage line
c) Flow line
d) straight line
Answer:

c) Flow line
Question #67:
The slope of the field consolidation line in a laboratory
test results from the graph of the void ratio versus log of
pressure is called:
a) compression index
b) coefficient of compressibility
c) coefficient of consolidation
d) coefficient of secondary compression
Answer:

a) Compression index
Question #68:
A type of clay that has never been subjected to any loading
larger than the present effective overburden pressure (the
stress existing prior to application of the load). This is the
case whenever the height of soil above the clay formation
and therefore the weight of the soil above which causes the
pressure has been more or less constant through time.
a) Over consolidated clay
b) Normally consolidated clay
c) Pre consolidated clay
d) Silt
Answer:

b) Normally consolidated clay

Question #69:
A type of clay that has been subjected at sometime to a
loading greater than the present overburden pressure.
This occurs whenever the present height of soil above
the clay formation is less than it was at sometimes in the
past.
a) pre consolidated clay
b) normally consolidated clay
c) silt
d) over consolidated clay
Answer:

d) Over consolidated clay

Question #70:
A device used in the consolidation test for a soil.
a) Consolidometer
b) hydrometer
c) penetrometer
d) pycnometer
Answer:

a) Consolidometer
Question #71:
The ratio of over consolidation to present overburden
pressure:
a) Coefficient of consolidation
b) Net consolidation ratio
c) Over consolidation ratio
d) coefficient of secondary compression
Answer:

c) Over consolidation ratio

Question #72:
The gradual downward movement of a structure due to
compression of soil below the foundation:
a) settlement
b) liquefaction
c) creep
d) shear failure
Answer:

a) settlement
Question #73:
The ability of soil to allow water to flow through it.
a) permeability
b) osmosis
c) capillary
d) seepage
Answer:

a) permeability
Question #74:
The moisture content of a soil, at which a given amount
of compaction produces the highest value of dry density:
a) liquid limit
b) plastic limit
c) optimum moisture content
d) elastic limit
Answer:

c) Optimum moisture content

Question #75:
The weight of water expressed as a percentage of the
total dry weight of the soil:
a) void ratio
b) specific gravity
c) water-soil ratio
d) water content
Answer:

d) Water content
Question #76:
The water content corresponding to the limit between the
liquid and plastic states of consistency of soil.
a) liquid limit
b) plastic limit
c) shrinkage limit
d) proportional limit
Answer:

a) Liquid limit
Question #77:
The water content corresponding to the lowest water
content at which the soil becomes plastic.
a) plastic limit
b) liquid limit
c) shrinkage limit
d) elastic limit
Answer:

a) Plastic limit
Question #78:
Principal stress occur on those planes:
a) where the shearing stress is minimum
b) where the shearing stress is zero
c) where the shearing stress is maximum
d) where the angle of friction is 45°
Answer:

b) Where the shearing stress is zero

Question #79:
A measure of size of mineral particles of soils or rock, a
physical characteristics of the particles of soil which
affect its mechanical properties used in classification and
identification of soil.
a) USCS method
b) sieve analysis
c) geotechnical analysis
d) hydrometer analysis
Answer:

b) Sieve analysis
Question #80:
Void ratio is defined as:
a) Volume of voids divided by the total volume.
b) Volume of voids divided by the volume of water.
c) Volume of voids divided by volume of the solids.
d) Volume of voids divided by degree of saturation.
Answer:

c) Volume of voids divided by volume of the

solids.
Question #81:
Porosity of a soil is defined as:
a) Volume of voids divided by the volume of solids.
b) Volume of voids divided by the volume of water.
c) Volume of voids multiplied by specific gravity of
soil.
d) Volume of voids divided by the total volume.
Answer:

d) Volume of voids divided by the total

volume.
Question #82:
An instrument used to measure the density of soil.
a) densometer
b) penometer
c) dillimeter
d) pycnometer
Answer:

a) densometer
Question #83:
In the field, the cohesive soil in place can be penetrated
by the thumb with moderate effort. The consistency and
stiffness of the soil is:
a) medium
b) stiff
c) hard
d) soft
Answer:

a) medium
Question #84:
The term applied to fine fractions of the soil having a
plasticity index of 10 or less.
a) clayey
b) silty
c) peat
d) sandy
Answer:

b) silty
Question #85:
The term applied to fine fractions of the soil having a
plasticity index of 11 or more.
a) silty
b) clayey
c) peat
d) sandy
Answer:

b) clayey
Question #86:
The characteristics of the soil when it has a liquidity index
less than zero.
a) liquid
b) plastic
c) brittle soil
d) dense
Answer:

c) Brittle soil
Question #87:
What is the characteristic of soil when it has a liquidity
index of less than one:
a) brittle solid
b) liquid
c) dense
d) plastic
Answer:

d) plastic
Question #88:
What is the characteristic of soil when it has a liquidity
index of greater than one.
a) dense
b) plastic
c) brittle solid
d) liquid
Answer:

d) liquid
Question #89:
The ratio of the plasticity index to the percentage of clay
size fraction by weight is called:
a) Activity
b) sensitivity
c) plasticity
d) elasticity
Answer:

a) activity
Question #90:
What is the soil designation using AASHTO method of
soil classification when the P.I. ˂ LL – 30.
a) A-7-5
b) A-7-6
c) A-7
d) A-7-7
Answer:

a) A-7-5
Question #91:
What is the soil designation using AASHTO method of
soil classification when the P.I. ˃ LL – 30.
a) A-7-6
b) A-7-5
c) A-7-7
d) A-7
Answer:

a) A-7-6
Question #92:
To evaluate the quality of soil as a highway subgrade,
material, the soil is classified as A-5-7 using AASHTO
method. We should incorporate a number which is written
in parenthesis after the group designation. This number
is called:
a) Group index
b) Liquidity index
c) Plasticity index
d) Consistency index
Answer:

a) Group index
Question #93:
The following values were tabulated from a graph using
USCS method of soil classification. 𝐷10 = 0.425, 𝐷25 =
0.90, 𝐷60 = 1.7, 𝐷30 = 0.96, 𝐷75 = 2.6. What is the value of
the sorting coefficient?
a) 1.2
b) 1.7
c) 0.42
d) 0.8
Answer:

b) 1.7
Question #94:
The following values were tabulated from a graph using
USCS method of soil classification. 𝐷10 = 0.425, 𝐷25 =
0.90, 𝐷60 = 1.7, 𝐷30 = 0.96, 𝐷75 = 2.6. What is the value of
the uniformity coefficient?
a) 3.2
b) 4.0
c) 2.4
d) 5.0
Answer:

b) 4.0
Question #95:
The following values were tabulated from a graph using
USCS method of soil classification. 𝐷10 = 0.425, 𝐷25 =
0.90, 𝐷30 = 0.96, 𝐷75 = 2.6, 𝐷60 = 1.6. What is the value of
the coefficient of gradation or curvature?
a) 3.125
b) 2.75
c) 1.28
d) 0.926
Answer:

c) 1.28
Question #96:
The percentage of moisture content at which the soil
does not undergo further volume change with lost of
moisture.
a) Plastic limit
b) Liquid limit
c) Shrinkage limit
d) Elastic limit
Answer:

c) Shrinkage limit
Question #97:
The ratio of the volume of water in the void spaces to the
volume of voids is called:
a) porosity
b) void ratio
c) moisture ratio
d) Degree of saturation
Answer:

d) Degree of saturation
Question #98:
Compaction of soil increase its density, and produce
some effects such as:
a) increase in shear strength of the soil
b) decrease in settlement of soil
c) decrease its permeability
d) All of these
Answer:

d) All of these
Question #99:
The weight per unit volume of any material including the
voids and moisture content as compared with dry density.
a) mass density
b) Unit weight
c) Bulk density
d) effective dry density
Answer:

c) Bulk density
Question #100:
It is the level to which underground water will rise in an
observation well, pits or other excavations into the earth
is called:
a) ground water table
b) lithosphere
c) crust
d) capillary rise
Answer:

a) Ground water table

Question #101:
The phenomenon in which water rises above the ground
water table against the pull of gravity but is in contact
with the water table as it source.
a) surface tension
b) Capillary rise
c) capillary moisture
d) pressure head
Answer:

b) Capillary rise
Question #102:
The strength gain in granular soils due to partial
saturation and the surface tension phenomenon is called:
a) adhesion
b) capillary rise
c) Apparent cohesion
d) surface tension
Answer:

c) Apparent cohesion
Question #103:
The theory that is based on the concept of a failure
wedge bounded by the wall face and by a failure surface
passing through the toe of the retaining wall is known as:
a) Coulomb’s theory
b) Terzaghi’s theory
c) Rankines theory
d) Peck’s theory
Answer:

a) Coulomb’s theory
Question #104:
This test is used to determine the relative resistance of
the subgrade materials and is the ratio of the resistance
to penetration developed by a subgrade soil to that
developed by specimen of standard crushed-rock base
materials.
a) California bearing ratio test
b) Plate bearing test
c) Stabilometer test
d) Tri-axial compression test
Answer:

a) California bearing ratio test

Question #105:
In the design of hydraulic structures or system, the study
concerned with the occurrence, position and movement
of water on and within the earth’s crust under natural
force is known as:
a) Hydrostatics
b) geology
c) Hydrodynamics
d) Hydrology
Answer:

d) Hydrology
Question #106:
Compaction of the subgrade of a road pavement is
important in order to:
a) minimize or prevent settlement of pavement
b) prevent expansion of soil
c) allow proper drainage
d) insure uniformity of subgrade
Answer:

a) minimize or prevent settlement of

pavement
Question #107:
The commonly used textural classification of soil that
takes into consideration both particle-size distribution and
Atterbergs limits. In this system the gravely and sandy
soils are separated.
a) AASHTO
b) ASTM
c) USCS
d) U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
Answer:

c) USCS
Question #108:
In sieve analysis, the percentage of the total weight of
soil passing through different sieves is referred to as:
a) sieve ratio
b) percent retained
c) weight ratio
d) percent finer
Answer:

d) Percent finer
Question #109:
The result of volume change in saturated soils due to
expulsion of a certain amount of water occupying the void
spaces. The slow volume reduction of a cohesive soil
and the applied loads in a foundation.
a) Consolidation settlement
b) immediate settlement
c) differential settlement
d) initial compression
Answer:

a) Consolidation settlement
Question #110:
The ratio between the grain diameter larger than 60% by
weight of the soil particle to that diameter larger than
10% by weight of the soil particles in a soil sample is
known as:
a) Uniformity coefficient
b) Coefficient of gradation
c) Coefficient of curvature
d) Sorting coefficient
Answer:

a) Uniformity coefficient
Question #111:
The most reliable method for determination of shear
strength parameters and is widely used for research and
conventional testing.
a) Vane shear test
b) Ballon shear test
c) Tri-axial test
d) Sand cone test
Answer:

c) Tri-axial test
Question #112:
The gradual increase in the effective stress in the clay
layer that will cause gradual settlement over a period of
time:
a) Sedimentation
b) Over consolidation ratio
c) Consolidation
d) Conduction
Answer:

c) Consolidation
Question #113:
The amount of water from rain, snow, etc., which flows
from a catchment area past a given point over a certain
period is called:
a) discharge
b) Run-off
c) Precipitation
d) Basin recharge
Answer:

b) Run-off
Question #114:
Method of soil classification based on natural
relationships, which consists of 12 major or basic
categories term “orders”.
a) Soil taxonomy
b) USCS
c) AASHTO
d) ASTM
Answer:

a) Soil taxonomy
Question #115:
The investigation of the composition of soils, their
classification, consolidation and strength, the flow of
water through them, and the active and passive earth
pressure in them is known as:
a) Geotechnical Engineering
b) Soil mechanics
c) Geotechnics
d) Soil taxonomy
Answer:

b) Soil mechanics
Question #116:
Ratio of the mass of water in a soil volume to the mass of
solids:
a) degree of saturation
b) void ratio
c) water content
d) porosity
Answer:

c) Water content
Question #117:
What categories of soil does gravel and sand belong to:
a) Coarse-grained soil
b) fine-grained soil
c) non-organic soil
d) thixotropic soil
Answer:

a) Coarse-grained soil
Question #118:
What categories of soil does silts and clay belong to:
a) Fine-grained soil
b) Coarse-grain soil
c) Thixotropic soil
d) non-organic soil
Answer:

a) Fine-grained soil
Question #119:
The process of softening caused by remolding, followed
by a time-dependent return to the original harder state is
known as:
a) Consistency
b) Dilatancy
c) Sensitivity
d) Thixotropy
Answer:

d) Thixotropy
Question #120:
When the liquidity index is less than one it indicates that
the water content of that soil is:
a) greater than the liquid limit
b) less than the plastic limit
c) hard soil
d) less than the liquid limit
Answer:

d) Less than the liquid limit

Question #121:
A soil having a very low value of liquidity index near zero
indicates that the water content of the soil is:
a) near the liquid limit
b) less than the liquid limit
c) near the plastic limit
d) near the shrinkage limit
Answer:

c) Near the plastic limit

Question #122:
Water content at which the soil flows, that is the condition
where a very viscous liquid shear is known as:
a) liquid limit
b) plastic limit
c) shrinkage limit
d) elastic limit
Answer:

a) Liquid limit
Question #123:
The value content when the soil can just be rolled into a
1/8 inch diameter thread before crumbling.
a) liquid limit
b) plastic limit
c) elastic limit
d) shrinkage limit
Answer:

b) Plastic limit
Question #124:
It indicates the range of water content through which soil
remains plastic.
a) Plastic limit
b) Atterbergs limit
c) liquidity index
d) plasticity index
Answer:

d) Plasticity index
Question #125:
A soil having negative values of liquidity index indicates:
a) a dried, hard soil
b) water content is less than the liquid limit
c) water content is less than plastic limit
d) water content is greater than liquid limit
Answer:

a) A dried, hard soil

Question #126:
Soils having a value of relative activity which is less than
0.75 are called:
a) inactive clay
b) normal clays
c) active clays
d) cohesive clays
Answer:

a) Inactive clay
Question #127:
Soils having a value of relative activity which is between
0.75 and 1.25 are called:
a) active clay
b) inactive clay
c) normal clays
d) cohesive clay
Answer:

c) Normal clays
Question #128:
Soils having a value of relative activity greater than 1.25
are called:
a) inactive clay
b) Active clays
c) cohesive clay
d) normal clay
Answer:

b) Active clays
Question #129:
The cycle of changes and movements that surface water
and shallow groundwater repeatedly passed through as
referred to as:
a) geologic cycle
b) preatic cycle
c) geophysical cycle
d) hydrologic cycle
Answer:

d) hydrodynamics
Question #130:
The study of groundwater phase of the hydrologic cycle,
both surface and subsurface, related to the effects of
geophysical features of soil and rock formation.
a) Hydrogeology
b) Hydrology
c) Bernoulli’s theorem of flow
d) Hydrodynamics
Answer:

a) Hydrogeology
Question #131 :
The concept that the total energy(Kinetic plus potential
energy) of a unit of flowing water remains constant
between 2 points, assuming no energy losses occur is
called:
a) Pascals Law
b) Bernoulli’s theorem
c) Torricelli Law
d) Charles Law
Answer:

b) Bernoulli’s theorem
Question #132:
Which of the following factor affect the flow if a fluid
through a soil.
a) Pressure difference existing between the 2
points where flow is occurring.
b) Density and viscosity of the fluid.
c) Size, shape and number of pore openings.
d) All of these
Answer:

d) All of these
Question #133:
The volume of fluid flow per unit of time divided by the
total area (soil plus voids) measured normal to the
direction of flow.
a) Seepage velocity
b) Quantity of fluid
c) Discharge velocity
d) normal velocity
Answer:

c) Discharge velocity
Question #134:
The average discharge velocity divided by the porosity of
soil is called:
a) Average seepage velocity
b) groundwater flow
c) aquitard
d) velocity along an aquifer
Answer:

a) Average seepage velocity

Question #135:
The quantity of water flowing through the soil in a given
period is proportional to the soil are a normal to the direction
of flow and the difference in water levels indicated in the
piezometers (open standpipes) and inversely proportional to
the length of soil between piezometers through which flow
took place is known as:
a) Darcy’s Law of Flow
b) Bernoulli’s Theorem of Flow
c) Pascals Law of Flow
d) Charles Law of Flow
Answer:

a) Darcy’s Law of Flow

Question #136:
Darcy’s constant of proportionality, a factor that indicates
if the volume of flow is to be great or small, relates to the
ease or difficulty with which the water moves through the
soil is called:
a) Coefficient of curvature
b) Coefficient of uniformity
c) Coefficient of permeability
d) Coefficient of gradation
Answer:

c) Coefficient of permeability
Question #137:
Darcy’s law for fluid applies provided that the flow is:
a) laminar
b) turbulent
c) normal
d) non uniform
Answer:

a) laminar
Question #138:
Water in a capillary tube has a concave shape with the
water surface lower at the center of the tube than at the
walls of the tube. The resulting curve liquid surface is
termed as:
a) vadose zone
b) meniscus
c) surface tension
d) desiccated curve
Answer:

c) Surface tension
Question #139:
The water associated with capillary rise is referred to as
Capillary moisture. The soil region directly above the
water table and wetted by capillary moisture is
designated as:
a) aquitard
b) aquifer
c) Vadose zone
d) pervious soil zone
Answer:

c) Vadose zone
Question #140:
A porous stratum of soil (typically a coarse-grained of
granular soil) lies below an areas ground water table or is
in contact with an elevated source of water such as lake,
rivers, so that flow in significant quantity can occur. This
stratum is called:
a) Aquitards
b) Aquifer
c) Phreatic stratum
d) Avatar
Answer:

b) Aquifer
Question #141:
Coefficient of permeability could be computed using the
following equation:
a) All of these c) 𝑲 = 𝟏𝟎(𝑫𝟏𝟎 )𝟐
b) K d) 𝑲 = 𝟑. 𝟓(𝑫𝟏𝟓 )𝟐
where:
q= volume of flow per unit time
i= hydraulic gradient
A= cross sectional area of soil particles
D10= is the 10 percent particle size from the grain size distribution
chart
D15= is the 15 percent particle size from the grain size distribution
chart
Answer:

a) All of these
Question #142:
The constant head permeability apparatus used for
testing the coarse-grained soils, such as sands, where
the volume of flow through the soil will be relatively large
is called:
a) hydrometer
b) penetrometer
c) permeameter
d) piezometer
Answer:

c) permeameter
Question #143:
The calibrated bend or elbow with suitable upstream and
downstream straight lengths for measurement of flow.
a) Pitot tube
b) Bentzel tube
c) Bentometer
d) Venturi meter
Answer:

c) Bentometer
Question #144:
An instrument design for measuring velocity of fluids:
a) Pitot tube
b) Bentzel tube
c) Piezometer
d) Venturi meter
Answer:

b) Bentzel tube
Question #145:
The imaginary average velocity of flow through the total
(voids and solids) area of soil under a hydraulic gradient
of 1.0.
a) Coefficient of discharge
b) Coefficient of velocity
c) Coefficient of contraction
d) Coefficient of permeability
Answer:

d) Coefficient of permeability
Question #146:
The ratio between the grain diameter which is larger than
60% by weight of the particles in a soil sample, to that
diameter, the effective size, which is larger than 10% by
weight of the particles.
a) Coefficient of uniformity
b) Coefficient of gradation
c) Coefficient of curvature
d) Sorting coefficient
Answer:

a) Coefficient of uniformity
Question #147:
Lowering of a water level is known as:
a) drawdown
b) drop
c) draining
d) dredging
Answer:

a) drawdown
Question #148:
Rate of discharge of water through a porous medium per
unit of total area perpendicular to the direction of flow.
a) Discharge intensity
b) Discharge velocity
c) Relative velocity
d) Coefficient of discharge
Answer:

b) Discharge velocity
Question #149:
A shear test or tri axial compression test, applied to a
specimen of cohesive soil after completed consolidation
under normal load, carried out in a drained conditions
slowly enough to allow further consolidation due to shear
during the test.
a) Direct shear test
b) Consolidated undrained tri axial test
c) unconsolidated undrained test
d) Drained shear test
Answer:

d) Drained shear test

Question #150:
The ratio of the tail water elevation to the head water
elevation, when both are higher than the crest, the
overflow crest of the structure being the datum of
reference.
a) Drawing ratio
b) Discharge-area ratio
c) velocity-discharge ratio
d) weir head ratio
Answer:

a) Drawing ratio
Question #151:
The weight of dry material in unit volume of soil sample
after drying at 105°C.
a) mass density
b) bulk density
c) Dry density
d) wet density
Answer:

c) Dry density
Question #152:
A reservoir at the end of a pipeline, particularly above a
hydroelectric power station.
a) Forebay
b) Tail water pond
c) Wicket reservoir
d) Head water pond
Answer:

a) Forebay
Question #153:
The percolation of water through the soil in filtration is
called:
a) run off
b) seepage
c) precipitation
d) interception
Answer:

b) seepage
Question #154:
A real fluid whose viscosity coefficient is not affected by
the rate of shear imposed by velocity.
a) Artesian fluid
b) Filter fluid
c) Viscous fluid
d) Newtonian fluid
Answer:

d) Newtonian fluid
Question #155:
An artificial canal built to drain water from an area having
no natural outlet for precipitation is called:
a) Drainage canal
b) Flume
c) Duct
d) Gouge
Answer:

a) Drainage canal
Question #156:
An open channel constructed of steel-reinforced concrete
or wood and used to convey water to be utilized for
power, to transport logs and so on.
a) Duct
b) Flume
c) levee
d) drainage canal
Answer:

b) Flume
Question #157:
A device for measuring transpiration, consisting of a
vessel containing soil in which one or more plants are
rooted and sealed so that water can escape only by
transpiration from the plant.
a) Phytometer
b) Transpytometer
c) permeameter
d) Plantometer
Answer:

a) Phytometer
Question #158:
A laboratory instrument for measuring the coefficient of
permeability of a soil sample.
a) piezometer
b) penometer
c) hydrometer
d) permeameter
Answer:

d) permeameter
Question #159:
A loss of water through the bank of a canal which is
expressed as millimeters loss in depth per 24 hours or as
cubic meters lose per meter of bank and bed (wetted
perimeter).
a) friction loss
b) heat loss
c) seepage loss
d) shrinkage loss
Answer:

c) Seepage loss
Question #160:
A spillway gate whose face is a section of cylinder,
rotates about a horizontal axis on the downstream end of
the gate and can be closed under its own weight:
a) Tainter gate
b) tail gate
c) sector gate
d) crest gate
Answer:

a) Tainter gate
Question #161:
When a soil exist below the ground water table, the
submerged soil particles are subject to a buoyant force
resulting from the hydrostatic water pressure. The
submerged weight of the soil is called:
a) Buoyant weight
b) Effective soil weight
c) Wet unit weight
d) Neutral weight
Answer:

b) Effective soil weight

Question #162:
The ratio of lateral stress to vertical stress in a soil is
termed as:
a) coefficient of neutral stress
b) coefficient of overburden stress
c) coefficient of vertical earth pressure
d) coefficient of lateral earth pressure
Answer:

d) Coefficient of lateral earth pressure

Question #163:
If the total weight of soil as it exists above the water table
is the total weight before the buoyant effects of
submergence are considered, the effective stress is 𝜎𝑉 =
𝛾𝑡 ℎ − 𝛾𝑊 ℎ where 𝛾𝑊 is the unit weight of water. The last
term 𝛾𝑊 h is the total water pressure at a depth “h”. The
total water pressure at a depth “h” is called :
a) neutral stress
b) effective stress
c) submerged stress
d) over consolidation stress
Answer:

a) Neutral stress
Question #164:
A method used in making rough estimates of subsurfaces
stresses resulting from a loaded foundation area. This
method assumes that the subsurface stresses spread out
uniformly with the depth, the stress area increasing at a
slope if 1 m. horizontally for each 2 m. of depth as
measured from the edges of the foundation. This is
called:
a) 60° approximate method
b) Boussinesq theory
c) Westergaard theory
d) Terzaghi’s principle
Answer:

a) 60° approximate method

Question #165:
A value which indicates how rapidly or slowly the process
of consolidation takes place:
a) Coefficient of volume of compressibility
b) Coefficient of compressibility
c) Coefficient of consolidation
d) Coefficient of permeability
Answer:

c) Coefficient of consolidation
Question #166:
The formula for the compression index for consolidation
compression (for normally consolidated soil).
a) 𝑪𝒄 = 0.009 (LL - 10)
b) 𝑪𝒄 = 0.0054 (2.6 – 35)
c) 𝑪𝒄 = 0.54 (𝒆𝒐 - 0.35)
d) All of these
Answer:

d) All of these
Question #167:
The slope of the curve from the compression test for
loadings greater than any previous maximum overburden
pressure is called:
a) Compression index
b) Compression index for secondary compression
c) Foundation rigidity factor
d) Modulus of subgrade reaction
Answer:

a) Compression index
Question #168:
A triaxial compression test where the all around confining
pressure is zero.
a) Direct shear test
b) Unconfined compression test
c) Consolidated-drained test
d) Consolidated-undrained test
Answer:

b) Unconfined compression test

Question #169:
The slope of the line drawn tangent to a point on the
deviator stress-strain curve is called:
a) secant modulus
b) tangent modulus
c) modulus of rupture
d) modulus of elasticity
Answer:

b) Tangent modulus
Question #170:
The slope of the line connecting any two points on the
deviator stress-strain curve is called:
a) secant modulus
b) tangent modulus
c) modulus of rupture
d) modulus of elasticity
Answer:

a) Secant modulus
Question #171:
A shear test to determine the in situ strength of cohesive
soils is called:
a) Vane shear test
b) Tri axial shear test
c) Unconfined compression test
d) Consolidation-drained test
Answer:

a) Vane shear test

Question #172:
The shearing resistance of a soil at a certain depth “h”
with a given angle of internal friction and unit weight:
a) 𝝉 = h tan 𝜽
b) 𝝉 =𝜸𝑺 h
c) 𝝉 =𝜸𝑺 tan 𝜽
d) 𝝉 =𝜸𝑺 h tan 𝜽
Answer:

d) 𝜏 =𝛾𝑆 h tan 𝜃
Question #173:
The occurrence of loss of strength of loose saturated
soils when exposed to vibratory or shock loadings such
as from explosives, earthquakes and traveling trains is
called:
a) cavitation
b) surface tension
c) liquefaction
d) capillary
Answer:

c) liquefaction
Question #174:
The series of progressive changes in shear and normal
stress that develop within a soil mass as a result of
construction loading being applied such as resulting from
loading due to structures and earth fill embankments that
cause stress increases or load being reduced is called:
a) failure envelope
b) failure plane
c) stress paths
d) shear points
Answer:

c) Stress paths
Question #175:
A type of shear test which is carried out by placing the
specimen in the chamber and introducing lateral or confining
pressure without allowing the specimen consolidate (drain)
under the lateral pressure. An axial load is then applied
without allowing drainage of the sample. It requires short
time to run this test because the specimen is not required to
consolidate under lateral pressure or drain during the
application of the load. This is often referred to as the quick
test.
a) Unconsolidated undrain test
b) consolidated undrained test
c) consolidated drained test
d) unconfined compression test
Answer:

a) Unconsolidated undrain test

Question #176:
A type of shear test which is performed by placing the
specimen in the chamber and introducing lateral
pressure. The sample is then allowed to consolidate
under the lateral pressure by leaving the drain lines open.
The drain lines are then closed and axial stress is
increased without allowing further drainage.
a) Unconsolidated undrain test
b) Consolidated undrained test
c) Consolidated drained test
d) Unconfined compression test
Answer:

b) Consolidated undrained test

Question #177:
Pile foundations maybe required to resist lateral forces
instead of or in addition to vertical loads. Driver piles or
formed in place piles can be installed at an angle to the
vertical to develop high resistance to lateral forces. Such
piles are referred to as:
a) friction piles
b) Batter piles
c) bearing piles
d) cast in place piles
Answer:

b) Batter piles
Question #178:
A type of shear test which is performed by placing the
specimen in the chamber and introducing lateral pressure.
The specimen is allowed to drain as the axial load is applied
so that high excess pore pressures do not develop. Because
the permeability of clayey soil is low, the axial load must be
added slowly during the test so that excess pore pressure
can be dissipated. This test take considerable time to run
because of the time required for both consolidation under the
lateral pressure and drainage during the application of the
axial load. This is often referred to as the slow test.
a) consolidated undrained test
b) unconsolidated undrained test
c) consolidated drained test
d) unconfined compression test
Answer:

c) Consolidated drained test

Question #179:
The condition where cracks develop within the dam
section because of reservoir water pressure acting
against the upstream slope or because seepage under
pressure enters a small crack and enlarges it, is referred
to as:
a) hydraulic failure envelope
b) crack sensing
c) pressure cracking
d) hydraulic fracturing
Answer:

d) Hydraulic fracturing
Question #180:
What method of shear test must be appropriate if the field
loading on a particular soil during construction is
expected to be slow so that excess pore water will have
drained by the end of construction?
a) Consolidated drained test
b) Consolidated undrained test
c) Unconsolidated undrained test
d) Unconfined compression test
Answer:

a) Consolidated drained test

Question #181:
What method of shear test must be appropriate if loading
during construction is to very fast?
a) Unconsolidated undrained test
b) Consolidated drained test
c) Unconsolidated undrained test
d) Unconfined compression test
Answer:

a) Unconsolidated undrained test

Question #182:
What test can be used to determine the shear strength of
cohesive soils? This test can be used in the field to
determine in situ shear strength of soft, clayey soil,
particularly for sensitive clays, those which lost part of
their strength when disturbed.
a) triaxial test
b) consolidated drained test
c) unconfined compression test
d) Vane test
Answer:

d) Vane test
Question #183:
Clays with high over consolidation ratio will cause the
clay to:
a) increase its shear strength
b) maintain its shear strength
c) none of the above
d) decrease its shear strength
Answer:

d) Decrease its shear strength

Question #184:
Cohesive soils often lose some of their shear strength if
disturbed. The amount of strength lost by soil as a result
of thorough disturbance is referred to as:
a) liquefaction
b) consistency
c) sensitivity
d) transmissivity
Answer:

c) sensitivity
Question #185:
Foundations must be designed to satisfy the following
criteria:
a) They must be located properly both vertical and
horizontal orientation, so as not to adversely affected
by outside influences.
b) They must be safe from bearing capacity failure.
c) They must be safe from excessive settlement.
d) All of these
Answer:

d) All of these
Question #186:
Ultimate bearing capacity developed by Terzaghi for
square footing is:
𝑞𝑢𝑙𝑡 =1.2 c 𝑁𝐶 + 𝛾𝑓 𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 + 0.4𝛾𝑓 B𝑁𝑌
The bearing capacity factor NC sites the influence of:
a) Soils cohesion on its bearing capacity
b) soil surcharge
c) weight of soil and foundation width
d) soil adhesion on its bearing capacity
Answer:

a) Soils cohesion on its bearing capacity

Question #187:
The bearing capacity factor Nq in the Terzaghi’s ultimate
bearing capacity sites the influence of :
a) soil surcharge
b) cohesion of soil
c) weight of soil and width of foundation
d) adhesion of soil
Answer:

a) Soil surcharge
Question #188:
The bearing capacity factor Ny in the Terzaghi’s ultimate
bearing capacity sites the influence of:
a) soil surcharge
b) weight of soil and width of foundation
c) cohesion of soil
d) adhesion of soil
Answer:

b) weight of soil and width of foundation

Question #189:
The ability of a soil to support or hold up a foundation is
referred to as:
a) ultimate bearing capacity
b) shear capacity
c) bearing capacity
d) allowable bearing capacity
Answer:

c) Bearing capacity
Question #190:
The loading per unit area that will just cause the shear
failure in the soil.
a) bearing capacity
b) ultimate bearing capacity
c) allowable bearing capacity
d) shear capacity
Answer:

b) Ultimate bearing capacity

Question #191:
The loading per unit area that the soil is able to support
without unsafe movement.
a) Allowable bearing capacity
b) bearing capacity
c) ultimate bearing capacity
d) shear capacity
Answer:

a) Allowable bearing capacity

Question #192:
The basic principles governing bearing capacity theory
was developed by:
a) Terzaghi and PrandtL
b) Terzaghi and Vesic
c) Terzaghi and Ressner
d) Terzaghi and Peck
Answer:

d) Terzaghi and Peck

Question #193:
Type of shear produce by dense sand and stiff clay.
a) local shear
b) cohesive shear
c) general shear
d) non cohesive shear
Answer:

c) General shear
Question #194:
Type of shear produce by loose sand and soft clay.
a) general shear
b) cohesive shear
c) local shear
d) non cohesive shear
Answer:

c) Local shear
Question #195:
The pressure acting between a footings base and the soil
below is referred to as:
a) contact pressure
b) allowable soil pressure
c) effective soil pressure
d) upward soil pressure
Answer:

a) Contact pressure
Question #196:
If a pile is driven until it rests on a hard impenetrable
layer of soil or rock, the load of the structure is
transmitted primarily axially through the pile to the
impenetrable layer. This type of pile is called:
a) friction pile
b) drilled pile
c) end bearing pile
d) cast in place pile
Answer:

c) End bearing pile

Question #197:
Soil pressure normally increases as depth increases. For
piles driven in sand, it has been determined that the effective
vertical (overburden) pressure of soil adjacent to a pile does
not increase without limit as depth increases. The effective
vertical pressure increases as depth increases until a certain
depth of penetration is reached, below this depth the
effective vertical pressure remains more or less constant.
This depth is called:
a) penetration depth
b) critical depth
c) effective depth
d) overburden depth
Answer:

b) Critical depth
Question #198:
If a pile can not be driven to a hard stratum of soil or rock
that is if such a stratum is located too far below the
ground surface, the load of the structure must be borne
primarily by skin friction or adhesion between the surface
of the pile and adjacent soil. Such pile is known as:
a) friction pile
b) drilled pile
c) end bearing pile
d) cast in place pile
Answer:

a) Friction pile
Question #199:
The lateral pressure caused by earth that is prevented
from lateral movement by an unyielding wall is called:
a) Earth pressure at rest
b) Active earth pressure
c) Passive earth pressure
d) Overburden earth pressure
Answer:

a) Coefficient of passive earth pressure

Question #200:
For zero lateral strain condition, the ratio of the lateral to
the vertical stresses in a soil mass is called:
a) Coefficient of passive earth pressure
b) Coefficient of active earth pressure
c) Coefficient of uniformity
d) Coefficient of earth pressure at rest
Answer:

d) Coefficient of earth pressure at rest

Question #201:
If a wall moves away from soil, the earth surface will tend
to be lowered, and the lateral pressure on the wall will be
decreased. If the wall moves far enough away, shear
failure of the soil will occur, and sliding soil edge will tend
to move forward and downward. The earth pressure
exerted on the wall at this state of failure is known as:
a) Passive earth pressure
b) Earth pressure at rest
c) Active earth pressure
d) Overburden earth pressure
Answer:

c) Active earth pressure

Question #202:
If a wall moves towards from soil, the earth surface will tend
to be raised, and the lateral pressure on the wall will be
increased. If the wall moves far enough the soil, shear failure
of the soil will occur, and sliding soil wedge will tend to move
backward and upward. The earth pressure exerted on the
wall at this state of failure is known as:
a) Active earth pressure
b) Earth pressure at rest
c) Passive earth pressure
d) Overburden pressure
Answer:

c) Passive earth pressure

Question #203:
Rankine theory for determining lateral earth pressure is
based on the assumption.
a) There is no adhesion or friction between the wall
and soil.
b) Lateral pressure computed from Rankine theory are
limited to vertical walls and the resultant pressure are
assumed to act at a distance up from the base wall equal
to 1/3, the vertical distance from the heel at the walls
base to the surface of the backfill.
c) Failure is assume to occur in the form of a sliding
wedge along an assumed failure plane defined as a
function of the soil angle of friction
d) All of these
Answer:

d) All of these
Question #204:
A horizontal brace providing lateral support to resist earth
pressure behind the sheeting is known as:
a) wale
b) Strut
c) needle beam
d) Stringer
Answer:

b) Strut
Question #205:
A type of wall which depends on its weight to achieve
stability is called:
a) Gravity wall
b) Cantilever wall
c) Shear wall
d) Training wall
Answer:

a) Gravity wall
Question #206:
Coulombs theory for determining lateral earth pressure is
based on the assumption.
a) failure occurs in the form of a wedge and that
friction occurs between wall and soil.
b) Resultant active earth pressure acts on the wall at a
point where a line through the wedge’s center of gravity
and parallel to the failure plane intersecting the wall.
c) The resultants direction at the wall is along a line
that makes an angle equal to angle of wall friction, with
the line normal to the backside of the wall.
d) All of these
Answer:

d) All of these
Question #207:
A continuous horizontal (longitudinal) member extending
along a sheetings face to provide intermediate sheeting
support between strut locations.
a) Wale
b) stringer
c) needle beam
d) soldier beam
Answer:

a) Wale
Question #208:
A cross beam supporting a load, used in underpinning
foundation walls attached to columns at each ends, clear
of existing footing.
a) soldier beam
b) needle beam
c) wale
d) lintel beam
Answer:

b) Needle beam
Question #209:
A steel section which is driven into the ground
vertically, supports a horizontally sheeted earth
bank.
a) steel column
b) needle beam
c) Soldier beam
d) wale
Answer:

c) Soldier beam
Question #210:
A type of wall which is desirable for taller walls, large
lateral pressure to overturn the wall is called:
a) Gravity wall
b) Shear wall
c) Cantilever wall
d) Training wall
Answer:

c) Cantilever wall