Q1: What is the term used to describe the process of soil particles settling and packing closely together?
A: Compaction
B: Consolidation
C: Permeability
D: Shear strength
Ans: A
Q2: Which type of soil has the smallest particle size?
A: Gravel
B: Sand
C: Silt
D: Clay
Ans: D
Q3: The Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) groups soils into how many major categories based on their properties?
A: Two
B: Three
C: Four
D: Five
Ans: C
Q4: Which type of foundation is suitable for a building constructed on soft clay soil?
A: Pile foundation
B: Spread footing
C: Mat foundation
D: Strip footing
Ans: A
Q5: What is the angle of internal friction for cohesionless soils?
A: 0 degrees
B: 30 degrees
C: 45 degrees
D: 90 degrees
Ans: C
Q6: The plasticity index (PI) of a soil is the difference between which two properties?
A: Liquid limit and shrinkage limit
B: Liquid limit and plastic limit
C: Shrinkage limit and plastic limit
D: Liquid limit and moisture content
Ans: B
Q7: The water content at which a soil transforms from a plastic to a liquid state is known as the:
A: Plastic limit
B: Liquid limit
C: Shrinkage limit
D: Plasticity index
Ans: B
Q8: Which type of pile is driven into the ground using a drop hammer and is commonly used in construction?
A: H-pile
B: Sheet pile
C: Timber pile
D: Pipe pile
Ans: C
Q9: The maximum load a soil can bear without experiencing failure is known as:
A: Bearing capacity
B: Shear strength
C: Settlement
D: Compaction
Ans: A
Q10: In which type of retaining wall is lateral earth pressure mainly resisted by the weight of the wall itself?
A: Cantilever retaining wall
B: Gravity retaining wall
C: Counterfort retaining wall
D: Sheet pile retaining wall
Ans: B
Q11: The phenomenon of a sudden loss of soil strength due to vibrations is called:
A: Liquefaction
B: Compaction
C: Consolidation
D: Permeability
Ans: A
Q12: What is the term for the ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume of soil?
A: Void ratio
B: Porosity
C: Permeability
D: Specific gravity
Ans: A
Q13: Which type of foundation is most suitable for a tall structure on expansive clay soil?
A: Mat foundation
B: Pile foundation
C: Raft foundation
D: Spread footing
Ans: C
Q14: The load settlement curve of a shallow foundation is typically:
A: Linear
B: Parabolic
C: Exponential
D: Hyperbolic
Ans: B
Q15: What is the critical exit gradient for seepage in a homogeneous soil mass?
A: 0.5
B: 1.0
C: 1.5
D: 2.0
Ans: C
Q16: The maximum size of a particle that a soil can retain without allowing it to pass through is called:
A: Porosity
B: Permeability
C: Gradation
D: Effective size
Ans: D
Q17: Which type of soil test is used to determine the unconfined compressive strength of cohesive soils?
A: Standard penetration test (SPT)
B: California bearing ratio (CBR) test
C: Triaxial compression test
D: Direct shear test
Ans: C
Q18: The relationship between effective stress, total stress, and pore water pressure is described by:
A: Terzaghi's principle
B: Coulomb's law
C: Darcy's law
D: Archimedes' principle
Ans: A
Q19: What is the term for the ratio of the volume of water voids to the volume of total voids in a soil sample?
A: Saturation ratio
B: Degree of saturation
C: Specific gravity
D: Capillary action
Ans: B
Q20: Which type of pile foundation is particularly suitable for soft soils and utilizes the principle of friction to transfer loads to the soil?
A: End-bearing piles
B: Friction piles
C: Bored piles
D: Driven piles
Ans: B
Q21: Which soil type is composed of a mix of sand, silt, and clay particles in roughly equal proportions?
A: Silty clay
B: Sandy loam
C: Loam
D: Clayey sand
Ans: C
Q22: What is the coefficient of lateral earth pressure at rest (K₀) for most cohesive soils?
A: 0.0
B: 0.5
C: 1.0
D: 2.0
Ans: C
Q23: What is the primary cause of settlement in a foundation constructed on loose granular soils?
A: Lateral spreading
B: Consolidation
C: Heaving
D: Erosion
Ans: B
Q24: The effective stress in a soil sample is equal to:
A: Total stress - Pore water pressure
B: Pore water pressure - Buoyant unit weight
C: Buoyant unit weight - Total stress
D: Total stress - Buoyant unit weight
Ans: A
Q25: Which type of foundation is commonly used for supporting transmission towers and tall structures on weak soils?
A: Raft foundation
B: Pile foundation
C: Spread footing
D: Mat foundation
Ans: B
Q26: The angle of internal friction is a measure of a soil's:
A: Compressibility
B: Permeability
C: Shear strength
D: Elasticity
Ans: C
Q27: The phenomenon of the gradual increase in soil density due to repetitive loading is known as:
A: Creep
B: Liquefaction
C: Swelling
D: Thixotropy
Ans: A
Q28: In the soil classification system, the abbreviation ML refers to:
A: Silty sand
B: Clayey sand
C: Silt
D: Sandy loam
Ans: C
Q29: What is the term used to describe the property of a soil to maintain its structure and stability when disturbed?
A: Permeability
B: Plasticity
C: Cohesion
D: Consistency
Ans: B
Q30: Which type of pile foundation is created by excavating a hole in the ground and then filling it with concrete and reinforcing steel?
A: Friction piles
B: Bored piles
C: Driven piles
D: End-bearing piles
Ans: B
Q31: The ratio of the change in length of a soil specimen to its original length due to applied stress is known as:
A: Strain
B: Stress
C: Modulus of elasticity
D: Poisson's ratio
Ans: A
Q32: The method used to determine the permeability of soils in the laboratory is called the:
A: Direct shear test
B: Triaxial compression test
C: Permeability test
D: Standard penetration test (SPT)
Ans: C
Q33: The coefficient of permeability is highest for which type of soil?
A: Gravel
B: Sand
C: Silt
D: Clay
Ans: A
Q34: What is the term used to describe the process of removing water from a saturated soil due to the application of a load?
A: Compaction
B: Consolidation
C: Percolation
D: Sedimentation
Ans: B
Q35: The term "bearing capacity" in geotechnical engineering refers to the:
A: Load that causes a foundation to settle
B: Capacity of a foundation to support loads without failure
C: Depth at which a foundation is embedded in the soil
D: Ratio of vertical load to horizontal load on a foundation
Ans: B
Q36: The characteristic load-settlement curve for a pile foundation is typically:
A: Hyperbolic
B: Parabolic
C: Linear
D: Exponential
Ans: A
Q37: The settlement of a shallow foundation on cohesive soil depends on its:
A: Shear strength
B: Compaction ratio
C: Void ratio
D: All of the above
Ans: A
Q38: The soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) is used to describe the relationship between:
A: Load and settlement
B: Stress and strain
C: Water content and suction
D: Porosity and permeability
Ans: C
Q39: Which type of retaining wall is shaped like an inverted T and is more economical for walls taller than 6 meters?
A: Gravity retaining wall
B: Cantilever retaining wall
C: Counterfort retaining wall
D: Sheet pile retaining wall
Ans: C
Q40: The load-carrying capacity of a pile depends primarily on its:
A: Length
B: Diameter
C: Material
D: All of the above
Ans: D
Q41: The angle of repose is the maximum angle at which a pile of soil is stable without:
A: Lateral spreading
B: Shear failure
C: Settlement
D: Liquefaction
Ans: B
Q42: What is the term used to describe the resistance of soil particles to sliding along failure planes?
A: Shear strength
B: Cohesion
C: Consolidation
D: Permeability
Ans: A
Q43: The weight of a soil sample divided by its volume is known as:
A: Unit weight
B: Specific gravity
C: Porosity
D: Void ratio
Ans: A
Q44: The stability of a slope depends on which two main factors?
A: Cohesion and angle of internal friction
B: Density and porosity
C: Permeability and plasticity index
D: Void ratio and specific gravity
Ans: A
Q45: The instrument used to measure the density and unit weight of a soil sample is called a:
A: Proctor test apparatus
B: Shear box apparatus
C: Triaxial compression apparatus
D: Hydrometer
Ans: A
Q46: The method used to determine the in-situ density of a soil layer is known as the:
A: Standard penetration test (SPT)
B: Plate load test
C: Cone penetration test (CPT)
D: Vane shear test
Ans: C
Q47: The relationship between the void ratio and effective stress for a soil sample is represented by:
A: Mohr-Coulomb failure envelope
B: Rankine's earth pressure theory
C: Terzaghi's consolidation theory
D: Oedometer test curve
Ans: A
Q48: In the context of retaining walls, what is the term for the distance between the backfill and the back of the wall?
A: Stem
B: Heel
C: Toe
D: Batter
Ans: A
Q49: The OMC (Optimum Moisture Content) and MDD (Maximum Dry Density) are properties determined by which test?
A: California bearing ratio (CBR) test
B: Triaxial compression test
C: Standard Proctor compaction test
D: Direct shear test
Ans: C
Q50: What is the term for the deformation of a soil mass without any change in volume?
A: Compaction
B: Consolidation
C: Swelling
D: Dilatancy
Ans: D
Q51: The concept of effective stress is primarily applicable to which type of soil?
A: Cohesionless soils
B: Cohesive soils
C: Organic soils
D: Granular soils
Ans: B
Q52: Which type of foundation is most suitable for heavily loaded structures on expansive clay soils?
A: Spread footing
B: Pile foundation
C: Mat foundation
D: Raft foundation
Ans: D
Q53: The rate at which water flows through a soil is primarily determined by its:
A: Void ratio
B: Permeability
C: Gradation
D: Porosity
Ans: B
Q54: The term "geotextile" refers to a synthetic material used in geotechnical engineering for:
A: Reinforcement
B: Drainage
C: Filtration
D: All of the above
Ans: D
Q55: Which type of soil is composed of particles between the sizes of sand and silt?
A: Loam
B: Silty clay
C: Sandy loam
D: Clayey sand
Ans: C
Q56: Which type of pile foundation is driven into the ground using a hydraulic hammer?
A: Timber pile
B: Steel pile
C: Concrete pile
D: Sheet pile
Ans: C
Q57: The phenomenon of soil volume increasing due to the absorption of water is called:
A: Compression
B: Swelling
C: Liquefaction
D: Percolation
Ans: B
Q58: The process of adding a small amount of water to a soil sample and thoroughly mixing it to determine its plasticity index is called:
A: Casagrande test
B: Sieve analysis
C: Atterberg limits test
D: Proctor compaction test
Ans: C
Q59: What is the term for the gradual downward movement of water through soil layers?
A: Erosion
B: Seepage
C: Infiltration
D: Permeability
Ans: B
Q60: The stability of a retaining wall can be significantly improved by providing which type of reinforcement within the soil?
A: Geogrids
B: Geotextiles
C: Geonets
D: Geomembranes
Ans: A
Q61: The load-carrying capacity of a pile in granular soils mainly depends on:
A: End-bearing capacity
B: Friction capacity
C: Cohesion capacity
D: Swell potential
Ans: B
Q62: Which type of foundation is used to transfer the load from an individual column to a larger area of soil?
A: Pile foundation
B: Mat foundation
C: Raft foundation
D: Spread footing
Ans: D
Q63: What is the process of compacting soil to improve its engineering properties?
A: Consolidation
B: Liquefaction
C: Compaction
D: Percolation
Ans: C
Q64: The angle of internal friction of a cohesionless soil depends on its:
A: Density
B: Porosity
C: Consistency
D: Moisture content
Ans: D
Q65: The method used to determine the shear strength parameters of a soil sample is known as the:
A: Direct shear test
B: Triaxial compression test
C: Permeability test
D: Standard penetration test (SPT)
Ans: B
Q66: Which type of soil has the highest cohesion?
A: Gravel
B: Sand
C: Silt
D: Clay
Ans: D
Q67: The shear strength of cohesive soils is mainly due to which force?
A: Friction between particles
B: Electrostatic attraction between particles
C: Surface tension of water
D: Cohesion between particles
Ans: D
Q68: The load distribution behavior of a pile foundation is primarily influenced by its:
A: Length
B: Diameter
C: Material
D: All of the above
Ans: D
Q69: The stability of a slope is affected by which two main factors?
A: Cohesion and angle of internal friction
B: Density and porosity
C: Permeability and plasticity index
D: Void ratio and specific gravity
Ans: A
Q70: The OMC (Optimum Moisture Content) and MDD (Maximum Dry Density) are properties determined by which test?
A: California bearing ratio (CBR) test
B: Triaxial compression test
C: Standard Proctor compaction test
D: Direct shear test
Ans: C
Q71: What is the term for the deformation of a soil mass without any change in volume?
A: Compaction
B: Consolidation
C: Swelling
D: Dilatancy
Ans: D
Q72: The weight of a soil sample divided by its volume is known as:
A: Unit weight
B: Specific gravity
C: Porosity
D: Void ratio
Ans: A
Q73: The stability of a slope depends on which two main factors?
A: Cohesion and angle of internal friction
B: Density and porosity
C: Permeability and plasticity index
D: Void ratio and specific gravity
Ans: A
Q74: The term "geotextile" refers to a synthetic material used in geotechnical engineering for:
A: Reinforcement
B: Drainage
C: Filtration
D: All of the above
Ans: D
Q75: Which type of soil is composed of particles between the sizes of sand and silt?
A: Loam
B: Silty clay
C: Sandy loam
D: Clayey sand
Ans: C
Q76: Which type of pile foundation is driven into the ground using a hydraulic hammer?
A: Timber pile
B: Steel pile
C: Concrete pile
D: Sheet pile
Ans: C
Q77: The phenomenon of soil volume increasing due to the absorption of water is called:
A: Compression
B: Swelling
C: Liquefaction
D: Percolation
Ans: B
Q78: The process of adding a small amount of water to a soil sample and thoroughly mixing it to determine its plasticity index is called:
A: Casagrande test
B: Sieve analysis
C: Atterberg limits test
D: Proctor compaction test
Ans: C
Q79: What is the term for the gradual downward movement of water through soil layers?
A: Erosion
B: Seepage
C: Infiltration
D: Permeability
Ans: B
Q80: The stability of a retaining wall can be significantly improved by providing which type of reinforcement within the soil?
A: Geogrids
B: Geotextiles
C: Geonets
D: Geomembranes
Ans: A
Q81: The load-carrying capacity of a pile in granular soils mainly depends on:
A: End-bearing capacity
B: Friction capacity
C: Cohesion capacity
D: Swell potential
Ans: B
Q82: Which type of foundation is most suitable for heavily loaded structures on expansive clay soils?
A: Spread footing
B: Pile foundation
C: Mat foundation
D: Raft foundation
Ans: D
Q83: The rate at which water flows through a soil is primarily determined by its:
A: Void ratio
B: Permeability
C: Gradation
D: Porosity
Ans: B
Q84: The term "geotextile" refers to a synthetic material used in geotechnical engineering for:
A: Reinforcement
B: Drainage
C: Filtration
D: All of the above
Ans: D
Q85: Which type of soil is composed of particles between the sizes of sand and silt?
A: Loam
B: Silty clay
C: Sandy loam
D: Clayey sand
Ans: C
Q86: Which type of pile foundation is driven into the ground using a hydraulic hammer?
A: Timber pile
B: Steel pile
C: Concrete pile
D: Sheet pile
Ans: C
Q87: The phenomenon of soil volume increasing due to the absorption of water is called:
A: Compression
B: Swelling
C: Liquefaction
D: Percolation
Ans: B
Q88: The process of adding a small amount of water to a soil sample and thoroughly mixing it to determine its plasticity index is called:
A: Casagrande test
B: Sieve analysis
C: Atterberg limits test
D: Proctor compaction test
Ans: C
Q89: What is the term for the gradual downward movement of water through soil layers?
A: Erosion
B: Seepage
C: Infiltration
D: Permeability
Ans: B
Q90: The stability of a retaining wall can be significantly improved by providing which type of reinforcement within the soil?
A: Geogrids
B: Geotextiles
C: Geonets
D: Geomembranes
Ans: A
Q91: The load-carrying capacity of a pile in granular soils mainly depends on:
A: End-bearing capacity
B: Friction capacity
C: Cohesion capacity
D: Swell potential
Ans: B
Q92: Which type of foundation is most suitable for heavily loaded structures on expansive clay soils?
A: Spread footing
B: Pile foundation
C: Mat foundation
D: Raft foundation
Ans: D
Q93: The rate at which water flows through a soil is primarily determined by its:
A: Void ratio
B: Permeability
C: Gradation
D: Porosity
Ans: B
Q94: The term "geotextile" refers to a synthetic material used in geotechnical engineering for:
A: Reinforcement
B: Drainage
C: Filtration
D: All of the above
Ans: D
Q95: Which type of soil is composed of particles between the sizes of sand and silt?
A: Loam
B: Silty clay
C: Sandy loam
D: Clayey sand
Ans: C
Q96: Which type of pile foundation is driven into the ground using a hydraulic hammer?
A: Timber pile
B: Steel pile
C: Concrete pile
D: Sheet pile
Ans: C
Q97: The phenomenon of soil volume increasing due to the absorption of water is called:
A: Compression
B: Swelling
C: Liquefaction
D: Percolation
Ans: B
Q98: The process of adding a small amount of water to a soil sample and thoroughly mixing it to determine its plasticity index is called:
A: Casagrande test
B: Sieve analysis
C: Atterberg limits test
D: Proctor compaction test
Ans: C
Q99: What is the term for the gradual downward movement of water through soil layers?
A: Erosion
B: Seepage
C: Infiltration
D: Permeability
Ans: B
Q100: The stability of a retaining wall can be significantly improved by providing which type of reinforcement within the soil?
A: Geogrids
B: Geotextiles
C: Geonets
D: Geomembranes
Ans: A
I hope you find these 100 important MCQs for geotechnical engineers helpful!
