PlacementPrepThe water content of a soil is the ratio of:
Solution
w = Ww/Ws, usually as a percentage.
Answer: (C) Weight of water to weight of dry solids
Technical · Civil Engineering
Soil Mechanics MCQs for placement tests
20 technical questions of moderate difficulty, as asked in campus placement and company tests. Each has a short explanation.
The void ratio is the ratio of:
Solution
e = Vv/Vs.
Answer: (D) Volume of voids to volume of solids
Porosity is the ratio of:
Solution
n = Vv/V.
Answer: (C) Volume of voids to total volume
The relation between porosity n and void ratio e is:
Solution
Derived from the definitions of both.
Answer: (B) n = e/(1 + e)
For a saturated soil, the degree of saturation is:
Solution
All voids are filled with water.
Answer: (C) 100%
The liquid limit of a soil is found using:
Solution
It is the water content at which a groove closes after 25 blows.
Answer: (B) Casagrande's apparatus
The plasticity index is:
Solution
PI = LL − PL.
Answer: (B) Liquid limit minus plastic limit
The standard Proctor test is used to find:
Solution
It relates compaction to water content.
Answer: (B) Optimum moisture content and maximum dry density
Darcy's law for flow through soil states that velocity is proportional to:
Solution
v = k × i.
Answer: (D) Hydraulic gradient
Which soil has the highest permeability?
Solution
Coarse particles leave large connected voids.
Answer: (B) Gravel
Consolidation of clay is mainly due to:
Solution
Clay has low permeability, so water escapes slowly.
Answer: (B) Expulsion of water from the voids over time
The coefficient of consolidation is found from the:
Solution
It gives the rate of consolidation.
Answer: (D) Oedometer (consolidation) test
Coulomb's equation for shear strength of soil is:
Solution
c is cohesion and φ is the angle of internal friction.
Answer: (C) τ = c + σ tan φ
Pure clay is mainly a:
Solution
Clay particles stick together due to cohesion.
Answer: (C) Cohesive soil
The standard penetration test (SPT) gives the:
Solution
It is used to estimate density and bearing capacity in the field.
Answer: (C) N-value (number of blows for 300 mm penetration)
Quicksand is a condition where:
Solution
The sand loses strength and behaves like a liquid.
Answer: (B) Upward seepage makes effective stress zero in sand
Effective stress is equal to:
Solution
σ' = σ − u (Terzaghi).
Answer: (B) Total stress minus pore water pressure
A soil with uniformity coefficient greater than 6 (for sands) is described as:
Solution
A wide range of particle sizes makes it well graded.
Answer: (D) Well graded
Which foundation is used when good soil is available at a shallow depth?
Solution
Shallow foundations transfer load near the surface.
Answer: (C) Spread (isolated) footing
Pile foundations are used when:
Solution
Piles transfer load to deeper, stronger layers.
Answer: (A) Firm strata are deep below weak soil
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