GEO TERMS: BEARING CAPACITY OF SOIL

Question 1

the bearing capacity of a soil depends upon _____

A. size of the particles
B. shape of the particles
C. cohesive properties of particles
D. all the above

Answer 1

D. all the above

Question 2

pick up the correct statement applicable to plate load test:

A. width of the test pit for plate load test is made five times the width of the plate

B. at the center of the test pit, a hole is dug out whose size is kept equal to the size of the test plate

C. bottom level of the hole dug at the center of the test pit, is kept at the level of the actual formation

D. all the above

Answer 2

D. all the above

Question 3

when a cohesionless soil attains quick condition, it looses _____

A. shear strength
B. bearing capacity
C. both A and B
D. neither A nor B

Answer 3

C. both A and B

Question 4

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

A. cohesion and effective angle of shearing resistance
B. cohesion and effective weight of soil
C. effective unit weight of soil and unit effective angle of shearing resistance
D. effective angle of shearing resistance

Answer 4

B. cohesion and effective weight of soil

Question 5

contact pressure beneath a rigid footing resting on cohesive soil is _____

A. less at edges compared to middle
B. more at edges compared to middle
C. uniform throughout
D. none of the above

Answer 5

B. more at edges compared to middle

Question 6

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

A. 5 mm
B. 10 mm
C. 15 mm
D. 25 mm

Answer 6

D. 25 mm

Question 7

Terzaghi’s analysis assumes:

A. soil is homogeneous and isotropic

B. elastic zone has straight boundaries inclined at = to the horizontal and plastic zones fully developed

C. failure zones do not extend above the horizontal plane through the base of the footing

D. all the above

Answer 7

D. all the above

Question 8

the ultimate bearing capacity of a soil is _____

A. total load on the bearing area
B. safe load on the bearing area
C. load at which soil fails
D. load at which soil consolidates

Answer 8

C. load at which soil fails

Question 9

the minimum foundations on _____

A. sandy soils is 80 cm to 100 cm
B. clay soils is 90 cm to 160 cm
C. rocky soils is 5 cm to 50 cm
D. all the above

Answer 9

D. all the above

Question 10

select the incorrect statement:

A. bearing capacity of a soil depends upon the amount and direction of load

B. bearing capacity of a soil depends on the type of soil

C. bearing capacity of a soil depends upon shape and size of footing

D. bearing capacity of a soil is independent of rate of loading

Answer 10

A. bearing capacity of a soil depends upon the amount and direction of load

Question 11

the maximum pressure which a soil can carry without shear failure is called _____

A. safe bearing capacity
B. net safe bearing capacity
C. net ultimate bearing capacity
D. ultimate bearing capacity

Answer 11

A. safe bearing capacity

Question 12

Terzaghi’s bearing capacity factors Nc, Nq and Nr are functions of _____

A. cohesion only
B. angle of internal friction only
C. both cohesion and angle of internal friction
D. none of the above

Answer 12

B. angle of internal friction only

Question 13

rise of water table in cohesion-less soils up to ground surface reduces the net ultimate bearing capacity approximately by _____

A. 25%
B. 50%
C. 75%
D. 90%

Answer 13

B. 50%

Question 14

allowable bearing pressure for a foundation depends upon _____

A. allowable settlement only
B. ultimate bearing capacity of soil only
C. both allowable settlement and ultimate bearing capacity
D. none of above

Answer 14

C. both allowable settlement and ultimate bearing capacity

Question 15

for a loose sand sample and a dense sand sample consolidated to the same effective stress

A. ultimate strength is same and also peak strength is same
B. ultimate strength is different but peak strength is same
C. ultimate strength is same but peak strength of dense sand is greater than that of loose sand
D. ultimate strength is same but peak

Answer 15

C. ultimate strength is same but peak strength of dense sand is greater than that of loose sand

Question 16

the maximum net pressure intensity causing shear failure of soil is known _____

A. safe bearing capacity
B. net safe bearing capacity
C. net ultimate bearing capacity
D. ultimate bearing capacity

Answer 16

C. net ultimate bearing capacity

Question 17

which one of the following statements is true?

A. clays are more porous than sands
B. pressure of organic matter in a soil decreases the bearing capacity of the soil
C. aluminous cement is foundations in soils chemical deposits
D. all the above

Answer 17

D. all the above

Question 18

pick up the correct statement from the following:

A. when water table is above the base of a footing, the dry weight m should be used for soil below water table

B. when water table is located somewhat below the base of a footing, the elastic wedge is partly of moist soil and partly of submerged soil, and a suitable reduction factor is used

C. when water table is just at the base of the footing, no reduction factor is used

D. none of these

Answer 18

B. when water table is located somewhat below the base of a footing, the elastic wedge is partly of moist soil and partly of submerged soil, and a suitable reduction factor is used

Question 19

in the plate loading test for determining the bearing capacity of soil, the size of square bearing plate should be _____

A. less than 300 mm
B. between 300 mm and 750 mm
C. between 750 mm and 1 m
D. greater than 1 m

Answer 19

B. between 300 mm and 750 mm