Prelim Notes

Question 1

A subspecialty within the field of geotechnical engineering which deals with the design and construction of projects in order to resist the effects of earthquakes

Answer 1

Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering

Question 2

Study of earthquakes

Answer 2

Seismology

Question 3

Includes the study of internal behavior of the earth and the nature of seismic waves generated by the earthquake

Answer 3

Seismology

Question 4

an individual who applies geologic data, principles, and interpretation so that geologic factors affecting the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of civil engineering works are properly recognized and utilized

Answer 4

Engineering geologist

Question 5

In general, foundations of buildings and bridges may be divided into two major categories

Answer 5

shallow foundations, deep foundations

Question 6

Examples of shallow foundations

Answer 6

spread footings, wall footings, mat foundations

Question 7

Examples of deep foundations

Answer 7

Pile and drilled shaft foundations

Question 8

To classify a soil properly, you must know its

Answer 8

grain-size distribution

Question 9

AASHTO

Answer 9

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

Question 10

USCS

Answer 10

Unified Soil Classification systems

Question 11

According to AASHTO Soil Classification System, soils listed in groups A-1, A-2, and A-3 are

Answer 11

coarse-grained materials

Question 12

According to AASHTO Soil Classification System, soils listed in groups A-4, A-5, A-6, and A-7 are

Answer 12

fine-grained materials

Question 13

According to AASHTO Soil Classification System, soils classified under A-8 like peat, muck, and other highly organic soil are identified by

Answer 13

visual inspection

Question 14

The first step in geotechnical earthquake engineering is to perform

Answer 14

a screening investigation

Question 15

Its purpose is to obtain sufficient information on the nature and severity of the seismic hazards so that mitigation recommendations can be developed

Answer 15

quantitative evaluation

Question 16

The quantitative evaluation consists of the following:

Answer 16

Geologic mapping, Subsurface exploration, Laboratory testing, Engineering and geologic analyses, Report preparation

Question 17

The required number and spacing of borings, test pits, and trenches for a particular project must be based on

Answer 17

judgment and experience

Question 18

The main objectives of the borings, test pits, and trenches are to determine the

Answer 18

nature and extent of the seismic hazards

Question 19

SPT

Answer 19

Standard Penetration Test

Question 20

CPT

Answer 20

Cone Penetration Test

Question 21

The force required to move the cone into the extended position divided by the horizontally projected area of the cone is defined as the

Answer 21

cone resistance qc

Question 22

The _ of the soil is an important parameter needed for earthquake analyses of foundations, slopes, and retaining walls

Answer 22

shear strength

Question 23

There are two basic types of analyses that utilize the shear strength of the soil:

Answer 23

(1) the total stress analysis and (2) the effective stress analysis

Question 24

Under no circumstances can a total stress analysis and an effective stress analysis be _

Answer 24

combined

Question 25

are used for the design of foundations, slopes, and retaining walls that are subjected to earthquake shaking

Answer 25

Total stress analyses

Question 26

To perform a total stress analysis, the _ of the soil must be determined

Answer 26

undrained shear strength

Question 27

The effective stress analysis uses the _ parameters

Answer 27

drained shear strength

Question 28

These types of soil are nonplastic, and they include such soils as gravels, sands, and nonplastic silt, such as rock flour

Answer 28

Cohesionless Soil

Question 29

A cohesionless soil can be held together only by a

Answer 29

confining pressure

Question 30

These types of soil are plastic, they include such soils as silts and clays, and have the ability to be rolled and molded (hence they have a plasticity index)

Answer 30

Cohesive soil

Question 31

internal resistance per unit area that the soil mass can offer to resist failure and sliding along any plane inside it

Answer 31

Shear strength

Question 32

is the oldest and simplest form of shear test arrangement

Answer 32

direct shear test

Question 33

According to this theory, the earth’s surface contains tectonic plates, also known as lithosphere plates, with each plate consisting of the crust and the more rigid part of the upper mantle.

Answer 33

plate tectonics

Question 34

Depending on the direction of movement of the plates, there are three types of plate boundaries:

Answer 34

divergent boundary, convergent boundary, and transform boundary

Question 35

This occurs when the relative movement of two plates is away from each other

Answer 35

Divergent boundary

Question 36

When a divergent boundary occurs within a continent, it is called _.

Answer 36

rifting

Question 37

This occurs when the relative movement of the two plates is toward each other

Answer 37

Convergent boundary

Question 38

There are three types of convergent boundaries:

Answer 38

oceanic-continental subduction zone, oceanic-oceanic subduction zone, and continent-continent collision zone

Question 39

This condition occurs when two continental plates collide with each other, causing the two masses to squeeze fold, deform, and thrust upward.

Answer 39

continent-continent collision zone

Question 40

involves the plates sliding past each other, without the construction or destruction of the earth’s crust

Answer 40

Transform boundary/transform fault

Question 41

a fracture or a zone of fractures in rock along which displacement has occurred

Answer 41

Fault

Question 42

an instrument that records, as a function of time, the motion of the earth’s surface due to the seismic waves generated by the earthquake

Answer 42

Seismograph

Question 43

a low-magnification seismograph that is specially designed to record the ground acceleration during the earthquake

Answer 43

Accelerograph

Question 44

two basic types of seismic wave

Answer 44

body waves and surface waves

Question 45

a seismic wave that causes a series of compressions and dilations of the materials through which it travels

Answer 45

P wave

Question 46

fastest wave and is the first to arrive at a site

Answer 46

P wave

Question 47

also known as the secondary wave, shear wave, or transverse wave

Answer 47

S wave

Question 48

causes shearing deformations of the materials through which it travels

Answer 48

S wave

Question 49

Two types of surface waves

Answer 49

Love and Rayleigh waves

Question 50

have been described as being similar to the surface ripples produced by a rock thrown into a pond

Answer 50

Rayleigh waves

Question 51

two basic ways to measure the strength of an earthquake

Answer 51

(1) based on the earthquake magnitude and (2) based on the intensity of damage

Question 52

measures the amount of energy released from the earthquake

Answer 52

Magnitude

Question 53

Based on the damage to buildings and reactions of people

Answer 53

Intensity

Question 54

is based on the observations of damaged structures and the presence of secondary effects, such as earthquake-induced landslides, liquefaction, and ground cracking

Answer 54

Intensity of an earthquake

Question 55

also based on the degree to which the earthquake was felt by individuals, which is determined through interviews

Answer 55

Intensity of an earthquake

Question 56

most commonly used scale for the determination of earthquake intensity

Answer 56

modified Mercalli intensity scale