List of top Geotechnical Engineering Questions

Two soils of permeabilities \( k_1 \) and \( k_2 \) are placed in a horizontal flow apparatus, as shown in the figure. For Soil 1, \( L_1 = 50 \, {cm} \), and \( k_1 = 0.055 \, {cm/s} \); for Soil 2, \( L_2 = 30 \, {cm} \), and \( k_2 = 0.035 \, {cm/s} \). The cross-sectional area of the horizontal pipe is 100 cm², and the head difference (\( \Delta h \)) is 150 cm. The discharge (in cm³/s) through the soils is ........ (rounded off to 2 decimal places). 

A clayey soil has a moisture content of 18%, a specific gravity of soil solids of 2.74, and a degree of saturation of 65%. The soil soaks up water during a rain event, and the degree of saturation increases to 85.2%. The change of the volume during the soakage is negligible. The new moisture content (in %) of the soil will be ......... (rounded off to 2 decimal places).
In an oedometer apparatus a specimen of fully saturated clay has been consolidated under a vertical pressure of 100 kPa and is at equilibrium state. Immediately on increasing the vertical pressure to 150 kPa, the effective stress \( \sigma' \) and excess pore water pressure \( \Delta u \) will be

The results of a consolidated drained triaxial test on a normally consolidated clay are shown in the figure. The angle of internal friction is 

In the context of shear strength of soil, which of the following statements is/are CORRECT?

Let the state of stress at a point in a body be the difference of two plane states of stress shown in the figure. Consider all the possible planes perpendicular to the x-y plane and passing through that point. The magnitude of the maximum compressive stress on any such plane is \( k \sigma_0 \), where \( k \) is equal to ___________ (round off to one decimal place).

A 6 m thick clay stratum has drainage at both its top and bottom surface due to the presence of sand strata. The time to complete 50% consolidation is 2 years.
The coefficient of volume change (\(m_v\)) is \(1.51 \times 10^{-3}\ {m}^2/{kN}\) and the unit weight of water is \(9.81\ {kN/m}^3\).
The coefficient of permeability (in m/year) is __________ (round off to three decimal places).
 

The most suitable test for measuring the permeability of clayey soils in the laboratory is ___________.
 

A rectangular channel is 4.0 m wide and carries a discharge of 2.0 m3/s with a depth of 0.4 m. The channel transitions to a maximum width contraction at a downstream location, without influencing the upstream flow conditions. The width (in meters) at the maximum contraction is ______ (rounded off to 2 decimal places).
An infinite slope is made up of cohesionless soil with seepage parallel to and up to the sloping surface. The angle of slope is 30° with respect to horizontal ground surface. The unit weights of the saturated soil and water are 20 kN/m3 and 10 kN/m3, respectively.
The minimum angle of shearing resistance of the soil (in degrees) for the critically stable condition of the slope is _____ (rounded off to the nearest integer).
The in-situ percentage of voids of a sand deposit is 50%. The maximum and minimum densities of sand determined from the laboratory tests are 1.8 g/cm3 and 1.3 g/cm3, respectively. Assume the specific gravity of sand as 2.7.
The relative density index of the in-situ sand is ______ (rounded off to 2 decimal places).
In the context of pavement material characterization, the CORRECT statement(s) is/are
Consider the statements P and Q related to the analysis/design of retaining walls.
P : When a rough retaining wall moves toward the backfill, the wall friction force/resistance mobilizes in upward direction along the wall.
Q : Most of the earth pressure theories calculate the earth pressure due to surcharge by neglecting the actual distribution of stresses due to surcharge.
Which one of the following options is CORRECT ?
Which one of the following saturated fine-grained soils can attain a negative Skempton's pore pressure coefficient (A) ?
A simply supported, uniformly loaded, two-way slab panel is torsionally unrestrained. The effective span lengths along the short span (x) and long span (y) directions of the panel are lx and ly, respectively. The design moments for the reinforcements along the x and y directions are Mux and Muy, respectively. By using Rankine-Grashoff method, the ratio Mux/Muy is proportional to
The contact pressure distribution shown in the figure belongs to a
contact pressure distribution
The total primary consolidation settlement (Sc) of a building constructed on a 10 m thick saturated clay layer is estimated to be 50 mm. After 300 days of the construction of the building, primary consolidation settlement was reported as 10 mm. The additional time (in days) required to achieve 50% of Sc will be _____ (rounded off to the nearest integer).
A soil sample was consolidated at a cell pressure of 20 kPa and a back pressure of 10 kPa for 24 hours during a consolidated undrained (CU) triaxial test. The cell pressure was increased to 30 kPa on the next day and it resulted in the development of pore water pressure of 1 kPa. The soil sample failed when the axial stress was gradually increased to 50 kPa. The pore water pressure at failure was recorded as 21 kPa. The value of Skempton's pore pressure parameter B for the soil sample is ______ (rounded off to 2 decimal places).
Find the correct match between the plane stress states and the Mohr's circles.
Mohr's circles
A vertical smooth rigid retaining wall is supporting horizontal ground with dry cohesionless backfill having a friction angle of 30°. The inclinations of failure planes with respect to the major principal plane for Rankine's active and passive earth pressure conditions, respectively, are
An embankment is constructed with soil by maintaining the degree of saturation as 75% during compaction. The specific gravity of soil is 2.68 and the moisture content is 17% during compaction. Consider the unit weight of water as 10 kN/m3. The dry unit weight (in kN/m3) of the compacted soil is _____ . (rounded off to 2 decimal places).
Consider the statements P and Q.
P: Soil particles formed by mechanical weathering, and close to their origin are generally subrounded.
Q: Activity of the clay physically signifies its swell potential.
Which one of the following options is CORRECT?
A 2 m wide strip footing is founded at a depth of 1.5 m below the ground level in a homogeneous pure clay bed. The clay bed has unit cohesion of 40 kPa. Due to seasonal fluctuations of water table from peak summer to peak monsoon period, the net ultimate bearing capacity of the footing, as per Terzaghi's theory, will
Given below are two statements:
Statement I: Hardness of green sand mold increases with increase in permeability.
Statement II: Increase in permeability of the green sand will make the mold denser and harder.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Soil = 0.75
G = 2.68
Water content = 17% 
γw = 10 kg n /m3 
γd = ?