1. The term "cohesion" in soil mechanics refers to:
A. The ability of soil particles to stick together due to water
B. The force required to resist shear deformation in soil
C. The resistance of soil to penetration under a static load
D. The property of soil to conduct water
Answer: b) The force required to resist shear deformation in soil
Rationale: Cohesion is a measure of the internal resistance of the soil particles to shear forces,
typically important for fine-grained soils like clay.
2. Which test is used to determine the permeability of fine-grained soils?
A. Falling head permeability test
B. Constant head permeability test
C. SPT
D. Proctor test
Answer: a) Falling head permeability test
Rationale: The falling head permeability test is used for fine-grained soils like clay, where water
flows very slowly through the sample.
3. In which of the following tests is the sample not confined?
,A. Consolidation test
B. Triaxial shear test
C. Unconfined compression test
D. Direct shear test
Answer: c) Unconfined compression test
Rationale: The unconfined compression test does not apply lateral confinement and is used to
measure the strength of cohesive soils like clay under axial load only.
4. In the Triaxial Shear Test, the soil sample is subjected to:
A. Uniaxial stress
B. Multidirectional stress
C. Axial and confining pressures
D. Compression along a single axis
Answer: c) Axial and confining pressures
Rationale: The Triaxial Shear Test subjects the soil to both axial (vertical) and confining (lateral)
stresses to determine its shear strength under these conditions.
5. In a grain-size distribution test, the soil is classified based on:
A. Plasticity
B. Permeability
C. Grain size
, D. Compaction characteristics
Answer: c) Grain size
Rationale: The grain-size distribution test classifies soil based on the proportion of different
grain sizes, allowing classification into categories like sand, silt, and clay.
6. The soil’s permeability can be determined using which of the following tests?
A. Constant head permeability test
B. Consolidation test
C. SPT
D. Atterberg limits
Answer: a) Constant head permeability test
Rationale: The constant head permeability test is used to determine the permeability of granular
soils by measuring the rate at which water flows through them.
7. The consolidation test can be used to determine:
A. Shear strength
B. Permeability
C. Settlements of soil under load
D. Plasticity of the soil
Answer: c) Settlements of soil under load
A. The ability of soil particles to stick together due to water
B. The force required to resist shear deformation in soil
C. The resistance of soil to penetration under a static load
D. The property of soil to conduct water
Answer: b) The force required to resist shear deformation in soil
Rationale: Cohesion is a measure of the internal resistance of the soil particles to shear forces,
typically important for fine-grained soils like clay.
2. Which test is used to determine the permeability of fine-grained soils?
A. Falling head permeability test
B. Constant head permeability test
C. SPT
D. Proctor test
Answer: a) Falling head permeability test
Rationale: The falling head permeability test is used for fine-grained soils like clay, where water
flows very slowly through the sample.
3. In which of the following tests is the sample not confined?
,A. Consolidation test
B. Triaxial shear test
C. Unconfined compression test
D. Direct shear test
Answer: c) Unconfined compression test
Rationale: The unconfined compression test does not apply lateral confinement and is used to
measure the strength of cohesive soils like clay under axial load only.
4. In the Triaxial Shear Test, the soil sample is subjected to:
A. Uniaxial stress
B. Multidirectional stress
C. Axial and confining pressures
D. Compression along a single axis
Answer: c) Axial and confining pressures
Rationale: The Triaxial Shear Test subjects the soil to both axial (vertical) and confining (lateral)
stresses to determine its shear strength under these conditions.
5. In a grain-size distribution test, the soil is classified based on:
A. Plasticity
B. Permeability
C. Grain size
, D. Compaction characteristics
Answer: c) Grain size
Rationale: The grain-size distribution test classifies soil based on the proportion of different
grain sizes, allowing classification into categories like sand, silt, and clay.
6. The soil’s permeability can be determined using which of the following tests?
A. Constant head permeability test
B. Consolidation test
C. SPT
D. Atterberg limits
Answer: a) Constant head permeability test
Rationale: The constant head permeability test is used to determine the permeability of granular
soils by measuring the rate at which water flows through them.
7. The consolidation test can be used to determine:
A. Shear strength
B. Permeability
C. Settlements of soil under load
D. Plasticity of the soil
Answer: c) Settlements of soil under load
