0.

5 marks questions (Total 20 = 10 Marks)

1) The majority of naturally occurring collapsing soils are
a) Aeolian
b) Peat
c) Alluvial
d) Marine

2) Pick up the correct sequence of geological cycle for the formation of soil
a) transportation – upheaval – deposition – weathering
b) transportation – deposition – weathering – upheaval
c) weathering – upheaval – deposition – transportation
d) weathering – transportation – deposition – upheaval

3) Flocculated structure is formed by attraction of particles and the particles have the
a) edge to face orientation
b) edge to edge orientation
c) face to face orientation
d) parallel orientation

4) In general element of flocculated soil has a

a) lower strength, lower compressibility and higher permeability
b) higher strength, higher compressibility and higher permeability
c) higher strength, lower compressibility and higher permeability
d) higher strength, lower compressibility and lower permeability

5) Identify the non – collapsing soil from the following

a) dune sand b) volcanic ash c) loess d) gravel or pebble

6) Silts have the following property

a) plasticity b) limited plasticity c) limited or no plasticity d) elasticity

7) Pycnometer method is used to determine

a) water content and void ratio
b) specific gravity
c) specific gravity and dry density
d) specific gravity and water content

8) The bulk density of coarse-grained soils can be determined by

a) sand replacement method
b) core cutter method
c) pycnometer method
d) torsion balance method

9) For large engineering projects, the permeability is determined accurately by

a) constant head test b) variable head test c) pumping in test d) pumping out test

10. In the case of modified proctor compaction test, the weight of hammer (kg), the fall of hammer
(mm), the number of blows per layer, and the number of layers required are
a) 5.89, 550, 50, 3

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 b) 2.60, 450, 25, 3
c) 2.60, 310, 25, 5
d) 4.50, 457, 25, 5

11) With the rise of temperature, the permeability

a) increases b) decreases c) remains constant d) none

12) Flow between any two points in a soil depends only on the difference in
a) pressure head b) velocity head c) datum head d) total head

13) A flow is taking place in a soil for which porosity is “n”, if the discharge velocity is “v”, then the
seepage velocity will be
a) n.v b) n/v c) v/n d) v/n2

14) A flat flow curve indicates soil of

a) low shear strength b) high shear strength c) low compressibility d) low permeability

15) The admixture of sand or silt to clay causes

a) decrease in liquid limit and increase in plasticity index
b) decrease in liquid limit and no change in plasticity index
c) decrease in both liquid limit and plasticity index
d) increase in both liquid limit and plasticity index

16) A single fine grained soil particle (silt particle or clay particle)
a) can be seen by naked eye b) cannot be seen by naked eye

17) Sandy silty clay indicates

a) sand > silt > clay b) sand < silt < clay c) sand = silt = clay d) none

18. The water content of the fine soil is gradually reduced from a large value. Arrange the following
limits in the correct order of the occurrence
• Shrinkage Limit (SL)
• Liquid Limit (LL)
• Plastic Limit (PL)
Select the correct order
a) 1, 2, 3
b) 2, 3, 1
c) 3, 2, 1
d) 1, 3, 2

19. Which field method is recommended for the compaction of cohesive soil :
a) Vibroflotation
b) Dynamic compaction
c) Pneumatic rubber-tired rollers
d) Sheepsfoot rollers

20. Consider the following statement in context of Black Cotton Soils

1. High swelling and shrinkage due to illite mineral
2. Very low permeability
3. High Activity
Which of the above statements are correct?

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 a) 1, 2, and 3
b) 1 and 3
c) 2 and 3
d) 1 and 2

1 Mark questions (20 question = 20 Marks)

1. In the moist soil water occupies one third of its volume and air occupies one- ninth of its volume.
The void ration of soil is
a) 0.8
b) 1.0
c) 0.6
d) 1.2

2. The wt. of a container is 20 gm and the wt. of the container and wet soil sample is 80 g. On oven
drying for 24 hrs. the wt. of container with dry soil is found to be 60 g. The water content of the soil
is
a) 40 % b) 50 % c) 80 % d) 25 %

3) Bulk density of soil is 1.60 g/cc and water content is 10%. If the void ratio remains constant, then
it’s bulk density for a water content of 15% will be
a) 1.65 g/cc b) 1.64 g/cc c) 1.66 g/cc d) 1.67 g/cc

Q4. The weight of empty pycnometer, pycnometer + dry soil, pycnometer + soil + water, and
pycnometer + water are 27.340g, 52.294g, 89.484g, and 77.912g respectively. The specific gravity of
the solids is
a) 2.094
b) 1.865
c) 1.766
d) 1.534

Q5. The compaction of the soil is carried out for the construction of the pavement. The thickness of
the layer before compaction was 1.0 m, and the initial void ratio was 0.75. The thickness of the soil
layer is reduced to 0.9 m. Compute the final void ratio
a) 0.575
b) 0.655
c) 0.425
d) 0.675

6) when the porosity is 50%, the void ratio is

a) 0 b) 0.5 c) 1 d) 1.5

7. The specific gravity and void ratio of the soil sample are 2.7 and 0.5 respectively. The water
content at fully saturated stage for the given void ratio is
a) 20 %
b) 16.42 %
c) 18.52 %

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 d) 20.12 %

Q8. The viscosity and unit weight of the percolating fluid are reduced to 60% and 80% due to rise in
temperature. Other things are constant, the change in coefficient of permeability will be
a) 27.67
b) 41.33
c) 25.33
d) 33.33

9) A soil sample has a shrinkage limit of 9% and G = 2.65. The porosity of the soil at shrinkage limit is
a) 19.25% b) 21.2% c) 20.25% d) 18%

10) The coefficients of uniformity and curvature of a soil are 2 and 1 respectively. The ratio D30/D10
will be
a) 1.414 b) 2.1 c) 3 d) 4

11) A soil has the liquid limit of 30. The corresponding plasticity index given by the A-line is
a) 7.3 b) 7.5 c) 9.0 d) 9.5

12) A soil has the liquid limit of 55% & plastic limit of 35%. Then the classification of soil as per IS soil
classification system is
a) CH b) MH or OH c) MH d) OH

13) Sieve analysis on a dry soil sample of mass 1000 g showed that 990 g and 510 g of soil pass
through 4.75 mm and 0.075 mm respectively. Then liquid limit and plastic limit of the soil passing
425 micron sieve are 40% and 18% respectively. The soil may be classified as
a) SC b) MI c) CI d) SM

14) A stratum of soil consists of three layers of equal thickness. The permeabilities of top and
bottom layers are 1x10-3 cm/sec and that of middle layer is 1x10-4 cm/sec. Then the value of the
horizontal coefficient of permeability for the entire soil layer is
a) 2x10-3 cm/sec b) 4x10-4 cm/sec c) 7x10-4 cm/sec d) 1.5x10-4 cm/sec

15) In a constant head permeameter with cross section area of 10 cm2, when the flow was taking
place under a hydraulic gradient of 0.5, the amount of water collected in 30 seconds is 600cc. the
permeability of soil is
a) 0.004 cm/s b) 0.04 cm/s c) 0.4 cm/s d) 4.0 cm/s

Q16. In the permeability test on a soil sample with the falling head test method, equal time intervals
are noted for drop of head from 1m to 3m and again from 3m to ‘H’ m. Find the value of H
a) 6m
b) 9m
c) 5m
d) 12m

Q17. The viscosity and unit weight of the percolating fluid are reduced to 60% and 80% due to rise in
temperature. Other things are constant, the change in coefficient of permeability will be
a) 27.67
b) 41.33
c) 25.33
d) 33.33

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Q18. An earth embankment of volume of 250000 cum is to be constructed at void ratio of 0.5. The
borrow pit soil has a void ratio of 0.8. The volume of the soil excavated (in cubic meter) for the
construction of embankment is
a) 600,000
b) 500,000
c) 400,000
d) 300,000

Q19. The soil bed consists of 4 horizontal layers of equal thickness. The value of Darcy’s ‘k’ for upper
and lower layer is 5x10^-3 cm/sec and that for the middle two layers is 5x10^-2 cm/sec. The ratio of
the permeability of the bed in the horizontal direction to that in the vertical direction is
a) 2.055
b) 4.035
c) 3.025
d) 2.835

Q20. The specific gravity of the soil solid is 2.65, the bulk unit weight is 1.87g/cc, the degree of
saturation is 30% and the discharge velocity of the soil is 4x10^-7 m/s. It’s seepage velocity will be
a) 14.12 x10^-7 m/s
b) 10.50 x10^-7 m/s
c) 15.15 x10^-7 m/s
d) 12.12 x10^-7 m/s

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Common date for Qs 15 & 16

A cube of dried clay having sides 5 cm long, weighs 135 g. The same cube of soil, when saturated at
unchanged volume, weighs 195 g
15) The specific gravity of the soil is
a) 2.65 b) 1.95 c) 2.74 d) 2.07
16) The void ratio of the soil is
a) 0.45 b) 1.08 c) 0.92 d) 0.64

Common data for Qs 18 & 19

A soil is to be excavated from a borrow pit which has a density of 1.75 g/cc and w.c. of 12%. The G is
2.7. The soil is compacted to that water content of 18% and dry density of 1.65 g/cc. For 1000 m 3 of
soil in fill, estimate
18) Quantity of soil to be excavated from the pit, in m3
a) 1060 b) 1056 c) 945 d) 940
19) Amount of water to be added in tons is
a) 1.6 b) 28 c) 99 d) 124

Consistency:

Permeability:

Q.1 The plastic limit and liquid limit of a soil are 30% and 42% respectively. The
percentage volume change from liquid limit to dry state is 35% of the dry volume.
Similarly, the percentage volume change from plastic limit to dry state is 22% of the
dry volume. The shrinkage ratio will be nearly

(a) 4.2
(b) 3.1
(c) 2.2
(d) 1.1

Q.2 In a falling head permeability test on a 120 mm high and 100 mm diameter
cylindrical sample, the water level in the standpipe dropped from a height of 750 mm
to 250 mm in one hour. Determine the coefficient of permeability. Take the internal
diameter of the standpipe equal to 6 mm.

Q.3 How many cubic meters of soil having void ratio of 0.7 can be made from 30 m3
of soil with void ratio of 1.2?
(a) 36.6 m3
(b) 30.0 m3
(c) 25.9 m3
(d) 23.2 m3

6) In a wet soil mass, air occupies one-sixth of its volume and water occupies one-third of its volume.
The void ratio of the soil is

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 a) 0.25 b) 0.5 c) 1.00 d) 1.50

Ankesh
Q5. The specific gravity of the soil is 2.65 and the mass specific gravity is 1.45. Find the void ratio of
the soil.
0.827
1.000
0.945
0.638
Q8. The water content of the fine soil is gradually reduced from a large value. Arrange the following
limits in the correct order of the occurrence
Shrinkage Limit (SL)
Liquid Limit (LL)
Plastic Limit (PL)
Select the correct order
1, 2, 3
2, 3, 1
3, 2, 1
1, 3, 2
Q9. Consider the following statements
Generally, free swell of soil sample ceases when its water content reaches the plastic limit
Coefficient of permeability of the soil mass decreases with increase in viscosity of the pore fluid
Zero air void line and 100% saturation line are not identical
Which of the above statements are correct
2 and 3
1 and 3
1, 2, and 3
1 and 2

Q11. The viscosity and unit weight of the percolating fluid are reduced to 60% and 80% due to rise in
temperature. Other things are constant, the change in coefficient of permeability will be
27.67
41.33
25.33
33.33
Q12. An earth embankment of volume of 250000 cum is to be constructed at void ratio of 0.5. The
borrow pit soil has a void ratio of 0.8. The volume of the soil excavated (in cubic meter) for the
construction of embankment is
600,000
500,000
400,000
300,000
Q14. The specific gravity of the soil solid is 2.65, the bulk unit weight is 1.87g/cc, the degree of
saturation is 30% and the discharge velocity of the soil is 4x10^-7 m/s. It’s seepage velocity will be
14.12 x10^-7 m/s
10.50 x10^-7 m/s
15.15 x10^-7 m/s

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12.12 x10^-7 m/s
Q15. In the permeability test on a soil sample with the falling head test method, equal time intervals
are noted for drop of head from 1m to 3m and again from 3m to ‘H’ m. Find the value of H
6m
9m
5m
12m

Q16. An aquifer of 15 m average thickness is overlain by an impervious layer of 25 m thickness. A

test well of 1.0 m diameter and two observation wells at a distance of 10 m and 50 m from the test
well are drilled through the aquifer. After pumping at a rate of 0.15 m3/sec for a long time, the
following drowns are stabilized in these wells; first observation well 3 m; second observation well 2
m. Determine the coefficient of permeability and the drawdown in the test well.

Q17. The value of the liquid limit, plastic limit and shrinkage limit of a soil are 65%, 35%, and 25%
respectively. If the sample of tis soil at liquid limit has a volume of 50 cc and its volume measured at
shrinkage limit was 33.5 cc, determine the specific gravity of the solids, shrinkage ratio, and
volumetric shrinkage.

Q18. A trench is to be excavated 500 m away from the river and in a confined aquifer 5 m thick. The
trench has to run parallel to the river and is to be 400 m long. Water level in the trench is to be
maintained 6.5 m above the lower confining layer and 3.5 m below the water level in the river.
Determine the rate at which water should be pumped from the trench, if the hydraulic conductivity
of the aquifer is 5 m/day. Assume there is no contribution to flow from the land side of the trench.
State the condition when the assumption can be valid

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