FOUNDATION ENGINEERING ( MCQs)

FOUNDATION ENGINEERING ( MCQs)
📘 SSC JE | RRB JE | OSSC JE | State AE/JE –  EXAM PATTERN

🏗️ PART B – FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

Total Questions:  (Q76–Q150)
Difficulty: Easy → Moderate → Tricky
Pattern: PYQ-based | Theory + Numericals
Each question includes Answer + Explanation

🔹 BEARING CAPACITY (Q76–Q100)

Q76. Bearing capacity of soil is defined as:

1. Load applied on footing
   B. Maximum load soil can carry without failure
   C. Load per unit area of footing
   D. Safe load on column

✅ Answer: B
📝 Explanation: Bearing capacity is the maximum load per unit area soil can sustain safely.

Q77. Ultimate bearing capacity divided by factor of safety gives:

1. Gross bearing capacity
   B. Net bearing capacity
   C. Safe bearing capacity
   D. Allowable bearing pressure

✅ Answer: C

Q78. Terzaghi’s bearing capacity theory is applicable for:

1. Deep foundations
   B. Shallow foundations
   C. Pile foundations
   D. Raft foundations

✅ Answer: B

Q79. Terzaghi’s theory assumes footing to be:

1. Circular
   B. Square
   C. Continuous (strip footing)
   D. Isolated

✅ Answer: C

Q80. Bearing capacity factor Nc depends on:

1. Cohesion
   B. Unit weight
   C. Angle of internal friction
   D. Width of footing

✅ Answer: C

Q81. For purely cohesive soil (φ = 0), bearing capacity is:

1. Zero
   B. Depends only on unit weight
   C. Depends only on cohesion
   D. Depends on depth

✅ Answer: C
📝 Explanation: For φ = 0, bearing capacity is governed by cohesion term only.

Q82. Shape factor is applied to:

1. Strip footing only
   B. All footings except strip
   C. Pile foundation
   D. Raft foundation

✅ Answer: B

Q83. Net ultimate bearing capacity is:

1. qu
   B. qu – γD
   C. qu + γD
   D. γD

✅ Answer: B

Q84. Bearing capacity increases with increase in:

1. Depth of foundation
   B. Water table rise
   C. Void ratio
   D. Settlement

✅ Answer: A

Q85. Local shear failure occurs in:

1. Dense sand
   B. Stiff clay
   C. Loose sand
   D. Hard rock

✅ Answer: C

Q86. General shear failure is characterized by:

1. Large settlement
   B. No heaving
   C. Sudden failure
   D. Gradual failure

✅ Answer: C

Q87. Terzaghi’s bearing capacity equation includes:

1. Nc only
   B. Nc and Nq
   C. Nc, Nq, and Nγ
   D. Nq only

✅ Answer: C

Q88. Bearing capacity factor Nγ contributes due to:

1. Cohesion
   B. Surcharge
   C. Unit weight of soil
   D. Water table

✅ Answer: C

Q89. For square footing, shape factor increases:

1. Nc only
   B. Nq only
   C. Nγ only
   D. All three

✅ Answer: D

Q90. Allowable bearing pressure considers:

1. Shear failure only
   B. Settlement only
   C. Both shear & settlement
   D. None

✅ Answer: C

Q91. Factor of safety against bearing capacity usually taken as:

1. 1.0
   B. 1.5
   C. 2.0
   D. 2.5–3.0

✅ Answer: D

Q92. Water table at foundation level causes bearing capacity to:

1. Increase
   B. Decrease
   C. Remain same
   D. Become zero

✅ Answer: B

Q93. Safe bearing capacity is always:

1. Greater than ultimate
   B. Equal to ultimate
   C. Less than ultimate
   D. Independent

✅ Answer: C

Q94. Skempton’s equation is used for:

1. Sandy soil
   B. Cohesive soil
   C. Gravel
   D. Rock

✅ Answer: B

Q95. Bearing capacity failure surface is:

1. Vertical
   B. Horizontal
   C. Curved
   D. Straight

✅ Answer: C

Q96. Which footing has highest bearing capacity?

1. Strip
   B. Square
   C. Circular
   D. Rectangular

✅ Answer: B

Q97. Increasing footing width causes bearing capacity to:

1. Decrease
   B. Increase
   C. Remain constant
   D. Become zero

✅ Answer: B

Q98. Bearing capacity theories neglect:

1. Soil weight
   B. Cohesion
   C. Soil compressibility
   D. Foundation depth

✅ Answer: C

Q99. Net safe bearing capacity is:

1. qu / FS
   B. (qu – γD) / FS
   C. qu – FS
   D. γD / FS

✅ Answer: B

Q100. Bearing capacity failure is a:

1. Serviceability limit state
   B. Strength limit state
   C. Durability failure
   D. Structural failure

✅ Answer: B

🔹 EARTH PRESSURE (Q101–Q120)

Q101. Earth pressure at rest occurs when wall:

1. Moves away
   B. Moves towards soil
   C. Does not move
   D. Tilts

✅ Answer: C

Q102. Rankine’s theory assumes wall to be:

1. Rough
   B. Smooth
   C. Frictionless
   D. Inclined

✅ Answer: C

Q103. Active earth pressure is minimum when wall:

1. Moves toward soil
   B. Moves away from soil
   C. Is fixed
   D. Is inclined

✅ Answer: B

Q104. Passive earth pressure is:

1. Less than active
   B. Equal to active
   C. Greater than active
   D. Zero

✅ Answer: C

Q105. Rankine’s active earth pressure coefficient depends on:

1. Wall height
   B. Soil density
   C. Angle of internal friction
   D. Cohesion

✅ Answer: C

Q106. Coulomb’s theory considers:

1. Wall friction
   B. Wall inclination
   C. Backfill slope
   D. All of the above

✅ Answer: D

Q107. Earth pressure varies with depth as:

1. Constant
   B. Linear
   C. Parabolic
   D. Exponential

✅ Answer: B

Q108. Pressure distribution on retaining wall is:

1. Rectangular
   B. Triangular
   C. Trapezoidal
   D. Circular

✅ Answer: B

Q109. Point of application of active earth pressure is at:

1. H/4
   B. H/3
   C. H/2
   D. H

✅ Answer: B

Q110. Passive earth pressure is mobilized when wall:

1. Moves away
   B. Moves toward soil
   C. Is fixed
   D. Rotates

✅ Answer: B

Q111. Rankine theory is applicable when:

1. Wall friction exists
   B. Backfill is sloping
   C. Wall is smooth
   D. Wall is rough

✅ Answer: C

Q112. Active earth pressure coefficient Ka is:

1. > 1
   B. < 1
   C. = 1
   D. = 0

✅ Answer: B

Q113. Passive earth pressure coefficient Kp is:

1. < 1
   B. = 1
   C. > 1
   D. = 0

✅ Answer: C

Q114. Rankine theory neglects:

1. Soil weight
   B. Cohesion
   C. Wall friction
   D. Depth

✅ Answer: C

Q115. Earth pressure reduces with increase in:

1. Height
   B. Unit weight
   C. Angle of friction
   D. Surcharge

✅ Answer: C

Q116. At rest earth pressure coefficient is:

1. Ka
   B. Kp
   C. K0
   D. Ks

✅ Answer: C

Q117. Jaky’s equation is used for:

1. Active pressure
   B. Passive pressure
   C. At rest pressure
   D. Bearing capacity

✅ Answer: C

Q118. Cohesive backfill causes earth pressure to:

1. Increase
   B. Decrease
   C. Become zero
   D. Become infinite

✅ Answer: B

Q119. Earth pressure theories assume soil to be:

1. Elastic
   B. Plastic
   C. Homogeneous
   D. Saturated

✅ Answer: C

Q120. Failure wedge in Rankine theory is:

1. Circular
   B. Log spiral
   C. Plane
   D. Random

✅ Answer: C

🔹 SHALLOW & DEEP FOUNDATIONS (Q121–Q150)

Q121. Minimum depth of foundation is governed by:

1. Bearing capacity
   B. Scour
   C. Shrinkage & swelling
   D. All of the above

✅ Answer: D

Q122. Footings are classified as shallow when:

1. D ≤ B
   B. D ≥ B
   C. D = 2B
   D. D = 3B

✅ Answer: A

Q123. Raft foundation is preferred when:

1. SBC is very high
   B. Loads are light
   C. SBC is low & loads are heavy
   D. Soil is rock

✅ Answer: C

Q124. Combined footing is provided when:

1. Columns are far apart
   B. SBC is high
   C. Columns are close
   D. Loads are equal

✅ Answer: C

Q125. Pile foundation transfers load by:

1. End bearing
   B. Skin friction
   C. Both
   D. None

✅ Answer: C

Q126. Negative skin friction occurs due to:

1. Soil swelling
   B. Soil settlement
   C. Pile uplift
   D. Load reduction

✅ Answer: B

Q127. Under-reamed piles are used in:

1. Sandy soil
   B. Black cotton soil
   C. Gravel
   D. Rock

✅ Answer: B

Q128. Pile load test is conducted to find:

1. Bearing capacity
   B. Settlement
   C. Safe load
   D. All of the above

✅ Answer: D

Q129. Minimum spacing of piles is:

1. 1D
   B. 2D
   C. 3D
   D. 5D

✅ Answer: C

Q130. Pile group efficiency is:

1. Always >1
   B. Always <1
   C. Always =1
   D. Variable

✅ Answer: D

Q131. Friction pile transfers load mainly through:

1. Tip
   B. Shaft
   C. Base
   D. Cap

✅ Answer: B

Q132. Settlement of pile group in clay is:

1. Less than single pile
   B. Same as single pile
   C. More than single pile
   D. Zero

✅ Answer: C

Q133. Well foundation is commonly used for:

1. Buildings
   B. Bridges
   C. Towers
   D. Retaining walls

✅ Answer: B

Q134. Tilt of foundation is caused due to:

1. Uniform settlement
   B. Differential settlement
   C. Consolidation
   D. Compaction

✅ Answer: B

Q135. Allowable settlement for isolated footing is about:

1. 5 mm
   B. 25 mm
   C. 75 mm
   D. 100 mm

✅ Answer: B

Q136. Pile cap is provided to:

1. Transfer load
   B. Distribute load
   C. Protect pile
   D. Reduce settlement

✅ Answer: B

Q137. Floating foundation is also called:

1. Raft foundation
   B. Compensated foundation
   C. Combined foundation
   D. Deep foundation

✅ Answer: B

Q138. Foundation failure due to excessive settlement is:

1. Shear failure
   B. Structural failure
   C. Serviceability failure
   D. Bearing failure

✅ Answer: C

Q139. Skirted foundation increases:

1. Bearing capacity
   B. Settlement
   C. Uplift
   D. Void ratio

✅ Answer: A

Q140. Pile driving formula estimates:

1. Pile length
   B. Pile settlement
   C. Pile capacity
   D. Pile spacing

✅ Answer: C

Q141. End bearing piles are suitable when:

1. Soft clay exists
   B. Hard stratum at depth
   C. Water table is high
   D. Soil is loose

✅ Answer: B

Q142. Caisson foundation is a type of:

1. Shallow foundation
   B. Pile foundation
   C. Well foundation
   D. Raft foundation

✅ Answer: C

Q143. Maximum bending moment in pile occurs at:

1. Pile tip
   B. Ground level
   C. Mid-depth
   D. Pile cap

✅ Answer: B

Q144. Uplift capacity of pile depends on:

1. Pile length
   B. Skin friction
   C. Soil type
   D. All of the above

✅ Answer: D

Q145. Settlement of shallow foundation depends on:

1. Load intensity
   B. Soil compressibility
   C. Depth
   D. All

✅ Answer: D

Q146. Grillage foundation is used for:

1. Heavy loads on weak soil
   B. Light loads
   C. Waterlogged soil
   D. Rock

✅ Answer: A

Q147. Mat foundation is economical when:

1. SBC is high
   B. Columns are many
   C. Loads are small
   D. Soil is rock

✅ Answer: B

Q148. Failure of pile due to buckling occurs in:

1. Dense soil
   B. Soft clay
   C. Sand
   D. Rock

✅ Answer: B

Q149. Pile load test is usually conducted at:

1. 1.5 times working load
   B. Working load
   C. Ultimate load
   D. Failure load

✅ Answer: A

Q150. Differential settlement is more dangerous than uniform settlement because:

1. Causes cracking
   B. Reduces bearing capacity
   C. Increases load
   D. Causes uplift

✅ Answer: A