Engineering Questions with Answers - Multiple Choice Questions
Earth Pressure at Rest
1 - Question
The coefficient of active earth pressure is_______ than the coefficient of passive pressure.
a) less than
b) greater than
c) equal to
d) insufficient data
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: The coefficient of active earth pressure is less than that of the coefficient of passive earth pressure. The coefficient of active earth pressure is also less than that of the coefficient of earth pressure at rest.
2 - Question
The coefficient earth pressure at rest is _______________
a) less than coefficient of active pressure
b) greater than coefficient of active pressure
c) equal to coefficient of active pressure
d) one
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation: The coefficient earth pressure at rest is greater than that of the coefficient of active earth pressure. But, he coefficient earth pressure at rest is less than the coefficient of passive earth pressure.
3 - Question
For earth pressure at rest, there will be no ______
a) vertical stress
b) shear stress
c) horizontal stress
d) both vertical and horizontal stress
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation: For earth pressure at rest, there is horizontal stress as well as the vertical stress. For earth pressure at rest, there will be no shear stresses.
4 - Question
The lateral strain in the horizontal direction is _______
a) ∈h=1E[σh−μ(σv)]
b) ∈h=1E[σh−μ(σh−σv)]
c) ∈h=1E[σh−μ(σh+σv)]
d) ∈h=1E[σh−(σh−σv)]
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation: The lateral strain ∈h in the horizontal direction is given by,
∈h=1E[σh−μ(σh−σv)],
where, σh =horizontal stress
σv =vertical stress
E=elastic modulus
μ= Poisson’s ratio.
5 - Question
The lateral earth pressure at rest with respect to Poisson’s ratio is _______
a) σh=μ(σh-σv)
b) σh=μ(σh-σv)
c) σh=μ(σh+σv)
d) σh=-μ(σh-σv)
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: The earth pressure at rest has the condition corresponding to ∈h=0.
Since, ∈h=1E[σh−μ(σh−σv)],
∴ σh=μ(σh+σv).
6 - Question
The coefficient of earth pressure at rest is given by _________
a) K0=μ1−μ
b) K0=μ1+μ
c) K0=2μ1−μ
d) K0=11−μ
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: The coefficient of earth pressure at rest is the ratio of the horizontal stress to the vertical stress.
since, σh=μ(σh+σv),
∴ σhσv=μ1−μ.
∴ K0=μ1−μ.
7 - Question
If γ is the unit weight of soil, then the lateral earth pressure at depth z of soil mass is ______
a) σh=32K0z
b) σh=γz
c) σh=-K0 γz
d) σh=K0 γz
View Answer
Answer: d
Explanation: Since the lateral earth pressure is given by,
σh=μ(σh+σv )=K0 σv,
substituting σv=γz,
∴ σh=K0 γz.
8 - Question
The pressure distribution diagram for earth pressure at rest is _______
a) circular
b) triangular
c) rectangular
d) square
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation: The pressure distribution diagram for earth pressure at rest is triangular. If the retaining wall has a height of H, then the pressure at the base of wall is K0γH. At the top of wall, the pressure is zero.
9 - Question
The total earth pressure P0 at rest per unit length for vertical height H is _______
a) P0=12K0γH2
b) P0=γH2
c) P0=K0 γH2
d) P0=12K0H2
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: The pressure intensity P0 is given by,
P0=K0 γz,
The total earth pressure P0 at rest per unit length is,
P0=∫H0K0γz.dz
∴ P0=12K0γH2.
10 - Question
The coefficient of earth pressure at rest is represented as _________ expression given by Jaky.
a) K0=1-sinφ
b) K0=sinφ
c) K0=1-cosφ
d) K0=cosφ
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: The coefficient of earth pressure at rest is also computed from the expression given by Jaky in 1944 as,
K0=1-sinφ,
where, φ=angle of internal friction of the soil specimen.
11 - Question
For cohesion-less soil, the angle of internal friction is 45°, find the K0.
a) 0.429
b) 0.784
c) 0.293
d) 0.334
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: Given,
φ=450
K0=1-sinφ=1-sin45=0.293.
12 - Question
A backfill of a retaining wall consists of γ=19 kN/m3 which is 6 m high. Find the total earth pressure per meter length. Given coefficient of earth pressure at rest is 0.5.
a) 165 kN/m
b) 178 kN/m
c) 171 kN/m
d) 345 kN/m
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: Given,
γ=19 kN/m3
H=6 m
P0=12K0γH2
P0=12(0.5)(19)62=171kN/m.
13 - Question
If K0=0.4, then find the value of µ.
a) 0.438
b) 0.286
c) 0.472
d) 0.592
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation: Given,
K0=0.4
K0=μ1−μ
μ=K01−K0
μ=0.41−0.4
μ=0.286.
14 - Question
For μ=0.3, find K0.
a) 0.429
b) 0.289
c) 0.536
d) 0.375
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: Given,
μ=0.3
K0=μ1−μ=0.31−0.3
K0=0.429.
15 - Question
A backfill of a retaining wall consists of γ=19 kN/m3 which is 6 m high. Find the lateral earth pressure per meter length. Given coefficient of earth pressure at rest is 0.5.
a) 43 kN/m2
b) 57 kN/m2
c) 48 kN/m2
d) 76 kN/m2
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation:
Given,
γ = 19 kN/m2
z = 6 m
K0 = 0.5
P0 = K0 γz = 0.5×19×6
P0 = 57 kN/m2.