Soil Mechanics - Classification of Soils

Q.1. Soils transmitted by the wind are called
(a) alluvial soil
(b) residual soil
(c) aeolin soil
(d) marine soil (AMIE Summer2000)

Q.2. A fine-grained soil transported by water and deposited at the bottom of the lake is
(a) lacustrine soil
(b) alluvial soil
(c) loess
(d) dune sand (IES 1996, AMIE Summer98)

Q.3. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List I (Type of Soil)
A. Lacustrine soil
B. Alluvial soil
C. Aeolin soil
D. Marine soil

List II (Mode of transportation and deposition)
1. Transportation by the wind
2. Transportation by running water
3. Deposited at the bottom of lakes
4. Deposited in sea water

(a) A1,B2,C3,D4
(b) A3,B2,C1,D4
(c) A3,B2,C4,D1
(d) A1,B3,C2,D4 (IES 1995)

Q.4. The description �sandy silty clay� signifies that
(a) the soil contains unequal proportions of three constituents such that sand > silt > clay
(b) the soil contains equal proportions of sand, silt and clay
(c) the soil contains unequal proportions of the three constituents such that clay > silt > sand
(d) there is no information regarding the relative proportions of the three  (GATE 1992)

Q.5. The shape of clay particle is usually
(a) angular
(b) flaky
(c) tubular
(d) rounded (GATE 1997)

Q.6. The swelling nature of black cotton soil is primarily due to the presence of
(a) Kaolinite
(b) Illite
(c) Montmorillonite
(d) Vermiculite (GATE 1993)

Q.7. The consistency of a saturated cohesive soil is affected by
(a) particle size distribution
(b) density index
(c) coefficient of permeability
(d) water content (GATE 1995)

Q.8. According to IS code, size of particles of silt will be between
(a) 0.075 mm and 4.75 mm
(b) 0.002 mm and 0.075 mm
(c) 0.001 mm and 0.06 mm
(d) 0.075 mm and 0.275 mm (AMIE Summer2000)

Q.9. Coefficient of curvature(Cc) is defined as
(a)  
(b)  
(c)  
(d)  

Q.10. Coefficient of uniformity(Cu) is
(a) D60/D10
(b) D10/D60
(c) D60/D30
(d) D60.D10 (AMIE Summer98)

Answers
1. c
2. a
3. b
4. c
5. b
6. c
7. d
8. b
9. c
10. a

Soil Mechanics - Classification of Soils

Q.1. In soil classification, SP stands for
(a) well-graded soil
(b) poorly graded sands
(c) well graded sands
(d) inorganic clay (AMIE Summer99)

Q.2. Based on grain distribution analysis, the D10, D30 and D60 values of a given soil are 0.23 mm, 0.3 mm, and 0.41 mm respectively. As per IS code, the soil classification will be
(a) SW
(b) SP
(c) SM
(d)  SC (IES 2001)

Q.3. In soil classification, MH stands for
(a) inorganic silts of high compressibility
(b) organic silt of high compressibility
(c) well graded clay
(d) poorly graded clay (AMIE Summer99)

Q.4. Match list I(different types of soil) with List II(group symbols of I.S. classification) and select answer using codes given below the lists.
List I
A. Well graded gravel-sand mixture with little or no fines
B. Poorly graded sands or gravelly sand with little or no fines
C. Inorganic silts and very fine sands or clayey silts with low plasticity
D. Inorganic clays of high plasticity
List II
1. ML
2. CH
3. GW
4. SP
(a) A3,B1,C4,D2
(b) A3,B4,C1,D2
(c) A2,B4,C1,D3
(d) A2,B1,C4,D3 (IES 1994)

Q.5. A soil has a liquid limit of 45% and lies above the A-line when plotted on a plasticity chart. The group symbol of the soil as per IS soil classification is
(a) CH
(b) CI
(c) CL
(d) MI (IES 1997)

Q.6. Match List-I(soils) with List-II(group symbols) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:

List-I
A. clayey gravel
B.  clayey sand
C. organic clay
D.  silty sand

List-II
1. SM
2. OH
3. SC
4. GC
(a) A3,B4,C2,D1
(b) A4,B3,C1,D2
(c) A4,B3,C2,D1
(d) A3,B4,C1,D2 (IES 2000)

Q.7. Consider the following statements in the context of aeolian soils:
1. The soil has low density and low compressibility.
2. The soil is deposited by the wind.
3. The soil has large permeability.
Of these statements
(a) 1,2 and 3 are correct
(b) 2 and 3 are correct
(c) 1 and 3 are correct
(d) 1 and 2 are correct (IES 1997)

Q.8. The structure of clay mineral as represented in the following figure is

(a) Illite
(b) montmorillonite
(c) silica
(d) rock

Q.9. The structure of clay mineral as represented in the following figure is of

(a) Illite
(b) montmorillonite
(c) silica
(d) rock

Q.10. When the product of rock weathering are not transported as sediments but remained in place, the soil is
(a) alluvial soil
(b) residual soil
(c) glacial soil
(d) aeolian soil

Answers:

1. b

2. b

3. a

4. b

5. b

6. c

7. b

8. a

9. b

10. b

Soil Mechanics - Soil Classification

Q.1. For a soil sample, degree of shrinkage is less than 5%. The quality of the soil sample is
(a) poor
(b) very poor
(c) medium good
(d) good

Q.2. A soil having particles of nearly the same size is known as
(a) well graded
(b) uniformly graded
(c) poorly graded
(d) gap graded (GATE 1995)

Q.3. The particles size distribution curves are extremely useful for the classification of
(a) fine grained soils
(b) coarse grained soils
(c) both coarse grained and fine grained soils
(d) silts and clays (GATE 1996)

Q.4. Unified soil classification is based on
(a) grain size
(b) plasticity
(c) both(a) and (b)
(d) neither (a) nor (b)

Q.5. A soil is described by GP. the soil is
(a) silty soil
(b) inorganic soil
(c) poorly graded gravel
(d) low plasticity organic silt

Q.6. A soil is described by CI. The soil is
(a) poorly graded soil
(b) silty soil
(c) inorganic clay*
(d) none of these

Q.7. A soil is described as ML. The soil is
(a) well graded soil
(b) plastic fines soil
(c) peat
(d) low plasticity silt

Q.8. In Unified soil classification system, primary letters M, O and Pt stand for
(a) clay, sand and peat respectively
(b) organic, silt and peat
(c) silt, organic and peat
(d) none of these

Q.9. In Unified soil classification system, secondary letter M stands for
(a) well graded
(b) poorly graded
(c) Non-plastic fines
(d) low plasticity

Q.10. In Unified soil classification system, secondary letter
(a) W stands for well graded
(b) C stands for plastic fines
(c) L stands for low plasticity
(d) all of the above

Answer:
1. d
2. b
3. c
4. c
5. c
6. c
7. d
8. c
9. c
10. d

Soil Mechanics - Basic Concepts

Q.1. If activity number of a soil sample is greater than 1.40, the soil would be
(a) active
(b) subjected to volume change
(c) both (a) and (b)
(d) neither (a) nor (b)

Q.2. If plasticity index is greater than 17%, the soil is
(a) plastic
(b) less plastic
(c) highly plastic
(d) stiff

Q.3. Data for a given soil sample is: Liquid limit = 60 %; Plastic limit = 30%; Flow index = 27. Toughness index of the soil will be
(a) 1.11
(b) -1.11
(c) 0.9
(d) -0.9

Q.4. Liquid index of a soil in semi-solid state would be
(a) 0
(b) 1
(c) >1
(d) negative

Q.5. Liquid index of a soil in solid state would be
(a) 0
(b) 1
(c) >1
(d) negative

Q.6. Liquid index of a soil in very stiff state, would be
(a) 0
(b) 1
(c) >1
(d) <0
Q.7. Liquidity index of a soil sample in soft state will be equal to
(a) 0
(b) 1
(c) <1
(d) >1

Q.8. Liquid index of a soil sample in liquid state(when disturbed) will be equal to
(a) 0
(b) 1
(c) <1
(d) >1

Q.9. The maximum possible value of Group Index for a soil is
(a) 20
(b) 30
(c) 40
(d) 50 (GATE 1991)

Q.10. When the natural moisture content of a soil is equal to its plastic limit, its liquidity index is equal to
(a) 0%
(b) 50%
(c) 75%
(d) 100% (AMIE Summer2000)

Answer:
1. c
2. c
3. a
4. d
5. d
6. a
7. b
8. d
9. a
10. a