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Shallow and Deep Foundation MCQs – Part 1

15 questions. Tap an option to check it instantly, then read the solution.

Practice SSC JE and other civil engineering exam questions on foundations: shallow and deep foundations, footing types, raft and combined footings, bearing capacity (gross, net, safe and allowable), Terzaghi's bearing capacity factors, general, local and punching shear failure, the effect of the water table, contact pressure, plate load test, CBR test, piles, pile driving, caissons and underpinning. Tap an option to check it, then open the full explanation for each question.

Question 1Easy
In the laboratory determination of the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of soils as per IS 2720 (Part 16) – 1987, the CBR values are usually reported for penetration values of:
Full explanation

Answer: C. 2.5 mm, 5.0 mm

CBR is worked out at 2.5 mm and 5.0 mm penetration. The 2.5 mm value is normally reported; if the 5.0 mm value is higher and stays higher on a repeat test, the 5.0 mm value is used.

Question 2Easy
The suitability for a particular type of foundation does NOT depend upon the ______.
Full explanation

Answer: A. optimum moisture content (OMC) of soil

OMC is a compaction property. Foundation choice is governed by the soil type, the loads and the water table.

Question 3Easy
Which of the following piles is used for compacting loose granular soil?
Full explanation

Answer: B. Compaction piles

Compaction piles are driven into loose sand to densify it and raise its bearing capacity.

Question 4Easy
Which of the following types of foundation is suitable for cohesive soil, and distributes the load over a wider area compared to other foundation types?
Full explanation

Answer: C. Raft foundation

A raft (mat) covers the whole plan area, so it spreads the load over the widest area.

Question 5Easy
Which of the following materials is used for waterproofing during the construction of a foundation and for protecting the structure from seepage problems?
Full explanation

Answer: B. Pitch

Pitch (bituminous/tar material) is water-repellent and is applied as a coating to keep water out of foundations.

Question 6Easy
Which of the following types of soil is known for its high load-bearing capacity and stability, making it ideal for the construction of foundations?
Full explanation

Answer: B. Sandy soil

Sand is coarse-grained, drains freely and settles little, so among these it has the highest bearing capacity.

Question 7Easy
For a very deep footing in loose sand, the type of soil failure will be:
Full explanation

Answer: B. punching shear failure

Loose sand plus a deep footing gives punching shear: the footing pushes straight down with vertical shear along its edges.

Question 8Easy
The gross bearing capacity of a strip footing 1.5 m wide, located at a depth of 1.2 m in clay, is 420 kN/m². If the unit weight of the soil is 20 kN/m³, estimate the net bearing capacity in kN/m².
Full explanation

Answer: B. 396

qnu = qu − γDf = 420 − 20 × 1.2 = 396 kN/m².

Question 9Medium
Punching shear may occur in loose sand with relative density less than _____.
Full explanation

Answer: B. 35%

Punching shear is associated with loose sand of relative density below about 35% (some books quote 30%).

Question 10Easy
The type of pile foundation that is installed through soft strata to build a stable foundation for heavy structures, carrying the load by resistance at its base, is called:
Full explanation

Answer: B. end bearing piles

An end-bearing pile passes through soft soil and rests on a firm stratum, carrying the load at its tip.

Question 11Easy
The foundation of a structure is designed for:
Full explanation

Answer: A. shear failure of soils

Soil under a footing fails in shear, so foundations are designed against shear failure (and excessive settlement).

Question 12Medium
The ratio Nc/Nq for a purely cohesive soil is ____ (Nc and Nq are Terzaghi's bearing capacity factors).
Full explanation

Answer: A. 5.7

For φ = 0, Terzaghi gives Nc = 5.7 and Nq = 1, so the ratio is 5.7.

Question 13Medium
Allowable bearing capacity is defined as:
Full explanation

Answer: D. net loading intensity at which neither shear failure nor settlement failure occurs in the soil

Allowable bearing capacity must satisfy both checks: safe against shear failure and settlement within the permissible value.

Question 14Easy
In general shear failure, a continuous failure surface is developed between ____.
Full explanation

Answer: C. the edge of the footing and the ground surface

In general shear failure the slip surface runs continuously from the edge of the footing up to the ground surface, where the soil heaves.

Question 15Medium
Which method involves driving piles along both sides of an existing wall and inserting needles, acting as pile caps, through the existing wall?
Full explanation

Answer: B. Pile method

That is the pile method of underpinning: piles each side of the wall, needle beams through the wall as pile caps.