250+ TOP MCQs on Bearing Capacity – Permissible Total and Differential Settlements and Answers

Geotechnical Engineering Questions and Answers for Entrance exams on “Bearing Capacity – Permissible Total and Differential Settlements”.

1. The analytical methods used for finding bearing capacity of footing is based on ___________
a) Shear failure
b) Effective pressure
c) Overburden pressure
d) Size of the footing
Answer: a
Clarification: The analytical methods for the determination of bearing capacity of footings are based essentially on shear failure.

2. The effect of settlement on structure depends upon its ________
a) Magnitude and Uniformity
b) Size
c) None of the mentioned
d) All of the mentioned
Answer: a
Clarification: The effect of settlement upon the structure depends on its magnitude, the length of the time over which it takes place, its magnitude and the nature of the structure itself.

3. The vertical downward movement of the base of the structure is called __________
a) Penetration resistance
b) Settlement
c) Effective pressure
d) Shear failure
Answer: b
Clarification: The vertical downward movement of the base of the structure is called settlement and its effect depends upon its magnitude and uniformity etc.

4. The allowable pressure, that should be selected for a maximum settlement is ____________
a) 40 mm
b) 25 mm
c) 30 mm
d) 10 mm
Answer: b
Clarification: It is suggested that allowable pressure should be selected such that maximum settlement of any individual foundation is 25 mm.

5. The maximum allowable settlement for warehouses are _________
a) 25
b) 38
c) 50
d) Less than 0.5
Answer: c
Clarification: The allowable maximum settlement for warehouse type of structure is 50 mm.

6. According to National building code of India, the differential settlement can be kept within limits by __________
a) Suitably designing the foundation
b) Decreasing the total settlements
c) Increasing the allowable pressure.
d) None of the mentioned
Answer: a
Clarification: According to National Building Code of India (SP: 7-1970) the differential settlement shall be kept within limits to which the super-structure can accommodate itself without the distortion, by suitably designing the foundation.

7. For simple spread footing on clayey soil, the differential settlement should not exceed __________
a) 1/ 400
b) 1/300
c) 1/100
d) 1/3
Answer: b
Clarification: For simple spread footing on clayey soils, the allowable pressure should be such that the differential settlement does not exceed 1/300.

8. According to Polish and Tokar brick masonry will crack, when the unit elongation amounts to ___________
a) 0.5
b) 0.005
c) 1.0
d) 0.05
Answer: b
Clarification: According to Polishin and Tokar (1957), brick masonry will crack due to differential settlement when the unit elongation amount to 0.005.

9. The recommendation of American code, for a differential settlement depends upon __________
a) Type of structure and Pattern of loading
b) Settlement depth
c) None of the mentioned
d) All of the mentioned
Answer: a
Clarification: The recommendation of American code are based upon that if the maximum total settlement is kept within a reasonable limit, the differential settlement will only be a fraction depending upon the type of structure and pattern of loading.

10. The rate of differential settlement is defined by which of the following equation?
a) H/L
b) L/H
c) H/H c
d) None of the mentioned
Answer: b
Clarification: The rate of settlement is defined as the slope or the relative settlement between two points divided by the horizontal distance.
Rate of differential settlement = L/H.

Geotechnical Engineering for Entrance exams, .