250+ TOP MCQs on Bearing Capacity – Plate Load Test and Answers

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Geotechnical Engineering Multiple Choice Questions on “Bearing Capacity – Plate Load Test”.

1. The plate load test is essentially a ___________
a) Laboratory test
b) Field test
c) Graphical method analysis
d) None of the mentioned
Answer: b
Clarification: Plate load test is a field test to determine the ultimate bearing capacity of the soil, and the probable settlement under a given loading.

2. The plate load test consists in loading a rigid plate at the _________
a) Base of the footing
b) Bottom of the construction
c) Foundation level
d) All of the mentioned
Answer: c
Clarification: The plate load test essentially consists in loading a rigid plate at the foundation level, and determining the corresponding to each load increment.

3. The bearing plate used in plate load test is in the shape of __________
a) Square
b) Rectangular and Circular
c) None of the mentioned
d) All of the mentioned
Answer: b
Clarification: The bearing plate is either circular or square, made of mild steel of not less than 25 mm in thickness.

4. The size of bearing plate, which used in plate load test varies from ___________
a) 300 to 750 mm
b) 25 to 100 mm
c) 100 to 300 mm
d) 25 to 300 mm
Answer: a
Clarification: The bearing plate used varies in size from 300 to 750 mm with a chequered or grooved bottom.

5. The loading to the test plate is applied with __________
a) Fluid tube
b) Hydraulic jack
c) Sand bags
d) Cross-joists
Answer: b
Clarification: The loading to the test plate may be applied with the help of a hydraulic jack. The reaction of the hydraulic jack may be borne by either any of gravity loading methodor reaction truss method.

6. For clayey and silty soils, which of the following bearing plate can be used?
a) Square plate and Concrete block
b) Circular plate
c) None of the mentioned
d) All of the mentioned
Answer: a
Clarification: For clayey and silty soils and for loose medium dense sandy soils with N < 15, a 450 mm square plate or concrete block shall be used.

7. The settlement of the plate in a load test is measured with the help of _________
a) Sensitive dial gauges
b) Test plate
c) Measuring unit
d) Datum bar
Answer: a
Clarification: The settlement of the plate is measured with the help of sensitive dial gauges. For square plate, two dial gauges are used. The dial gauges are mounted on independently supported datum bar.

8. According to Indian standard method, the loading of the plate should be borne with either by ___________
a) Gravity loading platform and Reaction truss
b) Concrete blocks
c) None of the mentioned
d) All of the mentioned
Answer: a
Clarification: Indian standards (IS: 1888: 1982) recommend that the loading of the plate should invariably be borne either by gravity loading platform or by the reaction truss.

9. A seating pressure of ___________ is applied on the plate before starting the load test.
a) 70 g/cm2
b) 30 g/cm2
c) 50 g/cm2
d) 100 g/cm2
Answer: a
Clarification: A minimum seating pressure of 70 g/cm2 (0.7 t/m2), shall be applied and removed before starting the load test.

10. Which of the following type of loading method is popular now-a-days?
a) Gravity loading platform
b) Reaction truss
c) Concrete blocks
d) All of the mentioned
Answer: b
Clarification: The use of reaction truss is more popular now-a-days since this is simple, quick and less clumsy.

11. The value of factor of safety used, for finding safe bearing capacity is __________
a) 2.5
b) 2
c) 4
d) 3
Answer: b
Clarification: In order to determine the safe bearing capacity, it would be normally sufficient to use a factor of safety of 2 or 2.5 on the ultimate bearing capacity.

12. Which of the following pose a limitation to plate load test?
a) Effect of size of foundation and Test on cohesive soil
b) Load increment
c) None of the mentioned
d) All of the mentioned
Answer: a
Clarification: A limitation of plate load test is
i) Effect of the size of foundation. For clayey soils the ultimate pressure for a large foundation is the same as that of the test plate. But in dense sandy soils, the bearing capacity increases, with the size of the foundation
ii) Plate load test is essentially a short duration test, and hence the test does not give the ultimate settlement, particularly in the case of cohesive soil.

13. For a c-φ soil, Housel suggested which of the following expression?
a) Q = A .q + P .s
b) Q = A .q
c) q f = M + N( BF/B p )
d) All of the mentioned
Answer: a
Clarification: In 1929, Housel suggested the following expression for a c-φ soil:
Q = A .q + P .s
Where, Q = total load on bearing area;
P = perimeter of footing;
S = perimeter shear;
A = contact area of footing or plate.

14. For clay soil the value of n can be taken as _____________ in the absence of test data.
a) 0. 4 to 0.5
b) 0.20 to 0.25
c) 0.003 to 0.05
d) 0.08 to 0.10
Answer: c
Clarification: The value of index n can be determined by carrying out two or more plate load tests on different size plate. In absence of test data, the following values of n can be adopted:
Dense sand : 0.4 to 0.5
Loose sand : 0.20 to 0.25
Clay : 0.003 to 0.05
Sand clay : 0.08 to 0.10.