250+ TOP MCQs on General Bearing Capacity Equation: Brinch Hansen’s Analysis and Answers

Geotechnical Engineering Question Bank on “General Bearing Capacity Equation: Brinch Hansens Analysis”.

1. For purely cohesive soil, Nc has a maximum value of ___________ for square footing.
a) 5
b) 7.5
c) 9
d) 10
Answer: c
Clarification: According to Skempton’s observation, for purely cohesive soil (φ = 0) Nc has a maximum value of 9 for square or circular footing.

2. The Brinch Hansen shape factor can be applied to ___________ for the case of rectangular footing.
a) Skempton value of Nc
b) Terzaghi’s equation
c) Meyerhof’s equation
d) None of the mentioned
Answer: a
Clarification: The Brinch Hansen shape factor can be applied to the Nc values from Skempton for the rectangular footing.

3. Hansen considered the bearing capacity as a ____________
a) Tri axial problem
b) Base factor
c) Plane-strain problem
d) All of the mentioned
Answer: c
Clarification: Brinch Hansen considered the bearing capacity as a plane-strain problem. If φ is found by tri axial test, its corresponding value for the plane strain case can be computed.

4. Bowel suggested that the increase in φ in plane-strain case can be computed only for φ greater than ____________
a) 30
b) 25
c) 60
d) 90
Answer: b
Clarification: Bowel suggests that the increase of φ in the equation φ plain strain = 1.1 φ tri axial can be computed only for φ greater than 25°.

5. Skempton observed that the factor Nc increases with the ratio ___________
a) D/B
b) B/D
c) H/Hc
d) c/cm
Answer: a
Clarification: Based partly on theory and partly on the laboratory test, Skempton observed that the factor Nc increases with the ratio D/B.

6. When D=0, the value of Nc for strip footing will be ____________
a) 6.20
b) 2.5
c) 5.14
d) 7.5
Answer: a
Clarification: According to Skempton recommendation, the value of Nc = 5.14 for strip footing when D=0 and Nc = 6.20 for square or circular footing.

7. Which of the following value can be taken [Nc] surface for surface footing?
a) 6
b) 5
c) 2.1
d) 9
Answer: a
Clarification: Value of [Nc] surface may be roughly taken as 5 for surface strip footing and as 6 for square or circular footing.

8. The term ‘i’ in Hansen equation represents ___________
a) Depth factor
b) Shape factor
c) Ground factor
d) Inclination factor
Answer: d
Clarification: According to Brinch Hansen’s equation, i represent the inclination factor to account for both horizontal and vertical components of foundation loads.

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