250+ TOP MCQs on Pile Load Tests and Answers

Geotechnical Engineering Multiple Choice Questions on “Pile Load Tests”.

1. The pile load test should be performed on __________
a) Working pile
b) Test pile
c) All of the mentioned
d) None of the mentioned
Answer: c
Clarification: The pile load test can be performed on a working pile which forms the foundation of the structure or on a test pile.

2. A Factor of safety that should be adopted for finding an allowable load for a pile is _________
a) 2.5 and 3
b) 4
c) None of the mentioned
d) All of the mentioned
Answer: a
Clarification: The IS code recommends that for working out allowable load, a minimum factor of safety 2.5 or 3 should be used.

3. For pile in cohesive soil __________ is neglected for individual pile action.
a) Frictional resistance
b) Surface area of pile
c) Shear strength of soil
d) All of the mentioned
Answer: b
Clarification: For the pile in cohesive soil, point bearing is generally neglected for individual pile action, since it is negligible as compared to frictional resistance.

4. The allowable load for the pile is given by __________ equation.
a) Qa = Qup/ F
b) Qa = Qup× F
c) Qa = WH /F(S+C)
d) Qa = WH /6(S+2.5)
Answer: a
Clarification: The allowable load Qp for a pile is given by dividing the ultimate bearing capacity Qup by a suitable factor of safety F.
Qa = Qup/ F.

5. The separation of Q at any stage of loading into Rp and Rf in cyclic test is based on experimental value found out by________
a) Hailey
b) A.F. Van Weele
c) A.M. Wellington
d) MacArthur
Answer: b
Clarification: The separation of Q at any stage of loading into Rp and Rf in cyclic test is based on experimental found value of A.F. Van Weele (1957) that the load on the pile toes (1957) that the load on the pile toe (i.e. RP) increases linearly with the elastic compression of the soil.

6. The test which can be used for separating load carried by the pile is _________
a) Cyclic load test
b) Pile load test
c) Penetration test
d) All of the mentioned
Answer: a
Clarification: The cyclic load test is particularly useful in separating the load carried by the pile into the skin friction and point bearing resistance.

7. The result of Dutch cone penetration test can be applied to determine _________
a) Ultimate skin fraction
b) Total ultimate point
c) Ultimate bearing capacity
d) None of the mentioned
Answer: c
Clarification: The result of Dutch cone penetration test can be applied with sufficient accuracy to determine the ultimate bearing capacity of piles in cohesion soils.

8. The elastic compression Δ L of a pile can be calculated by the expression based on ___________
a) Terzaghi’s theory
b) Hooke’s law
c) Meyerhof’s theory
d) Hiley’s formula
Answer: b
Clarification: The elastic compression Δ L of the pile corresponding to any load Q (= Rf + Rp) can be calculated from the following expression based on Hooke’s law,
Δ L = (Q – Rf/2) L / AE.