250+ TOP MCQs on Types of Piles and Answers

Geotechnical Engineering Multiple Choice Questions on “Types of Piles”.

1. The art of driving piles into the ground was first established by __________
a) Greeks
b) Romans
c) Philippians
d) None of the mentioned
Answer: b
Clarification: The art of driving was first well-established in Roman times and the details of such foundation were recorded by Vitruvius in 59 A.D.

2. Based on the function, piles can be classified into ___________ types.
a) 4
b) 6
c) 8
d) 3
Answer: c
Clarification: Based on the function or the use, piles may be classified as 1) end bearing piles 2) friction piles 3) compaction piles 4) tension pile 5) anchor pile 6) fender pile 7) batter pile 8) sheet pile.

3. Which of the following piles is used to compact loose granular soil?
a) Friction piles
b) End bearing piles
c) Compaction piles
d) Tension piles
Answer: c
Clarification: Compaction piles are used to compact loose granular soil, thus increasing their bearing capacity.

4. Sheet piles are commonly used as __________ in hydraulic structure.
a) Bulk heads
b) Bearing stratum
c) Boulders
d) Composite piles
Answer: a
Clarification: Sheet piles are commonly used as bulkheads, or as an impervious cutoff to reduce seepage and uplift under the hydraulic structure.

5. The piles that are used for protecting structures from ships and floating object is ____________
a) Anchor piles
b) Fender piles
c) Compaction piles
d) Batter piles
Answer: c
Clarification: Fender piles and dolphins are used to protect waterfront structures against the impact of ships or other floating objects.

6. Modern pile driving method was first invented by ___________
a) Romans
b) Nasmyth
c) Terzaghi
d) Vitruvious
Answer: b
Clarification: Modern pile driving started with the first steam pile drivers, invented by Nasmyth in 1845.

7. The precast concrete piles are generally used for a maximum design load of about ____________
a) 50 tonnes
b) 100 tonnes
c) 75 tonnes
d) 80 tonnes
Answer: d
Clarification: The precast concrete piles are generally used for a maximum design load of about 80 tonnes, except for large pre-stressed piles.

8. Cast-in-situ piles may be classified in to ________ classes.
a) Three
b) Eight
c) Two
d) Four
Answer: c
Clarification: Cast-in-situ piles can be classified in to two classes: driven piles(cased or uncased) and bored piles(pressure piles, pedestal piles and under reamed piles).

9. Which of the following piles is a cast-in-situ type of concrete pile?
a) Under-reamed pile
b) Raymond standard pile
c) Pressure pile
d) Anchor pile
Answer: b
Clarification: Raymond standard pile and Raymond step-taper pile are the common types of cast-in-situ piles.

10. Composite piles are suitable for ______________
a) Maximum design load
b) Project above the water table
c) Compacting the soil
d) Protect water front structures
Answer: b
Clarification: Composite piles are suitable where the upper part of a file is to project above the water table. Such a pile consists of a lower portion of untreated timber and the upper portion of concrete.

11. Piles are commonly driven in to ground by means of special device called __________
a) Pile driver and Hammer
b) Driller
c) None of the mentioned
d) All of the mentioned
Answer: a
Clarification: Piles are commonly driven by means of hammer supported by a crane or by a special device known as pile drivers.

12. The types of hammer used for driving piles are ___________
a) Drop hammer
b) Diesel hammer
c) Vibratory hammer
d) All of the mentioned
Answer: d
Clarification: Hammer of the following types: i) drop hammer ii) single acting hammer iii) double acting hammer iv) diesel hammer v)vibratory hammer.

13. If a hammer is raised by steam and allowed to fall by gravity on top of the pile, it is called as________
a) Diesel hammer
b) Vibratory hammer
c) Single acting hammer
d) Drop hammer
Answer: c
Clarification: If a hammer is raised by steam, compressed air or internal combustion, but is allowed to fall by gravity alone, it is called as single acting hammer. The energy of such hammer is equal to the weight of the ram times the height of the fall.

14. Single acting hammers provide an advantage in __________ type of soil.
a) Compact soil and Hard soil
b) Light weight soil
c) None of the mentioned
d) All of the mentioned
Answer: a
Clarification: Single acting hammers are advantageous when driving heavy piles in compact or hard piles.