UW-Stout Geology and Soil Mechanics
Review Quiz
Section 8

Solutions


 1. At a construction site, there are usually three groups of people - owners, engineers, and contractors. In most instances, if the excavation encounters a foreseeable problem with the subsurface, this problem is the responsibility of
a) the owner.
b) the engineer.
c) the contractor.
 

 2.  Which quantity best describes how the vertical pressure is related to the lateral or horizontal soil pressure?
a) The coefficient of consolidation, cv.
b) The compression index, Cc.
c) The angle of internal friction, f.
d) The coefficient of earth pressure at rest, Ko.
e) none of the above
 
 3. If an earthwork contract specifies a particular soil type to be used as embankment material, that material is considered
a) classified.
b) non-classified.
c) designated.
d) qualified.
4. A Gabion retaining wall consists of large wire cages filled with stones and linked together to retain soil.
a) True
b) False
 
 5.  In earthwork contracts, the cost of excavating is usually expressed in units of
a) pounds per cubic feet.
b) kilonewtons per cubic meter.
c) dollars per ton.
d) dollars per pound.
e) dollars per cubic meter.
  6. Retaining walls with a base that extends out underneath of the backfill soil is called a ______________ wall.
a) simple gravity
b) cantilever
c) tie-back
  7. The standard penetration test is commonly used to determine the friction ratio for a soils report.
a) True
b) False
  8. A correction factor needs to be applied to the standard penetration test because
a) each hammer blow might not exert the same force.
b) penetration resistance increases with depth eventhough the soil type does not change.
c) penetration resistance changes when the soil type changes.
d) with increase in depth, one increases the chances of encountering pockets of air.
  9. A large friction ratio implies a more cohesive soil.
a) True
b) False
10. A simple gravity retaining wall is considered stable against tipping over if
a) the sum of all the horizontal forces equal zero.
b) the sum of all the vertical forces equal zero.
c) it is tied back.
d) all the clockwise torques equal the counter clockwise torques.

 

For questions or comments regarding these pages contact Dr. Alan Scott / scotta@uwstout.edu / this page was last updated September 14, 2006