Geotechnical Engineering Questions and Answers – Capillary Tension, Capillary Potential and Soil Suction

This set of Geotechnical Engineering Questions and Answers for Freshers focuses on “Capillary Tension, Capillary Potential and Soil Suction”.

1. The capillary tension or capillary potential can also be called as ___________
a) Pressure deficiency
b) Pressure reduction
c) Negative pressure
d) All of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: The capillary potential is the pressure deficiency, pressure reduction or negative pressure in the pore water.

2. The maximum tensile stress of water in capillary tube is ___________
a) Proportional to the diameter of tube
b) Inversely proportional to height of capillary rise
c) Inversely proportional to the radius of meniscus
d) All of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: From the formula, (UC) max = 2Ts /R
Where, (UC) max = maximum tensile stress
R = radius of meniscus
TS = surface tension.

3. The pF value of 2 in soil mass represent ____________
a) Soil suction of 200 cm of water
b) Suction pressure of 100 g/cm2
c) Soil suction of 100 cm of water
d) Capillarity of 100 g/cm2
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: From the relationship,
pF=log10 (hc)
2 = log10 (hc)
hc = 2/log10
hc = 100 cm.
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4. The pressure deficiency of held water in a capillary tube is termed as ____________
a) Soil suction and suction pressure
b) Negative pressure
c) None of the mentioned
d) All of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: As the water is decreased linearly in the tube due to the suction of soil mass. The pressure deficiency is also called as soil suction or suction pressure.

5. Which one of the following factor does not affect soil suction?
a) Water content
b) Temperature
c) Plasticity index of a soil
d) Atmospheric pressure
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: As the atmospheric pressure, does not have any effect on water in the soil mass. It does not contribute to the affecting factor.

6. The soil suction is maximum, when angle of contact(α) is _____________
a) α=0
b) α=90
c) α=60
d) α=1
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: As soil suction depend on capillary height (hC)
Using the formula hc=4Tscos α/γw d
When α=0
hc = 4Ts/γw d, which is maximum.

7. Rise in temperature___________soil suction.
a) Decreases
b) Increases
c) Removed
d) None of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Rise in temperature results in a decrease of surface tension (TC) and hence decrease in soil suction.
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8. Capillary tension is developed in saturated soil, when ___________
a) Soil is dry
b) Water content is reduced
c) Water content is increased
d) Soil particle is large
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: On decreasing of water content, the menisci recede, resulting in a reduction of curvature and corresponding increase in capillary tension.

9. When do the soil suction is reduced to zero value?
a) Water content is reduced
b) Soil is oven dry
c) Dry soil is submerged
d) All of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: When a dry soil is submerged under water, meniscus is destroyed resulting in a reduction of soil suction to zero value.
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10. The size of interstices in a soil depends on ____________
a) Particle size
b) Plasticity index
c) Soil structure
d) Angle of contact
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Change in structure of the soil, changes the size of interstices in soil, resulting in soil suction variation.

11. The capillary pressure, transferred from grain to grain in soil may be also called as ____________
a) Inter granular pressure
b) Contact pressure
c) Effective pressure
d) All of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Inter granular or contact or effective pressure is the capillary pressure, transferred from grain to grain in soil.

Sanfoundry Global Education & Learning Series – Geotechnical Engineering.

To practice all areas of Geotechnical Engineering for Freshers, here is complete set of 1000+ Multiple Choice Questions and Answers.

If you find a mistake in question / option / answer, kindly take a screenshot and email to [email protected]

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Manish Bhojasia - Founder & CTO at Sanfoundry
Manish Bhojasia, a technology veteran with 20+ years @ Cisco & Wipro, is Founder and CTO at Sanfoundry. He lives in Bangalore, and focuses on development of Linux Kernel, SAN Technologies, Advanced C, Data Structures & Alogrithms. Stay connected with him at LinkedIn.

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