Consolidation

1. The time for a clay layer to achieve 85% consolidation is 10 years.

If the layer was half as thick, 10 times more permeable and 4 times
more compressible then the time that would be required to achieve
the same degree of consolidation is

(A) 1 year

(B) 5 years

(C) 12 years

(D) 16 years

Ans:

= but =

= .

( )
[ ] 1 year

2. A double draining clay layer, 6m thick, settles by 30mm in three

years under the influence of a certain loads. Its final consolidation
settlement has been estimated to be 120 mm. If a thin layer of sand
having negligible thickness is introduced at a depth of 1.5m below
the top surface, the final consolidation settlement of clay layer will
be

(a) 60 mm (b) 120 mm

(c) 240 mm (d) None of these

Ans:
Final consolidation settlement does not change with drainage
conditions so it is 120mm

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3. At a reclamation site for which the soil strata is shown in figure, a
3m thick layer of a fill material is to be laid instantaneously on the
top surface. If the coefficient of volume compressibility, m v for
clay is 2.2 x 10-4 m2/kN, the consolidation settlement of the clay
layer due to placing of fill material will be

(a) 69.5 mm (b) 139 mm

(c) 228 mm (d) 278 mm

Ans:
̅ = 21 3 = 63 ⁄
̅̅̅ = 10 1 + 10 8 = 90 ⁄

= 2.2 =
̅
= 0.1386m = 139 mm

4. A 6m thick clay layer undergoes 90% consolidation four times

faster under two-way drainage as compared to one-drainage. In an
identical clay layer of 15 m thickness, two-way drainage will be
faster as compared to one-way drainage by

(a) 8 times (b) 4 times

(c) 2.5 times (d) 2 times

Ans: (B)

5. Root time method is used to determine

(a) T, time factor

(b) cv' coefficient of consolidation
(c) av' coefficient of compressibility
(d) mv' coefficient of volume compressibility

Ans: (A)

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6. The average effective overburden pressure on 10 m thick
homogeneous saturated clay layer is 150 kPa. Consolidation test on
undisturbed soil sample taken from the clay layer showed that the
void ratio decreased from 0.6 to 0.5 by increasing the stress
intensity from 100 kPa to 300 kPa. (G=2.65)

The initial void ratio of the clay layer is

(a) 0.209 (b) 0.563

(c) 0.746 (d) 1.000

Ans :

7. The average effective overburden pressure on 10 m thick

homogeneous saturated clay layer is 150 kPa. Consolidation test on
undisturbed soil sample taken from the clay layer showed that the
void ratio decreased from 0.6 to 0.5 by increasing the stress
intensity from 100 kPa to 300 kPa. (G=2.65)
The total consolidation settlement of the clay layer due to the
construction of a structure imposing an additional stress intensity of
200 kPa is
(a) 0.10 m (b) 0.25 m
(c) 0.35 m (d) 0.50 m

Ans :
=

8. A saturated clay stratum draining both at the top and bottom

undergoes 50 percent consolidation in 16 years under an applied
load. If an additional drainage layer were present at the middle of
the clay stratum, 50 percent consolidation would occur in
(A) 2 years (B) 4 years (C) 8 years
(D) 16 years

Ans :
= 4 years

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9. Identical surcharges are placed at ground surface at sites X and Y,
with soil conditions shown below and water table at ground
surface. The silty clay layers at X and Yare identical. The thin sand
layer at Y is continuous and free-draining with a very large
discharge capacity. If primary consolidation at X is estimated to
complete in 36 months, what would be the corresponding time for
completion of primaryconsolidation at Y?

(A) 2.25 months (B) 4.5 months

(C) 9 months (D) 36 months

Ans :

10. A layer of normally consolidated, saturated silty clay of 1 m

thickness is subjected to one dimensional consolidation under a
pressure increment of 20 kPa. The properties of the soil are:
specific gravity = 2.7, natural moisture content = 45%,
compression index = 0.45, and recompression index = 0.05. The
initial average effective stress within the layer is 100 kPa.
Assuming Terzaghi’s theory to be applicable, the primary
consolidation settlement (rounded off to the nearest mm) is

(A) 2 mm (B) 9 mm
(C) 14 mm (D) 16 mm

Ans:

= 0.45. ( )

=0.016 m=16mm
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11. The natural void ratio of a saturated clay strata, 3m thick is 0.90.
The final void ratio of the clay at the end of consolidation is
expected to be 0.71. The total consolidation settlement of the clay
strata is

(a)30 cm (b)25 cm
(c) 20 cm (d)15 cm

Ans :

= 0.3 m = 30cm

12. The identical clay samples of the same size, designated as A and B
subjected to consolidation test under identical loading conditions.
Drainage takes place through one face in sample A and through
both the faces in sample B. 50% consolidation of sample A occurs
in 10 minutes. The time required for 50% consolidation to occur in
sample B will be

(a) 40 minutes (b) 10 minutes

(b) 5 minutes (d) 2.5 minutes
Ans :

13. A clay layer 5 m thick in field takes 300 days to attain 50%
consolidation with condition of double drainage. If the same clay
layer is underlain by hard rock then the time taken to attain 50%
consolidation will be

(a) 300 days (b) 600 days (c) 900 days (d) 1200 days
Ans :
300

14. The change that take place during the process consolidation of a
saturated clay would include

(a) An increase in pore water pressure and an increase in effective

pressure
(b) An increase in pore water pressure and a decrease in effective
pressure
(c) A decrease in pore water pressure and a decrease in effective
pressure
(d) A decrease in pore water pressure and an increase in
effective pressure

Ans : ( D )

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15. Match List-I (Property) with List-II (Slope of the curve) and select
the correct answer using the codes given below the lists.
List-I

A. Coefficient of compressibility
B.Compressionindex
C. Coefficient of sub grade modulus

List-II
1. Stress- deformation
2. Stress-void ratio
3. Volume –pressure
4. Log stress-void ratio
Codes:

A B C
a) 4 2 1
b) 4 3 2
c) 2 4 1
d) 3 4 1
Ans : ( C )

16. The initial and final void ratios of a clay sample in a consolidation
test are 1 and 0.5, respectively. If initial thickness of the sample is
2.4 cm, then its final thickness will be

(a)1.3 cm (b)1.8 cm
(c)1.9 cm (d)2.2 cm
Ans :

17. Which one of the following soils has stress-strain response similar
to that of dense sand? (OCR stands for over consolidation ratio)

(a)Over consolidated clays having high OCR

(b) consolidated clays having low OCR
(c)Normally consolidated clays
(d)Unconsolidated clays

Ans:(A)

18. Terzaghi’s consolidation theory is applicable to one-dimensional

consolidation test

(a) For small load increment ratios

(b) For large load increment ratios
(c) For a load increment ration of nearly one
(d) In situations where there is no excess pore pressure
Ans: (A)

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19. Consider the following statements:

1. The degree of a saturated soil mass subjected to pressure remains

unchanged during the process of consolidation.
2. Secondary consolidation is due to the plastic deformation of the
soil when the pore fluid is not subjected to any excess pressure.
3. Primary consolidation is independent of the coefficient of
permeability of the soil but depends on the decrease in void volume
due to air escape.
Which of these statements are correct?
(a)1 and 2 (b) 1 and 3
(c) 2 and 3 (d) 1,2 and 3
Ans : ( A )

20. Assertion (A): For a fully saturated soil, the pore pressure
parameter is equal to zero.
Reason(R): The compressibility of water is much smaller than the
coefficient of volume compressibility.
Codes:
a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
b) Both A and R are true but R is not a Correct explanation of A.
c) A is true but R is false.
d) A is false but R is true.
Ans : ( D)

21. Match List-IwithList-II and select the correct answer using the
codes given below the lists (notations have their usual meaning):
List-I List-II
A. Coefficient of 1. mv
compressibility
B. Compression index 2. Cvt/H2
C. Time factor 3. aV
D. Coefficient of 4. Cc
volume compressibility

Codes:
A B C D
a) 3 2 4 1
b) 1 2 4 3
c) 1 4 2 3
d) 3 4 2 1
Ans : ( D)

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22. Reduction in volume of soil primary due to squeezing out of water
from the voids is called

(a) primary consolidation

(b) plastic flow

(c) creep
(d) secondary consolidation
Ans : ( A )

23. The settlement analysis for a clay layer draining from top and
bottom shows a settlement of 2.5 cm in 4 years and an ultimate
settlement of 10 cm. However detailed subsurface investigation
reveals that there is no drainage at the bottom. The ultimate
settlement in this condition will be

(a) 2.5 cm (b)5 cm

(c) 10 cm (d)20 cm
Ans : ( C )

24. In soil consolidation process, the following events take place after
loading:
1. Decrease in excess pore pressure.
2. Increase in total stress.
3. Development of excess pore pressure.
4. Increase in effective stress.
The correct sequence of these events is

(a)3, 2, 1, 4 (b)2, 3, 1, 4
(c)2, 3, 4, 1 (d)3, 2, 4, 1
Ans : ( B )

25. A saturated clay layer with double drainage takes 5 years to attain
90% degree of consolidation under a structure. If the same layer
were to be single drained, what would be the time(in years)
required to attain the same consolidation under the same loading
conditions?

(a)10 (b)15

(c)20 (d)25
Ans :
5 = 20

26. Which one of the following statements regarding coefficient of

consolidation CV is correct?

(a) (b)

(c) (d)
Ans : ( A )
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27. A wooden bridge in Assam failed and was observed to have arched
up in the middle after the earthquake. The right abutment settled 40
cm and left abutment 30 cm. The bridge was supported on wooden
piles, which floated up during the earthquake. The most probable
cause of failure is

(a) shear failure of soil below abutments.

(b) Excessive settlement below abutments due to increased forces.
(c) Liquefaction of foundation soil below abutments and piles.
(d) Failure of abutments due to dynamic earth pressure behind
abutments.

Ans : ( C )

28. Consider the following statements: Theory of consolidation

predicts settlement due to primary consolidation; it cannot include
settlement due to initial compression nor due to secondary
consolidation. This happens because of the following assumptions
made by the theory:
1. Soil grains and water are incompressible.
2. Soil is fully saturated.
3. Compression takes place in vertical direction only.
4. Time lag in consolidation is entirely due to low permeability of
soil.
Which of these statements are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 2 and 3

(c) 3 and 4 (d) 1, 2 and 4

Ans : ( D )

29. The one dimensional theory of consolidation proposed by Terzaghi

derives its name due to the fact that

(a) only vertical dimension of the soil sample is used for

consolidation test and lateral dimensions are neglected
(b) water in the soil sample in conventional consolidometer
escapes in the lateral directions resulting into settlements only
in vertical direction
(c) normal stress on the sample is applied in only in (vertical )
direction
(d) lateral movements of soil grains are not permitted across any
vertical settlements to account for the decrease in volume due
to escape of water from soil sample

Ans : ( D )

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30. For a certain loading condition, a saturated clay layer undergoes
40% consolidation in a period of 178 days. What would be the
additional time required for further 20% consolidation to occur?

(a) 89 days (b) 222.5 days

(c) 329.5 days (d) 400.5 days

Ans :

31. If the time required for 60% consolidation of a remoulded soil

sample of clay with single drainage is ‘t’, then what is the time
required to consolidate the same sample of clay with the same
degree of consolidation but with double drainage?

(a) 4t (b)2t (c)t/2 (d)t/4

Ans : ( D )

32. If is increment of pressure on a normally consolidated saturated

soil mass, as per Terzaghi’s theory at the instant of application of
pressure increment i.e., when time t = 0, what is the pore pressure
development in the soil mass?

(a)Zero (b)Very much less than

(c)Equal to (d)Greater than

Ans : ( C )

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33. Match List-I (Term) with List-II (Definition) and select the correct
answer using the codes given below the lists (where ‘e’ is void
ratio, ‘p’ is effective vertical stress, ‘k’ is permeability and is
unit weight of water):

List-I
A. Compression index, Cc
B. Coefficient of compressibility, a v
C. Coefficient of volume change, mv
D. Coefficient of consolidation, Cv

List-II

1. Slope of the e-p curve defined as /

2. Slope of e- log p curve given by [- / (logp)]
3. Term defined as k/(mv, )
4. Slope of the e-p curve defined as - /

Codes:

A B C D
a) 2 1 4 3
b) 4 3 2 1
c) 2 3 4 1
d) 4 1 2 3

Ans : ( A )

34. A clay layer 3 m deep is sandwiched by a pervious material. The

soil reaches 90% consolidation in 3 years. At another site, the same
clay layer is bounded by impervious boundary at the bottom and
sand at the top. What is the time taken by this layer to reach 90%
settlement?

(a) 9 years (b) 12 years

(c) 15 years (d) 21 years0

Ans :
3

35. In a consolidation test void ratio decreased from 0.80 to 0.70 when
the load was changed from 40 KN/m2 to 80 KN/m2. What is the
compression index?

(a) 0.14 (b) 0.16

(c) 0.33 (d) 0.66

Ans :

= 0.33

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36. In a consolidation test the sample tested has height H; water
constant is W; specific gravity of solids G. After increasing the
loading by an increment , the height decrease is . Which one
of the following expresses the corresponding change in void
ratio ?

( )
(a) ( )
(b)

( )
(c) (d)
( )

Ans : ( B )

37. Consider the following statements:

1. Coefficients of consolidation normally increases with decreasing
liquid limit of clay.
2. The larger the value of coefficient of consolidation, the longer it
takes for full consolidation to occur.
Which of these statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans : ( A )

38. During the consolidation of a clay layer, if instead of double

drainage, the drainage is allowed at single face only, the rate of
compression will be

(a) 4 times slower (b) 4 times faster

(c) 2 times slower (d) 2 times faster

Ans : ( A )

39. A clay sample, originally 26 mm thick at a void ratio of 1.22, was

subjected to a compressive load. After the clay sample was
completely consolidated, its thickness was measured to be 24 mm.
What is the final void ratio?

(a)1.322 (b)1.421 (c)1.311 (d)1.050

Ans :

= e=1.050

40. A 1 m thick layer of saturated clay, drained at both faces by 10 cm

in one year. If a thin layer of pervious soil introduced in the middle
of this layer, then what will be the period during which the
settlement of 10 cm will be completed?

(a)4 years (b)0.5 years (c)0.25 years (d)2 years

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(C)
41. Considerable loss of shear strength due to shock or disturbance is
exhibited by

(a) Under-consolidated clays (b)Normally consolidated clays

(c)Over-consolidated clays (d)Organic soil

Ans: (a)

42. During consolidation process of clayey soils, indicate the sequence

of occurrence of the following events in the order from first to last
1. Load being taken up by the pore-water 2. Load being taken up
by the soil grains 3. Drainage of water from the pores of the soil

(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 2, 3 and 1

(c) 1, 3 and 2 (d) 2, 1 and 3

Ans : ( C )

43. If, instead of single drainage, the number of drainage faces is

increased to two in responding soils, the rate of compression will
be

(a)4 times slower (b) 2 times slower

(c) 4 times faster (d) 2 times faster

Ans : ( C )

44. Settlement due to creep in soils is contingent on

(a)Primary consolidation

(b)Secondary consolidation

(c)Initial consolidation

(d)Compaction settlement
Ans : ( A )

45. Consider the following statements:

1. mathematically speaking, the time taken for 100% consolidation
is infinite.

2. The time factor for a particular average degree of consolidation

depends upon the distribution of initial excess hydrostatic
pressure.

3. Secondary consolidation obeys Terzaghi’s one-dimensional

theory of consolidation.

Which of these statements are correct?

(a)1, 2 and 3 (b)1 and 2 only

(c)2 and 3 only (d)1 and 3 only

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(D)
46. Consider the following statements:
1.
Consolidation time increases with increasing compressibility.
2. Consolidation time decreases with increasing permeability.
3. Consolidation time is dependent on the magnitude of stress
increase.
Which of these statements are correct?

(a)1, 2 and 3 (b)1 and 2 only

(c)2 and 3 only (d)1 and 3 only

Ans : ( B )

47. The coefficient of consolidation is used for

a) Establishing the duration of primary consolidation

b) Establishing the amount of settlement for a load increment
c) Determining the depth to which the soil is stressed when loads
are applied on the surface of a soil deposit
d) Determining the pre-consolidation pressure for soil deposits
known to be over-consolidated.

Ans : ( A )

48. A standard Oedometer test in the laboratory indicated that 0.02 m

thick clay specimen took 0.5 day to undergo 90% primary
consolidation. How many days will a 2m thick layer of identical
clay sandwiched between sand layers and subjected to an identical
stress increment take to undergo the same?

a) 5000 days
b) 4000 days
c) 3000 days
d) 2000 days

Ans :

=1 m

= =

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49. The slope of the e-log P curve for a soil mass gives

a) Co-efficient of permeability
b) Coefficient of consolidation
c) Compression index
d) Coefficient of volume compressibility

Ans : ( C )

50. In the laboratory test on a clay sample of thickness 25mm drained

at top only, 50% consolidation occurred in 11 minutes. Find the
time required for the corresponding clay layer in the field 3m thick
and drained at top and bottom, to undergo 70% consolidation.
Assume

a) 56.5 days
b) 60 days
c) 45 days
d) 34 days

Ans:

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51. A clay layer 8m thick is subjected to a pressure of 70 KN/ . If
the layer has a double drainage and undergoes 50% consolidation
( ) in one year. Determine the coefficient of
consolidation? If the K is 0.04 m/year find settlement in one year.
Use KN/

a) 0.125 m
b) 0.728 m
c) 1.728 m
d) 1.500 m

Ans :
0.196 = =3.316 ⁄

⁄
⁄

52. The time for a clay layer to achieve 90% consolidation is 15 years.
The time required to achieve 90% consolidation, if the layer were
twice as thick, 3 times more permeable and 4 times more
compressible would be

a) 70 years
b) 75 years
c) 80 years
d) 85 years

Ans :
=

= 80

53. Consolidation in soils

a) Is a function of effective stress
b) Does not depend on the present stress
c) Is a function of the pore water pressure
d) Is a function of the total stress
Ans: (a)
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54. A building is constructed on the ground surface beneath which
there is a 2m thick saturated clay layer sand witched between two
highly pervious layers. The building starts setting with time if
=2.5 cm/s. in how many days will the building reach half
of its final settlement?

a) 71.2 days
b) 67.7 days
c) 91.2 days
d) 45.2 days

Ans :

0.197 =

=91.2 days

55. In an Oedometer test, a specimen of saturated clay 19 mm reaches

50% consolidation in 20 minutes. How long it would take a layer of
this clay 5m thick to reach the same degree of consolidation under
the same stress and drainage conditions? How long would it take
for the clay layer to reach 30% consolidation?

a) 234 days
b) 346 days
c) 546 days
d) 123 days

Ans:

= 1385041 min

, =

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56. A normally consolidated clay layer settled by 20 mm when the
effective stress was increased from 25 KN/ to 50 KN/ . What
will be the settlement when the effective stress is increased from 50
KN/ to 100 KN/

a) 20 mm
b) 30 mm
c) 40 mm
d) 50 mm

Ans:

57. Certain clay has a thickness of 5 m. after 1 year when the clay was
50% consolidated, 8cm of settlement had occurred. For similar clay
and loading conditions, how much settlement would occur at the
end of 1 year and 4 years respectively, if the thickness of this new
layer were 25 m.

a) 40cm , 80 cm
b) 30cm , 80 cm
c) 20cm , 80 cm
d) 40cm , 70 cm

Ans :
=

Settlement at the end of 17 year

0.196 =
0.196
,

v = 0.999 = 1

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