30 Questions
Who is known as the 'father of modern soil mechanics'?
Karl Terzaghi
In which year was geotechnical engineering considered a widely recognized discipline?
1925
Which physicist is best remembered for his work on electricity and magnetism but also made contributions to lateral earth pressures?
Charles Augustin Coulomb
Who defined soil strength using both cohesion and friction for the first time?
Charles Augustin Coulomb
Which engineer made significant contributions to the fields of engineering geology and geotechnical engineering during its infancy?
Arthur Casagrande
Who was a disciple of Karl Terzaghi and made contributions to the analysis of soft clays, soil composition, and seepage through earth structures?
Arthur Casagrande
Which type of vibrating unit can be used for effective compaction of granular soils over a limited area?
Handheld vibrating plates
In earthwork specifications, what percentage of the maximum dry unit weight is the contractor instructed to achieve in the field?
90-95%
How can the groundwater table be located?
By installing observation wells
Which zone is located below the groundwater table and is subjected to positive pressure due to overlying water?
Phreatic Zone
What does surface water hydrology include assessments of?
Rainfall intensities, stream flows, and lake water levels
Where is most of the subsurface water located?
In the Phreatic Zone
What type of strength occurs when the stresses between particles cause them to slide or roll past each other?
Shear Strength
What is the force that resists sliding equal to in terms of frictional strength?
Normal force multiplied by the coefficient of friction
What type of strength appears to be caused by bonding between soil particles but is actually frictional strength in disguise?
Apparent Cohesion
Which source can contribute to apparent cohesion according to the given text?
Negative pore water pressures
In which type of soils does dilation draw water into the voids, leading to negative excess pore water pressure?
Saturated soils
What does the angle of friction represent in the context provided?
The slope of the failure line
What type of test allows for the computation of effective stresses by measuring pore water pressure?
Unconsolidated Undrained (Quick Test)
In which test is drainage prevented during shearing, leading to a build-up of pore water pressure?
Unconsolidated Undrained (Quick Test)
Which type of triaxial test involves an isotropic consolidation phase followed by a shearing phase under undrained conditions?
Consolidated Undrained (Long and Short Term)
Which test determines the drained shear strength parameters like effective cohesion and angle of friction?
Consolidated Drained (Slow Test)
What phase allows for the dissipation of excess pore water pressure in the triaxial tests?
Consolidation phase
What is the distinctive feature of the Consolidated Drained test compared to other triaxial tests?
Prevention of drainage during shearing
Which phase of consolidation occurs after the excess pore water pressure dissipates?
Secondary consolidation
What does a high value of Cc and Cr indicate about a soil's compressibility?
High values mean the soil is highly compressible
Which factor does not influence the magnitude and distribution of lateral earth pressure in retaining structures?
Material used for construction of the retaining wall
What is the relationship between settlement caused by consolidation in clay and elastic settlement?
Settlement caused by consolidation is several times greater than elastic settlement
What does a low value of Cc and Cr suggest about a soil's compressibility?
The soil is slightly compressible
What rate of change occurs during consolidation in terms of soil element volume and voids volume?
Equal rates of change
Test your knowledge on the Introduction of Great Contributors to Geotechnical Engineering and the Developments by Karl Terzaghi, who is known as the 'father of modern soil mechanics.' Explore the significant milestones in civil engineering and the birth of geotechnical engineering as a discipline.
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