Foundation Engineering MCQs

Foundation Engineering MCQs

Our experts have gathered these Foundation Engineering MCQs through research, and we hope that you will be able to see how much knowledge base you have for the subject of Foundation Engineering by answering these multiple-choice questions.
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1: What are the two types of foundations?

A.   Shallow and deep

B.   Man-made and natural

C.   Temporary and permanent

D.   Metallic and non-metallic

2: The purpose of a foundation is to _______?

A.   Distribute the weight of the structure over a large area

B.   Cause unequal settlement

C.   Avoid overloading the underlying soil

D.   Support the structure

3: What is the primary purpose of an anchor?

A.   To support a structure

B.   To prevent a structure from moving

C.   To provide access to a structure

D.   To protect against fire

4: Why was the Panama Canal built?

A.   To provide a level surface for construction.

B.   To be a shortcut between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans

C.   To increase tourism in Panama

D.   To promote exploration and trade

5: What is the purpose of anchoring a structure?

A.   To provide a place to store extra materials

B.   To make the structure more aesthetically pleasing

C.   To prevent overloading

D.   To make the structure more flexible

6: Why is it important to anchor a structure deeply into the ground?

A.   To make the structure more aesthetically pleasing

B.   To increase stability and prevent overloading

C.   To prevent corrosion

D.   To increase the lifespan of the structure

7: What is the purpose of a guy-wire?

A.   To guy the climbers

B.   To support the structure laterally

C.   To prevent lateral movements of the supported structure

D.   To provide extra support for climbing

8: What is the purpose of a shear wall?

A.   To prevent the structure from collapsing.

B.   To prevent lateral movements of the supported structure.

C.   To support the weight of the structure.

D.   To provide stability to the structure.

9: The design and construction of the foundation is done to _______?

A.   Result in a better design

B.   Make the structure more stable

C.   Stop any form of settlement

D.   Sustain and transmit the dead and the imposed loads to the soil

10: What is the main purpose of a foundation?

A.   To transfer loads to the soil without resulting in any form of settlement

B.   To support the dead and imposed loads

C.   To solely transfer the dead and imposed loads

D.   To sustain the dead and imposed loads

11: How can differential settlements be avoided?

A.   By having a flexible base for the foundation

B.   By having a rigid base for the foundation

C.   By having a uniform load

D.   By having a deep foundation

12: Differential settlements are more pronounced in which areas?

A.   Areas where the superimposed loads are not uniform in nature.

B.   Areas where the groundwater level is high.

C.   Areas where the rainfall is high.

D.   Areas where the temperature is high.

A.   To provide a more stable foundation.

B.   To make the building more aesthetically pleasing.

C.   To guard against damage or distress caused by shrinkage and swelling due to temperature changes.

D.   To allow for a bigger building.

14: What is the main reason for a deeper foundation?

A.   To guard against any form of damage or distress caused by shrinking or swelling due to temperature changes.

B.   To make the building more stable.

C.   So the building will appear taller.

D.   To make the foundationSTRONGER.

15: What must the chosen location for a foundation be?

A.   Not affected or influenced by future works or factors

B.   On level ground

C.   In an area with a lot of traffic

D.   Near a water source

16: Why must the location of the foundation chosen be an area that is not affected or influenced by future works or factors?

A.   So that the foundation is not disturbed in the future

B.   So that the foundation will be of better quality

C.   So that the foundation will be cheaper

D.   So that the foundation will be easier to build

17: What is another name for post in ground construction?

A.   Grillage

B.   Piling

C.   Concrete

D.   Masonry

18: What is the purpose of a padstone?

A.   Spreading the weight on the ground and raising the timber off the ground

B.   To support a single load-bearing point

C.   To support a load-bearing beam

D.   To support a load-bearing wall

19: One disadvantage of using stones to build foundations is that _____?

A.   They can rust over time

B.   They can be unstable

C.   They are not as strong as mortar

D.   They are not as strong as steel

20: What is one advantage of using stones in a foundation over using mortar?

A.   Stones are more expensive than mortar

B.   Stones do not require painted after construction.

C.   Stones are more difficult to work with than mortar

D.   Stones are less durable than mortar

21: What is the minimum soil capacity required for a rubble trench foundation?

A.   10 tonnes/m2

B.   20 tonnes/m2

C.   15 tonnes/m2

D.   5 tonnes/m2

22: Rubble trench foundations are suitable for soils with a capacity of _____?

A.   More than 10 tonnes/m2

B.   More than 100 tonnes/m2

C.   Equal to 10 tonnes/m2

D.   Less than 10 tonnes/m2

23: What is the frost line?

A.   The frost line is the optimal depth for planting trees.

B.   The frost line is the temperature at which water freezes.

C.   The frost line is the depth to which the ground freezes over in winter.

D.   The frost line is the limit to how deep a footing can be.

24: What are the strips or pads of concrete below the frost line called?

A.   Pads

B.   Footings

C.   Concrete strips

D.   Spread footing

25: Soil movement and instability usually occurs in which layer of soil?

A.   Reaction Zone

B.   Root Zone

C.   Active Zone/Layer

D.   Leached Zone

26: In a pier and beam home, what does beam refer to?

A.   "Beam" may also refer to a metal I-beam, part of the structural support of the home or business.

B.   A wooden support member consisting of dimensional lumber pieces sandwiched together to support floor joists and the above structure.

C.   A support member composed of multiple layers of dimensional lumber that supports floor joists and the above structure.

27: What is the solid layer of rock/earth beneath the active layer and loose deposits that requires either blasting or jackhammering for excavation?

A.   Earth's crust

B.   Bedrock

C.   Soil

28: What does "Below Grade" mean?

A.   Above the ground level

B.   On the ground level

C.   Below the ground level

D.   At the ground level

29: What is a bowing wall?

A.   A wall that is straight

B.   A wall that is bent or curved due to stress from expansive soil, structural failure, or other elements

C.   A wall that is made of bricks

D.   A wall that is load-bearing

30: What is the California Slab?

A.   A slab with wood flooring on top of it

B.   A type of foundation

C.   A state in the US

D.   A type of dance

31: How is carbon fiber typically used?

A.   To create strong and lightweight man-made materials

B.   To melt down and mold

C.   To weave fabric

D.   To fix cracks, strengthen bowing walls, and support failing foundation.

32: What is clay made of?

A.   Gravel

B.   Soil

C.   Stones

D.   Fine-grained naturally occurring material

33: What is the definition of "Collapsible Soil?"

A.   Soil that is only susceptible to void formation and not erosion or reduction when water is added.

B.   Soil that is susceptible to erosion, reduction, or void formation when water is added.

C.   Soil that is not susceptible to erosion, reduction, or void formation when water is added.

D.   Soil that is only susceptible to erosion and not reduction or void formation when water is added.

34: What is Concrete made of?

A.   Just rocks

B.   Sand, rocks, cement, water

C.   Rocks and dirt

D.   Cement and water

35: Concrete piers are used to:

A.   Support foundations

B.   Support arches

C.   Support bridges

D.   Add decoration

36: Concrete piers are _____?

A.   Short and wide cylinders made of steel

B.   Short and wide cylinders made of concrete

C.   Long, slender cylinders made of steel

D.   Long, slender cylinders made of concrete

37: How high should a crawl space be?

A.   36"-42"

B.   24"-30"

C.   30"-36"

D.   18"-24"

38: What causes consolidation?

A.   Addition of water

B.   Freezing

C.   Exposure to air

D.   Gradual water loss

39: What does "deflection" refer to in the context of foundations?

A.   The width of a foundation

B.   The height of a foundation

C.   The weight of a foundation

D.   The amount of bending and bowing from a heavy load that a foundation may withstand without total failure

40: What is meant by "total failure" in the definition of Deflection?

A.   The foundation bends or bows more than expected under a heavy load.

B.   The foundation can no longer bear any load without collapsing.

C.   The foundation cracks or breaks under a heavy load.

D.   The foundationsettles more than expected under a heavy load.

41: What is differential settlement?

A.   A type of soil

B.   Uneven settlement that occurs when different parts of the foundation and structure are sinking at different rates.

C.   A method of construction

D.   The process of making a foundation level.

42: What is the height of various parts of your foundation called?

A.   Elevation

B.   Height

C.   Level position

D.   Central spot

43: What is the repair method used to seal cracks called?

A.   Epoxy crack Implantation

B.   Epoxy crack Isolation

C.   Epoxy Crack Injection

D.   Epoxy crack Incapacitation

44: What kind of soil expands when water is added?

A.   Loamy Soil

B.   Sandy Soil

C.   Granular Soil

D.   Expansive Soil

45: What is fill?

A.   Compost

B.   Soil that is added to an area to fill in, level, or grade that area.

C.   Fertilizer

D.   Loam

46: What is the primary purpose of a foundation?

A.   To protect the structure from water damage.

B.   To transmit the load of the structure to the ground below.

C.   To provide support for the structure.

D.   To anchor the structure to the ground.

47: What is the function of a footing?

A.   To spread out the vertical load of the foundation evenly.

B.   To provide drainage for the foundation

C.   To support the foundation walls

D.   To waterproof the foundation

48: Free water can be taken on without a change in the ____ occurring.

A.   Soil volume

B.   Moisture

C.   PH level

D.   Temperature

49: What is the expansion that occurs when the water inside soil freezes called?

A.   Frozen water

B.   Soil freezing

C.   Frost heaving

D.   Expanding soil

50: What does the grade of the ground surface tell you?

A.   The owner of the ground

B.   The type of surface

C.   The level of the ground surface

D.   The color of the ground