Geotechnical Engineering Questions and Answers – Shrinkage and Swelling of Soil

Geotechnical Engineering Objective Questions

This set of Geotechnical Engineering Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on “Shrinkage and Swelling of Soil”.

1. Volume change in soil is due to which of the following factor?

A) Water content is changed
B) Increase in soil density
C) Change in pressure
D) Change in particle size

Answer is A)
Explanation: Decrease in the water content of the soil causes shrinkage while an increase of water content causes swelling.

2. Large volume changes in clayey soils results in ____________

A) Increase in capillary pressure
B) Structural damage
C) Decrease in surface area
D) Breaking of bonds

Answer is B)
Explanation: Clayey soil has very little shrinking and swelling capacity, therefore a large change in volume results in extensive structural damages.

3. Free swell of a soil can be defined as ____________

A) Swelling of soil without shrinkage
B) Increase in volume without any constrains
C) Limited swelling on rewetting
D) Swelling on submergence in water

Answer is B)
Explanation: As per IS: 2720-part 40, free swell of a soil is defined as increase in volume of a soil without any constrains, on submergence in water.

4. What are the minerals, responsible for large volume decrease in soil on drying in clayey soils?

A) Ilite and Kaolinite
B) Montmorillonite
C) None of the mentioned
D) All of the mentioned

Answer is A)
Explanation: When illite and kaolinite minerals are present in clay soil, the soil exhibit large initial volume decrease on drying.

5. Formation of meniscus in a saturated soil causes ____________

A) Compression in the soil structure and Reduction in the volume
B) Decrease in the water content
C) None of the mentioned
D) All of the mentioned

Answer is A)
Explanation: Formation of meniscus in dry saturated soil, causes tension in the soil water leading to a compression in the soil structure and consequent reduction in the volume.

6. When does surface Tension in the water become zero?

A) When the soil is completely dried
B) When the soil is fully saturated
C) When the water evaporates
D) None of the mentioned

Answer is B)
Explanation: Initially when the soil is fully saturated, the capillary space between the particles are completely filled with water, therefore the tension in the water becomes zero at this stage.

7. Shrinkage is prominent in ____________ soil.

A) Clay
B) Coarse-grained
C) Fine-grained
D) Silt

Answer is A)
Explanation: As the degree of shrinkage increase with an increase in clay content. Shrinkage is more in clay soil.

8. When will meniscus in saturated soil attain a minimum value?

A) Compressive force is maximum and Shrinkage is maximum
B) Soil is fully saturated
C) None of the mentioned
D) All of the mentioned

Answer is A)
Explanation: Compressive and shrinkage forces are maximum when meniscus has its minimum value.

9. Explanation: Compressive and shrinkage forces are maximum when meniscus has its minimum value.

A) Swelling of soil
B) Volume
C) Water content
D) Total shrinkage

Answer is D)
Explanation: Since the degree of shrinkage depends on geological deposition, presence of sand and silt reduces the total shrinkage.