Geotechnical Engineering Questions and Answers – General Bearing Capacity Equation: Brinch Hansen’s Analysis

Geotechnical Engineering Objective Questions

Civil Engineering MCQs

This set of Geotechnical Engineering Question Bank focuses on “General Bearing Capacity Equation: Brinch Hansens Analysis”.

1. For purely cohesive soil, Nc has a maximum value of ___________ for square footing.

A) 5
B) 7.5
C) 9
D) 10

Answer is C)
Explanation: According to Skempton’s observation, for purely cohesive soil (φ = 0) Nc has a maximum value of 9 for square or circular footing.

2. The Brinch Hansen shape factor can be applied to ___________ for the case of rectangular footing.

A) Skempton value of Nc
B) Terzaghi’s equation
C) Meyerhof’s equation
D) None of the mentioned

Answer is A)
Explanation: The Brinch Hansen shape factor can be applied to the Nc values from Skempton for the rectangular footing.

3. Hansen considered the bearing capacity as a ____________

A) Tri axial problem
B) Base factor
C) Plane-strain problem
D) All of the mentioned

Answer is C)
Explanation: Brinch Hansen considered the bearing capacity as a plane-strain problem. If φ is found by tri axial test, its corresponding value for the plane strain case can be computed.

4. Bowel suggested that the increase in φ in plane-strain case can be computed only for φ greater than ____________

A) 30
B) 25
C) 60
D) 90

Answer is B)
Explanation: Bowel suggests that the increase of φ in the equation φ plain strain = 1.1 φ tri axial can be computed only for φ greater than 25°.

5. Skempton observed that the factor Nc increases with the ratio ___________

A) D/B
B) B/D
C) H/Hc
D) c/cm

Answer is A)
Explanation: Based partly on theory and partly on the laboratory test, Skempton observed that the factor Nc increases with the ratio D/B.

6. When D=0, the value of Nc for strip footing will be ____________

A) 6.20
B) 2.5
C) 5.14
D) 7.5

Answer is A)
Explanation: According to Skempton recommendation, the value of Nc = 5.14 for strip footing when D=0 and Nc = 6.20 for square or circular footing.

7. Which of the following value can be taken [Nc] surface for surface footing?

A) 6
B) 5
C) 2.1
D) 9

Answer is A)
Explanation: Value of [Nc] surface may be roughly taken as 5 for surface strip footing and as 6 for square or circular footing.

8. The term ‘i’ in Hansen equation represents ___________

A) Depth factor
B) Shape factor
C) Ground factor
D) Inclination factor

Answer is D)
Explanation: According to Brinch Hansen’s equation, i represent the inclination factor to account for both horizontal and vertical components of foundation loads.