REVIEW INNOVATIONS

NOVEMBER 2023 CE BOARD EXAM REFRESHER GEO 1

INSTRUCTION: Select the correct answer for 6. Evaluate the design load (kN) for a
each of the following questions. Mark only circular footing of 1.5 m diameter.
one answer for each item by shading the box A. 210.2 C. 297.3
corresponding to the letter of your choice B. 118.9 D. 279.3
on the answer sheet provided. STRICTLY NO
ERASURES ALLOWED. GOOD LUCK. Situation 2. The results of a consolidated-
drained tri-axial test conducted on a
NOTE: A times B is represented by A×B or normally consolidated sand, are as
A*B. A raised to the power n is follows:
expressed as A^n. All problems are 1 Chamber confining stress = 250 kPa
point each. Deviator stress at failure = 350 kPa

1. In accordance with Rankine’s theory 7. Calculate the angle of friction of the

for lateral active earth pressure of a soil sample.
retaining wall, with horizontal A. 24.32° C. 18.32°
backfill, what angle of internal B. 21.67° D. 19.87°
friction, in degrees, results in a 8. Calculate the shear stress on the
coefficient of lateral earth pressure failure plane.
equal to 0.50? A. 140 kPa C. 130 kPa
A. 19.2° C. 16.9° B. 160 kPa D. 145 kPa
B. 18.7° D. 21.4° 9. Calculate the effective normal stress
on the plane of maximum shear.
2. What is the friction angle of the soil A. 207 kPa C. 425 kPa
when the coefficient lateral earth B. 504 kPa D. 525 kPa
pressure is 4?
A. 39.6° C. 21.7° Situation 3. According to the Westerguard
B. 36.9° D. 27.1° Theory, the vertical stress at a point
below the surface of a semi-infinite,
3. A sand mass with a void ratio of e = homogenous, isotropic soil mass due to
0.70 and Gs = 2.66 is given. Determine a point load A applied at the ground
the safe hydraulic gradient for the surface is given by the equation:
given flow system with a factor of
safety FS = 3. 0.318QN 1
A. 0.515 C. 0.325 P = N =
z2 r
B. 0.465 D. 0.285 (1 + 2( )2 )1.5
z
Where :
Situation 1. The column of a certain
building is supported by footing of r = horizontal distance of the point
depth 2 m into a cohesionless soil, from the vertical line of
for which the angle of internal application of the load
friction is 20° and the unit weight is
18 kN/m^3. Assume a factor of safety z = depth of point below ground surface
FS = 2.5.
Evaluate the vertical stress, in kPa, at a
kc kq kγ point below the ground for Q = 1500 kN if:
Strip 1.0 1 0.5
10. The point is 3 m directly below the
Square 1.3 1 0.4 point of application of the load.
A. 53 kPa C. 47 kPa
Circular 1.3 1 0.3 B. 58 kPa D. 42 kPa
11. The point is 6 m directly below the
point of application of the load.
Rectangle 1 + 0.3 B/L 1 0.5(1 – 0.2 B/L)
A. 14.5 kPa C. 16.7 kPa
B. 13.3 kPa D. 10.2 kPa
Use bearing factors: 12. The point is 6 m below the load but 3
Nc = 17.69, Nq = 7.44 & Nγ = 3.64 m horizontally from the application of
the load.
Using Terzaghi’s Formula for general A. 9.4 kPa C. 8.3 kPa
shear failure, B. 6.1 kPa D. 7.2 kPa

4. Evaluate the ultimate bearing capacity

(kPa) of a square footing of 2 m on a
side.
A. 330.2 C. 182.1
B. 128.1 D. 320.3
5. Evaluate the ultimate bearing capacity
(kPa) for a rectangular footing for
width 1.5 m and length 3 m.
A. 124.8 C. 142.8
B. 312.1 D. 321.1
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NOVEMBER 2023 CE BOARD EXAM REFRESHER GEO 1
Situation 4. The moist density and degree 23. “Loam” means:
of saturation of a soil sample are A. Silty with little sand
given in the following table: B. Sandy silt with little clay
C. Clayey sand exhibiting slight
Soil Density Degree of Saturation cohesion
(kg/m^3) (%) D. Mixture of sand, silt, and clay
1680 45 size particles in approximately
1808 75 equal proportions

13. Determine the void ratio. 24. Principle involved in the relationship
A. 0.65 C. 0.75 between submerged unit weight and
B. 0.45 D. 0.55 saturated unit weight of a soil is:
14. Determine the specific gravity of A. Darcy’s Law
solids. B. Stoke’s Law
A. 2.60 C. 2.65 C. Archimedes’ Principle
B. 2.70 D. 2.55 D. Equilibrium of floating bodies
15. Determine the weight of water in kg
for a 7 m^3 soil, when it is fully 25. What is soil in civil engineering?
saturated. A. The material in a relatively
A. 3180 C. 3314 thin surface zone within roots
B. 2989 D. 2748 occur
B. The unaggregated and uncemented
16. Ratio of volume of voids and volume of deposits of minerals and organic
soil. particles covering the earth’s
A. Porosity crust
B. Degree of Saturation C. The substance existing on the
C. Void Ratio earths surface, which grows and
D. None of the above develops plants
D. None of the above
17. Ratio of volume of voids and volume of
soil solids.
A. Void Ratio
B. Porosity
C. Degree of Saturation
D. None of the above

18. Ratio of volume of water and volume of

soil.
A. Degree of Saturation
B. Void Ratio
C. Porosity
D. None of the above

19. Which is true for porosity?

A. 0 < n < 100
B. 0 ≤ n ≤ 100
C. 0 ≤ n
D. 0 < n

20. Which is true for void ratio?

A. 0 < e < 100
B. 0 ≤ e ≤ 100
C. 0 ≤ e
D. 0 < e

21. Which is true for degree of

saturation?
A. 0 < S < 100
B. 0 ≤ S ≤ 100
C. 0 ≤ S
D. 0 < S

22. In the unit phase diagram for a soil

mass:
A. The volume of water is taken as
unity
B. The total volume is taken as
unity
C. The weight of solids is taken as
unity
D. The volume of solids is taken as
unity

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 REVIEW INNOVATIONS
NOVEMBER 2023 CE BOARD EXAM REFRESHER GEO 2
INSTRUCTION: Select the correct answer for 5. Which of the following classifies Soil
each of the following questions. Mark only B according to USCS?
one answer for each item by shading the box A. SM C. GC
corresponding to the letter of your choice B. SC D. GM
on the answer sheet provided. STRICTLY NO 6. Which of the following classifies Soil
ERASURES ALLOWED. GOOD LUCK. C according to USCS?
A. OL C. ML
NOTE: A times B is represented by A×B or B. CL D. CH
A*B. A raised to the power n is
expressed as A^n. All problems are 1 Situation 2. The laboratory gave the
point each. following results:

1. An undisturbed soil has moisture Natural Moisture Content = 24%

content of 54.2% and liquid limit of Liquid Limit = 62%
56%. Determine the compression index Plastic Limit = 28%
of the soil. Percentage of Particles less than 2
A. 0.165 C. 0.414 µm = 23%
B. 0.231 D. 0.567
Determine the following:
2. For a normally consolidated clay layer
in the field, the following values are 7. Liquidity index of the soil.
given: A. -0.12 C. -0.14
Thickness = 3 m B. +0.12 D. +0.14
Natural Void Ratio = 1.30 8. Consistency of the soil.
Compression Index = 0.30 A. Brittle Solid C. Liquid
Average effective pressure in the B. Plastic D. None
layer is 125 kPa. Estimate the primary 9. Activity Classification.
consolidation settlement of the layer A. 1.65 C. 1.30
caused by an increase of pressure of B. 1.48 D. 1.83
55 kPa.
A. 68 mm C. 73 mm Situation 3. A soil sample is 6 cm in
B. 62 mm D. 85 mm height and 50 [Link] in cross section.
If 430 mL of water was collected in 10
3. A sample of moist sand taken from the min under a constant head of 40 cm. On
field was found to have a moisture oven drying the test sample had a mass
content of 14% and a porosity of 38%. of 498 g. Assuming Gs = 2.65
In a laboratory test that simulates
field conditions, it was found that 10. Calculate the hydraulic conductivity
its densest state, its void ratio is of the sample in cm/s.
40% and at its loosest state its void A. 2.51 x 10^-3 C. 2.22 x 10^-3
ratio is 85%. Determine the relative B. 2.15 x 10^-3 D. 2.69 x 10^-3
density of the sand. 11. Calculate the interstitial velocity of
A. 0.53 C. 0.62 the sample in cm/s.
B. 0.85 D. 0.47 A. 0.038 C. 0.041
B. 0.083 D. 0.014
Situation 1. The results of the sieve 12. Calculate the superficial velocity of
analysis of soils A, B and C is given the sample in cm/s.
below. It is required to classify the A. 0.038 C. 0.041
soils according to USCS B. 0.083 D. 0.014

Soil Sample Situation 4. A 300 mm diameter test well

Sieve Diameter penetrates 27 m below the static water
A B C
No. (mm) table. After 24 hrs of pumping at 69
Percent Passing
4 4.760 90 100 100 liters/sec. The water level in an
6 2.380 64 90 100 observation well at a distance of 95 m
10 2.000 54 77 98 from the test well is lowered 0.5 m
20 0.840 34 59 92 and the other observation well at a
40 0.420 22 51 84 distance of 35 m from the test well,
60 0.250 17 42 79 the draw down is 1.1 m.
100 0.149 9 35 70
13. What is the flow rate in m^3/day.
200 0.074 4 33 63
A. 5526 C. 6295
B. 5259 D. 5962
LL - 46 47 14. Compute the coefficient of
PL - 29 24 permeability of the aquifer in m/day.
A. 57.1 C. 60.3
4. Which of the following classifies Soil B. 52.8 D. 64.7
A according to USCS?
A. GP C. SP
B. GW D. SW

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NOVEMBER 2023 CE BOARD EXAM REFRESHER GEO 2
15. Compute the transmissivity of the 17. Which of the following tests is not
aquifer in m^2/day done on a laboratory set up?
A. 1579 C. 1718 A. Direct shear test
B. 1413 D. 1627 B. Vane shear test
C. Triaxial test
16. In the triaxial test, the deviator D. Unconfined compression test
stress increases the shear stress on
what plane? 18. The shear strength of a soil:
A. Horizontal plane only A. Increases with an increase in
B. Vertical plane only the normal stress
C. Both horizontal and vertical B. is proportional to the cohesion
planes of the soil
D. All planes except the horizontal C. Is generally known as the
and vertical planes strength of the soil
D. All of the above

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 REVIEW INNOVATIONS
NOVEMBER 2023 CE BOARD EXAM REFRESHER GEO 3
INSTRUCTION: Select the correct answer for 9. A 12 m long and 300 mm diameter precast
each of the following questions. Mark only concrete pile is driven into a clay
one answer for each item by shading the box where the unconfined compressive
corresponding to the letter of your choice strength is 70 kPa and the unit weight
on the answer sheet provided. STRICTLY NO is 19 kN/m^3. Assuming α = 0.9 and Nc
ERASURES ALLOWED. GOOD LUCK. = 9, what fraction of the load is being
carried by the shaft?
NOTE: A times B is represented by A×B or A. 94% C. 87%
A*B. A raised to the power n is B. 81% D. 72%
expressed as A^n. All problems are 1
point each. Situation 3. A prestressed concrete pile,
300 mm x 300 mm in cross-section, is
Situation 1. The coefficient of to be driven in a clayey soil (γ = 18.5
permeability below a dam is 4 m/day. kN/m^3). The design pile has a design
The water on the upstream side is 30 capacity of 450 kN. Use factor of
meter higher than that on the safety of 2. The unconfined
downstream. To estimate the seepage compression shear strength, qu of the
below the dam, a flow net was soil is 110 kPa. Use Nc = 9.
graphically drawn such that the number
of potential drops, Nd = 10 and the 10. What is the end bearing capacity of
number of flow channels Nf = 4. The pile in kN.
base of the dam is founded 1 m below A. 44.6 C. 62.7
the ground. Between the heel and the B. 58.6 D. 75.4
toe of the dam, a distance 30 meters, 11. Compute the skin friction in kN
there are 8 potential drops. expected to develop along the shaft of
the pile.
1. Evaluate the seepage flow per meter A. 855.5 C. 754.2
width of the dam, in liters/min. B. 963.2 D. 689.1
A. 18.6 C. 20.6 12. Compute the length of pile if
B. 33.3 D. 32.5 frictional constant α = 0.6.
2. Determine the uplift pressure at the A. 14.5 m C. 21.6 m
heel of the dam, in kPa. B. 28.4 m D. 18.5 m
A. 114 C. 198
B. 265 D. 181 Situation 4. A square footing 4 m on a side
3. Determine the uplift force, in kN per and 1.2 m below the ground surface for
meter, per meter length of dam. which the bulk unit weight of the soil
A. 11.4 C. 14.7 is 20 kN/cu.m. The cohesion of the soil
B. 17.6 D. 4415 is 10 kPa and the angle of internal
friction is 20°. Consider the
Situation 2. A 5 m clay layer lies beneath condition of general shear failure and
an 8 m sand layer. The sand is 3 m evaluate the contribution of the
below the water surface. Saturated following soil bearing capacity, in
unit weight of sand is 25 kN/m 3 and kPa, using Terzaghi’s equation for
clay 20 kN/m3. Calculate the following: square footing.

4. The total vertical pressure (in kPa) 13. Cohesion Strength

at mid-height of the clay layer. A. 287 C. 259
A. 240.1 C. 209.3 B. 235 D. 230
B. 248.6 D. 279.4 14. Soil Overburden
5. The pore water pressure (in kPa) at A. 185 C. 260
mid-height of clay layer. B. 247 D. 179
A. 122.6 C. 112.8 15. Footing Dimension
B. 132.4 D. 152.1 A. 102 C. 116
6. The effective vertical stress (in kPa) B. 128 D. 98
at mid-height of clay layer.
A. 147.0 C. 99.4 16. A process by which water-saturated
B. 96.5 D. 117.5 soil sediment temporarily loss
strength and acts as a fluid.
7. If the volume of voids is equal to the A. Consolidation C. Settlement
volume of solids, what is the porosity B. Plasticity D. Liquefaction
and void ratio equal to?
A. 0 and 1 C. 1 and 0.5 17. The soil which contains finest grain
B. 1 and 0 D. 0.5 and 1 particles, is
A. Coarse sand C. Silt
8. The dry and saturated unit weight of a B. Fine sand D. Clay
soil is 15.42 kN/m^3 and 19.62 kN/m^3.
Determine the unit weight of the soil 18. If the plasticity index of a soil mass
when it is 30% saturated. is zero, the soil is
A. 18.66 kN/m^3 C. 14.74 kN/m^3 A. Sand C. Clay
B. 16.68 kN/m^3 D. 17.44 kN/m^3 B. Silt D. Clayey silt

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NOVEMBER 2023 CE BOARD EXAM REFRESHER GEO 3
19. Volume change in saturated soils 23. One of the following foundation
caused by the expulsion of pore water conditions does not affect the bearing
from loading? capacity of the supporting soil.
A. Initial Consolidation A. Unit weight of the soil
B. Primary Consolidation B. Depth of the founding of
C. Secondary Consolidation footings
D. None of the above C. Load imposed onto the soil
D. Position of ground water table
20. The neutral stress in a soil mass is
A. Force per neutral area 24. A decrease in water content results in
B. Force per effective area a reduction of the volume of soil in:
C. Stress taken up by the pore A. Liquid state
water B. Plastic state
D. Stress taken up by solid C. Semi-solid state
particles D. All of these

21. Negative skin friction on piles.. 25. The water content in a soil sample when
A. Is caused due to relative it continues to loose weight without
settlement of the soil loosing the volume,is called
B. Is caused in soft clays A. Shrinkage limit
C. Decreases the pile capacity B. Plastic limit
D. All of the above C. Liquid limit
D. Semi-solid limit
22. If the ground water table in a soil
formation rises as resulting of 26. When the plastic limit of a soil is
flooding, the bearing capacity of the greater than the liquid limit, then
soil: the plasticity index is reported as :
A. Increases A. Negative
B. Unaffected B. Zero
C. Decreases C. Non-plastic (NP)
D. Depends on the footing load D. 1

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 REVIEW INNOVATIONS
NOVEMBER 2023 CE BOARD EXAM REFRESHER GEO 4
INSTRUCTION: Select the correct answer for 5. Which of the following most nearly
each of the following questions. Mark only gives the interstitial velocity of the
one answer for each item by shading the box flow?
corresponding to the letter of your choice A. 0.04 m/day C. 0.15 m/day
on the answer sheet provided. STRICTLY NO B. 0.16 m/day D. 0.59 m/day
ERASURES ALLOWED. GOOD LUCK. 6. Which of the following most nearly
gives the time of travel from the head
NOTE: A times B is represented by A×B or of the aquifer to a point 4 km
A*B. A raised to the power n is downstream?
expressed as A^n. All problems are 1 A. 3318 days C. 5656 days
point each. B. 6750 days D. 4422 days

Situation 1. A footing 2 m x 3 m in plan Situation 3. The following table shows an

and 0.50 m thick is designed to support approximate correlation between the
a 0.60 m square column. Due to standard penetration test (SPT) and
architectural reasons, the column is the unconfined compression strength of
located that its external face is cohesive soils.
flush with the shorter edge of the
footing. The column, however, is Consistency SPT Unconfined compressive
located along the minor principal axis Blows strength (kPa)
of the footing. The column load, Very Soft 0 - 2 0 - 25
including the weight of the column Soft 2 - 4 25 - 50
itself is 50 kN. Assume concrete to Medium 4 - 8 50 - 100
weigh 24 kN/m^3. Stiff 8 - 16 100 - 200
Very Stiff 16 - 32 200 - 400
1. Evaluate the total downward load on
supporting ground. 7. For an SPT of 5 blows, determine the
A. 142 kN C. 132 kN approximate unconfined compression
B. 112 kN D. 122 kN strength of the clay.
2. Evaluate the maximum pressure induced A. 31.3 kPa C. 50.0 kPa
on the ground. B. 25.0 kPa D. 62.5 kPa
A. 40.3 kPa C. 43.0 kPa 8. For an SPT of 14 blows, determine the
B. 30.4 kPa D. 34.0 kPa approximate cohesion of the clay.
3. Evauate the minimum pressure induced A. 175 kPa C. 100 kPa
on the ground. B. 200 kPa D. 88 kPa
A. 0.33 kPa C. 0.22 kPa 9. For a soil with cohesion 78 kPa,
B. 0.44 kPa D. 0.11 kPa determine the consistency.
A. Soft C. Medium
Situation 2. A confined aquifer has a B. Stiff D. Very Stiff
hydraulic conductivity of 40 m/day and
a porosity of 25%. The piezometric Situation 4. Two footings rest in a layer
surface in two observation wells are of sand 2.7 m thick. The bottom of the
at elevation 65 m and 60 m, footings are 0.90 m below the ground
respectively from the common datum. surface. Beneath the sand layer is a
The first and second observation well 1.8 – m thick clay layer. Underneath
are 3.65 km and 5 km from the source the clay layer is solid rock. Water
of recharge respectively. The aquifer table is at a depth of 1.8 m below the
has an average thickness of 25 m and ground surface.
average width of 4 km.

4. Which of the following most nearly

gives the flow rate of water through 10. Compute the stress increase in kPa
the aquifer? below the footing A (1.5 m x 1.5 m) at
A. 18441.4 m3/day C. 14814.8 m3/day the center of the clay layer.
B. 11844.1 m3/day D. 14841.4 m3/day A. 20.15 C. 22.50
B. 30.75 D. 25.51
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NOVEMBER 2023 CE BOARD EXAM REFRESHER GEO 4
11. Determine the size of footing B so that 22. Residual soils are formed by
the settlement in the clay layer is A. Glaciers
the same beneath footings A and B. B. Wind
A. 2.85 x 2.85 C. 1.80 x 1.80 C. Water
B. 3.24 x 3.24 D. 3.68 x 3.68 D. None of the above
12. Determine the settlement in mm beneath
footing A. 23. Textural classifications are merely
A. 34.70 C. 58.10 based on:
B. 30.85 D. 46.65 A. Grain size
B. Consistency limits
13. A cohesionless soil is considered C. Grain size and consistency
dense if the SPT “N” value is between limits
A. 0 to 4 C. 30 to 50 D. Plasticity index
B. 10 to 30 D. 4 to 10
24. The minimum number of observation
14. A cohesionless soil is considered wells required to determine the
loose if the SPT “N” value is between permeability of a stratum in the field
A. 0 to 4 C. 30 to 50 by a pumping test is:
B. 10 to 30 D. 4 to 10 A. One
B. Two
15. A cohesionless soil is considered very C. Three
loose if the SPT “N” value is between D. None of the above
A. 0 to 4 C. 30 to 50
B. 10 to 30 D. 4 to 10 25. Consolidation is a fuction of..
A. Function of the total stress.
16. Soil grains with particle size greater B. Function of the neutral stress.
than 4.75 mm but less than 75 mm C. Function of the effective
according to USCS. stress.
A. Cobbles C. Boulder D. Does not depend upon the present
B. Gravel D. Sand stress.

17. Soil grains with particle size is 26. Allowable bearing pressure for a
greater than 75 mm according to USCS. foundation depends upon:
A. Cobbles C. Boulder A. Allowable settlement only
B. Gravel D. Sand B. Ultimate bearing capacity of
soil only
18. The maximum shear stress occurs on the C. Both allowable settlement and
filament which makes an angle with the ultimate bearing capacity
horizontal plane equal to: D. None of the above
A. 30° C. 60°
B. 45° D. 90° 27. The over consolidation ratio (OCR) of
an over consolidated soil is:
19. A practice of procedure used to asses A. Less than 1
the particle size distribution (also B. Equal to 1
called gradation) of a granular C. Greater than 1
material. The size distribution is D. None of the above
often of critical importance to the
way the material performs in use. 28. The over consolidation ratio (OCR) of
A. Consolidation test a normally consolidated soil is:
B. Standard penetration test A. Less than 1
C. Unconfined compression test B. Equal to 1
D. Sieve Analysis C. Greater than 1
D. None of the above
20. The average/equivalent coefficient of
permeability of natural deposits 29. Pick up the correct statement from the
A. Parallel to stratification is following:
always greater than that A. Failure plane carries maximum
perpendicular to stratification shear stress
B. Parallel to stratification is B. Failure plane does not carry
always less than that maximum shear stress
perpendicular to stratification C. Failure plane carries shear
C. Is always same in both stress equal to maximum shear
directions stress
D. Parallel to stratification may D. None of these
or may not be greater than that
perpendicular to stratification 30. At liquid limit a soil has
A. No shearing strength
21. Transporting and re-depositing soils, B. Negligible or very small shear
is done by strength
A. Water C. High shearing strength
B. Glacier D. Nothing to do with shearing
C. Gravity strength.
D. All the above
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 REVIEW INNOVATIONS
NOVEMBER 2023 CE BOARD EXAM REFRESHER GEO 5
INSTRUCTION: Select the correct answer for 8. In a falling head permeability test,
each of the following questions. Mark only the head causing flow was initially 60
one answer for each item by shading the box cm and it drops 5 cm in 10 minutes.
corresponding to the letter of your choice How much time is required for the head
on the answer sheet provided. STRICTLY NO to drop an additional 20 cm?
ERASURES ALLOWED. GOOD LUCK. A. 47 mins C. 57 mins
B. 62 mins D. 52 mins
NOTE: A times B is represented by A×B or
A*B. A raised to the power n is Situation 1. A certain soil has a hydraulic
expressed as A^n. All problems are 1 gradient of 1.27 at quicksand
point each. condition. The bulk unit weight of the
soil is 20.64 kN/m^3 with a void ratio
1. An index used to identify the swelling of 0.45.
potential of clay soils is called 9. What is the specific gravity of the
A. Plasticity Index soil solids?
B. Liquidity Index A. 2.61 C. 2.54
C. Consistency Index B. 2.84 D. 2.72
D. Activity 10. What is the dry unit weight of the
soil?
2. The property of a soil which permits A. 18.13 kN/m^3 C. 21.48 kN/m^3
water to percolate through it B. 19.22 kN/m^3 D. 17.54 kN/m^3
A. Moisture content 11. What is the moisture content of the
B. Permeability soil?
C. Capillarity A. 6.75% C. 9.54%
D. None of these B. 8.67% D. 7.36%

3. Which of the following methods is best Situation 2. A 3 layer soil has the
suited for determination of following properties from top to
permeability of coarse-grained soils? bottom:
A. Constant head method
B. Falling head method Layer k (cm/s) Thickness (m)
C. Both the above 1 2.0 × 10^-4 4
D. None of the above 2 3.2 × 10^-2 3
3 4.1 × 10^-5 6
4. Terzaghi's bearing capacity factors
Nc, Nq and Nγ are functions of 12. Obtain the equivalent horizontal
A. Cohesion only coefficient of permeability, in cm/s.
B. Angle of internal friction only A. 0.00689 C. 0.00809
C. Both cohesion and angle of B. 0.00734 D. 0.00747
internal friction 13. Calculate the transmissivity of the
D. None of the above layer, in m^2/day.
A. 66.9 C. 75.5
5. Coefficient of earth pressure at rest B. 92.7 D. 83.9
is 14. Estimate the rate of flow in the
A. Less than active earth pressure vertical direction per square meter of
but greater than passive earth layer, in liters/day, if the hydraulic
pressure gradient is 0.50.
B. Greater than active earth A. 25.6 C. 33.7
pressure but less than passive B. 35.2 D. 29.1
earth pressure
C. Greater than both the active Situation 3. A pile group consists of 9
earth pressure and passive earth piles arranged in 3 by 3 formation.
pressure Each pile is 300 mm in diameter, 15
D. Less than both the active and meters long and spaced 900 mm on
passive earth pressures centers. Assume cohesion of the soil
is 75 kPa, Nc = 9, α = 0.8 and use a
6. A soil sample has a moisture content factor of safety FS = 3.
of 30% and degree of saturation of 45%. 15. Determine the allowable load of the
The solids has a specific gravity of pile group considering individual
2.61. Determine the dry unit weight of action.
the soil in kN/m^3. A. 2868 C. 8064
A. 8.52 C. 9.34 B. 8604 D. 2688
B. 12.14 D. 10.25 16. Determine the allowable load of the
pile group considering group action.
7. A soil sample has a void ratio of 0.67. A. 10,537 C. 3,512
Find the ratio between discharge B. 10,735 D. 3,215
velocity and seepage velocity within 17. Determine the minimum spacing of piles
the soil. to achieve 100% efficiency.
A. 0.67 C. 0.60 A. 600 mm C. 500 mm
B. 1.00 D. 0.40 B. 700 mm D. 400 mm
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NOVEMBER 2023 CE BOARD EXAM REFRESHER GEO 5
Situation 4. From the following result of a
sieve analysis, determine the
following according to USDA:
18. Percentage of sand.
A. 60% C. 45%
B. 55% D. 40%
19. Percentage of silt.
A. 40% C. 45%
B. 60% D. 55%
20. Classification of the soil
A. Sandy Loam C. Clay Loam
B. Silty Loam D. Loam

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NOVEMBER 2023 CE BOARD EXAM REFRESHER GEO 5

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 REVIEW INNOVATIONS
NOVEMBER 2023 CE BOARD EXAM REFRESHER GEO 6
+uuINSTRUCTION: Select the correct answer
for each of the following questions. Mark 6. Effective stress on soil:
only one answer for each item by shading the
box corresponding to the letter of your A. Increases voids ratio and decreases
choice on the answer sheet provided. permeability
STRICTLY NO ERASURES ALLOWED. GOOD LUCK. B. Increases both voids ratio and
permeability
NOTE: A times B is represented by A×B or C. Decreases both voids ratio and
A*B. A raised to the power n is permeability
expressed as A^n. All problems are 1 D. Decreases voids ratio and increases
point each. permeability

Situation 1: The result of a 7. The coefficient of compressibility of

consolidated drained triaxial shear soil, is the ratio of:
test conducted on a consolidated clay
A. Stress to strain
are as follows: Lateral stress = 240
B. Strain to stress
kPa; Deviator stress at failure = 450
C. Stress to settlement
kPa. D. Rate of loading to that of settlement

1. Determine the angle of friction of Situation: An unconfined compression test

the soil sample in degrees. was conducted on a sample of clay having a
A. 16.8 C. 27.4 diameter of 50 mm. The failure load was
B. 22.4 D. 28.9 recorded at 240 N.

2. Determine the shear stress on the 8. The cohesion strength of the clay, in
failure plane, in kPa. kPa, is nearest to a value of
A. 64.0 C. 61.1
A. 345 C. 242
B. 45.0 D. 122.2
B. 197 D. 195
9. The unconfined compression strength, in
3. Determine the normal stress on the kPa, is nearest to a value of
plane of maximum shear, in kPa. A. 64.0 C. 61.1
A. 398 C. 465 B. 45.0 D. 122.2
B. 550 D. 345
10. The shear strength at failure plane, in
kPa, is nearest to a value of
4. Rise of water table above the ground A. 64.0 C. 61.1
surface causes: B. 45.0 D. 101.0

A. Equal increase in pore water pressure and Situation: For the soil condition given in
total stress figure. Consider the capillary rise.
B. Equal decrease in pore water pressure and Assume that the average degree of
total stress saturation in the capillary zone is 50%.
C. Increase in pore water pressure but
decrease in total stress
D. Decrease in pore water pressure but
increase in total stress

5. The shear strength of a soil:

A. Is directly proportional to the angle of

internal friction of the soil
B. Is inversely proportional to the angle of
internal friction of the soil
C. Decreases with increase in normal stress
D. Decreases with decrease in normal stress

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NOVEMBER 2023 CE BOARD EXAM REFRESHER GEO 6

[Link] the effective stress at a depth 9 m. 19. Calculate the actual load on strut C
A. 164kPa C. 169 kPa A. 127.92 kN C. 131.95 kN
B. 154kPa D. 167 kPa B. 210.38 kN D. 199.68 kN

12. Find the effective stress at a depth 8 Situation: In a field density test the
m. following results are obtained: m = 1.95
A. 160 kPa C. 146 kPa g/cm3, w = 16%. The specific gravity of
B. 153 kPa D. 138 kPa solids is 2.7.

13. Find the effective stress at a depth 9.5

m. 20. Calculate the percent air voids.
A. 173 kPa C. 166 kPa A. 23.3% C. 31.8%
B. 124 kPa D. 158 kPa B. 19.1% D. 28.7%

14. A cohesive soil deposit is considered 21. Calculate the air content.
stiff if the unconfined compression A. 9.33% C. 10.8%
strength, in kPa, is between B. 11.9% D. 8.11%
A. 0 to 25 C. 100 to 200
B. 50 to 100 D. 25 to 50 22. Calculate the moisture content at full
saturation.
15. A cohesive soil deposit is considered A. 22.5% C. 100%
soft if the unconfined compression B. 12.5% D. 50.0%
strength, in kPa, is between
A. 0 to 25 C. 100 to 200
B. 50 to 100 D. 25 to 50

16. A cohesive soil deposit is considered

very soft if the unconfined compression
strength, in kPa, is between
A. 0 to 25 C. 100 to 200
B. 50 to 100 D. 25 to 50

Situation: An 8-m deep braced cut in medium

clay is shown. The unit weight γ = 16.5
kN/m^3 and the undrained shear strength Cu
= 27.8 kPa. In the plan, the struts are
placed at spacing 2.4 m center to center.
Using Peck’s empirical pressure diagram,

17. Compute the actual load on strut A

A. 124.57 kN C. 116.47 kN
B. 153.48 kN D. 162.81 kN

18. Determine the actual load on strut B

A. 33.29 kN C. 28.42 kN
B. 40.54 kN D. 35.29 kN

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 REVIEW INNOVATIONS
NJOVEMBER 2023 CE BOARD EXAM REFRESHER GEO 7
Situation: A foundation in a layer of 4. Determine the major principal
soft clay was supported by group of piles stress.
consisting of 12 piles having a diameter A. 192.2 kPa C. 187.1 kPa
of 60cm and length of 12m as shown. B. 152.6 kPa D. 172.9 kPa

1. Calculate the design load on 5. Determine the shear stress on plane

the pile group if the piles AB.
are acting individually. A. 40 kPa C. 80 kPa
Factor of safety is 3. B. 30 kPa D. 60 kPa
A. 3486.1kN C. 4434.3kN
B. 4017.4kN D. 2863.2kN 6. Determine the normal stress on plane
AB.
2. Determine the design load on A. 180 kPa C. 100 kPa
the pile group if the piles are B. 90 kPa D. 60 kPa
acting as a group.
Factor of safety is 3. 7. Determine the maximum shear stress.
A. 2985.9kN C. 3313.5kN A. 41 kPa C. 67 kPa
B. 3190.1kN D. 3203.6kN B. 56 kPa D. 80 kPa

3. What would be the expected Situation: For a normally consolidated

settlement of the group of piles? laboratory clay specimen drained on
both sides, the following are given:
A. 621mm P1= 150 kN/ m^2, e1 = 1.1,
B. 567mm P2 = 300 kN/m^2, e2 = 0.9.
C. 586mm Thickness of clay specimen = 25 mm.
D. 638mm Time for 50% consolidation = 2 min and
T50 = 0.197
3m
8. Determine the coefficient of
Soft Clay consolidation.
3 A. 6.16x10-5 m2/min C. 1.23x10-4 m2/min
γ sat = 15.7 kN/m B. 1.54x10-5 m2/min D. 7.70x10-6 m2/min
12m C = 52 kpa
∝ =0.83 9. Determine the hydraulic conductivity
Nc = 9 of the clay for the loading range.
Cc = 0.44 A. 8.05x10-7 m/min C. 4.03x10-7 m/min
B. 5.04x10-8 m/min D. 1.00x10-7 m/min
e = 0.60
6m 10. How long (in days) will it take for
a 1.8 m clay layer in the field
(drained on one side) to reach 60%
consolidation? T60 = 0.286
A. 5 C. 10
0.90 B. 84 D. 42
m
0.90 11. A layer of soft clay having an
m initial void ratio of 1.50 is 10 m
0.90m 0.90m 0.90m thick. Under a compressive load
applied above it, the void ratio
Situation: For the stressed soil
decreased by one-third. Evaluate the
element shown.
reduction in the thickness of the clay
layer.
A. 4.0 C. 3.0
B. 3.75 D. 2.0

12. A layer of soft clay having an

initial void ratio of 1.50 is 10 m
thick. Under a compressive load
applied above it, the void ratio
decreased to one-fourth. Evaluate the
reduction in the thickness of the clay
layer.
A. 4.5 C. 3.0
B. 3.75 D. 1.5
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NOVEMBER 2023 CE BOARD EXAM REFRESHER GEO 7
Situation: According to the elastic
theory, the vertical stress induced by 19. If the shearing stress is zero on
flexible line load of infinite length two planes, then the angle between the
that has an intensity of q units/length two planes is
on the surface of a semi-infinite soil A. 45° C. 90°
mass can be estimated by the expression B. 135° D. 225°
p = 0.637 q/N
where: N = z[1+(r/z)2]2 20. Compression of soil occurs rapidly
r = horizontal distance from the line if voids are filled with
of the load A. Air
z = depth of interest at which stress B. Water
is induced C. Partly with air and partly with water
D. None of these
A concrete hollow block wall weighing 6
kN per linear meter is carried by a 21. Cohesionless soil is
wall footing 0.60 m wide. A. Sand
B. Silt
13. Evaluate the bearing pressure, in C. Clay
kPa, exerted by the footing onto the D. Clay and silt
supporting soil.
A. 14 C. 10 22. In a triaxial compression test when
B. 12 D. 16 drainage is allowed during the first stage
only and not during the second stage, the
14. Evaluate the stress in the soil test is known as
A. Consolidated drained test
caused by the load at depth equal to
B. Consolidated undrained test
twice its width. C. Unconsolidated drained test
A. 7.25 C. 3.19 D. Unconsolidated undrained test
B. 6.47 D. 5.31

15. Evaluate the stress at a depth of 2

m and a horizontal distance of 3 m from
the line of the load.
A. 0.181 C. 0.668
B. 0.531 D. 0.302

Situation: According to Section 304 of

the National Structural Code of the
Philippines, the presumptive load
bearing capacity of gravelly, in the
absence of exhaustive geotechnical site
assessment and investigation, is 100 kPa
for a minimum footing width of 300mm and
a minimum depth of embedment of 300mm.
This value can be increase by 20% for
each additional 300mm of width of footing
and/or depth of founding to a maximum of
three (3) times the designated value.
16. Evaluate the allowable bearing
capacity, in kPa, of the soil for a
square footing 1.2m wide founded at a
depth of 300mm below ground surface.
A. 175 C. 160
B. 200 D. 150

17. Evaluate the allowable bearing

capacity of the soil for a footing 1.2m
wide when founded at a depth of 900mm
below ground surface.
A. 182 C. 225
B. 200 D. 224

18. Determine the safe downward load, in

kN, that the footing of the preceding
question can support.
A. 302 C. 252
B. 288 D. 323

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 REVIEW INNOVATIONS
NJOVEMBER 2023 CE BOARD EXAM REFRESHER GEO 8
Situation: At a vertical stress of 200 Situation: An earth dam requires 1
kPa, the void ratio of a saturated soil million cubic meters of soil
sample is 1.52. An increment of vertical compacted to a void ratio of 0.8. In
stress of 150 kPa compresses the sample the vicinity of the proposed dam,
to a void ratio of 1.43. three borrow pits were identified as
having suitable materials. The cost
1. Determine the compression index of the of purchasing the soil and the cost
soil. of excavation are the same for each
A. 0.370 C. 0.511 borrow pit. The only cost difference
B. 0.720 D. 0.623 is transportation cost. The table
below provides the void ratio and the
2. What is the overconsolidation ratio transportation cost for each borrow
of the soil at stage? pit.
A. 2.00 C. 1.75
B. 1.50 D. 1.33 Borrow Void Swell Transportati
Pit Ratio Factor on cost per
3. If the soil were reloaded to a m3
vertical stress of 500 kPa, what void A 1.8 1.1 P 30.00
ratio would be attained? B 0.9 1.2 P 50.00
A. 1.23 C. 1.11 C 1.5 1.1 P 37.50
B. 1.37 D. 1.57
7. Determine the transportation cost if
using borrow pit A.
Situation: The soil profile shown is A. 51.3 M C. 61.3 M
subjected to a surcharge of 120 kPa on B. 46.7 M D. 42.4 M
the ground surface.
8. Determine the transportation cost if
120 kpa using borrow pit B.
A. 52.8 M C. 63.3 M
h B. 57.3 M D. 44.0 M
1. 5 m
 water table
Section 1.01 9. Determine the transportation cost if
4. 5 m and using borrow pit C.
A. 52.1 M C. 63.3 M
1.5 m
Section 1.02 B. 57.3 M D. 47.3 M
3. 6 m
lay
Situation 1 -
Situation: According to Bousinessq
4. How high will the water rise in the theory, the vertical stress at point
piezometer immediately after the below the surface a semi-infinite,
application of the load? homogenous, isotropic soil mass due to a
A. 10.62 m C. 14.57 m point load Q applied at the ground
B. 12.23 m D. 16.84 m surface is given by the equation:
p = 0.477 QN/z2 where N = 1/[1+(r/z)2]2.5
5. What is the degree of consolidation r = horizontal distance from the point
at point A when h =6m of the load z = depth of point below
A. 48.69% C. 50.95% ground surface.
B. 54.81% D. 52.47% Evaluate the vertical stress, in kPa, at
a point below the ground for Q=1500kN.
6. Find the value of h when the degree
of consolidation at A is 60% 10. If the point is 2.5m directly below
A. 3.14 m C. 5.23 m the point of application of the load.
B. 6.47 m D. 4.89 m A. 110 C. 77.9
B. 114 D. 99.5

11. If the point is 5m directly below

the point of application of the load.
A. 18.5 C. 19.6
B. 28.6 D. 25.5

12. If the point is 2.5m below the load

but 3m horizontally from its line of
application.
A. 16.1 C. 18.2
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 NOVEMBER 2023 CE BOARD EXAM REFRESHER GEO 8
B. 14.9 D. 12.3 20. Coefficient of consolidation of a
soil is affected by
A. Compressibility
13. What is the largest grain that passes B. Permeability
a no. 200 sieve in millimeter? C. Both compressibility and permeability
A. 0.020 C. 0.074 D. None
B. 0.064 D. 0.0054
21. The total and effective stresses at
Situation: From the infinite slope a depth of 0.5 m below the top level of
shown. water in a swimming pool is respectively:
A. Zero and zero
B. 500 kg/m² and zero
C. 500 kg/m² and 500 kg/m²
D. 1000 kg/m² and 500 kg/m²
Gs = 2.68 e = 0.65
0 22. If the sand in-situ is in its densest
C = 14.4 kPa  = 26 state, then the relative density of sand
H= 3 m
B is
A. Zero
B. 1
A
C. Between 0 and 1
0
 = 20 D. Greater than 1

14. Compute the factor of safety

against sliding along plane AB if H
= 3 m. There is a seepage through
the soil and the ground water table
coincides with the ground surface.
A. 1.43 C. 1.32
B. 1.23 D. 1.14

15. Compute the factor of safety

against sliding along the soil rock
interface if there is no seepage
A. 2.54 C. 2.75
B. 2.28 D. 2.98

16. Find the critical height of slope

if there is a seepage.
A. 7 m C. 5 m
B. 6 m D. 4 m

17. Section 302.2.2 of the National

Structural Code of the Philippines
provides that the slope of cut surfaces
of the ground shall be no steeper than
is safe for the intended use and shall
be no steeper that:
A. 1 to 3 C. 1 to 1
B. 1 to 2 D. 1 to 1.5

18. The fraction of soils passing which

sieve number is used for Atterberg
Limits tests of soils:
A. 60 C. 50
B. 30 D. 40

19. Accurate determination of water

content, is made by
A. Calcium concreetee method
B. Sand bath method
C. Andei Dk bath method
D. Oven-drying method

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