SSC-JE 2022

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PRACTICE WORKBOOK WITH DETAILED TOPIC WISE EXPLANATION

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First Edition : 2022

 PREFACE

Questions are generally termed as application of concepts and exams are test
of questions only. Practicing question from each and every part of syllabus is
must for every aspirant. It gives us immense pleasure in presenting practice
question work for SSC-JE aspirants.
This Practice workbook for Soil Mechanics comprises every category of question
to make you well verse with every concept. Further, it goes on to bridge the
knowledge gap of students by including questions from each and every topic
relevant for the exam. It also goes without saying that students were in need of
a reliable content and IES Master has designed an optimized study resource as
postal study package of SSC-JE competitive exam comprises theory as well as
practice work book.
This postal study program for SSC-JE of IES Master is designed with a motto for
students that “learn only which you can reproduce”. The sole objective is to
create a companion for students which will help in solidifying their basic concepts
and make them able to create a ladder for themselves for strengthening each
and every concept.
This masterpiece from IES Master’s Research & Development Team ensures that
your level of preparedness matches exactly to that required for the actual SSC-
JE exam. Thus far, and no further, the content of this book leaves no stone
unturned in its easy-to-understand language, optimized with fonts and layout
that your eyes will surely relish.

IES Master Publication

Ch. No. Chapter Name Page

1. Origin of Soil ................................................... 001-005

2. Soil Water Relationship & Index
Properties ......................................................... 006-049
3. Classification of Soil ...................................... 050-058
4. Clay Mineral & Soil Structure ....................... 059-064
5. Soil Compaction .............................................. 065-077
6. Permeability ..................................................... 078-094
7. Effective Stress & Capillarity ........................ 095-108
8. Seepage Through Soil .................................... 109-118
9. Vertical Stress ................................................. 119-126
10. Compressibility & Consolidation .................. 127-145
11. Shear Strength of Soil ................................... 146-167
12. Earth Pressure & Retaining Walls ................ 168-184
13. Stability of Slopes ........................................... 185-190
14. Shallow Foundation ........................................ 191-214
15. Deep Foundation ............................................. 215-227
16. Soil Exploration ............................................... 228-231
17. Expansive Soil ................................................. 232-234
 ORIGIN OF SOIL

PRACTICE SET-1

CONCEPTUAL THEORETICAL QUESTIONS (TRUE/FALSE)

1. The term soil mechanics was coined by Dr. Karl 7. Chemical weathering of soil is caused due to
Terzaghi. oxidation, hydration, carbonation, leaching etc.

True False True False

2. Soils are derived from igneous rock only. 8. The soil particles which contain all the
dimensions roughly same are called to have bulky
True False shape.

3. According to geologist, soil is defined as a True False

disintegrated rock.
9. When the soils are carried away by force of
True False gravity, they are known as ........... soils.

4. For engineering purposes, soil is defined as a (Fill in the Blank)

natural aggregate of mineral grains, loose or 10. The soil transported by running water is called
moderately cohesive, inorganic or organic in aeolian soil.
nature.
True False
True False
11. The soil transported by wind is called alluvial
5. Geological cycle for the formation of soil is soil.
Weathering  upheaval  transportation 
True False
deposition.
12. Lacustrine soils are those soils which are
True False
deposited at the bottom of the lakes.
6. Mechanical weathering of soils is caused by
True False
periodical temperature changes, splitting action
of flowing water or ice. 13. Loess is silty clay formed by the action of wind.

True False True False

CIVIL ENGINEERING ORIGIN OF SOIL 3

PRACTICE SET-2

PREVIOUS YEARS QUESTIONS

1. Who is known as the father of soil mechanics? 6. Soil transported by wind is called
(a) Karl von Terzaghi (a) Aeolian soil (b) Alluvial soil
(b) Christian Otto Mohr (c) Marine soil (d) Lacustrine soil
(c) Henry PG Darcy [SSC JE-2016 (03 March 2017 (M)]
(d) William John Macquorn Rankine 7. Aeolian soils are
[SSC JE-2019 (29 Oct 2020 (M))] (a) Residual soils (b) Wind deposits
2. Geologic cycle for the formation of soil, is ___. (c) Gravity deposits (d) Water deposits
(a) Upheaval – transportation – deposition – [GATE–1995]
weathering
8. Lacustrine soils are those which are :
(b) Weathering – upheaval – transportation –
(a) deposited in sea beds
deposition
(b) deposited in lake beds
(c) Transportation – upheaval – weathering –
deposition (c) transported by rivers and streams

(d) Weathering – transportation – deposition – (d) transported by wind

upheaval [SSC JE -2020 (11 Dec 2020 (E))]
[SSCJE-2016 (01 March 2017 (E))] 9. The ______ soil tra nsported by the
3. When the product of rock weathering is not gravitational forces.
transported as sediment but remains in place, (a) Alluvial soil (b) Colluvial soil
is called
(c) Loess (d) Till
(a) alluvial soil (b) glacial soil
[SSC JE-2017 (23 Jan 2018 (M))]
(c) residual soil (d) aeolian soil
10. The collapsible soil is associated with
[GATE–1991]
(a) Dune sands (b) Laterite soils
4. Which of the following is responsible for the
formation of residual soil? (c) Loess (d) Black cotton soils

(a) Glaciers (b) Water [IES-2003]

(c) Wind (d) None of these 11. Sand generally contains salt if it is obtained
from:
[SSC JE-2017 (22 Jan 2017 (M)]
(a) Nala beds
5. Gravel and sand belongs to the following
category of soils : (b) River beds

(a) Alluvial (b) Cohesive (c) Sea beds

(c) Expansive (d) Marine (d) All options arecorrect

[SSC JE-2014 (M)] [SSC JE-2016 (01 March 2017 (E))]

IES MASTER Publication

 4 SOIL MECHANICS CIVIL ENGINEERING

12. Match List-I (Type of soil) with List-II (Mode 3. Deposited at the bottom of lakes
of transportation and deposition) and select
4. Deposited in sea water
the correct answer using the codes given below
the lists: Codes:

List-I A B C D

A. Lacustrine soils B. Alluvial soils (a) 1 2 3 4

C. Aeolian soils D. Marine soils (b) 3 2 1 4

List-II (c) 3 2 4 1

1. Transported by wind (d) 1 3 2 4

2. Transported by running water [IES-1995]

ANSWER KEY
1. (a) 4. (d) 7. (b) 10. (c)

2. (d) 5. (a) 8. (b) 11. (c)

3. (c) 6. (a) 9. (b) 12. (b)

SOLUTION

1. (a) 2. When the soil has been deposited at a place

Father of soil mechanics is Karl von Terzaghi away from the place of its origin, it is
called a transported soil.
2. (d)
3. Residual soil has better engineering property
Er than transported soil.
os
ion
W Tra n sp Deposit
ion
3. (c)
ea o rta tio n
t he al If the products of rock weathering are still
rin e av
g u ph located at the place where they originatd, they
 The geological cycle consist of erosion, are called Residual Soil.
tranportation, deposition and upheaval of
Note:
soil.
 Soil transported from their origin by wind, water, ice
 Exposed rocks are eroded and degraded
or any other agency & has been deposited is called
by various physical and chemical process. Transported Soil.
 The products of erosion are picked up by  Soil deposited b y wind are known as aeolian
agencies of transportation, such as water deposites.
and wind, deposited to new location.
4. (d)
Note:
 If the product of rock weathering are still
1. If the soil stays at the place of its
located at the place where they originate,
formation just above the parent rock, it is
known as residual soil or sedimentary soil. they are called residual soil.

IES MASTER Publication

CIVIL ENGINEERING SOIL WATER RELATIONSHIP 21

PRACTICE SET-3

PREVIOUS YEARS QUESTIONS

1. If the voids of a soil mass are full of air only, 5. Pick up the correct statement from the
the soil is termed as : following
(a) Air entrained soil (a) In partially saturated soil the void space
between the soil grains, is filled partly with
(b) Partially saturated soil
air and partly with water
(c) Dry soil
(b) In perfectly saturated soil, the voids are
(d) None of the above completely filled with water
[SSC JE-2009] (c) In dry soil, the voids are completely filled
2. A unit phase diagram is normally divided into with air
three parts. What does the top, middle and (d) All options are correct
bottom part represent?
[SSC JE-2016 (04 March 2017 (M))]
(a) Solid, water and air respectively
6. If the pores of a soil are completely full of air
(b) Water, air and solid respectively only, the soil is said to be ____________.
(c) Air, water and solid respectively (a) Wet soil
(d) Air, solid and water respectively
(b) Fully saturated soil
[SSC JE -2019 (29 OCT 2020 (M))]
(c) Dry soil
3. Which of the following statements is true?
(d) Partly saturated oil
(a) In a dry soil all the voids are filled with
[SSC JE-2016 (01 March 2017 (E))]
air
7. Water content of soil can :
(b) In a saturated soil all the voids are filled
with water (a) Be less than 0%

(c) In a partially saturated soil voids are (b) Be greater than 100%
occupied by both air and water (c) Never be greater than 100%
(d) All options are correct (d) Take values only from 0% to 100%
[SSC JE-2016 (01 March 2017 (M))] [SSC JE-2012]
4. If the voids of a soil are completely filled with 8. The volume of voids to the total volume of soil
air, then it is called ___________. is known as :
(a) Dry soil (a) Porosity (b) Void ratio
(b) Partially saturated soil
(c) Air ratio (d) Air content
(c) Submerged soil
[SSC JE-2014 (E)]
(d) Saturated soil
9. In soil engineering, what is the volumetric
[SSC JE-2017 (24 Jan 2018 (M))] relationship that defines-porosity?

IES MASTER Publication

CIVIL ENGINEERING SOIL WATER RELATIONSHIP 33

SOLUTION

1. (c) 5. (d)

Air Air
Water Air Air Water
Water Water

Solid Solid Solid Solid Solid Solid

Saturated Partially Dry soil Partially Dry soil Fully

soil Saturated saturated saturated
Soil soil soil

2. (c) 6. (c)

Va Wa Air
Air Air Water
Vv
V Vw Water Ww W Water
Vs Solids Ws Solid Solid Solid
Partially Dry soil Fully
3. (d) saturated saturated
soil soil

Va Air
7. (b)
Vv Vv Va Air
V Vw Water V  Water content or moisture content of a
Vs soil mass is defined as the ratio of weight
Solid Vs Solid
of water ‘Ww’ to to the weight of solids
Partially saturated Dry soil
(Ws) (Dry weight) of soil mass
soil

Ww
Vv Vw Water W= × 100
V Ws
Vs Solid
 Minimum value for water content is zero &
Fully saturated soil there is no upper limit for water content.

where, Va = Volume of air W 0

Vw = Volume of water Note: Generally fines grained soil have higher

water content as compared to coarse grained
Vs = Volume of soil solids
soil.
V = Total volume of soil
8. (a)
Vv = Volume of voids
Volume of void Vv 
4. (a) Porosity (n) = Volume of soil  V 

Air
Water Air Vv
Water = ; 0< n< 1
V
Solid Solid Solid
9. (b)
Partially Saturated Dry soil
saturated soil soil Porosity is defined as ratio of volume of voids
to the total volume of soil mass.

IES MASTER Publication

 62 SOIL MECHANICS CIVIL ENGINEERING

PRACTICE SET-2

PREVIOUS YEARS QUESTIONS

1. Cohesionless soil is : 5. The predominant mineral responsible for

shrinkage and swelling in black cotton soil is
(a) Silt (b) Sand
(a) IIlite (b) Kaolinite
(c) Clay (d) None of the above
(c) Mica (d) Montmorillonite
[SSC JE-2009]
[IES-2003]
2. Sand particles are made of :
6. Consider the following clay minerals:
(a) Kaolinite (b) Illite
1. Kaolinite
(c) Montmorillonite (d) Quartz
2. Montmorillonite
[SSC JE-2013]
3. Illite
3. Which of the following bonding is responsible
to combine the silica - gibbsite sheet in kaolinite What is the correct sequence in an increasing
clay mineral ? order of their plasticity index ?

(a) Covalent bond (a) 1 – 2 – 3 (b) 3 – 2 – 1

(b) Hydrogen bond (c) 1 – 3 – 2 (d) 3 – 1 – 2

(c) Ionic bond [IES-2009]

(d) Polar covalent bond 7. The clay mineral, whose structural units are held
together by potassium bond is
[SSC JE-2017 (24 JAN 2018 (E))]
(a) Halloysite (b) Illite
4. Black cotton soil exhibits large swelling and
shrinkage due to presence of the following clay (c) Kaolinte (d) Smectite
mineral
[GATE-2018]
(a) Kaolinite (b) Illite

(c) Montmorillonite (d) Halloysite

[GATE–1993]

ANSWER KEY

1. (b) 3. (b) 5. (d) 7. (b)

2. (d) 4. (c) 6. (c)

IES MASTER Publication

 80 SOIL MECHANICS CIVIL ENGINEERING

PRACTICE SET-2

CONCEPTUAL NUMERICAL QUESTIONS

1. A clay deposit 4 m thick lies between 2 layer

+10
of sand as shown in figure.
–0

–10
–6
Silt k = 10 m/s
4m
–30
Sand
2m –40
Sand
Rock
2m
(a) 4 (b) 5
Clay 4 m (c) 6 (d) 3

4. Due to a rise in temperature, the viscosity and

Sand
the unit weight of the percolating fluid are
The seepage through the clay if the coefficient reduced to 60% and 90% respectively. If other
of permeability is 1 × 10–6 cm/sec. things remain constant, the coefficient of
[Assume head loss only in clay] permeability

(a) 1.5 × 10–8 m3/min/m2 (a) increases by 25%

(b) 2.0 × 10–8 m3/hr/m2 (b) increases by 50%

(c) 9.0 × 10–7 m3/min/m2 (c) increases by 33.3%

(d) 1.8 × 10–6 m3/hr/m2 (d) decreases by 33.3%

2. A tracer when added in well (1) takes 75 days 5. The value of coefficient of permeability for a
to travel a 100 m distance to well (2). The uniform graded sand of size D10 = 0.15 mm
elevation head in well (1) is 25 m from datum obtained from sieve analysis. G = 2.67.
and that in well (2) is 20 m. Assuming the void (a) 2.25 mm/sec (b) 0.225 mm/sec
ratio of 0.25, the coefficient of permeability
(c) 0.0225 mm/sec (d) 22.5 mm/sec
(in m/day) is
6. A stratum of soil consists of three layers of
(a) 4/3 (b) 4/15
equal thickness. The permeabilities of top and
(c) 16/3 (d) 20/3 bottom layers are K = 10–4 cm/s and that of
3. Soil profile below a lake is shown in figure. A the middle layer is K = 10–3 cm/s. Then the
piezometer installed in sand layer shows a va lue of the hori zontal coeffi ci ent of
reading of + 10 m. Assume that the piezometric permeability KH for the entire soil layers is
head is uniform in the sand layer the discharge (a) 2 × 10–3 cm/s (b) 4 × 10–4 cm/s
through the silt layer is _______ × 10–7 m3/s/
(c) 3 × 10–4 cm/s (d) 1.5 × 10–4 cm/s
m2.

IES MASTER Publication

 SEEPAGE THROUGH SOIL

PRACTICE SET-1

CONCEPTUAL THEORETICAL QUESTIONS (TRUE/FALSE)

1. The path followed by a particle of water during 8. In a flow net flow lines and equipotential lines
the course of its seepage through a saturated cross each other at right angles.
soil mass is called a flow line.
True False
True False 9. In a flow net fields are rectangles whose length
2. The strip between the two neighbouring flow is twice the breadth.
lines, is called a flow channel.
True False
True False 10. In a flow net, smaller the dimension of the
field, smaller will be the hydraulic gradient and
3. The line which connects the points of equal head
velocity of flow through it.
is called an equipotential line.
True False
True False
11. In a flow net for homogeneous soil, the curve
4. The section of a flow channel between the two are smooth and circular.
equipotential lines, is called a field.
True False
True False
12. The quantity of water flowing through each flow
5. The dissipated head per unit length of flow is path is same.
called ...........
True False
(Fill in the blank)
13. The pressure exerted by water on the soil
6. A phreatic line is defined as the line within a through which it percolates, is known as
dam section below which there are negative hydrostatic pressure.
hydrostatic pressure.
True False
True False
14. The quantity of seepage of water in a soil
7. The phreatic line in an earth dam may be medium is directly proportional to the head of
parabolic. water at upstream.

True False True False

 170 SOIL MECHANICS CIVIL ENGINEERING

PRACTICE SET-2

CONCEPTUAL NUMERICAL QUESTIONS

1. Given: 5. Active earth pressure per metre length on the

retaining wall with a smooth vertical back as
1 = Poisson’s ratio of soil sample 1 shown in figure will be

2 = Poisson’s ratio of soil sample 2

k1 = coefficient of earth pressure at rest for Sand

3
soil sample 1  = 2t/m Height of
 = 30° wall = 9 m
k2 = coefficient of earth pressure at rest for
soil sample 2

If 1 / 2 = 1.5 and 1    / 1    = 0.875, (a) 81t (b) 27t

1 2

then the value of k1/k2 will be (c) 2t (d) 1t

(a) 1.3125 (b) 1.7143 6. A retaining wall 8m high with a smooth vertical

(c) 1.9687 (d) 1.8213 back retains a clay with C = 15 kN/m2,  = 15

2. A retaining wall with a smooth vertical back and  = 18 kN/m3 (sin 15° = 0.25). The pressure
retains sand backfill for a depth of 8 m. The at top will nearly be equal to :
backfill has a horizontal surface. Unit weight
of soil is 19 kN/m3,  sat = 21 kN/m3, C  = 0 ,  (a) 35.2kN/m2 (b) 23.0kN/m2

= 30°. What is the magnitude of the total thrust

against the wall, when backfill fully drained but (c) 27.6kN/m2 (d) 11.5kN/m2
top of wall is restrained against yielding
7. During a site reconnaissance survey, it was
(a) 76 kN (b) 224 kN observed that 10 m height of soil is standing
without any lateral support. what is the cohesive
(c) 304 kN (d) 336 kN
strength of soil with  = 0 and  = 20 kN/m3?
3. The coefficient of active earth pressure for a
loose sand having an angle of internal friction (a) 100 kPa (b) 50 kPa
of 30°, is
(c) 25 kPa (d) 200 kPa
(a) 1/2 (b) 1/3
8. The approximate maximum depth of an
(c) 1 (d) 3 unsupported vertical cut that can be made in a
4. In a cohesionless soil deposit having a unit saturated clay soil (u = 0) with  = 20kN/m3
weight of 1.5 t/m3 and an angle of internal
and an unconfined compressive strength of 80
friction of 30°, the active and passive lateral
kN/m2 is
earth pressure intensities (in t/m2) at a depth
of 10 m will, respectively, be (a) 6 m (b) 8 m

(a) 15 and 5 (b) 5 and 45 (c) 10 m (d) 12 m

(c) 10 and 20 (d) 20 and 10

IES MASTER Publication

CIVIL ENGINEERING EARTH PRESSURE 171

9. A rectangular wall, 8m high with a smooth 10. A 6.0 m high retaining wall is to support a soil
vertical back, retain a clay backfill with C  = 14 with unit weight 17.4 kN/m 3 ,  = 26° and
kN/m2, KA = 0.49 and  = 20 kN/m3. The total
active thrust on the wall assuming that tension C  = 14.36 kN/m2 . The Rankine active force per
crack may develop to the full theoretical depth unit length of the wall before the tensile crack
is occurs.
(a) 180 kN/m (b) 150 kN/m (a) 38.27 kN/m (b) 76.5 kN/m
(c) 160 kN/m (d) 190 kN/m (c) 14.66 kN/m (d) 29.3 kN/m

ANSWER KEY

1. (b) 4. (b) 7. (b) 10. (c)

2. (c) 5. (b) 8. (b)

3. (b) 6. (b) 9. (a)

SOLUTION

1. (b) 1
Total thrust = P ×H = 304 kN
1 2 0
2 = 1.5  1 = 1.5 2 3. (b)
 = 30°
1 – 1
1 – 2 = 0.875 1–
1
1 – sin  1 – sin30 2=1
Ka = = =
1 – 1.5 2 = 0.875 (1 – 2 ) 1 + sin  1 + sin30 1 3
1+
2
2 = 0.2
4. (b)

1 = 1.5 2 = 1.5 × 0.2 = 0.3 C = 0

 = 1.5 t/m 3

We know K =  = 30°
1–
H = 10 m
K1 1  1 – 2 
K2 =   1 –   1 – sin  1 – sin30 1
2  1  Ka = = =
1 + sin  1 + sin 30 3
 1 – 0.2 
= 1.5   = 1.7143 1
 1 – 0.3  KP = K = 3
a
2. (c)
1
K0 = 1 – sin  = 0.5 pa = Ka H = × 1.5 × 10 = 5 t/m2
3
P0 = K 0 z = 0.5 × 19 × 8 2
pp = Kp H = 3 × 1.5 × 10 = 45 t/m
= 76 kN/m 2

IES MASTER Publication

CIVIL ENGINEERING EXPANSIVE SOILS 233

PRACTICE SET-2

PREVIOUS YEARS QUESTIONS

1. The lime stabilization is very effective in 1. Strength shoul d be im proved a nd

treating: compressibility should be reduced.
(a) Sandy soils (b) Silty soils 2. Compressibility should be increased
(c) Non-plastic soils (d) Plastic clayey soils 3. No stabilization should be done.
[SSC-JE 2013] Which of these statements is/are correct?
2. A differential free swell test on a soil gives a (a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 2 only
value of differential free swell of 40%. What is
(c) 1 only (d) 3 only
the degree of swelling?
[IES 2012]
(a) Low (b) Medium
5. Consider the following statements:
(c) High (d) Very high
1. Increase in volume of a soil sample without
[IES 2008]
external constraints on submergence in
3. Which of the following tests are essential for water is termed as the ‘free swell of soil’
designing a foundation on expansive soils ?
2. Clay soil rich in montmorillonite exhibits
1. Swelling pressure test very low swelling characteristic.
2. Free swell test 3. Generally, free swell of soil sample ceases
when its water content reaches the plastic
3. Estimation of differential free swell
limit.
4. Shrinkage limit test
Of these statements.
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 2 and 4 only
(a) 1 & 2 are correct
(c) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (d) 2, 3 and 4 only
(b) 1 & 3 are correct
[IES 2015]
(c) 2 & 3 are correct
4. Consider the following statements relating to
(d) 1, 2 & 3 are correct
foundations on expansive soils :
[IES 1998]

IES MASTER Publication