NCEES Geotechnical Engineering

Question 1

On the NCEES PE Geotechnical exam, the effective stress in a saturated soil is calculated as:

Accepted Answer

σ' = σ − u (total stress minus pore water pressure)

Answer

σ' = σ + u (total stress plus pore water pressure)

Answer

σ' = u − σ (pore pressure minus total stress)

Answer

σ' = γz (unit weight times depth only)

Question 2

In NCEES PE Geotechnical practice, the Standard Penetration Test (SPT) provides which index value?

Accepted Answer

N-value: blow count per 12 inches of penetration

Answer

Undrained shear strength Su directly

Answer

Cone resistance qc in MPa

Answer

Pressuremeter modulus Em

Question 3

For the NCEES PE Geotechnical exam, Terzaghi's bearing capacity equation for a strip footing is:

Accepted Answer

qu = cNc + qNq + 0.5γBNγ

Answer

qu = cNc × Fcs × Fqs × Fγs

Answer

qu = Su × Nc (for undrained clay only)

Answer

qu = N60 × B/30

Question 4

In NCEES PE Geotechnical engineering, the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) classifies soils based primarily on:

Accepted Answer

Grain size distribution and Atterberg limits

Answer

In-situ SPT N-values

Answer

Organic content and color

Answer

Field density and moisture content

Question 5

On the NCEES PE Geotechnical exam, the coefficient of consolidation Cv is used in:

Accepted Answer

Predicting the time rate of consolidation settlement

Answer

Calculating shear strength of granular soils

Answer

Estimating lateral earth pressure coefficients

Answer

Computing pile skin friction capacity

Question 6

In NCEES PE Geotechnical practice, the Rankine active earth pressure coefficient Ka for a cohesionless soil with friction angle φ is:

Accepted Answer

Both B and C are equivalent

Answer

Ka = tan²(45° + φ/2)

Answer

Ka = tan²(45° − φ/2)

Answer

Ka = (1 − sin φ)/(1 + sin φ)