Geotech-101 Quiz

1. Primary purpose of slope stability analysis (Ch 1-1)?

A) Aesthetic hillside design B) Compare capacity vs demand for shear strength C) Maximize cut slope angle D) Minimize earthwork volume

2. Factor of safety defined as (Ch 1-5d)?

A) Shear stress / shear strength B) Available shear resistance / required for equilibrium C) Cohesion / friction angle D) Unit weight / pore pressure

3. Slope stability analyses assume what conditions (Ch 1-5d)?

A) 3D sections B) 2D sections and plane strain C) Axisymmetric conditions D) Spherical failure

4. Shear strength governed by what relationship (Ch 1-5d)?

A) Mohr-Coulomb linear B) Non-linear power law C) Exponential decay D) Hyperbolic function

5. First step in stability analysis procedure (Ch 1-6a)?

A) Explore and sample foundation/borrow B) Compute factor of safety C) Select trial slip surfaces D) Draw cross section

6. Step to characterize soil strength references what (Ch 1-6b)?

A) EM 1110-2-1901 B) Appendix D & EM 1110-2-1906 C) EM 1110-1-1804 D) Chapter 4 methods

7. Seepage conditions established using what (Ch 1-6d)?

A) Total stress analysis B) EM 1110-2-1901 methods C) Infinite slope charts D) Bishop method

8. Recommended method for computing FOS (Ch 1-6f)?

A) Spencer's method B) Ordinary method of slices C) Infinite slope D) Chart solutions

9. Critical slip surface definition (Ch 1-6g)?

A) Lowest factor of safety B) Deepest failure surface C) Largest surface area D) Steepest angle

10. Final design verification during what phase (Ch 1-6j)?

A) Preliminary design B) During construction C) Design review D) Operation

11. Chapter 2 covers what primarily (Ch 2)?

A) FOS criteria B) Loading conditions C) Analysis methods D) Computer programs

12. Low-permeability soils use what analysis (Ch 2-4)?

A) Total stress analysis B) Effective stress analysis C) Undrained analysis D) Partially saturated

13. Infinite slope analysis applies to what condition (Ch 3-1)?

A) Deep circular failures B) Long shallow slopes C) Vertical cuts D) Steep embankments

14. Infinite slope FOS equation uses what depth (Ch 3-2a)?

A) Depth to impervious layer B) Depth of potential sliding mass C) Total slope height D) Groundwater depth

15. Ordinary Method of Slices assumes (Ch 4-2a)?

A) Interslice forces parallel B) No interslice forces C) Horizontal interslice forces D) Equal slice weights

16. Bishop Method satisfies what equilibrium (Ch 4-2b)?

A) Force equilibrium only B) Moment equilibrium only C) Both force and moment D) Neither force nor moment

17. Spencer Method assumes what about interslice forces (Ch 4-2c)?

A) Horizontal only B) Parallel at constant angle C) No shear forces D) Vertical only

18. Minimum number of slices recommended (Ch 4-1b)?

A) 5 slices B) 8-15 slices C) 20 slices minimum D) 50 slices

19. Slice base should lie within (Ch 4-1c)?

A) Single soil layer B) Multiple layers C) Groundwater zone only D) Surface layer only

20. Recommended method for general cases (Ch 1-6f)?

A) Spencer's method B) Ordinary slices C) Infinite slope D) Trial wedge

21. Minimum FOS for new embankments end-of-construction (Ch 2-2b)?

A) 1.2 B) 1.5 C) 1.3 D) 1.1

22. Steady seepage conditions use what strengths (Ch 2-4)?

A) Drained shear strengths B) Undrained strengths C) Total stress parameters D) Peak strengths only

23. Sudden drawdown analysis for free-draining soils (Ch 2-5)?

A) Drained shear strengths B) Undrained strengths C) Zero pore pressure D) Residual strengths

24. Tension crack depth determined by (Ch 2-3e)?

A) Maximum slope height B) Eliminating tensile stresses C) 1/2 slope height D) Groundwater level

25. Computer programs automate what step (Ch 1-6g)?

A) Soil sampling B) Trial slip surface search C) Pore pressure analysis D) Laboratory testing

26. Critical slip surface defined as (Ch 1-6g)?

A) Lowest factor of safety B) Deepest penetration C) Largest area D) Steepest angle

27. Design verification occurs during (Ch 1-6j)?

A) Construction phase B) Preliminary design C) Operation phase D) Planning phase

28. Low FOS slopes require what (Ch 1-7)?

A) Ignore analysis B) Special remediation C) Reduce design FOS D) Change geometry only

29. Mohr-Coulomb criterion expressed as (Ch 1-5d)?

A) c + σ'tanφ' B) c/φ relationship C) Nonlinear power law D) Exponential decay

30. Multiple starting points needed for (Ch 1-6g)?

A) Critical slip surface search B) Soil sampling C) Pore pressure analysis D) Strength testing

🏔️ Geotech-101: Slope Stability Analysis