100+ Free Registered Civil Engineer — Geotechnical (China) Practice Questions

geotechnical-investigation-and-insitu-testing

Investigation planning and classification per GB 50021, borehole spacing and depth determination, soil and rock core sampling protocols, Standard Penetration Testing (SPT N-value corrections for rod length and overburden), Cone Penetration Testing (CPT cone resistance qc, sleeve friction fs, friction ratio Rf), field vane shear testing (VST), pressuremeter testing (PMT net limit pressure and Menard modulus Em), flat dilatometer testing (DMT), plate load testing (PLT subgrade reaction modulus), shear wave velocity logging (vs), hydrogeological pumping and packer testing, groundwater flow direction, permeability coefficient (k), and water/soil corrosivity assessments against concrete and steel structures.

soil-mechanics-and-rock-mechanics

Three-phase physical properties (water content w, dry density ρd, void ratio e, degree of saturation Sr, porosity n), consistency limits (liquid limit wL, plastic limit wP, plasticity index Ip, liquidity index IL), effective stress principle (σ' = σ - u) under hydrostatic and steady seepage conditions, critical hydraulic gradient (icr = (γsat - γw)/γw), Darcy's 1D/2D flow, Mohr-Coulomb shear strength criteria (s = c' + σ' tan φ'), consolidated-undrained (CU) and drained (CD) triaxial behavior, stress paths (p-q diagrams), Terzaghi 1D consolidation theory (time factor Tv, consolidation coefficient cv, average degree of consolidation Ut), 1D e-p consolidation settlement (Cc, Cs, preconsolidation pressure pc, OCR), secondary compression, rock intact compressive strength (fcu), rock mass discontinuities, and rock mass quality classifications (BQ, RMR, Q-system).

shallow-foundations

Principles of shallow foundation depth selection and environmental frost depth requirements; characteristic subgrade bearing capacity (fa) width and depth correction formulas per GB 50007-2011 (fa = fak + ηb·γ·(b-3) + ηd·γm·(d-0.5)); contact pressure distribution under central, uniaxial, and biaxial eccentric loads (pk ≤ fa, pkmax ≤ 1.2fa); base overturning and detachment limits (e ≤ b/6); bearing capacity verification of soft underlying layers (soft underlayer stress diffusion angle θ); subgrade settlement calculations using the layer-wise summation method with empirical settlement calculation coefficient (ψs); structural design of spread footings, strip footings, and raft/mat foundations (punching shear, one-way beam shear, bending moments, and reinforcement detailing).

deep-foundations-and-piles

Classification and selection of pile foundation types per JGJ 94-2008 (bored cast-in-place, driven precast, prestressed high-strength concrete PHC pipe piles); ultimate vertical compressive bearing capacity calculation from soil parameters (Quk = Qsk + Qpk = uΣqsik·li + qpk·Ap); characteristic bearing capacity (Ra = Quk / K, K=2); uplift capacity of single piles (Tuk = Σλi·qsik·ui·li + Gp) and uplift pile group rupture cone mechanism; lateral bearing capacity of single piles using the m-method (horizontal deflection, maximum bending moment, and critical lateral load Hcr); pile group settlement calculation using equivalent pier layer-wise summation method; negative skin friction generation, neutral point depth determination (ln/l0), and downdrag load assessment; pile buckling in ultra-soft soils; and pile integrity and bearing capacity quality testing (low-strain reflected wave method, high-strain dynamic testing, acoustic wave transmission, and static load test per JGJ 106).

earth-retaining-slope-and-excavation

Rankine and Coulomb earth pressure computations for layered soils, cohesive backfill, uniform/strip surcharges, sloping backfill, and groundwater table conditions; gravity, cantilever, counterfort, and reinforced earth retaining wall stability checks against sliding (Fs ≥ 1.30) and overturning (Ft ≥ 1.60) per GB 50330-2013; slope classification and failure modes (planar slide, wedge failure, circular arc slip); slope stability analysis using Swedish circle and simplified Bishop slice methods; deep foundation excavation retaining systems per JGJ 120-2012 (cantilever retaining walls, strutted diaphragm walls, contiguous bored pile walls, SMW工法 piles, prestressed ground anchorages, composite soil nailing); excavation safety verifications: basal heave stability (Prandtl and Terzaghi mechanisms), hydraulic piping, quicksand/boiling, and dewatering-induced ground subsidence; and excavation instrumentation monitoring per GB 50497.

ground-improvement

Classification, applicability, and engineering design of ground treatment methods per JGJ 79-2012: sand and gravel cushion replacement (cushion thickness, width, stress diffusion, and compaction degree); preloading consolidation with vertical drains (sand drains, prefabricated vertical drains PVD, smear effect, well resistance, vacuum preloading, and degree of consolidation Ut = 1 - (1-Ur)(1-Uz)); dynamic compaction (energy level E = M·g·h, influence depth H = α·sqrt(M·h), tamping points layout); composite foundation theory: area replacement ratio (m = d^2 / de^2), composite subgrade bearing capacity (fspk = m·fpk + (1-m)·fsk), pile-soil stress ratio (n = σp / σs); vibro-replacement stone columns; cement-soil deep mixing columns (DJM / Grouting); cement-flyash-gravel (CFG) piles with gravel褥垫层 cushion; and composite foundation settlement calculation.

seismic-geotechnical-and-special-soils

Seismic site classification based on equivalent shear wave velocity (vse) and overburden thickness (d0) per GB 50011-2010; seismic soil liquefaction evaluation: preliminary assessment (geological age, clay content, groundwater depth) and detailed evaluation via critical SPT blow count (Ncr = N0·β·[ln(0.6ds+1.5)-0.1dw]·sqrt(3/ρc)); liquefaction index (ILE) and liquefaction grade classification; mitigation measures against liquefaction; collapsible loess engineering per GB 50025-2018: collapsibility coefficient (δs), self-weight collapse coefficient (δzs), non-self-weight vs self-weight collapsible loess site classification, and elimination depth; expansive soils: free swell ratio (Fs), swelling pressure (Pe), linear expansion ratio, shrinkage limit, and atmospheric influence depth (da); red clay characteristics; and karst cavity stability assessment and cave filling/bridging treatments.