Testing Methods Flashcards
7 cards from real ASCE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Testing Methods flashcards as text
What two primary measurements are recorded during a standard Cone Penetration Test (CPT)?
Answer: Tip resistance and sleeve friction
CPT continuously records cone tip resistance and sleeve friction, which are used to classify soils and estimate strength.
A plate load test on a subgrade is mainly performed to determine:
Answer: Modulus of subgrade reaction (k)
The plate load test relates applied pressure to settlement, giving the modulus of subgrade reaction used in rigid pavement and slab design.
Which permeability test is most suitable for a fine-grained, low-permeability soil such as silty clay?
Answer: Falling head test
The falling head test is used for low-permeability soils because flow is too slow to measure accurately under a constant head.
An unconfined compression test on a saturated clay gives qu = 2,400 psf. What is the undrained shear strength?
Answer: 1,200 psf
For saturated clay, undrained shear strength su equals half the unconfined compressive strength: 2,400/2 = 1,200 psf.
From oedometer (consolidation) test data, the preconsolidation pressure is commonly determined using:
Answer: Casagrande construction on the e-log p curve
Casagrande's graphical method on the void ratio vs. log pressure curve estimates the maximum past effective stress.
The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) at 0.1 in penetration compares the test load to a standard crushed-stone load of:
Answer: 1,000 psi
CBR at 0.1 in penetration is the measured stress divided by the 1,000 psi standard, expressed as a percentage.
Per ASTM C511/C31, standard moist curing of concrete test cylinders requires a temperature of:
Answer: 73.5 ± 3.5°F
Standard curing keeps specimens at 73.5 ± 3.5°F (23 ± 2°C) with free water present on the surfaces.