NCEES Geotechnical Engineering 2

Question 1

For the NCEES PE Geotechnical exam, the factor of safety against slope failure using the ordinary method of slices is:

Accepted Answer

FS = Sum of resisting moments / Sum of driving moments

Answer

The ordinary (Fellenius) method computes FS as the ratio of sum of resisting moments to sum of driving moments about the slip circle center.

Question 2

In NCEES PE Geotechnical engineering, the liquefaction susceptibility of saturated sands is most influenced by:

Accepted Answer

Relative density, grain size, and cyclic shear stress ratio

Answer

Liquefaction susceptibility depends primarily on relative density (or N-value), uniformly graded fine sand, and the cyclic stress ratio from earthquake loading.

Question 3

On the NCEES PE Geotechnical exam, the immediate (elastic) settlement of a foundation differs from consolidation settlement in that it:

Accepted Answer

Occurs only in granular soils and is time-independent

Answer

Immediate (elastic) settlement occurs rapidly upon load application, primarily in granular soils, and is calculated using elasticity theory.

Question 4

In NCEES PE Geotechnical practice, the purpose of a geosynthetic geogrid in pavement design is to:

Accepted Answer

Reinforce and stabilize the base course by providing lateral confinement

Answer

Geogrids provide lateral confinement and reinforcement to aggregate base layers, increasing load distribution and reducing rutting.

Question 5

For the NCEES PE Geotechnical exam, the end-bearing capacity of a driven pile in clay is estimated using:

Accepted Answer

Qp = 9Su × Ap, where Su is undrained shear strength

Answer

End bearing in clay: Qp = 9Su × Ap, using the bearing capacity factor Nc = 9 for deep foundations in undrained clay.

NCEES National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying Practice Practice Test

NCEES National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying Practice Practice Test

NCEES Geotechnical Engineering 2