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Foundation Engineering important questionsMost repeated in SPPU papers

These 46 questions appeared in more than one SPPU Foundation Engineering paper we have: 11 papers, from Oct 2022 to Nov 2025. The most-asked come first. Each one links to the papers it was asked in.

All Foundation Engineering papers and notes

Repeated questions

Endsem questions (34)

  1. 6×asked

    Discuss with sketch Square root of time fitting method for determination of coefficient of consolidation. 2

    Nov 2025 ·May 2025 ·Nov 2024 ·Nov 2023 ·May 2023 ·Nov 2022

  2. 5×asked

    Sketch and describe the various components of the well foundation, indicating functions of each component. 3

    Nov 2025 ·Nov 2024 ·May 2024 ·Nov 2023 ·Nov 2022

  3. 4×asked

    Explain any four engineering problem associated with black cotton soil.

    Nov 2025 ·May 2024 ·Nov 2023 ·Nov 2022

  4. 3×asked

    Discuss design principle of undreamed pile.

    Nov 2025 ·Nov 2023 ·Nov 2022

  5. 3×asked

    Discuss preloading with prefabricated vertical drains/sand drains with a neat sketch.

    Nov 2025 ·Nov 2023 ·Nov 2022

  6. 3×asked

    Enlist types of cofferdams. Explain any one type with neat sketch. … … …

    Nov 2025 ·Nov 2023 ·Nov 2022

  7. 3×asked

    Explain design steps of raft foundation by elastic (flexible) method.

    Nov 2025 ·Nov 2023 ·May 2023

  8. 3×asked

    In a consolidation test void ratio decreased from 0.75 to 0.70, when the load was changed from 50kN/m 2 . Compute compression index of volume change.

    Nov 2025 ·Nov 2024 ·May 2024

  9. 3×asked

    What is Caisson? How Caissons are classified based on methods of construction?

    Nov 2025 ·Nov 2024 ·Nov 2023

  10. 3×asked

    What is meant by shallow foundations? What are the principles of the design of footing?

    Nov 2025 ·Nov 2024 ·Nov 2023

  11. 3×asked

    Explain R C Diaphragm Wall-Construction stages with neat sketch.

    May 2025 ·May 2023 ·Nov 2022

  12. 3×asked

    Explain stone column techniques of soil improvement.

    Nov 2024 ·May 2023 ·Nov 2022

  13. 3×asked

    Define i) Over consolidation ratio ii) Normally consolidated soil iii) Over consolidated soil

    May 2024 ·May 2023 ·Nov 2022

  14. 3×asked

    Discuss the negative skin friction with neat sketch How it is calculated for single pile?

    May 2024 ·May 2023 ·Nov 2022

  15. 2×asked

    A group of 16 piles of 50 cm diameter is arranged with a centre to centre spacing of 1.0m. The piles are 9m long and are embedded in soft clay with cohesion 30kN/m 2 . Bearing resistance may be neglected for the piles (Adhesion factor 0.6). Determine the ultimate load capacity of the pile group.

    Nov 2025 ·Nov 2024

  16. 2×asked

    A group of 9 piles, 10m long is used as a foundation for bridge pier. The piles used are 30 cm diameter with centre to centre spacing of 0.9m. the subsoil consists of clay with unconfined compressive strength of 1.5kg/cm 2 . Determine the efficiency neglecting the bearing action. Assume adhesion factor = 0.9.

    Nov 2025 ·Nov 2024

  17. 2×asked

    A soil stratum is 10 m thick with pervious stratum on top and bottom. Determine the time required for 50% consolidation. Given that coefficient of permeability = 10–7 cm/s, coefficient of compression = 0.0003 cm 2 /gm, void ratio = 2 and time factor = 0.197.

    Nov 2025 ·Nov 2024

  18. 2×asked

    Define Negative Skin Friction. How it is determined. Also explain how it is prevented.

    Nov 2025 ·Nov 2023

  19. 2×asked

    Discuss the procedure for proportioning of footing for equal settlement.

    Nov 2025 ·Nov 2023

  20. 2×asked

    Discuss tilts and shifts: precautionary and remedial measures of well Foundation.

    Nov 2025 ·Nov 2023

  21. 2×asked

    Explain in brief efficiency of pile group.

    Nov 2025 ·Nov 2023

  22. 2×asked

    Explain the effect of swelling and shrinkage of expansive soils on building constructed. Also, enlist the precautions to be taken. Illustrate with sketches.

    Nov 2025 ·Nov 2023

  23. 2×asked

    Explain the term: i) Coeff. of Compressibility. ii) Compression Index. iii) Coeff. of volume Compressibility. iv) Degree of Consolidation v) Coeff. of Consolidation.

    Nov 2025 ·Nov 2022

  24. 2×asked

    Explain with neat sketch laboratory consolidation test.

    Nov 2025 ·May 2025

  25. 2×asked

    How do you classify piles according to different criteria?

    Nov 2025 ·Nov 2024

  26. 2×asked

    List out the various techniques of soil improvement. Explain any one.

    Nov 2025 ·Nov 2023

  27. 2×asked

    What are the conditions where a pile foundation is more suitable than a shallow foundation?

    Nov 2025 ·Nov 2023

  28. 2×asked

    What is contact pressure? Draw contact pressure distribution of a rigid footing on sandy and clayey soil strata.

    Nov 2025 ·Nov 2023

  29. 2×asked

    Explain the concept of floating raft with neat sketch.

    May 2025 ·May 2024

  30. 2×asked

    State any six assumptions of Terzaghi’s 1-dimensional consolidation Theory.

    May 2025 ·May 2024

  31. 2×asked

    What are the different types of foundation settlement? Explain in detail.

    Nov 2024 ·Nov 2023

  32. 2×asked

    Write a note on classification of pile according to function.

    May 2024 ·May 2023

  33. 2×asked

    Write down the steps involved in proportioning of footing.

    May 2024 ·Nov 2022

  34. 2×asked

    Explain the static pile load test in detail.

    May 2023 ·Nov 2022

Insem questions (12)

  1. 3×asked

    Describe Meyerhof’s bearing capacity theory.

    Sep 2024 ·Sep 2023 ·Oct 2022

  2. 3×asked

    Write a note on effect of water table on bearing capacity. 2

    Sep 2024 ·Sep 2023 ·Oct 2022

  3. 2×asked

    Define the terms: i) Ultimate bearing capacity ii) Net ultimate bearing capacity iii) Net safe bearing capacity iv) Gross safe bearing capacity v) Allowable soil pressure

    Aug 2025 ·Oct 2022

  4. 2×asked

    Explain in detail ‘Seismic refraction method’.

    Aug 2025 ·Oct 2022

  5. 2×asked

    Explain Terzaghi’s bearing capacity equation for strip, rectangular and circular footing with meaning of all terms.

    Aug 2025 ·Oct 2022

  6. 2×asked

    Explain with sketch a typical ‘Core Log. Indicate core recovery and RQD values for various rock types/ layers. 2

    Aug 2025 ·Sep 2024

  7. 2×asked

    A sampling tube of 72 mm diameter and 1mm thick. It is fitted with cutting edge. The inside diameter of cutting edge is flushed with sampling tube. The cutting edge is 1.5 mm thick. Compute inside clearance, outside clearance and area ratio. Comment on sample collected by tube.

    Sep 2024 ·Sep 2023

  8. 2×asked

    Enlist the assumptions in Terzaghi’s bearing capacity theory. State Terzaghi’s bearing capacity equation with meaning of each term.

    Sep 2024 ·Sep 2023

  9. 2×asked

    Explain percussion drilling with its advantages and disadvantages.

    Sep 2024 ·Sep 2023

  10. 2×asked

    Explain with sketches Electrical Resistivity Method.

    Sep 2024 ·Sep 2023

  11. 2×asked

    Write a note on plate load test. Also explain limitations of plate load test.

    Sep 2024 ·Sep 2023

  12. 2×asked

    Discuss with neat sketches the modes of shear failure in soil.

    Sep 2023 ·Oct 2022

Questions count as repeated when their wording matches closely across papers. Numericals that depend on a figure are left out, since the figure changes from paper to paper.