Foundation Quiz

What is the purpose of foundations in a structure?

• To distribute the load of the structure over a large bearing area

• To secure a level and firm bed for building operations

• To increase the lateral stability of the structure

• To prevent the lateral movement of the supporting material

Which type of foundation is used to support individual columns?

• Spread or Isolated footings

• Continuous or wall footing

• Cantilever footing

• Combined footing

When are mat (raft) foundations considered by foundation engineers?

• When the soil is very erratic and prone to excessive differential settlement

• When the structural loads are so high that spread footings would be exceptionally large

• When the lateral loads are not uniformly distributed through the structure

• When the bottom of the structure is located below the ground water table

What is a pier in the context of deep foundations?

• A watertight box or chamber used for laying foundation under water

• A slender structural member made of steel, concrete, or wood

• A vertical column of relatively large cross-section than a pile

• A type of foundation of the shape of hollow prismatic box

What should be considered in selecting the foundation type?

• Cost of foundation in comparison with the cost of the superstructure

• Subsurface conditions

• Function of the structure

• All of the above

Which type of foundation is used when the distance between the columns is so great that a trapezoidal combined footing becomes quite narrow?

• Cantilever footing

• Combined footing

• Continuous or wall footing

• Spread or Isolated footings

What is the lowest artificially built part of a structure which transmits the load of the structure to the ground called?

• Bed rock

• Firm ground

• Foundation

• Weak soil

When are deep foundations required?

• When the surface soil is suitable for shallow foundation

• When the soil at or near the ground surface is capable of supporting a structure

• When the uplift loads are smaller than spread footings can accommodate

• When the structural loads are erratic

What is a pile in the context of deep foundations?

• A vertical column of relatively large cross-section than a pier

• A slender structural member made of steel, concrete, or wood

• A type of foundation of the shape of hollow prismatic box

• A watertight box or chamber used for laying foundation under water

What is the most common type of shallow foundation?

• Cantilever footing

• Continuous or wall footing

• Combined footing

• Spread or Isolated footings