UPSC Civil Service Exam Questions - Engineering

Q1:

A concentrated load acting on the surface of a soil produces a stress of 19.1 kPa at a depth of 1 m below it. Using Boussinesq's expression, the stress at 2 m depth is

A 9.55 kPa

B 6.37 kPa

C 4.775 kPa

D 4.37 kPa

ANS:C - 4.775 kPa

σ1 = 0.4775 * Q/z1^2 and also right σ2 = 0.4775*Q/z2^2.
Take ratio and will get 19.1÷4 = 4.775.
σ1 = 19.1,
Z1=1,
Z2=2,
σ2 = ?.