UPSC Civil Service Exam Questions - Engineering

Q1:

A saturated clay stratum of thickness 10 m, bounded on top and bottom by medium coarse sand layers, has a coefficient of consolidation of 0.002 cm2/s. If this stratum is subjected to loading, it is likely that it would undergo 50% of its primary consolidation in

A 1136 days

B 227 days

C 284 days

D 568 days

ANS:C - 284 days

Here, t= TvD^2/Cv.
For 50% Tv=0.196,
D= 10/2= 5M =500 cm,
Cv = 0.002.