GATE Exam Questions - Engineering

Q1:

To have zero active pressure intensity at the tip of a wall in cohesive soil, one should apply a uniform surcharge intensity of

A 2c tan α

B 2c cot α

C - 2c cot α

D - 2c tan α

ANS:A - 2c tan α

Explanation:

Pa = rzcot2α - 2c cot α + q cot2α.
For z = 0.
And, 2c cot α= q cot2α
q = 2 c tanα.