Soil mechanics: shear strength and consolidation

What you’ll practice

Build confidence with core soil mechanics ideas that show up in design checks, lab interpretation, and exam problems—especially where effective stress and drainage conditions matter.

Each question uses 4 options and there’s no timer, so you can slow down, reason through assumptions, and learn from mistakes.

Common pitfalls to avoid

Mix-ups often come from sign conventions and “which stress is effective” moments, plus confusing drained vs undrained behavior across different tests.

Watch for unit slips (kPa vs kN/m²), incorrect use of total vs effective parameters (c, φ vs c′, φ′), and forgetting when pore pressure changes during loading.

Difficulty and quiz settings

Difficulty is balanced by mixing straightforward definition checks with multi-step conceptual items that require linking consolidation theory to stress paths and shear failure.

Before starting, pick your question count and difficulty to match your goal—quick revision, focused practice, or a full-length challenge.

• Identify drained vs undrained conditions and choose appropriate strength parameters
• Interpret Mohr circles, failure envelopes, and the role of effective stress
• Connect pore pressure changes to shear strength and stability outcomes
• Apply consolidation concepts (primary vs secondary, settlement trends, time rate)
• Recognize typical lab/field test contexts (triaxial, direct shear, oedometer) and what they measure