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Past Questions
The limiting values of x in beam for Fe 415 is umax/d
A)
0.55
B)
0.48
C)
0.46
D)
0.45
For a singly reinforced RC beam, the limiting neutral axis depth ratio x_u,max/d depends on the steel grade. As per IS 456:2000, for Fe 415 steel, x_u,max/d = 0.48. Hence option (b) is the correct value if the question intends x_u,max/d. However, since the options given include 0.48 under key b, the correct option is b. The other values are incorrect because 0.45 is the limiting ratio for Fe 250, 0.46 is not the standard code value for Fe 415, and 0.55 is too high and corresponds to no standard limiting ratio for Fe 415.
Specific gravity of sand is generally
A)
2.60
B)
3.00
C)
2.20
D)
2.00
The specific gravity of natural sand is generally about 2.6 to 2.7, so option (a) 2.60 is correct. This is the typical value for quartz-rich sand used in civil engineering.
Why the others are incorrect:
- (b) 3.00 is too high for ordinary sand; such a value is more typical of some heavy minerals, not general sand.
- (c) 2.20 is too low; it is below the usual range for sand.
- (d) 2.00 is also too low and not representative of normal sand.
The failure of slope takes place mainly due to
A)
The action of gravitational forces
B)
The seepage forces within the soil
C)
Due to excessive cutting below the slope
D)
Due to overburden pressure on the slope
Slope failure occurs mainly because the soil mass is acted upon by gravity, which tends to pull the material downslope. When the driving gravitational force exceeds the resisting shear strength of the slope material, failure occurs. The other options are contributing or triggering factors, but not the primary cause in general: excessive cutting below the slope can destabilize a slope by removing support, overburden pressure increases stress but does not by itself cause failure, and seepage forces can reduce stability by increasing pore water pressure, but they are secondary compared with gravity as the main driving force.
Precipitation caused due to striking of air masses with a topographical feature is called
A)
Orographic precipitation
B)
Convective precipitation
C)
Cyclonic precipitation
D)
None of these
Orographic precipitation is caused when moist air masses are forced to rise over a topographical barrier such as a mountain. As the air ascends, it cools, condenses, and produces rainfall on the windward side.
Why others are incorrect: Convective precipitation occurs due to surface heating and rising warm air, not topographic obstruction. Cyclonic precipitation is associated with low-pressure systems and frontal lifting, not specifically with terrain. None of these is incorrect because option (a) correctly names the phenomenon.
What is/are benefits of rainwater harvesting?
A)
Flood mitigation
B)
Increasing ground water levels
C)
Greater water availability
D)
All of these
Rainwater harvesting has multiple benefits: it helps recharge aquifers and thus increases groundwater levels, improves overall water availability for domestic and other uses, and reduces surface runoff, which can help in flood mitigation. Therefore, all the listed statements are correct, making option d the best answer. Options a, b, and c are not incorrect individually; they are all benefits of rainwater harvesting.
The moisture content at which specified amount of compaction produces maximum dry density is known as
A)
Specific Moisture Content
B)
Retained Moisture Content
C)
Absolute Moisture Content
D)
Optimum Moisture Content
The moisture content at which a soil attains maximum dry density for a given compactive effort is called the **Optimum Moisture Content (OMC)**. At this water content, the soil particles are lubricated enough to rearrange efficiently under compaction, giving the highest dry density.
Why the others are incorrect:
- **Specific Moisture Content**: not a standard geotechnical term for compaction behavior.
- **Retained Moisture Content**: refers to moisture held in a material, not the moisture content for maximum dry density.
- **Absolute Moisture Content**: a general moisture measure, but it does not denote the compaction condition that yields maximum dry density.
The Index that is used to indicate the consistency of undisturbed soils in the field is
A)
Plasticity
B)
Liquidity Index
C)
Toughness Index
D)
Sensitivity
The correct answer is **Liquidity Index**. Liquidity index is used to indicate the **consistency/state of an undisturbed soil in the field** by relating its natural water content to its plastic and liquid limits. It shows how close the soil is to the liquid state and therefore reflects field consistency.
Why the others are incorrect:
- **Toughness Index (c):** This indicates the relative toughness of soil at the plastic limit, not field consistency of undisturbed soil.
- **Plasticity (a):** Plasticity is a general property of fine-grained soils, not an index used to indicate field consistency.
- **Sensitivity (d):** Sensitivity measures the loss of strength of a soil upon remoulding, not its consistency in the field.
A low wall constructed at the bottom of an embankment or at the end of capron of a culvert is known as
A)
Check wall
B)
Toe wall
C)
Breast wall
D)
Retaining wall
The correct answer is **Toe wall**. A toe wall is a low wall provided at the bottom (toe) of an embankment or at the end of a culvert apron to protect the slope and prevent erosion or slipping of the earth fill.
Why the others are incorrect:
- **Check wall**: Used to check or reduce the velocity of flowing water, not specifically at the toe of an embankment.
- **Breast wall**: A wall built on the front side of a cutting or slope to retain earth, not a low wall at the bottom of an embankment.
- **Retaining wall**: A general term for a wall that retains soil, but the specific low wall at the toe of an embankment/culvert apron is called a toe wall.
The percentage of steel in a column shall be in the range of
A)
0.60% to 8% of concrete area
B)
0.80% to 6% of concrete area
C)
0.75% to 8% of concrete area
D)
0.80% to 7% of concrete area
The percentage of longitudinal steel in a reinforced concrete column is generally specified between a minimum of 0.8% and a maximum of 6% of the gross concrete area. Hence, option (b) is correct.
Why the others are incorrect:
- (a) 0.60% to 8%: 0.60% is below the usual minimum requirement, and 8% exceeds the permitted maximum.
- (c) 0.75% to 8%: 0.75% is still below the standard minimum, and 8% is too high.
- (d) 0.80% to 7%: 0.80% is correct as the minimum, but 7% is above the allowable maximum.
Therefore, the correct range is 0.80% to 6% of concrete area.
The minimum clear cover to the reinforcements in RCC Water tank shall be
A)
25mm or diameter of the bar, whichever is greater
B)
15mm or diameter of the bar, whichever is greater
C)
40mm or diameter of the bar, whichever is greater
D)
50mm or diameter of the bar, whichever is greater
For RCC water tanks, the minimum clear cover to reinforcement is generally taken as 40 mm or the diameter of the bar, whichever is greater, to provide adequate protection against corrosion and ensure durability in a water-retaining structure. Hence option (c) is correct.
Why the others are incorrect:
- (a) 25 mm is too small for water-retaining RCC members and does not provide sufficient durability.
- (b) 15 mm is far below the required cover and is unsuitable for RCC water tanks.
- (d) 50 mm is larger than the standard minimum specified in common exam codes for RCC water tanks, so it is not the correct minimum value.
According to IS:383 -1970, which grading zone of fine aggregate shall not be used for reinforced concrete?
A)
Grading Zone I
B)
Grading Zone II
C)
Grading Zone III
D)
Grading Zone IV
According to IS:383-1970, fine aggregate of Grading Zone IV is generally not recommended for reinforced concrete because it is too coarse and may lead to poor workability and difficulty in achieving proper compaction around reinforcement. Hence, it shall not be used for reinforced concrete work.
Why the others are incorrect:
- Grading Zone I: Coarser sand, but it can be used in concrete, including reinforced concrete, with suitable mix design.
- Grading Zone II: This is the most commonly preferred zone for reinforced concrete.
- Grading Zone III: Also permissible for reinforced concrete, though it is finer than Zone II and may require mix adjustments.
Which IS Sieve size differentiate coarse and fine aggregate?
A)
Aggregate passing 2.36mm
B)
Aggregate passing 4.75mm
C)
Aggregate passing 1.18mm
D)
Aggregate passing 10mm
The standard IS sieve used to distinguish fine aggregate from coarse aggregate is the 4.75 mm sieve. Material passing the 4.75 mm sieve is classified as fine aggregate, while material retained on it is coarse aggregate. Hence, option (b) is correct.
Why the others are incorrect:
- (a) 2.36 mm: This is a smaller sieve used in grading, but it is not the standard boundary between fine and coarse aggregate.
- (c) 1.18 mm: Also used in sieve analysis, but not for separating fine from coarse aggregate.
- (d) 10 mm: This is a much larger sieve and is used for grading coarse aggregate, not for the fine/coarse distinction.
The ultimate bearing capacity is clearly defined only in the case of
A)
Local Shear
B)
Punching Shear
C)
General Shear
D)
All of the above
The ultimate bearing capacity is clearly and distinctly defined in the case of **general shear failure**. In general shear, the load–settlement curve shows a well-defined peak, so the failure load can be identified clearly.
Why others are incorrect:
- **Local shear**: failure is gradual and the peak is not sharply defined, so ultimate bearing capacity is not clearly distinct.
- **Punching shear**: the footing punches into the soil with large settlements and no distinct failure peak, so the ultimate capacity is not clearly defined.
- **All of the above**: incorrect because only general shear gives a clearly defined ultimate bearing capacity.
The factor of safety to be adopted while determining the bearing capacity of soils is
A)
2.50 to 5
B)
4 to 6
C)
3 to 6
D)
2 to 4
The factor of safety commonly adopted in bearing capacity calculations for soils is about 2 to 4, depending on the type of foundation, soil condition, and whether the value is based on ultimate or allowable bearing capacity. In practice, a factor around 3 is very common for shallow foundations, with the range extending roughly from 2 to 4.
Why the other options are incorrect:
- a (2.50 to 5): The upper limit is too high for the usual bearing capacity factor of safety range.
- b (4 to 6): This is generally excessive for bearing capacity design and is not the standard adopted range.
- c (3 to 6): Also too high on the upper side; 6 is not typical for soil bearing capacity design.
Hence, the correct option is d (2 to 4).
The ratio between volume of voids in soil and volume of solid particles is known as
A)
Density
B)
Specific gravity
C)
Void Ration
D)
Porosity
The ratio of the volume of voids to the volume of solid particles in soil is called the void ratio (e = Vv/Vs). Therefore, option (c) is correct. Option (d) porosity is the ratio of volume of voids to total volume of soil (Vv/V), not to solids. Option (a) density refers to mass per unit volume, and option (b) specific gravity is the ratio of the density of soil solids to the density of water.
Size of modular brick is
A)
200mm×100mm×100mm
B)
190mm×90mm×90mm
C)
190mm×100mm×100mm
D)
200mm×90mm×90mm
The standard size of a modular brick is 190 mm × 90 mm × 90 mm. This is the nominal modular brick size used in construction practice, designed to work with 10 mm mortar joints to make the coordinated size 200 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm. Option (b) matches the actual modular brick dimensions.
Why the others are incorrect:
- (a) 200 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm is the nominal/coordinating size, not the actual brick size.
- (c) 190 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm has an incorrect width and height.
- (d) 200 mm × 90 mm × 90 mm mixes nominal length with actual width and height, so it is not the standard modular brick size.
Ornamental moulded course placed on the top of a wall is
A)
Cornice
B)
Coping
C)
Frieze
D)
Lintel
Cornice is the ornamental moulded course placed at the top of a wall, usually projecting outward to finish and protect the wall. Coping is the protective top covering of a wall, but it is not specifically an ornamental moulded course. Frieze is a decorative horizontal band in an entablature or wall, typically below the cornice, not at the top of the wall. Lintel is a horizontal structural member placed over an opening such as a door or window, so it is unrelated to the top of a wall.
Liquid and Plastic Limits exist in ______ soil
A)
Gravel
B)
Clay
C)
Silty
D)
Sandy
Liquid limit and plastic limit are Atterberg limits, which are defined for fine-grained cohesive soils that exhibit plasticity—primarily clays. Clay particles are very small and have high surface area, so they can hold water and change consistency from liquid to plastic to semi-solid. Sandy and gravelly soils are coarse-grained and non-plastic, so they do not have meaningful liquid or plastic limits. Silty soils may show limited plasticity in some cases, but the standard and most correct answer is clay.
Choose the wrong statement :-
A)
The shrinkage and swelling in wood is uniform in all directions.
B)
The strength and elastic properties of wood is not uniform in all directions.
C)
Wood being a hygroscopic material adjusts its moisture content to the humidity.
D)
The absorption of moisture by wood is accompanied by swelling and desorption by shrinkage.
Option (a) is the wrong statement. Shrinkage and swelling in wood are not uniform in all directions; wood is anisotropic, so dimensional change differs along the longitudinal, radial, and tangential directions. In fact, shrinkage/swelling is greatest tangentially, less radially, and least longitudinally.
Why the others are correct:
- (b) Correct: The strength and elastic properties of wood are not uniform in all directions because wood is anisotropic.
- (c) Correct: Wood is hygroscopic, so it absorbs or releases moisture until it reaches equilibrium with the surrounding humidity.
- (d) Correct: Absorption of moisture causes swelling, and desorption of moisture causes shrinkage.
While designing foundation, two-way shear check shall be made at a distance of ______ from the face of column (where ‘d’ is the effective depth of the footing)
A)
d
B)
d/2
C)
d/4
D)
d/5
For footing design, the critical section for **two-way (punching) shear** is checked at a distance of **d/2 from the face of the column**, where d is the effective depth of the footing. This is the standard code-based location because punching shear failure occurs around the column perimeter, and the critical perimeter is taken at d/2 from the loaded area.
Why the other options are incorrect:
- **a) d**: Too far from the column face; this is not the standard critical section for punching shear.
- **c) d/4**: Too close to the column face; underestimates the punching shear critical perimeter.
- **d) d/5**: Also too close and not used as the code-specified critical section.
Hence, the correct answer is **b) d/2**.
Permeability of soil is the rate at which water flows through it under the action of hydraulic
A)
Pressure
B)
Flow
C)
Gradient
D)
Impact
Permeability is defined as the property of soil that allows water to flow through it under a hydraulic gradient. Hence, the correct option is c (Gradient). The other options are incorrect because permeability is not defined by hydraulic pressure alone (a), impact has no relevance to seepage flow in soil (d), and flow is the result of permeability rather than the driving condition defining it (b).
Masonry or RCC structures supporting the uphill slopes along a road are termed as
A)
Toe wall
B)
Retaining wall
C)
Breast wall
D)
Revetment wall
The correct answer is **Breast wall**. A breast wall is a masonry or RCC wall constructed on the **uphill side** of a road in hill areas to support the cut slope and prevent soil/rock from sliding onto the roadway.
Why the others are incorrect:
- **Retaining wall**: This is a broader term for any wall that retains earth, but in road hill-slope terminology, the specific wall on the uphill side is called a **breast wall**.
- **Toe wall**: Built at the **toe (bottom)** of a slope, usually to support the lower side and prevent slipping.
- **Revetment wall**: Used mainly for **protecting slopes or embankments against erosion**, especially from water action, not specifically for supporting uphill road cut slopes.
The contour interval on a map is 15m. if the upward gradient of 1 in 20 is required to be drawn between two points. The horizontal equivalent between A and B will be
A)
240m
B)
300m
C)
450m
D)
15m
Based on established principles in Civil Engineering, the correct and most appropriate choice is '300m' (Option B).
Safe entrance velocity through a well screen is
A)
0.3mm/s
B)
3.0mm/s
C)
30mm/s
D)
300mm/s
Based on established principles in Civil Engineering, the correct and most appropriate choice is '300mm/s' (Option D).
Good brick clay should contain an Alumina percentage of about
A)
10-20
B)
20-30
C)
30-40
D)
50-60
Based on established principles in Civil Engineering, the correct and most appropriate choice is '20-30' (Option B).