← MES Jr. Grade
Past Questions — 2014
A rectangular block of size 200mm x 100 mm x 50 mm is subjected to a shear stress of 100 N/mm2. If modulus of rigidity of material is 1x 105 N/mm2, strain energy stored will be
A)
10 N.m
B)
25 N.m
C)
50 N.m
D)
100 N.m
For a body under pure shear, strain energy stored is
U = (τ^2 / 2G) × Volume.
Given:
τ = 100 N/mm²
G = 1 × 10^5 N/mm²
Volume = 200 × 100 × 50 = 1,000,000 mm³
So,
U = (100² / (2 × 10^5)) × 1,000,000
= (10000 / 200000) × 1,000,000
= 0.05 × 1,000,000
= 50,000 N·mm
= 50 N·m.
Thus the correct answer is 50 N·m, which corresponds to option (c).
Note: If the intended formula is used directly, the result is 50 N·m, not 25 N·m. So the correct option is (c).
Floor Area Ratio (FAR) is calculated as
A)
Ratio of total covered area of all floors to the plot area
B)
Ratio of plot area to the total covered area of all floors
C)
Ratio of covered area of ground floor to the plot area
D)
Ratio of plot area to the covered area of ground floor
Floor Area Ratio (FAR), also called Floor Space Index (FSI), is defined as the total built-up/covered floor area of all floors divided by the plot area. Therefore, option (a) is correct. Options (b) and (d) reverse the ratio, and option (c) considers only the ground floor, which is not the definition of FAR.
The suitable remedy for the acoustic defect of sound foci in the new design
A)
add sound absorbers
B)
introduce suitable diffusers
C)
avoid curvilinear interiors
D)
none of these
Sound foci are caused by curved surfaces that reflect sound to a concentrated point, creating uneven loudness and echoes. The proper remedy in design is to avoid curvilinear interiors so that sound is not focused. Sound absorbers or diffusers may help in general acoustics, but the direct preventive measure for sound foci is to eliminate curved interior surfaces.
Poisson’s ratio for steel within elastic limit ranges from
A)
0.15 to 0.20
B)
0.25 to 0.24
C)
0.25 to 0.33
D)
0.45 to 0.50
For steel, Poisson’s ratio within the elastic limit is typically about 0.3, and the usual range given in strength of materials is 0.25 to 0.33. Option (a) is too low, while (d) is too high and is closer to rubber-like materials. Option (b) is not a standard range and appears incorrect.
The maximum permissible eccentricity of load on a rectangular foundation of width B is equal to
A)
B/3
B)
B/6
C)
B/2
D)
B/4
For a rectangular footing, the resultant load should lie within the middle third of the base to avoid tension at the soil–foundation interface. The limiting eccentricity is therefore B/6, where B is the width of the foundation. Hence, the maximum permissible eccentricity is B/6. Other options are incorrect because B/3 and B/2 are too large and would cause tensile stress, while B/4 is not the standard limiting value.
As per the National Building Code, the height of all rooms for human habitation shall not be less than from the surface of the floor to the lowest point of the ceiling (bottom of slab).
A)
2.5 m
B)
2.75 m
C)
3.0 m
D)
3.25 m
According to the National Building Code, the minimum height of rooms for human habitation measured from the floor surface to the lowest point of the ceiling (bottom of slab) is 2.75 m. Hence option (b) is correct. The other options are below or above the prescribed minimum and do not match the NBC requirement.
Fire resistant mortars are made by using clay
A)
Free from lime
B)
Containing Iron oxide
C)
Containing Dissolved Air
D)
Of low compaction
Fire-resistant mortars are prepared using clay that is free from lime because lime can reduce refractoriness and may cause cracking or fusion at high temperatures. Clay without lime withstands heat better, making it suitable for fire-resistant mortars. The other options are incorrect: iron oxide does not define fire resistance, dissolved air is irrelevant, and low compaction is not the key requirement.
A steel rod 1 m long having square cross section is pulled under a tensile load of 8 tones. The extension in the rod was 1 mm only. If E =2x106 kg/cm2, the side of the rod is
A)
4 cm
B)
2 cm
C)
1 cm
D)
1.5 cm
Use the extension formula for a prismatic bar:
\(\delta = \frac{PL}{AE}\).
Given:
- \(L = 1\,m = 100\,cm\)
- \(P = 8\) tonnes \(= 8000\,kgf\)
- \(\delta = 1\,mm = 0.1\,cm\)
- \(E = 2\times 10^6\,kg/cm^2\)
So,
\[
A = \frac{PL}{E\delta} = \frac{8000 \times 100}{(2\times 10^6)\times 0.1} = \frac{800000}{200000} = 4\,cm^2
\]
The rod has a square cross-section, so side \(= \sqrt{A} = \sqrt{4} = 2\,cm\).
Hence, the correct option is (b) 2 cm. Other options do not match the area required by the given load, extension, and modulus of elasticity.
Shear stress on principal planes is
A)
Zero
B)
Maximum
C)
Minimum
D)
None of these
On principal planes, the normal stress is maximum or minimum and the shear stress is zero by definition. Therefore, shear stress on principal planes is zero. Hence, option (a) is correct.
A body will be in equilibrium when
A)
the algebraic sum of vertical components of all forces is zero
B)
the algebraic sum of horizontal components of all forces is zero
C)
the algebraic sum of moments components of all forces is zero
D)
all of these
For a body to be in equilibrium, the resultant force in every direction must be zero and the resultant moment must also be zero. Thus, the algebraic sum of vertical components of all forces is zero, the algebraic sum of horizontal components of all forces is zero, and the algebraic sum of moments of all forces is zero. Therefore, the correct answer is 'all of these'.
If one end of a prismatic beam AB with fixed ends is given a transverse displacements without any rotation, then the transverse reactions at A or B due to displacement is
A)
6EI/L2
B)
6EI/L3
C)
12EI/L2
D)
12EI/L3
For a prismatic beam with both ends fixed, if one end is given a transverse displacement Δ without rotation, the end shear force developed due to this joint displacement is the standard fixed-end reaction: 6EIΔ/L^2. This comes from the slope-deflection/fixed-end displacement relations for a member with no end rotations. Hence option (a) is correct. The other options have incorrect coefficients or dimensions.
The ratio of intensity of stress in case of a suddenly applied load to that of in case of a gradually applied load is
A)
½
B)
1
C)
2
D)
more than 2
For a gradually applied load, the stress developed is P/A. For a suddenly applied load (applied without impact), the maximum stress becomes 2P/A due to the dynamic effect. Therefore, the ratio of stress for suddenly applied load to gradually applied load is (2P/A) / (P/A) = 2. Hence, option (c) is correct.
Moment of Inertia of a circular section of diameter ‘d’ about an axis passing through its C.G. and lying in the plane of the section is given by
A)
I = πd4 / 32
B)
I = πd4 / 64
C)
I = πd4 / 16
D)
none of these
For a solid circular section, the moment of inertia about any centroidal axis lying in the plane of the section (diametral axis) is I = πd^4/64. This is the standard formula used in Strength of Materials. Option (a) πd^4/32 is the polar moment of inertia about the centroidal axis perpendicular to the plane, not the in-plane axis. Hence the correct answer is (b).
Coefficient of friction depends on
A)
Nature of surfaces only
B)
Area of contact only
C)
Both (a) and (b)
D)
None of these
The coefficient of friction depends on the nature and condition of the two surfaces in contact, such as roughness and material. In basic engineering mechanics, it is considered independent of the apparent area of contact. Therefore, option (a) is correct. Option (b) is incorrect because area of contact does not affect the coefficient of friction in the ideal model, and option (c) is also incorrect for the same reason.
The Poisson’s Ratio is the ratio of
A)
lateral elongation to linear elongation
B)
lateral stress to linear stress
C)
lateral strain to longitudinal strain
D)
Young’s Modulus to Modulus of Rigidity
Poisson’s ratio is defined as the ratio of lateral strain to longitudinal strain (usually with a negative sign, since lateral strain is opposite in direction to longitudinal strain under tension). Among the options, (c) matches this definition. Option (a) is incorrect because elongation is not the same as strain, (b) refers to stress, and (d) is a relation between elastic constants, not Poisson’s ratio.
Simple bending equation is
A)
M/I = σ/Y = E/R
B)
M/I = R/E = F/Y
C)
M/E = F/I = R/Y
D)
M/R = Y/I = E/F
The simple bending equation is the standard flexure formula: M/I = σ/y = E/R, where M is bending moment, I is second moment of area, σ is bending stress at a distance y from the neutral axis, E is Young’s modulus, and R is radius of curvature. Among the options, (a) matches this relation. The other options have incorrect symbols and do not represent the flexure formula.
The top diameter, bottom diameter and the height of a slump mould are
A)
10 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm
B)
20 cm, 30 cm, 10 cm
C)
30 cm, 20 cm, 10 cm
D)
20 cm, 40 cm, 60 cm
A standard slump cone (slump mould) used in concrete testing has a top diameter of 10 cm, a bottom diameter of 20 cm, and a height of 30 cm. Therefore, option (a) is correct. The other options do not match the standard dimensions of the slump mould.
In case of simply supported I-section beam of span L and loaded with central load W, the length of elasto-plastic zone of the plastic hinge is
A)
L/4
B)
L/5
C)
L/6
D)
L/8
For a simply supported beam with a central point load, the maximum bending moment occurs at midspan. In plastic analysis, the plastic hinge forms at this section, and the elasto-plastic zone extends over a limited length around the hinge. For a simply supported I-section beam under central load, the standard result for the length of the elasto-plastic zone is L/6. Hence, option (c) is correct. The other options do not match the standard plastic hinge zone length for this loading condition.
Separation of water or water sand cement from a freshly mixed concrete is known as
A)
bleeding
B)
creeping
C)
segregation
D)
flooding
In freshly mixed concrete, when water rises to the surface or gets separated from the mix, it is called bleeding. Segregation means separation of coarse aggregate from the mortar, not specifically water or cement paste. Creeping is not a standard concrete term for this phenomenon, and flooding is unrelated.
In limit state method of design it is assumed that the maximum strain in concrete for the outermost compression fiber is
A)
0.0065
B)
0.0055
C)
0.0045
D)
0.0035
In the limit state method as per IS 456, the maximum strain in concrete at the outermost compression fibre at the ultimate limit state is 0.0035. This is the standard design assumption used for RCC flexural design. The other values are not the prescribed ultimate concrete strain in IS 456.
An R.C.C column is treated as short column if its slenderness ratio is less than
A)
30
B)
35
C)
40
D)
50
In RCC design, a column is treated as a short column when its slenderness ratio is less than 12 for braced columns in general design practice, but in many exam contexts for RCC columns the commonly used limiting value for short columns is 30. Among the given options, 30 is the correct threshold. The other values (35, 40, 50) are higher and do not represent the standard short-column limit used in such MCQs.
Numbers of bricks required in one cubic meter of brick masonry is
A)
400
B)
450
C)
500
D)
550
In standard estimation, the number of modular bricks required for 1 cubic meter of brick masonry is taken as about 500. This is based on the nominal size of bricks including mortar joints. Therefore, option (c) 500 is correct. The other options are not the standard approximate value used in civil engineering estimates.
Maximum distance between expansion joints in structure as per IS 456 is
A)
20 m
B)
30 m
C)
45 m
D)
60 m
As per IS 456, the maximum spacing between expansion joints in RCC structures is 30 m. This is used to accommodate expansion and contraction due to temperature changes and shrinkage. Hence, option (b) is correct. The other options do not match the code provision.
When HYSD bars are used the minimum quantity of reinforcement in a slab in each principal direction is
A)
0.12%
B)
0.13%
C)
0.16%
D)
0.60%
As per IS 456:2000, the minimum steel in a slab is:
- 0.15% of the total cross-sectional area when mild steel bars are used
- 0.12% of the total cross-sectional area when HYSD bars are used
Since the question asks about HYSD bars, the correct minimum reinforcement in each principal direction is 0.12%. The other options do not match the codal provision.
The strength of a riveted joint is equal to
A)
shearing strength of the rivets
B)
bearing strength of the rivets
C)
tearing strength of the plate
D)
least of (a), (b) and (c)
In a riveted joint, failure can occur by: (1) shearing of rivets, (2) bearing/crushing of rivets or plate, or (3) tearing of the plate. The actual strength of the joint is governed by the weakest mode, so it is equal to the least of these three strengths. Hence, option (d) is correct.