Civil Engineering - UPSC Civil Service Exam Questions MCQs Part 17

1. If the difference of height between two points is 1 m and the slope distance between them is 100 m, then accuracy of slope correction determination could be 1 in 1, 00, 000, provided the heights are measured with an accuracy of

A.
± 0.1 cm

B.
± 0.5 cm

C.
± 1.0 cm

D.
± 5.0 cm

 Answer Option A

2. Which one of the following is a method of extending the length of record for a frequency curve at a station ?

A.
Double Mass Curve method

B.
The Station Year method

C.
Thiessen method

D.
Isohyetal method

 Answer Option B

3. Consider the following statements regarding a simply supported beam subjected to a uniformly distributed load over the entire span :1. The bending moment is maximum at the central position.2. The shear force is zero at the central position.3. The slope is maximum at the middle position.Of these statements :

A.
1, 2 and 3 are correct

B.
1 and 2 are correct

C.
2 and 3 are correct

D.
1 and 3 are correct

 Answer Option B

4. Given that:d = effective depth, b = width and D = overall depth.The maximum area of compression reinforcement in a beam is

A.
0.04 bd

B.
0.04 bD

C.
0.12 bd

D.
0.12 bD

 Answer Option B

5. Which one of the following is not a standard spike for railways ?

A.
Dog spike

B.
Cat spike

C.
Screw spike

D.
Round spike

 Answer Option B

6. A column section as indicated in the given figure is loaded with a concentrated load at a point 'F' so as to produce maximum bending stress due to eccentricities about xx axis and yy axis as 5 t/m2 and 8 t/m2 respectively. If the direct stress due to loading is 15 t/m2 (compressive), then the intensity of resultant stress at the corner 'B' of the column section is

A. 2 t/m (compressive)

B. 12 t/m (compressive)

C. 18 t/m2 (tensile)

D. 28 t/m2 (compressive)

 Answer Option A

7. A vertical gate 6 m x 6 m holds water on one side with the free surface at its top. The moment about the bottom edge of the gate of the water force will be (v is the specific weight of water)

A. 18 v

B. 36 v

C. 72 v

D. 216 v

 Answer Option D

8. A beam of square beam is given by section 'a' is used with its diagonal horizontal. The modulus of section of the

A.

B.

C.

D.

 Answer Option C

9. An isosceles triangular plate of base 3 m and altitude 3 m is immersed vertically in an oil of specific gravity 0.8. The base of the plate coincides with the free surface of oil. The centre of pressure will lie at a distance of (from free surface)

A. 2.5 m

B. 2 m

C. 1.5 m

D. 1 m

 Answer Option C

10. Consider the following statements regarding the swedish circle method of analysing stability of slopes :1. It is a general method of analysing stability of slopes.2. It satisfied only the overall moment equation of equilibirum.3. It considers the forces action on the sides of individual slices.4. It gives a factor of safety which are on the safeside.Of the statements :

A. 1, 2 and 3 are correct

B. 1, 2 and 4 are correct

C. 2, 3 and 4 are correct

D. 1, 3 and 4 are correct

 Answer Option D

11. A pin-jointed truss is loaded as shown in the given figure. The force in member CE is

A. 10 tonnes tensile

B. 10 tonnes compressive

C. 5 tonnes tensile

D. 5 tonnes compressive

 Answer Option B

12. What type of noise can be abated by providing lining on walls and ceiling with sound absorbing material?

A. Source noise

B. Reflection noise

C. Structural noise

D. Direct air-borne noise

 Answer Option B

13. Which of the following treatment(s) will be indicated for a rural water supply from a deep groundwater source ?1. Sedimentation.2. Alum dosage.3. Potassium permanganate dosing.4. Bleaching powder application.Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

A. 1, 2 and 3

B. 1, 2 and 4

C. 3 and 4

D. 4 alone

 Answer Option D

14. Maximum gross take-off weight of an aircraft is

A. equal to the maximum structural landing weight

B. less than the maximum structural landing weight

C. more than the maximum structural land weight

D. equal to the empty operating weight plus the payload

 Answer Option C

15. For a circular column having its ends hinged, the slenderness ratio is 160. The l/d ratio of the column is

A. 80

B. 57

C. 40

D. 20

 Answer Option C

16. A simply supported beam of span 'l' is loaded (as shown in the given figure) with a uniformly varying load of intensity w1/unit length at 'A' to w2/unit length at 'B'. A The shear force at the support 'B' is given by

A.

B.

C.

D.

 Answer Option C

17. In the PERT analysis, which one of the following is followed by the time estimate of activities and probability of either occurrance ?

A. Normal distribution

B. Poisson's distribution

C. β - distribution

D. Binomial distribution.

 Answer Option C

18. The cable for a prestressed concrete simply supported beam subjected to uniformly distributed load over the entire span should ideally be :

A. placed at the centre of cross-section over the entire span

B. placed at some eccentricity over the entire span

C. varying linearly from the centre of cross-section at the ends to maximum eccentricity at the middle section

D. parabolic with zero eccentricity at the ends and maximum eccentricity at the center of the span

 Answer Option D

19. The effort 'P' to be applied horizontally to pull a weight 'W' on a plane inclined at an angle α with the horizontal is given by (tan θ is the coefficient of friction)

A. P = W tan (α + θ)

B. P = W tan (α - θ)

C.

D.

 Answer Option A

20. If two triangulation signals of 6.75 m height each, are to be just visible over ground mutually, what is the maximum distance between their locations on the ground surface ?

A. 10 km

B. 20 km

C. 30 km

D. 40 km

 Answer Option B

21. The approximate proportion of dry cement mortar required for brick work is

A. 60%

B. 45%

C. 30%

D. 10%

 Answer Option C

22. The waste stabilization ponds can be

A. aerobic

B. anaerobic

C. facultative

D. any of the above

 Answer Option D

23. The changes that take place during the process of consolidation of a saturated clay would include

A. an increase in pore water pressure and an increase in effective pressure

B. an increase in pore water pressure and a decrease in effective pressure

C. a decrease in pore water pressure and a decrease in effective pressure

D. a decrease in pore water pressure and an increase in effective pressure

 Answer Option D

24. Consider the following statements :1. Water hammer can develop in an unsteady flow only.2. Time required for rapid closure of valve is between 2 L/C and 4 L/C where L is the pipe length and C is the celerity of wave.3. In flexible water column theory, pipe may expand and water may compress in the flow system.4. Joukowskyhas carried out the mathematical analysis of water hammer.Which is the above statements relating to water hammer in pipes are correct ?

A. 1, 2 and 3

B. 1, 2 and 4

C. 2, 3 and 4

D. 1, 3 and 4

 Answer Option C

25. It is required to determine by periodical soundings, the rate at which silting or scouring is taking place in a harbour. Which one of the following methods is best suited for locating the positions of the soundings?

A. Range and time intervals

B. Two angles from the boat

C. Tachometric observations

D. Intersecting ranges

 Answer Option D

26. For the motion represented by the graph shown in the given figure, the numerical value of velocity , when acceleration will be

A. 1 m/sec

B. 2 m/sec

C. 3 m/sec

D. 4 m/sec

 Answer Option A

27. A star is observed at its upper culmination when it is north of zenith. The latitude of the place of observation is 30°N and declination of the star is 50°N. The zenith distance of the star is

A. 10°

B. 20°

C. 40°

D. 80°

 Answer Option B

28. For flow under a sluice gate where the upstream depth is 1.2 m and the depth at vena contracta is 0.3 m, the discharge per meter width would be nearly

A. 0.36 m3

B. 1.5 m3

C. 1.7 m3

D. 4.0 m3

 Answer Option B

29. At what value of saturation does the zero air voids curve in a compaction test represent the dry density?

A. 0%

B. 80%

C. 100%

D. 50%

 Answer Option C

30. Which steel member section among the following combinations can carry maximum load ?

A. A pair of angles welded on opposite sides of a gusset plate, but not tack welded

B. A pair of angles welded on opposite sides of a gusset plate, and tack welded along its length.

C. A pair of angles back to back on same side of a gusset plate, and tack welded.

D. A pair of angles on same side of a gusset plate, but not tack welded

 Answer Option B

31. The saturated and dry densities of a soil are respectively 2000 kg/m3 and 1500 kg/m3. The water content (in percentage) of the soil in the saturated state would be

A. 25

B. 33.33

C. 50

D. 66.66

 Answer Option B

32. The beam ABC shown in the given figure is horizontal. The distance to the point of contraflexure from the fixed end 'A' is

A. 0.333 m

B. 0.666 m

C. 0.25 m

D. 0.75 m

 Answer Option A

33. A horizontal beam is hinged at 'R' and supported on rollers at the end 'S'. It carries inclined loads. To determine the support reactions, the funicular polygon

A. must start onjy from the support 'S'

B. must start only from the support 'R'

C. could start only from anywhere on the vertical line through 'S'

D. could start from anywhere between 'R' and 'S'

 Answer Option B

34. A timber beam of rectangular section 100 mm x 50 mm is simply supported at the ends, has a 30 mm x 10 mm steel strip securely fixed to the top surface as shown in the given figure.The centroid of the "Equivalent timber beam" in this case from the tope surface

A. is 5 mm

B. is 30 mm

C. is 15 mm

D. cannot be predicted

 Answer Option B

35. What is eutrophication of lakes primarily due to ?

A. Multiplication of bacteria

B. Excessive inflow of nutrients

C. Increase in benthic organisms

D. Thermal and density currents

 Answer Option B

36. Given that 'φ' is the angle of internal friction, 'p' is the safe bearing capacity and γ is the unit weight of soil, the minimum depth of foundation of a masonry footing is given by

A.

B.

C.

D.

 Answer Option D

37. Which one of the following can be a set of velocity components of a two-dimensional flow ?

A. u = x + y and v = x2 + y2

B. u = x + y and v = x - y

C. u = xy and

D. u = x2 + y2 and v = x2 - y2

 Answer Option B

38. When is a soil mass said to have entered the solid phase ?

A. When loss in water is not accompained by a corresponding reduction in the volume of soil mass

B. When reduction in the volume of the soil mass is nearly equal to the volume of water lost.

C. When the soil mass becomes brittle

D. When the soil mass shows a small shearing resistance as the water content is reduced.

 Answer Option A

39. A centrifugal pump is required to lift 2.8 cu.m.s of water to a height of 7.5 m. If the total loss of head in the pipe system is 0.25 m and the efficiency of the pump is 80%, then the brake horse power will be

A.

B.

C.

D.

 Answer Option C

40. Which among the following assumptions are made in the design roof trusses ?1. Roof truss is restrained by the reactions2. Axes of the members meeting at a joint intersect at a common point3. Riveted joints act as frictionless hinges4. Loads act normal to roof surfaceSelect the correct answer using the codes given below:

A. 1, 2 and 4

B. 2, 3 and 4

C. 1, 3 and 4

D. 1, 2 and 3

 Answer Option B

41. A ladder AB of weight W and length l is held in equilibrium by a horizontal force P as shown in the figure given above. Assuming the ladder to be idealized as a homogeneous rigid bar and the surfaces to be smooth, which one of the following is correct ?

A.

B.

C.

D. P = 2 W cos θ

 Answer Option A

42. In the structure shown in the given figure, the fixed end moment at joint 'A' is

A. PL/16

B. 5PL/48

C. 7PL/64

D. PL/8

 Answer Option B

43. Wearing locations of rails and their reasons are listed below :1. Wear at end of rails : Loose fish bolts2. Wear at sides of rail head : Constant lerake application3. Wear on the top of rail head on tangent truck : Rigidity of wheel base4. Wear on top of rail head on curves : Lesser area of contact between wheel and rail Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched ?

A. 1 and 4

B. 1 and 2

C. 2 and 3

D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

 Answer Option D

44. The cleaning of slow sand filter is done by

A. reversing the direction of flow of water

B. passing air through the filter

C. passing a solution of alum and lime through the filter

D. scraping off the top layers of sand and admitting water

 Answer Option D

45. In the plane truss shown above, how many numbers have zero force?

A. 3

B. 5

C. 7

D. 9

 Answer Option C

46. In a laminar boundary layer, the velocity distribution can be assumed to be given, in usual notations, asWhich one of the following is the correct expression for the displacement thickness δ* for this boundary layer ?

A. δ* = δ

B. δ* = δ/2

C. δ* = δ/4

D. δ* = δ/6

 Answer Option B

47. In a plate load test, how is the ultimate load estimated from the load settlement curve on a log-log graph ?

A. Directly

B. By drawing tangents to the curve at the initial and final points

C. By the secant method

D. At 0.2 percent of the maximum settlement

 Answer Option A

48. The standard Proctor compaction curve of a clay is depicted in the above figure. Points A, B and C correspond to three compaction states of the soil, which fall on this curve. For which point(s) is the coefficient of permeability minimum ?

A. A and C

B. A

C. B

D. C

 Answer Option C

49. In which one of the following grades of a highway is an emergency escape ramp provided ?

A. 1 in 200

B. Zero grade

C. Downgrade

D. Upgrade

 Answer Option C

50. Ratio of the width of the car parking area required at kerb for 30° parking relative to 60° parking is approximately

A. 0.5

B. 0.7

C. 0.8

D. 2.0

 Answer Option D