Civil Engineering - UPSC Civil Service Exam Questions MCQs Part 6

1. The process of determining the location of the station (on the map) occupied by the plane table is called as

A.
Intersection

B.
Three-point problem

C.
Traversing

D.
Resection

 Answer Option D

2. Which one of the following correctly expresses the split tensile strength of a circular cylinder of length L and diameter D, subject to a maximum load of P ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

 Answer Option C

3. If 'A' is the angle formed by two gauge faces, the crossing number will be

A.
tan A

B.
cot A

C.
sec A

D.
A rad

 Answer Option B

4. What is the curve resistance for a 50 tonnes train on a BG track on a 4° curve?

A.
0.05 tonne

B.
0.06 tonne

C.
0.08 tonne

D.
0.01 tonne

 Answer Option C

5. What does high COD to BOD ratio of an organic pollutant represent ?

A.
High biodegradability of the pollutant

B.
Low biodegradability of the pollutant

C.
Presence of free oxygen for aerobic decomposition

D.
Presence of toxic material in the pollutants

 Answer Option A

6. Consider the following limitations :1. Can be performed only on purely cohesionless soils2. Plane of failure is predetermined3. There is virtually no control on drainage4. Non-uniform distribution of stresses5. Principal stresses in the sample cannot be determined The limitations inherent in direct shear test include

A. 1, 2 and 3

B. 2, 3 and 4

C. 3, 4 and 5

D. 1, 2 and 5

 Answer Option D

7. Given that g = acceleration due to gravity and R = hydraulic mean depth, the Darcy Weisbach friction factor is related to Manning's rugosity coefficient 'n' as

A.

B.

C.

D.

 Answer Option A

8. A symmetrical circular arch of span 25 m with a central rise of 5 is hinged at crown and springings. It carries a point load on the arch in the span between the left hinge and central hinge. If the inclination of the thrust at the right hinge is θ measured from horizontal, then what is the value of tan θ ?

A. 2.5

B. 1.0

C. 0.4

D. Not possible to calculate with given data

 Answer Option C

9. The combined motion of rotation and translation may be assumed to be a motion of pure rotation about some centre which goes on changing from time to time. The centre in question is known as

A. Shear centre

B. Meta centre

C. Instantaneous centre

D. Gravitational centre

 Answer Option C

10. A train is hauled by 2-8-2 locomotive with 22.5 tonnes load on each driving axle. Assuming the coefficient of rail-wheel friction to be 0.25, what would be the hauling capacity of the locomotive ?

A. 15.0 tonnes

B. 22.5 tonnes

C. 45.0 tonnes

D. 90.0 tonnes

 Answer Option B

11. Which is the best sewer material to resist hydrogen sulphide corrosion ?

A. Glazed stone ware

B. Glazed earthen ware

C. R.C.C.

D. Brick masonry

 Answer Option A

12. A steel bar of 2 m length is fixed at both ends at 20°C. The coefficient of thermal expansion is 11 x 10-6/°C and the modulus of the elasticity is 2 x 106 kg/cm2. If the temperature is changed to 18°C, then the bar will be experience a stress of

A. 22 kg/cm2 (tensile)

B. 22 kg/cm2 (compressive)

C. 44 kg/cm2 (compressive)

D. 44 kg/cm2 (tensile)

 Answer Option C

13. Which one of the following is not biodegradable organic matter ?

A. Carbohydrates

B. Fats

C. Alcohols

D. Petrol

 Answer Option D

14. A column base is subjected to moment. If the intensity of bearing pressure due to axial load is equal to stress due to the moment, then the bearing pressure between the base and the concrete is

A. uniform compression throughout

B. zero at one end and compression at the other end

C. tension at one end and compression at the other end

D. uniform tension throughout

 Answer Option B

15. The bending moment diagram for an overhanging beam is shown in the given figure :The points of contraflexure would include

A. A and F

B. B and E

C. C and D

D. A and D

 Answer Option B

16. A symmetric parabolic arch of span 12m and rise 4 m has hinges at springings and at the crown. What is the influence line ordinate at the location 3m from one lower hinge ?

A. 2.25 units

B. 1.25 units

C. 1.125 units

D. 1.0 unit

 Answer Option A

17. Bottom-dump wagons are suitable for handling which of the following ?

A. Wet sticky clay

B. Sand and gravel

C. Quarry rocks

D. Any type of material

 Answer Option B

18. In a BG railway track, the specified ruling graident is 1 in 250. The horizontal curve of 3° on a gradient of 1 in 250 will have the permissible compensated gradient of

A. 1 in 257

B. 1 in 357

C. 1 in 457

D. 1 in 512

 Answer Option B

19. The daily cover of MSW landfills consists of which one of the following ?

A. Compacted soil

B. Geomembrane

C. Geotextile

D. Geocomposite

 Answer Option A

20. Which one of the following structures can be classified in a system of coplanar forces ?

A. A grid

B. A plane pin-jointed truss

C. A shaft

D. A stab

 Answer Option B

21. If the stream function ψ = 3x2 - y3, what is the magnitude of velocity at point (2, 2) ?

A. 9

B. 13

C. 15

D. 17

 Answer Option D

22. In each of the following examples certain quantity of work 'W' is done.1. The point of application of a force of (50i + 60j + 80k) in kN units moves through a distance given by (6i + 5j + 2.5k) in metres.2. A pump raises 2m3 of water through a height of 20 m (Take g = 10 m/s2).3. A shaft delivering a torque = 200 kNm makes 0.75 revolution.4. A couple (30i - 20j + 100k) in kNm units acting on a body rotates it through an angular displacement of (2i + 3j + 6k) radians.The correct sequence of these quantities of work 'W' arranged in order of their increasing magnitude is

A. 1, 4, 2, 3

B. 2, 4, 1, 3

C. 3, 2, 1, 4

D. 2, 3, 4, 1

 Answer Option B

23. Which one of the following characteristics of ballast makes it unsuitable for use ?

A. High resilience

B. High stability

C. High water absorption

D. High modulus

 Answer Option C

24. In the propped cantilever shown in the figure below, what are the values of the bending moment and shear force at the support A ?

A. 2 Pa, P/3

B. Pa, P

C. Pa, P/3

D. 2 Pa, 4 P/3

 Answer Option B

25. Which one of the following methods of O-D traffic surveys is conducted for comprehensive analysis of traffic and transportation data ?

A. Home interview

B. Roadside interview

C. Registration number method

D. Postcard method

 Answer Option A

26. Consider the following statements :Soft varieties of pig iron are also known as1. foundry pig 2. grey pig3. forge pig4. mottled pig.Of these statements :

A. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are correct

B. 1 alone is correct

C. 1 and 2 are correct

D. 3 and 4 are correct

 Answer Option A

27. A turn-table on railways is used for

A. preventing the lateral movement of wheels

B. reversing the direction of the engine

C. reducing the damage to the rails

D. reducing the accidents

 Answer Option B

28. Consider the following statements regarding use of mechanical vibrator :1. It can be used for small as well as large volumes of concrete.2. The mix can have high value of slump.3. Density of concrete can be high.The advantages of a mechanical vibrator include :

A. 2 and 3

B. 1 and 3

C. 1, 2 and 3

D. 1 and 2

 Answer Option B

29. Which one of the following specifications for length of base line refers to Third Order Triangulation system ?

A. 0.5 to 3 km

B. 1.5 to 4 km

C. 5 to 15 km

D. 10 to 20 km

 Answer Option A

30. Two long columns C1 and C2 are made of the same materials. Column C1 has both the ends hinged while column C2 has one end hinged and other end fixed. What is the ratio of the critical load for C1 to that of C2 according to the Euler's formula ?

A. 2

B.

C. 4

D. 1/4

 Answer Option B

31. The bending moments at point A, B, and C of the beam shown in the given figure will be:

A. 10 kNm, 10 kNm and 10 kNm

B. 10 kNm, 10 kNm and - 10 kNm

C. 20 kNm, 10 kNm and - 10 kNm

D. 10 kNm, - 10 kNm and 20 kNm

 Answer Option B

32. xx, x1 x1 and x2 x2 are parallel axes of which XX is the centroidal axis. If moment of inertia of the figure about x1 x1 axis is 10m4, what is the moment of inertia of the figure about x2 x2 axis?

A. 10 m4

B. 11 m4

C. 14 m4

D. 15 m4

 Answer Option D

33. As per Lacey's regime equation, what is the flow velocity proportional to ?

A. (Qf2)1/3

B. (Qf2)1/6

C. Q/f2

D. (Q/f)1/6

 Answer Option B

34. Which of the following types of pumps can be used for concreting ?1. Piston operated. 2. Pneumatically operated. 3. Centrifugal operated, with straight blades. 4. Screw type.

A. 1 and 3

B. 1 and 2

C. 1, 3 and 4

D. 2 and 4

 Answer Option B

35. For medium silt where average grain size is 0.16 mm, Lackey's silt factor is likely to be

A. 0.30

B. 0.45

C. 0.70

D. 1.32

 Answer Option C

36. Guide banks are provided to

A. train the flow of a river along a specified course

B. reduce the peak flood discharge

C. confine the width of river

D. increase the water way

 Answer Option A

37. A soil fails under an axial vertical stress of 100 kN/m2 in unconfined compression test. The failure plane makes an angle of 50° with the horizontal. The shear parameters c and φ respectively will be

A. 41.9 kN/m2, 0

B. 50.0 kN/m2, 0

C. 41.9 kN/m2, 10°

D. 50.0 kN/m2, 10°

 Answer Option C

38. The fix of a plane table from three known points is good if

A. the middle station is the nearest

B. the middle station is farther than the other two stations

C. either of the extreme stations is the nearest

D. the middle station is close to the great circle

 Answer Option B

39. A hollow steel shaft of external diameter 100 mm and internal diameter 50 mm is to be replaced by a solid alloy shaft. Assuming the same value of polar modulus for both, the diameter of the solid alloy shaft will be

A. 10 x 39375 mm

B. 10 x 39375 x 10 mm

C.

D. 39375 mm

 Answer Option C

40. For a circular curve of radius 200 m, the coefficient of lateral friction of 0.15 and the design speed is 40 kmph. The equilibrium superelevation (for equal pressure on inner and outer wheel) would be

A. 21.3

B. 7

C. 6.3

D. 4.6

 Answer Option C

41. A ball of mass 1 kg moving with a velocity 2 m/s collides directly with a m2 stationary ball of mass 2 kg. If the first ball comes to rest after the impact, what is the velocity of the second ball after impact ?

A. 1.0 m/s

B. zero

C. 2 m/s

D. 0.5 m/s

 Answer Option A

42. What is number of categories into which masonry buildings are divided on the basis of earthquake resistance features ?

A. Five

B. Four

C. Three

D. Two

 Answer Option A

43. A mild steel bar is 40 cm long. The lengths of parts AB and BC of the bar are 20 cm each. It is loaded as shown in the given figure. The ratio of the stresses, σ1 in part AB to σ2 in part BC is

A. 2

B. 1/2

C. 4

D. 1/4

 Answer Option B

44. Zero hardness of water is achieved by :

A. using lime soda process

B. excess lime treatment

C. ion exchange method

D. using excess alum dosage

 Answer Option C

45. The normal duration and normal cost of an activity are 10 days and Rs 350/- respectively. The cost slope is Rs 75/- per day. If the crash duration is 8 days, then what is the crash cost of the activity ?

A. Rs 400/-

B. Rs 500/-

C. Rs 600/-

D. None of these

 Answer Option B

46. Laboratory vane shear test can also be used to determine

A. Shear parameters of silty sand

B. Shear parameters of sandy clay

C. Liquid limit of silty clay

D. Plastic limit of clayey silt

 Answer Option D

47. Consider the following statements regarding base-line measurements :1. Very precise measurement can be done only on densely cloudy days or at nights.2. Error due to application of non-standardised pull on the tape can be either cumulative or compensating type.3. Intermediate obstructions in the measurement of base-lines can be cleared by erecting towers.Of these statements :

A. 1, 2 and 3 are correct

B. 1 and 2 are correct

C. 1 and 3 are correct

D. 2 and 3 are correct

 Answer Option C

48. In a hydraulic jump occurring in a horizontal rectangular channel, the sequent depths are 0.3 m and 1.2 m. What is the approximate value of energy loss in the jump ?

A. 1.5 m

B. 0.9 m

C. 0.5 m

D. 0.35 m

 Answer Option C

49. Acidic soils are reclaimed by

A. leaching of the soil

B. using limestone as a soil amendment

C. using gypsum as a soil amendment

D. provision of drainage

 Answer Option B

50. The function of coping is to serve as a :

A. Covering to the wall to throw off water

B. ornamental course between lintel level and roof level

C. Projection from a wall to support a structural member

D. shade against solar radiation

 Answer Option A