Civil Engineering - UPSC Civil Service Exam Questions MCQs Part 23

1. A saturated clay stratum of thickness 10 m, bounded on top and bottom by medium coarse sand layers, has a coefficient of consolidation of 0.002 cm2/s. If this stratum is subjected to loading, it is likely that it would undergo 50% of its primary consolidation in

A.
1136 days

B.
227 days

C.
284 days

D.
568 days

 Answer Option C

2. In a plane truss, if 'M' is the number of members, 'R' is the number of reactions and 'J' is the number of joints, then for this truss to be determinate

A.
J = M + R

B.
J = 2M + R

C.
3J = M + 2R

D.
2J = M + R

 Answer Option D

3. Which one of the following methods is generally considered the best for tunnel ventilation ?

A.
Driving a drift through the tunnel

B.
'Blow in' method

C.
'Blow out' method

D.
Combination of 'Blow in' and 'Blow out' methods

 Answer Option D

4. A circular shaft subjected to torsion undergoes a twist of 1° in a length of 120 cm. If the maximum shear stress induced is limited to 1000 kg/cm2 and if modulus of rigidity G = 0.8 x 106 kg/cm2, then the radius of the shaft should be

A.
π/18

B.
18/π

C.
π/27

D.
27/π

 Answer Option D

5. Which one of the following types of sleepers has the best shock absorbing capacity as well as dampening property ?

A.
CST sleeper

B.
Wooden sleeper

C.
Concrete sleeper

D.
Steel sleeper

 Answer Option C

6. Which of the following Pairs regarding explanations and the terminologies pertaining to masonry are correctly matched ?1. Reveal....projecting stone to serve as support for joist.2. Throating....groove provided on the underside of projecting elements likes sills.3. Gable....triangle shaped masonry works provided at the ends of sloped roof.4. Freeze....vertical sides of finished opening for doors and windows.Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

A. 1 and 2

B. 2 and 3

C. 3 and 4

D. 1 and 4

 Answer Option B

7. Which of the following are the purposes for use of steel bars reinforcement in cement concrete pavements ?1. To increase the flexural strength of concrete2. To prevent the onset of cracks3. To allow wider spacing of joints.Select the correct answer using the code given below :

A. 1 and 2 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 1 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

 Answer Option B

8. A simply supported beam of span 'L' carries a concentrated load 'W' at mid-span. If the width 'b' of the beam is constant and its depth is varying throughout the span, then what should be its mid-span depth, when design stress is 'f' ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

 Answer Option C

9. The following readings were taken with a Dumpy level and a 4 m levelling staff on a continuously sloping ground at 30 m intervals : 0.680 m, 1.455 m, 1.855 m, 2.330 m, 2.885 m, 3.380 m, 1.055 m. The R.L. of the fourth point was calculated to be 79.100 m. The R.L. of the point that was read 0.680 m is

A. 80.750 m

B. 79.780 m

C. 78.420 m

D. 77.740 m

 Answer Option A

10. Consider the following statements :1. In the laboratory consolidation test, initial compression is the result of displacement of soil particles.2. Primary consolidation is due to dissipation of pore water pressure.3. Secondary compression starts after complete dissipation of pore water pressure.4. Primary consolidation and secondary compression occur simultaneously.Which of the statements given above are correct ?

A. 1 and 4 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 2 and 4 only

D. 1 and 3 only

 Answer Option C

11. Given that for a channel section, the width of flange = b, the depth of the web between centres of flanges = h, the thickness of flange = t(, the moment of interia of the channel about the axis of bending = I, the distance 'e' of the shear centre outside the channel section from the mid-thickness of the web is:

A.

B.

C.

D.

 Answer Option C

12. The effective flange area in tension of a plate girder is equal to (where Af is the area of each flange and Aw, is the web area).

A. Af

B.

C.

D.

 Answer Option C

13. For complete hydration of cement the W/C ratio needed is

A. less than 0.25

B. more than 0.25 but less than 0.35

C. more than 0.35 but less than 0.45

D. more than 0.45 but less than 0.60

 Answer Option C

14. A hollow circular column at internal diameter 'd' and external diameter '1.5 d' is subjected to compressive load. The maximum distance of the point of application of load from the centre for no tension is

A. d/8

B. 13d/48

C. d/4

D. 13d/96

 Answer Option B

15. Consider the following statements :1. Alum coagulation decreases the alkalinity of water.2. Alum coagulation increases permanent hardness of water.3. Alum coagulation decreases pH of water.4. Alum coagulation produces aluminium hydroxide flocks in the flocculation process.Which of the statements given above are correct ?

A. 1, 2, 3 and 4

B. 1, 3 and 4 only

C. 1 and 2 only

D. 2, 3 and 4 only

 Answer Option A

16. A seamless pipe with 80 cm diameter carries a fluid under a pressure of 2 N/mm2. If the permissible tensile stress is 100 N/mm2, the minimum required thickness of the pipe is

A. 2 mm

B. 4 mm

C. 8 mm

D. 16 mm

 Answer Option C

17. A simply supported beam of span l and flexural rigidity EI, carries a unit point load at its centre. The strain energy in the beam due to bending is

A.

B.

C.

D.

 Answer Option C

18. A beam carries a uniformly distributed load throughout its length. In which of the following configurations will the strain energy be maximum ?

A. Cantilever

B. Simply supported beam

C. Propped cantilever

D. Fixed beam

 Answer Option A

19. If carbon monoxide is released at the rate of 0.03 m3/min from a gasolene engine and 50 ppm is the threshold limit for an 8-hour exposure, the quantity of air which dilutes the contaminant to a safe level will be

A. 60 m3/min

B. 600 m3/min

C. 600 m3/s

D. 60 m3/s

 Answer Option A

20. Consider the following factors :1. Provision of a suitable slope to the top of the sill.2. Proper throating of the sill to throw off the water outside.3. Giving a projection of not less than 50 mm to the sill.4. Providing damp-proof course below the sill to check the entry of moisture inside the main wall.Those considered while constructing a brick sill would include

A. 1 and 2

B. 1, 3 and 4

C. 2, 3 and 4

D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

 Answer Option A

21. Due to horizontal pull of 60 kN at C, what is the force induced in the member AB?

A. 0

B. 40 kN

C. 80 kN

D. 100 kN

 Answer Option D

22. California Bearing Ratio (CBR) is a :

A. measure of soil strength

B. method of soil identification

C. measure to indicate the relative strengths of paving materials

D. measure of shear strength under lateral confinement

 Answer Option C

23. Consider the following statements :1. Masonry in rich cement mortar though having good strength with high shrinkage is much liable for surface cracks. 2. Lime mortar possesses poor workability and poor water retentivity and also suffers high shrinkage.3. Masonry in lime mortar has better resistance against rain penetration and is less liable to crack when compared to masonry in cement mortar.Which of these statements are correct ?

A. 1, 2 and 3

B. 1 and 2

C. 2 and 3

D. 1 and 3

 Answer Option A

24. For a given stress, the ratio of the moment of resistance of a beam of square section when placed with one diagonal horizontal to the moment of resistance of the same beam when placed with two sides horizontal will be

A.

B. 2

C. 1.414

D.

 Answer Option D

25. A water jet 0.02 m2 in area has a velocity of 15 m/s. If the jet impinges normally on a plate which is moving at a velocity 5 m/s in the direction of the jet, what is the force on the plate due to this impact ? (Density = 1000 kg/m3)

A. 200 N

B. 2000 N

C. 20000 N

D. 4000 N

 Answer Option B

26. Which one of the following would help prevent the escape of foul sewer gases from a water closet ?

A. Air gap

B. Vent pipe

C. Gulley trap

D. None of the above

 Answer Option D

27. The beam shown in the given figure has a design bending moment value of

A. 8 kNm

B. 6 kNm

C. 4 kNm

D. 2 kNm

 Answer Option D

28. Length of line measured with a 20 m chain was found to be 634.4 m. If the chain was 5 cm too long, throughout the measurement, then the true length of the line is

A. 635.990 m

B. 635.986 m

C. 632.818 m

D. 632.814 m

 Answer Option B

29. What does the Williot-Morr diagram yield ?

A. Forces in members of a truss

B. Moments in a fixed beam

C. Reactions at the supports

D. Joint displacement of a pinjointed plane frame

 Answer Option D

30. The runway length after correcting for elevation and temperature is 2845 m. If the effective gradient on runway is 0.5 per cent, then the revised runway length will be

A. 2845 m

B. 2910 m

C. 3030 m

D. 3130 m

 Answer Option D

31. Which of the following advantages accrue to the use of Articulate Dump Trucks (ADT) over Rigid Dump Trucks (RDT) for construction and earth moving work ?1. Higher manoeuverability2. Low turning radius.3. Lower fleet costs.Select the correct answer using the code given below :

A. 1, 2 and 3

B. 1 and 2

C. 1 and 3

D. 2 and 3

 Answer Option B

32. A bar of square cross-section, having area of cross-section 'A' is subjected to a compressive force 'P' as shown in the figure. The intensity of the tangential stress on the oblique plane is given by

A. P sin 2θ

B. P cos 2θ

C.

D.

 Answer Option C

33. Which one of the following statements is correct ?Linear arch is one which represents :

A. centre line of an arch

B. variation of bending moment

C. thrust line

D. variation of shear force

 Answer Option C

34. The two-peg test in the adjustment of a dumpy level employs the principle that

A. equal lengths at back sight and fore sight do not affect the difference in level.

B. reciprocal levelling eliminates errors of non-parallel instrument and collimation axes.

C. two readings from the same station will minimize errors in bubble tube axis.

D. correction is made for verticle axis at one peg and for horizontal axis at the other peg.

 Answer Option A

35. Undisturbed soil samples are required for conducting

A. hydrometer test

B. shrinkage limit test

C. consolidation test

D. specific gravity test

 Answer Option C

36. In a plastic analysis of structures, the segment between any two successive plastic hinges is assumed to deform as :

A. A plastic material

B. A rigid material

C. An elastic material

D. An inelastic material

 Answer Option B

37. Consider the following assumptions :1. The shearing stress in all the rivets is uniform2. The bearing stress is not uniform3. Bending of rivets can be neglectedThe assumptions made while designing a riveted joint would include

A. 1, 2 and 3

B. 1 and 2

C. 2 and 3

D. 1 and 3

 Answer Option D

38. Surkhi is added to lime mortar to

A. prevent shrinkage

B. decrease setting time

C. increase bulk

D. impart hydraulicity.

 Answer Option A

39. The Trap used for a water closet is called

A. gully trap

B. p-trap

C. intercepting trap

D. anti-siphon trap

 Answer Option B

40. For a sleeper density of (n + 5), the number of sleepers required for constructing a broad gauge (BG) railway track of length 650 m is

A. 975

B. 918

C. 900

D. 880

 Answer Option C

41. Consider the following statements in respect of a thick cylinder subjected to internal pressure:1. The stress on an element on the outer wall is unidirectional2. The stresses on an element on the inner wall are principal stresses.3. The constants of the Lames equation are positive.Which of these statements are correct ?

A. 1 and 2

B. 1 and 3

C. 2 and 3

D. 1, 2 and 3

 Answer Option D

42. Consider the following statements: An aqueduct is a cross drainage work in which(a) a canal is carried over the drainage channel(b) a drainage channel is carried over the canal(c) both drainage channel and canal are at the same level.Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

A. 1 only

B. 1 and 2 only

C. 2 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

 Answer Option A

43. Two shafts of same material and same length are connected in series and subjected to a torque 'T' as shown in the given figure. If , what is the value of the ratio ? (Where τ1 and τ2 are the extreme shear stresses in either of two segments)

A. 4

B. 2

C. 8

D. 16

 Answer Option C

44. Which one of the following is the most critical rivet in the joint shown in the figure given?

A. No. 1

B. No. 2

C. No. 3

D. No. 4

 Answer Option C

45. A good brick when immersed in water bath for 24 hours, should not absorb more than

A. 20% of its dry weight

B. 30% of its saturated weight

C. 10% of its dry weight

D. 20% of its saturated weight

 Answer Option A

46. A truss ABC, carries two horizontal and two vertical loads, as shown in the figure. The horizontal and vertical components of the reaction at A will be

A. HA = 1000 kN ; VA = 1706.25 kN

B. HA = 2000 kN ; VA = 2550 kN

C. HA = 1000 kN ; VA = 2550 kN

D. HA = 2000 kN ; VA = 1706.25 kN

 Answer Option B

47. Contour interval on a map sheet denotes

A. vertical distance of contour lines above the datum plane

B. vertical distance between two successive contour lines

C. slope distance between two successive contour lines

D. horizontal distance between two successive contour lines

 Answer Option B

48. Which one of the following is the correct statement ? A particle in simple harmonic motion while passing through the mean position will have

A. minimum kinetic energy and minimum potential energy

B. maximum kinetic energy and maximum potential energy

C. maximum potential energy and minimum kinetic energy

D. maximum kinetic energy and minimum potential energy

 Answer Option D

49. What are the phenomena of global warming and acid rain formation attributed to ?

A. SO2 and CO2 respectively

B. CO and SO2, respectively

C. CO2 and SO2, respectively

D. CO and CO2, respectively

 Answer Option C

50. The following observation relate to designing of laced column :1. Single lacing systems on opposite planes shall preferably be in the same direction so that one is the shadow of the other.2. Lacing bar should only be a flat.3. The slenderness ratio of the lacing bars for compression shall not exceed 180.4. Laced compression members are to be provided with tie plates of ends.Of these observations :

A. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are correct

B. 1, 3 and 4 are correct

C. 2 and 3 are correct

D. 1 and 4 are correct

 Answer Option D