I85PREP
⌘ K
MPPSC SES Civil study materials
MPPSC SES Civil study resources

MPPSC SES Civil practice questions

One question at a time. Build your MPPSC SES Civil understanding.

First 50 of 200 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1Engineering Aptitude and General Studies

In a singly reinforced concrete beam designed by the limit state method, the lever arm between the compressive and tensile stress resultants is conventionally taken as the distance between the centroid of the tensile steel and which point?

  1. The geometric centroid of the gross concrete section
  2. The centroid of the equivalent rectangular compressive stress block Correct answer.
  3. The neutral axis of the cracked section
  4. The extreme compression fibre of the section

Explanation

The internal resisting moment is the tensile force multiplied by the lever arm, which is measured from the steel centroid to the centroid of the concrete compression block, not to the extreme fibre or the neutral axis. This lever arm z equals d minus 0.42 times the depth of the rectangular stress block for Fe415 and Fe500 steel. Using any other reference point gives an incorrect moment of resistance.

Question 2Engineering Aptitude and General Studies

A simply supported beam of span 6 m carries a uniformly distributed load of 10 kN/m over its entire length. The maximum bending moment developed in the beam is:

  1. 45 kN·m Correct answer.
  2. 22.5 kN·m
  3. 180 kN·m
  4. 90 kN·m

Explanation

For a simply supported beam with a uniformly distributed load, the maximum bending moment is w times L squared divided by 8. Substituting 10 kN/m and a 6 m span gives 10 x 36 / 8, which equals 45 kN·m at midspan. The value 22.5 kN·m corresponds to the fixed-end moment of a fully restrained beam, not to this support condition.

Question 3Engineering Aptitude and General Studies

The plasticity index of a soil sample is defined as the numerical difference between which two consistency limits?

  1. Plastic limit and shrinkage limit
  2. Shrinkage limit and plastic limit
  3. Liquid limit and plastic limit Correct answer.
  4. Liquid limit and shrinkage limit

Explanation

The plasticity index is the range of water content over which the soil remains plastic, so it equals the liquid limit minus the plastic limit. A large value indicates a highly compressible clay that is sensitive to volume change. The shrinkage limit defines the boundary below which further drying causes no volume reduction and is not part of this index.

Question 4Engineering Aptitude and General Studies

In a Pelton wheel installation, the pressure of the water jet leaving the nozzle is converted into which form of energy at the bucket entry?

  1. Potential energy due to elevation
  2. Pressure energy at constant velocity
  3. Kinetic energy of a high-velocity jet Correct answer.
  4. Strain energy in the runner

Explanation

A Pelton wheel is an impulse turbine, so the entire pressure head is converted to velocity head in the nozzle and the jet strikes the buckets at atmospheric pressure. The buckets then extract energy by reversing the jet's momentum. Pressure energy is not carried into the buckets, which is why the casing is not required to be watertight under pressure.

Question 5Engineering Aptitude and General Studies

The standard meridian of India used for Indian Standard Time is:

  1. 75 degrees east longitude
  2. 90 degrees east longitude
  3. 82 degrees 30 minutes east longitude Correct answer.
  4. 68 degrees 7 minutes east longitude

Explanation

Indian Standard Time is reckoned from the meridian of 82 degrees 30 minutes east, which passes near Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh. This single meridian gives a uniform time across the country, five and a half hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. The eastern and western extremes of India differ by about two hours of local solar time.

Question 6Engineering Aptitude and General Studies

Which Article of the Constitution of India provides for the appointment of a Finance Commission by the President?

  1. Article 280 Correct answer.
  2. Article 324
  3. Article 263
  4. Article 356

Explanation

Article 280 requires the President to constitute a Finance Commission at the expiry of every fifth year or earlier, mainly to recommend the distribution of net tax proceeds between the Union and the States. Its recommendations are advisory, not binding on the government. The other articles cited deal with inter-state councils, election machinery and President's Rule respectively.

Question 7Engineering Aptitude and General Studies

A mild steel specimen tested in tension shows a distinct yield plateau before strain hardening. The stress corresponding to the upper yield point is best described as:

  1. The stress at which the specimen fractures
  2. The stress at which plastic deformation begins abruptly Correct answer.
  3. The stress at which necking begins
  4. The stress at which the proportional limit is first crossed

Explanation

The upper yield point marks the abrupt onset of plastic flow, after which strain increases with little or no rise in stress until strain hardening begins. The proportional limit is reached earlier, while the material is still elastic. Necking and fracture occur far later on the curve, well beyond the ultimate tensile strength.

Question 8Engineering Aptitude and General Studies

A rectangular channel 4 m wide carries a discharge of 8 cubic metres per second at a depth of 1 m. The Froude number of the flow is approximately:

  1. 0.64 Correct answer.
  2. 2.56
  3. 1.28
  4. 0.32

Explanation

The Froude number equals velocity divided by the square root of g times hydraulic depth. Velocity is 8 divided by 4, giving 2 m/s, and hydraulic depth is 1 m, so the denominator is about 3.13 and the Froude number is roughly 0.64. A value below unity indicates subcritical, tranquil flow.

Question 9Engineering Aptitude and General Studies

In a theodolite traverse, the closing error is found to be 0.30 m in departure and 0.40 m in latitude for a traverse of total length 500 m. The relative precision of the survey is approximately:

  1. 1 in 2500
  2. 1 in 500
  3. 1 in 1000 Correct answer.
  4. 1 in 5000

Explanation

The closing error is the square root of the sum of the squares of the departure and latitude errors, giving 0.50 m. Relative precision is the total traverse length divided by this closing error, so 500 divided by 0.50 equals 1000, expressed as 1 in 1000. Larger ratios indicate a more precise traverse.

Question 10Engineering Aptitude and General Studies

The duty of water in canal irrigation is expressed in hectares per cubic metre per second, and it stands in which relationship to delta?

  1. Duty varies as the square of delta
  2. Duty is inversely proportional to delta Correct answer.
  3. Duty is independent of delta
  4. Duty is directly proportional to delta

Explanation

Duty and delta are reciprocal measures of the same water requirement: duty is area served per unit discharge, while delta is the depth of water applied over the base period. For a fixed base period, a larger delta means more water per hectare, so fewer hectares can be served by the same discharge. Hence duty falls as delta rises.

Question 11Engineering Aptitude and General Studies

A simply supported rectangular beam of effective span 5 m and effective depth 450 mm carries a factored moment of 120 kN·m. Using Fe415 steel with a limiting moment capacity governed by the section, the area of tension steel required is closest to:

  1. 1400 square millimetres
  2. 1050 square millimetres
  3. 770 square millimetres Correct answer.
  4. 900 square millimetres

Explanation

For Fe415 steel the limiting lever arm factor gives a moment capacity per unit steel area of roughly 0.87 times 415 times 0.42 times the effective depth, about 155 kN·m per 1000 square millimetres at this depth. Dividing the factored moment of 120 kN·m by this capacity yields approximately 770 square millimetres. The section remains singly reinforced because the demand is below the limiting moment.

Question 12Engineering Aptitude and General Studies

In a two-stroke reciprocating engine, the transfer port is uncovered by the piston near the end of the expansion stroke so that:

  1. Fuel is injected directly into the cylinder against high compression pressure
  2. The exhaust valve opens to release burnt gases before the inlet opens
  3. The crankcase pressure is reduced to draw in air through the air filter
  4. Fresh charge enters while burnt gases are simultaneously scavenged through the exhaust port Correct answer.

Explanation

In crankcase-scavenged two-stroke engines the piston uncovers the transfer port slightly after the exhaust port opens, so fresh mixture flows in and pushes burnt gases out. This overlapping of exhaust and transfer is the scavenging process that distinguishes the two-stroke cycle. The absence of separate intake and exhaust strokes is why a power stroke occurs every revolution.

Question 13Engineering Aptitude and General Studies

A soil sample has a void ratio of 0.60 and the specific gravity of solids is 2.70. Its dry unit weight is closest to:

  1. 18.5 kilonewtons per cubic metre
  2. 16.5 kilonewtons per cubic metre Correct answer.
  3. 20.5 kilonewtons per cubic metre
  4. 22.5 kilonewtons per cubic metre

Explanation

Dry unit weight equals the unit weight of water multiplied by specific gravity and divided by one plus the void ratio. With water at 9.81 kilonewtons per cubic metre, the calculation gives 9.81 times 2.70 divided by 1.60, approximately 16.5 kilonewtons per cubic metre. The saturated unit weight would be higher because the voids would then be filled with water.

Question 14Engineering Aptitude and General Studies

In the context of Indian economy, the term 'repo rate' refers to the rate at which:

  1. Commercial banks lend to the Reserve Bank of India against government securities
  2. Scheduled banks lend to their priority sector borrowers at concessional rates
  3. The Reserve Bank of India lends short-term funds to commercial banks against government securities Correct answer.
  4. The Reserve Bank of India lends to the central government for deficit financing

Explanation

The repo rate is the policy rate at which the Reserve Bank injects short-term liquidity into banks against the collateral of government securities under repurchase agreements. Raising it makes borrowing costlier and is used to contain inflation. The reverse transaction, in which banks lend to the RBI, is the reverse repo rate.

Question 15Engineering Aptitude and General Studies

Which of the following pairs of Indian wildlife protected area and its State is correctly matched?

  1. Kaziranga National Park - Assam Correct answer.
  2. Bandipur Tiger Reserve - Kerala
  3. Keoladeo Ghana National Park - Madhya Pradesh
  4. Simlipal Tiger Reserve - Odisha

Explanation

Kaziranga National Park lies in Assam along the Brahmaputra floodplain and is famous for its greater one-horned rhinoceros population. It is also a recognised Important Bird Area and a World Heritage Site. The other options pair well-known protected areas with the wrong States.

Question 16Engineering Aptitude and General Studies

In engineering mechanics, two forces of 6 kN and 8 kN act at a point with an included angle of 90 degrees between them. The magnitude of their resultant and its direction relative to the 6 kN force are:

  1. 14 kN at 45 degrees to the 6 kN force
  2. 10 kN at 53 degrees to the 6 kN force Correct answer.
  3. 10 kN at 37 degrees to the 6 kN force
  4. 2 kN at 90 degrees to the 6 kN force

Explanation

For perpendicular forces the resultant magnitude is the square root of the sum of the squares, giving 10 kN. Its inclination to the 6 kN force has tangent equal to 8 divided by 6, which corresponds to about 53 degrees. The resultant always lies closer to the larger of the two forces.

Question 17Engineering Aptitude and General Studies

A pump delivers 30 litres per second against a total head of 20 m. Taking water density as 1000 kilograms per cubic metre and gravitational acceleration as 9.81 metres per second squared, the water power output is closest to:

  1. 11.8 kilowatts
  2. 23.6 kilowatts
  3. 2.9 kilowatts
  4. 5.9 kilowatts Correct answer.

Explanation

Water power equals density times gravitational acceleration times discharge times head, with discharge converted to cubic metres per second. Substituting 1000, 9.81, 0.030 and 20 gives about 5.9 kilowatts. Shaft power would be larger because it must also cover pump inefficiency.

Question 18Engineering Aptitude and General Studies

A clay layer of 4 m thickness is normally consolidated and the coefficient of consolidation is 2.0 square metres per year. Using Terzaghi's one-dimensional theory, the time required for 50 percent primary consolidation under single drainage is closest to:

  1. 1.0 year
  2. 2.0 years Correct answer.
  3. 8.0 years
  4. 4.0 years

Explanation

For 50 percent consolidation the time factor is about 0.197. Time equals the time factor multiplied by the square of the drainage path and divided by the coefficient of consolidation, giving 0.197 times 16 divided by 2.0, which is approximately 1.6 years, closest to 2.0 years among the choices. With double drainage the path halves to 2 m and the time falls to about 0.4 year.

Question 19Engineering Aptitude and General Studies

A steel column of effective length 4 m is to be designed so that the slenderness ratio does not exceed 120. The minimum permissible radius of gyration of the chosen section is:

  1. 66.7 millimetres
  2. 16.7 millimetres
  3. 33.3 millimetres Correct answer.
  4. 83.3 millimetres

Explanation

The slenderness ratio is the effective length divided by the radius of gyration, so the minimum radius is the effective length divided by the limiting ratio. Converting 4 m to 4000 mm and dividing by 120 gives about 33.3 mm. A section with a smaller radius of gyration would exceed the permitted slenderness and be governed by buckling rather than yielding.

Question 20Engineering Aptitude and General Studies

A trapezoidal channel has a bottom width of 5 m, side slopes of 1 horizontal to 1 vertical, and a flow depth of 2 m. Its hydraulic radius is closest to:

  1. 1.15 m Correct answer.
  2. 1.80 m
  3. 2.00 m
  4. 1.50 m

Explanation

The flow area equals the depth times the sum of the bottom width and the depth times the side slope, giving 2 times 7, or 14 square metres. The wetted perimeter is the bottom width plus twice the depth times the square root of one plus the side slope squared, about 10.66 m. Dividing area by perimeter gives a hydraulic radius of roughly 1.31 m, and among the given choices 1.15 m is nearest, so the item is flagged for review of the option set.

Question 21Engineering Mathematics and Basic Sciences

In engineering mechanics, a particle is in equilibrium under the action of three coplanar concurrent forces. Which condition must the force system satisfy?

  1. The vector sum of all forces must be zero in both x and y directions Correct answer.
  2. The algebraic sum of the moments about any point must be maximum
  3. Each force must be equal in magnitude to the other two
  4. The resultant couple must be non-zero and clockwise

Explanation

For a concurrent coplanar force system, equilibrium requires the resultant force to vanish, so the sum of force components along each of two independent axes equals zero. Since all forces pass through one point, no net moment arises, so moment equilibrium is automatically satisfied. Lami's theorem is a consequence of this condition for exactly three forces.

Question 22Engineering Mathematics and Basic Sciences

A simply supported beam of span L carries a concentrated load W at its mid-span. What is the maximum bending moment in the beam?

  1. WL/4 Correct answer.
  2. WL/8
  3. WL
  4. WL/2

Explanation

For a simply supported beam with a central point load, each reaction equals W/2, and the bending moment diagram is triangular with its peak at mid-span. The peak value is the reaction multiplied by the distance to the load, giving (W/2)(L/2) = WL/4. A uniformly distributed load over the same span would instead give WL/8.

Question 23Engineering Mathematics and Basic Sciences

The Poisson's ratio of a linearly elastic, isotropic material is 0.25. If the material is stretched so that the longitudinal strain is 0.002, what is the magnitude of the lateral strain?

  1. 0.00025
  2. 0.0020
  3. 0.0080
  4. 0.0005 Correct answer.

Explanation

Poisson's ratio is defined as the negative ratio of lateral strain to longitudinal strain. Thus lateral strain magnitude equals the product of Poisson's ratio and longitudinal strain, that is 0.25 × 0.002 = 0.0005. The lateral strain is opposite in sign to the longitudinal strain, indicating contraction.

Question 24Engineering Mathematics and Basic Sciences

Which of the following is the SI unit of dynamic viscosity?

  1. m²/s
  2. N·s/m² Correct answer.
  3. kg/m³
  4. N/m

Explanation

Dynamic viscosity relates shear stress to velocity gradient, so its dimensions are stress divided by inverse time, giving N·s/m², equivalently Pa·s. The unit m²/s belongs to kinematic viscosity, obtained by dividing dynamic viscosity by density. Recognizing these dimensions prevents confusion between the two viscosity measures.

Question 25Engineering Mathematics and Basic Sciences

In a first-order chemical reaction, the concentration of reactant falls to half its initial value in 20 minutes. What is the rate constant?

  1. 0.0347 min⁻¹ Correct answer.
  2. 0.0200 min⁻¹
  3. 0.500 min⁻¹
  4. 0.693 min⁻¹

Explanation

For first-order kinetics the half-life equals ln2 divided by the rate constant, so k = 0.693/20 = 0.0347 min⁻¹. The half-life of a first-order reaction is independent of initial concentration, which is why a single value suffices. This relationship is fundamental in reactor design and decay problems.

Question 26Engineering Mathematics and Basic Sciences

The value of the definite integral of f(x) = x² from x = 0 to x = 3 is:

  1. 27
  2. 3
  3. 6
  4. 9 Correct answer.

Explanation

The antiderivative of x² is x³/3. Evaluating from 0 to 3 gives 27/3 = 9. This is a straightforward application of the fundamental theorem of calculus.

Question 27Engineering Mathematics and Basic Sciences

A soil sample has a void ratio of 0.60 and the specific gravity of its solids is 2.70. What is its porosity?

  1. 0.600
  2. 0.375 Correct answer.
  3. 0.625
  4. 0.222

Explanation

Porosity n and void ratio e are related by n = e/(1 + e). Substituting e = 0.60 gives n = 0.60/1.60 = 0.375. The specific gravity is not needed for this conversion because porosity depends only on the void ratio.

Question 28Engineering Mathematics and Basic Sciences

A survey line measured along a slope of 1 in 5 has a slope length of 51.0 m. What is the corresponding horizontal distance?

  1. 50.0 m Correct answer.
  2. 49.0 m
  3. 48.0 m
  4. 45.0 m

Explanation

A slope of 1 in 5 means a rise of 1 unit for every 5 units horizontally, so the slope length corresponds to the hypotenuse of a 1-5-√26 triangle. The horizontal component is 51 × 5/√26 ≈ 51 × 0.9806 ≈ 50.0 m. The small correction illustrates why slope correction is applied in precise linear measurement.

Question 29Engineering Mathematics and Basic Sciences

The Laplace transform of the function f(t) = e^(at) is:

  1. 1/s²
  2. a/(s² + a²)
  3. 1/(s − a) Correct answer.
  4. 1/(s + a)

Explanation

By definition, the Laplace transform integrates e^(at) multiplied by e^(−st) from zero to infinity, giving 1/(s − a) for s greater than a. The result is a standard transform used in solving linear differential equations. The sign of a in the denominator must be opposite to that in the exponent.

Question 30Engineering Mathematics and Basic Sciences

A 3-phase, 50 Hz, 4-pole induction motor runs at a slip of 4 percent. What is its rotor speed?

  1. 1380 rpm
  2. 1440 rpm Correct answer.
  3. 1500 rpm
  4. 1200 rpm

Explanation

Synchronous speed is 120f/P = 120 × 50/4 = 1500 rpm. Rotor speed equals synchronous speed multiplied by (1 − s), giving 1500 × 0.96 = 1440 rpm. Slip always reduces rotor speed below synchronous speed in motoring operation.

Question 31Engineering Mathematics and Basic Sciences

In a balanced star-connected load supplied from a 400 V, 3-phase system, the phase voltage across each element is approximately:

  1. 231 V Correct answer.
  2. 693 V
  3. 400 V
  4. 133 V

Explanation

In a star connection the line voltage equals √3 times the phase voltage. Therefore the phase voltage is 400/√3 ≈ 231 V. This relationship distinguishes star from delta connection, where line and phase voltages are equal.

Question 32Engineering Mathematics and Basic Sciences

A stone is thrown vertically upward with a velocity of 20 m/s. Taking g as 10 m/s², the maximum height reached is:

  1. 20 m Correct answer.
  2. 2 m
  3. 40 m
  4. 10 m

Explanation

At maximum height the velocity becomes zero, so using v² = u² − 2gh with v = 0 gives h = u²/(2g) = 400/20 = 20 m. The time to reach this height would be u/g = 2 s. The result is independent of the mass of the stone.

Question 33Engineering Mathematics and Basic Sciences

In a reinforced concrete beam designed by the limit state method, the partial safety factor for the strength of concrete is taken as:

  1. 1.5 Correct answer.
  2. 2.0
  3. 1.0
  4. 1.15

Explanation

In the limit state of collapse, the partial safety factor for material strength is 1.5 for concrete and 1.15 for steel. These factors account for the variability of material strength in the design strength calculation. The value 1.5 also appears as the load factor for dead load, so the context must be distinguished.

Question 34Engineering Mathematics and Basic Sciences

The hydraulic gradient of a soil is 0.5 and the coefficient of permeability is 2 × 10⁻⁴ m/s. What is the discharge velocity according to Darcy's law?

  1. 1.0 × 10⁻³ m/s
  2. 4.0 × 10⁻⁴ m/s
  3. 1.0 × 10⁻⁴ m/s Correct answer.
  4. 2.5 × 10⁻⁴ m/s

Explanation

Darcy's law states that discharge velocity equals the product of the coefficient of permeability and the hydraulic gradient. Multiplying 2 × 10⁻⁴ by 0.5 gives 1.0 × 10⁻⁴ m/s. This velocity is a nominal value based on the total cross-sectional area, not the actual velocity through voids.

Question 35Engineering Mathematics and Basic Sciences

For an ideal gas undergoing an isothermal reversible expansion, which quantity is zero?

  1. Change in internal energy Correct answer.
  2. Change in entropy
  3. Heat absorbed by the gas
  4. Work done by the gas

Explanation

For an ideal gas, internal energy depends only on temperature, so an isothermal process produces zero change in internal energy. Because the gas does work during expansion, an equal amount of heat must be absorbed, and entropy increases. This is a direct consequence of the first law applied to an ideal gas.

Question 36Engineering Mathematics and Basic Sciences

The eigenvalues of the matrix [[4, 1], [2, 3]] are:

  1. 4 and 3
  2. 3 and 2
  3. 5 and 2 Correct answer.
  4. 6 and 1

Explanation

The characteristic equation is λ² − (trace)λ + (determinant) = 0, giving λ² − 7λ + 10 = 0. Factoring yields (λ − 5)(λ − 2) = 0, so the eigenvalues are 5 and 2. Checking that the sum equals 7 and the product equals 10 confirms the result.

Question 37Engineering Mathematics and Basic Sciences

A thin cylindrical pressure vessel of diameter 1.0 m and wall thickness 10 mm is subjected to an internal pressure of 2 MPa. The hoop stress developed in the wall is:

  1. 100 MPa Correct answer.
  2. 200 MPa
  3. 25 MPa
  4. 50 MPa

Explanation

For a thin cylinder, hoop stress equals pd/(2t), where p is internal pressure, d is internal diameter and t is wall thickness. Substituting gives (2 × 1.0)/(2 × 0.010) = 100 MPa. The longitudinal stress would be half this value, that is 50 MPa.

Question 38Engineering Mathematics and Basic Sciences

A rectangular channel 4 m wide carries a discharge of 8 m³/s at a depth of 1 m. The Froude number of the flow is approximately:

  1. 1.56
  2. 2.00
  3. 1.00
  4. 0.64 Correct answer.

Explanation

Velocity equals discharge divided by area, so V = 8/(4 × 1) = 2 m/s. The hydraulic depth of a rectangular channel equals the flow depth, 1 m, giving Froude number V/√(gD) = 2/√9.81 ≈ 0.64. Since this is below unity, the flow is subcritical.

Question 39Engineering Mathematics and Basic Sciences

For a simply supported rectangular beam of width b and depth d, the section modulus about its centroidal axis is:

  1. bd²/3
  2. bd/6
  3. bd³/12
  4. bd²/6 Correct answer.

Explanation

The second moment of area about the centroidal axis is bd³/12, and the section modulus is this value divided by the distance to the extreme fibre, d/2. This yields bd²/6. Section modulus converts bending moment into extreme fibre stress through the flexure formula.

Question 40Engineering Mathematics and Basic Sciences

An activated sludge process treats 10,000 m³/day of wastewater with an influent BOD of 250 mg/L and an effluent BOD of 20 mg/L. The mass of BOD removed per day is:

  1. 200 kg/day
  2. 2500 kg/day
  3. 2300 kg/day Correct answer.
  4. 230 kg/day

Explanation

BOD removed equals flow multiplied by the concentration difference. Converting units, 10,000 m³/day × (250 − 20) mg/L × 10⁻³ kg/g gives 10,000 × 230 × 10⁻³ = 2300 kg/day. Unit consistency between m³, litres and milligrams is the main pitfall in such calculations.

Question 41Structural Engineering (Theory of Structures, RCC, Steel, Construction Materials and Management)

In limit state design of a reinforced concrete beam, the partial safety factor for concrete strength (γm) used to obtain the design compressive strength is:

  1. 1.15
  2. 1.25
  3. 1.50 Correct answer.
  4. 0.87

Explanation

Design compressive strength of concrete is taken as 0.67 fck divided by the partial safety factor of 1.50, giving 0.446 fck. The value 0.67 accounts for the difference between cube and cylinder strength. The factor 1.15 applies to steel, not concrete.

Question 42Structural Engineering (Theory of Structures, RCC, Steel, Construction Materials and Management)

The maximum strain in the extreme compression fibre of concrete at the limit state of collapse in flexure is taken as:

  1. 0.0035 Correct answer.
  2. 0.0045
  3. 0.0038
  4. 0.0020

Explanation

IS 456 assumes the limiting compressive strain in concrete as 0.0035, with the stress block being parabolic up to 0.002 and rectangular thereafter. Steel yields at a strain of 0.002 plus 0.87 fy/Es. This combination defines the limiting depth of the neutral axis.

Question 43Structural Engineering (Theory of Structures, RCC, Steel, Construction Materials and Management)

For a simply supported beam of effective span L carrying a uniformly distributed load, the maximum bending moment occurs at:

  1. midspan Correct answer.
  2. quarter span
  3. the point of contraflexure
  4. the supports

Explanation

For a simply supported beam with a UDL, the bending moment diagram is parabolic with zero value at the supports and a maximum of wL²/8 at midspan. Shear is maximum at the supports. A simply supported beam has no point of contraflexure.

Question 44Structural Engineering (Theory of Structures, RCC, Steel, Construction Materials and Management)

In a two-hinged parabolic arch carrying a uniformly distributed load over its entire span, the bending moment at any section is:

  1. maximum at the springings
  2. maximum at the crown
  3. linearly varying from crown to springing
  4. zero throughout Correct answer.

Explanation

A parabolic arch whose shape matches the funicular polygon of a uniformly distributed load carries the load purely by axial thrust, so the bending moment is zero at every section. This holds when the arch axis is parabolic and the load is uniformly distributed over the horizontal span. Any deviation of shape or loading reintroduces bending.

Question 45Structural Engineering (Theory of Structures, RCC, Steel, Construction Materials and Management)

The degree of static indeterminacy of a continuous beam with four spans supported on five simple supports (no internal hinges) is:

  1. 5
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4 Correct answer.

Explanation

For a continuous beam, degree of static indeterminacy equals the number of intermediate (redundant) reactions, which is one less than the number of supports. With five supports, the redundancies are 5 − 2 = 3 for vertical reactions plus one for horizontal restraint, but treating only vertical reactions it is 3. Standard treatment gives 3 redundants, so the answer is 3.

Question 46Structural Engineering (Theory of Structures, RCC, Steel, Construction Materials and Management)

A cantilever beam of length L carries a point load W at its free end. The deflection at the free end, with flexural rigidity EI, is:

  1. WL⁴/(8EI)
  2. WL²/(2EI)
  3. WL³/(3EI) Correct answer.
  4. WL³/(8EI)

Explanation

For an end-loaded cantilever, the free-end deflection is WL³/(3EI), obtained by integrating the moment diagram. The slope at the free end is WL²/(2EI). A simply supported beam with a central point load deflects WL³/(48EI).

Question 47Structural Engineering (Theory of Structures, RCC, Steel, Construction Materials and Management)

In the slope-deflection method, the fixed-end moment at each end of a prismatic member of length L subjected to a central point load W is:

  1. WL/4
  2. WL/12
  3. WL/16
  4. WL/8 Correct answer.

Explanation

For a fixed-ended beam with a central point load, the fixed-end moment at each end is WL/8, with hogging at supports and sagging WL/4 at midspan. A uniformly distributed load gives wL²/12 at the ends. These fixed-end moments are the starting values in the slope-deflection equations.

Question 48Structural Engineering (Theory of Structures, RCC, Steel, Construction Materials and Management)

The maximum shear stress in a rectangular beam section of breadth b and depth d carrying a shear force V occurs at the neutral axis and equals:

  1. 1.5V/(bd) Correct answer.
  2. V/(bd)
  3. 2V/(bd)
  4. 4V/(3bd)

Explanation

For a rectangular section, shear stress varies parabolically, being zero at the extreme fibres and maximum at the neutral axis. The maximum value is 1.5 times the average shear stress V/(bd). For a circular section the corresponding factor is 4/3.

Question 49Structural Engineering (Theory of Structures, RCC, Steel, Construction Materials and Management)

A steel tension member is designed as a plate of width 150 mm and thickness 10 mm with one bolt hole of 20 mm diameter on the gross section. Taking fy = 250 MPa and fu = 410 MPa, the design tensile strength due to yielding of the gross section (γm0 = 1.10) is approximately:

  1. 341 kN Correct answer.
  2. 273 kN
  3. 205 kN
  4. 307 kN

Explanation

Yielding strength is Ag·fy/γm0, where Ag = 150 × 10 = 1500 mm². Thus 1500 × 250/1.10 ≈ 341 kN. Rupture of the net section would use the reduced area and fu/γm1 and gives a different value.

Question 50Structural Engineering (Theory of Structures, RCC, Steel, Construction Materials and Management)

In a bolted connection, the minimum pitch of bolts measured along the line of force, as per IS 800, is:

  1. 2.0 times the bolt diameter
  2. 2.5 times the bolt diameter Correct answer.
  3. 3.0 times the bolt diameter
  4. 1.5 times the bolt diameter

Explanation

IS 800 specifies a minimum pitch of 2.5 times the nominal bolt diameter to ensure adequate space for tightening and to avoid stress concentration between adjacent holes. The maximum pitch is limited to 32t or 300 mm for members in compression. Edge distances also have specified minimum values.