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SSC JE Civil practice questions

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Question 1Civil Engineering

In limit state design of a reinforced concrete beam, the partial safety factor for dead load (γf) under normal conditions is taken as:

  1. 1.15 Correct answer.
  2. 1.2
  3. 1.0
  4. 1.5

Explanation

IS 456:2000 assigns a partial safety factor of 1.5 to dead load when it produces an adverse effect, but for favourable effect it is 0.9. The commonly quoted design value for dead load in the load combination is 1.5, while the live load factor is also 1.5. The value 1.2 appears in some wind combinations, not as the basic dead load factor.

Question 2Civil Engineering

The workability of concrete is most directly measured in the field by which test?

  1. Compaction factor test
  2. Vee-Bee consistometer test
  3. Schmidt rebound hammer test
  4. Slump test Correct answer.

Explanation

The slump test is a simple, quick field test that indicates the consistency and workability of fresh concrete. The compaction factor and Vee-Bee tests give more precise measures of workability but are laboratory based. The rebound hammer measures hardened concrete surface hardness, not workability.

Question 3Civil Engineering

A simply supported beam of span 6 m carries a uniformly distributed load of 4 kN/m over its entire length. The maximum bending moment is:

  1. 36 kN·m
  2. 12 kN·m
  3. 24 kN·m
  4. 18 kN·m Correct answer.

Explanation

For a simply supported beam with UDL, the maximum bending moment occurs at midspan and equals wL²/8. Here w = 4 kN/m and L = 6 m, so M = 4 × 36 / 8 = 18 kN·m. The reaction is wL/2 = 12 kN, and the moment at midspan is that reaction times 3 m minus the UDL moment, giving 18 kN·m.

Question 4Civil Engineering

The plasticity index of a soil is defined as:

  1. Plastic limit minus shrinkage limit
  2. Liquid limit minus plastic limit Correct answer.
  3. Natural water content minus plastic limit
  4. Liquid limit minus shrinkage limit

Explanation

The plasticity index (PI) is the numerical difference between the liquid limit and the plastic limit. It represents the range of water content over which the soil remains plastic. A high PI indicates a highly compressible clay, while a low PI indicates a silty or sandy soil.

Question 5Civil Engineering

In a theodolite, the vertical circle is used primarily to measure:

  1. Horizontal distances
  2. Magnetic bearings
  3. Horizontal angles
  4. Vertical angles Correct answer.

Explanation

The vertical circle of a theodolite is graduated to measure angles in the vertical plane, such as angles of elevation and depression. Horizontal angles are measured with the horizontal circle. Magnetic bearings require a compass, and horizontal distances are obtained by tacheometry or chaining, not by the vertical circle alone.

Question 6Civil Engineering

The minimum grade of concrete recommended for reinforced concrete work exposed to severe conditions, as per IS 456, is:

  1. M25
  2. M20
  3. M15
  4. M30 Correct answer.

Explanation

IS 456 specifies minimum grades depending on exposure. For severe exposure the minimum grade is M30, while mild exposure permits M20. The grade requirement increases with severity to ensure adequate durability and cover performance.

Question 7Civil Engineering

The main function of a lintel in a masonry wall is to:

  1. Carry the load over openings such as doors and windows Correct answer.
  2. Bind the wall courses together
  3. Provide a damp-proof barrier
  4. Transfer roof load to the foundation

Explanation

A lintel is a horizontal structural member placed over openings to support the masonry above and transfer its load to the adjacent wall. It is not a foundation element and does not serve as a damp-proof course. Its structural role is local load carrying over openings.

Question 8Civil Engineering

The unit weight of water used in most hydraulic computations in SI units is:

  1. 1000 kN/m³
  2. 1 kN/m³
  3. 9.81 kN/m³ Correct answer.
  4. 0.981 kN/m³

Explanation

The specific weight of water is approximately 9810 N/m³, which equals 9.81 kN/m³. This value is used in pressure and buoyancy calculations. The density is 1000 kg/m³, which is easily confused with the specific weight.

Question 9Civil Engineering

A rectangular channel 2 m wide carries water at a depth of 1 m with a velocity of 1.5 m/s. The discharge is:

  1. 2.0 m³/s
  2. 1.5 m³/s
  3. 4.5 m³/s
  4. 3.0 m³/s Correct answer.

Explanation

Discharge equals area times velocity. The flow area is width times depth = 2 × 1 = 2 m², and multiplying by velocity 1.5 m/s gives 3.0 m³/s. This is the continuity equation applied to open channel flow.

Question 10Civil Engineering

In a singly reinforced concrete beam, the lever arm between the compressive and tensile forces is generally taken as:

  1. 0.5 times the overall depth
  2. 0.87 times the effective depth
  3. 0.67 times the effective depth
  4. 0.42 times the effective depth Correct answer.

Explanation

For a balanced section, the depth of the neutral axis is 0.53 times the effective depth, and the lever arm is d minus 0.42 times the depth of the stress block. The resulting lever arm is about 0.42d for the limiting case. The value 0.87 relates to the design stress of steel, not the lever arm.

Question 11Civil Engineering

A soil sample has a void ratio of 0.6 and specific gravity of solids 2.7. Its dry unit weight is closest to:

  1. 16.5 kN/m³ Correct answer.
  2. 22.0 kN/m³
  3. 18.0 kN/m³
  4. 20.4 kN/m³

Explanation

Dry unit weight equals G·γw/(1+e). Substituting G = 2.7, γw = 9.81 kN/m³ and e = 0.6 gives 2.7 × 9.81 / 1.6 ≈ 16.5 kN/m³. The formula accounts for the volume of voids relative to solids.

Question 12Civil Engineering

The coefficient of active earth pressure for a cohesionless soil with angle of internal friction 30° is:

  1. 0.33 Correct answer.
  2. 1.0
  3. 0.50
  4. 3.0

Explanation

Rankine's active earth pressure coefficient is Ka = (1 − sinφ)/(1 + sinφ). For φ = 30°, sinφ = 0.5, so Ka = 0.5/1.5 = 0.33. The passive coefficient Kp is the reciprocal, equal to 3.0.

Question 13Civil Engineering

In a compaction test, the maximum dry density of a soil is obtained at:

  1. The optimum moisture content Correct answer.
  2. The liquid limit
  3. Zero air voids
  4. The shrinkage limit

Explanation

The compaction curve shows dry density rising to a peak as moisture content increases, and that peak corresponds to the optimum moisture content. At that point the soil is most efficiently compacted for the given effort. Zero air voids is a theoretical line, not the peak of the compaction curve.

Question 14Civil Engineering

The head loss due to friction in a pipe flowing full is proportional to:

  1. Square root of velocity
  2. Velocity
  3. Velocity squared Correct answer.
  4. Inverse of velocity

Explanation

Darcy-Weisbach equation gives head loss hf = f·(L/D)·(v²/2g), so head loss varies with the square of velocity. This quadratic relationship is characteristic of turbulent flow in pipes. Only in laminar flow does the Hagen-Poiseuille relation give a linear dependence.

Question 15Civil Engineering

The critical hydraulic gradient for a cohesionless soil with specific gravity 2.65 and void ratio 0.65 is approximately:

  1. 0.82
  2. 1.0 Correct answer.
  3. 1.65
  4. 0.65

Explanation

The critical hydraulic gradient is ic = (G − 1)/(1 + e). Substituting G = 2.65 and e = 0.65 gives 1.65/1.65 = 1.0. At this gradient the effective stress becomes zero and the soil is in a quick condition.

Question 16Civil Engineering

The bulking of sand is primarily caused by:

  1. Presence of organic matter
  2. Excess water filling the voids
  3. Compaction during storage
  4. Surface moisture causing particles to separate Correct answer.

Explanation

Bulking occurs when a film of moisture surrounds sand grains and pushes them apart, increasing the apparent volume. It is most pronounced in fine sands and decreases as the moisture content rises toward saturation. This is why sand volume is corrected when batching by volume.

Question 17Civil Engineering

In a theodolite traverse, the closing error is the:

  1. Difference between fore and back bearings
  2. Difference between the first and last bearings
  3. Vector sum of all latitudes and departures Correct answer.
  4. Sum of all interior angles

Explanation

The closing error is obtained by summing the latitudes and departures of all traverse lines; the resultant vector represents the gap between the starting and computed final station. Its magnitude and direction determine the accuracy of the traverse. It is then distributed by Bowditch or transit rule.

Question 18Civil Engineering

The degree of saturation of a soil sample with water content 20%, void ratio 0.6 and specific gravity 2.7 is closest to:

  1. 90% Correct answer.
  2. 100%
  3. 60%
  4. 75%

Explanation

Degree of saturation S = w·G/e. Substituting w = 0.20, G = 2.7 and e = 0.6 gives S = 0.54/0.6 = 0.90, i.e. 90%. This means the voids are 90% filled with water.

Question 19Civil Engineering

A cantilever beam of length 3 m carries a point load of 10 kN at its free end. The maximum bending moment at the fixed support is:

  1. 30 kN·m Correct answer.
  2. 45 kN·m
  3. 10 kN·m
  4. 15 kN·m

Explanation

For a cantilever with an end point load, the maximum moment at the fixed end is P·L. Here 10 kN × 3 m = 30 kN·m, producing tension at the top fibre. The shear force is constant at 10 kN along the length.

Question 20Civil Engineering

In a rectangular beam section, the maximum shear stress occurs at:

  1. The bottom fibre
  2. The extreme top fibre
  3. One-quarter depth from the top
  4. The neutral axis Correct answer.

Explanation

Shear stress in a rectangular section 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. This follows from the shear formula τ = VQ/(Ib).

Question 21Civil Engineering

A simply supported beam of span 4 m carries a central point load of 20 kN. The maximum deflection, taking EI = 4000 kN·m², is closest to:

  1. 20 mm
  2. 5 mm
  3. 40 mm
  4. 10 mm Correct answer.

Explanation

For a central point load on a simply supported beam, δ = PL³/(48EI). Substituting P = 20 kN, L = 4 m and EI = 4000 kN·m² gives 20 × 64 / (48 × 4000) = 1280/192000 ≈ 0.0067 m, about 6.7 mm, closest to 10 mm. The formula assumes elastic behaviour and constant EI.

Question 22Civil Engineering

The nominal mix M20 concrete is commonly proportioned by volume as:

  1. 1 : 4 : 8
  2. 1 : 2 : 4 Correct answer.
  3. 1 : 1.5 : 3
  4. 1 : 3 : 6

Explanation

The standard nominal mix for M20 grade is 1 : 2 : 4 by volume of cement, fine aggregate and coarse aggregate. M15 uses 1 : 2 : 4 as well in some references, while M25 uses 1 : 1 : 2. The proportions decrease aggregate content as the grade rises.

Question 23Civil Engineering

A rectangular channel has a critical depth of 0.8 m. If the actual depth is 0.5 m, the flow is:

  1. Subcritical
  2. Critical
  3. Uniform
  4. Supercritical Correct answer.

Explanation

When the actual depth is less than the critical depth, the Froude number exceeds unity and the flow is supercritical (rapid). If depth exceeded critical depth, the flow would be subcritical. Uniform flow is a separate condition related to slope and roughness.

Question 24Civil Engineering

In a singly reinforced beam, if the actual depth of the neutral axis exceeds the limiting value, the section is:

  1. Under-reinforced
  2. Over-reinforced Correct answer.
  3. Balanced
  4. Doubly reinforced by default

Explanation

When the neutral axis depth exceeds the limiting value xu,max, the concrete reaches its limiting strain before the steel yields, making the section over-reinforced and brittle. Under-reinforced sections have xu less than xu,max and give ductile failure. Balanced sections have xu exactly equal to xu,max.

Question 25Civil Engineering

A soil has a liquid limit of 50%, plastic limit of 30% and natural water content of 40%. Its consistency index is:

  1. 1.5
  2. 1.0
  3. 2.0
  4. 0.5 Correct answer.

Explanation

The consistency index is Ic = (LL − w)/PI, where PI = LL − PL = 20%. Substituting gives (50 − 40)/20 = 0.5. A value near 1 indicates a stiff consistency, while values near zero indicate a soft, near-plastic state.

Question 26Civil Engineering

As per IS 456, the partial safety factor for concrete (γm) used in the limit state of collapse is:

  1. 1.0
  2. 1.5
  3. 0.87
  4. 1.15 Correct answer.

Explanation

IS 456 assigns a partial safety factor of 1.15 to the characteristic strength of concrete for the limit state of collapse, giving the design strength 0.67fck/1.15 = 0.446fck. The factor 1.5 applies to loads, not to the material strength of concrete.

Question 27Civil Engineering

In a compression member, the slenderness ratio is defined as the ratio of the effective length to the:

  1. depth of the section
  2. area of cross-section
  3. least radius of gyration Correct answer.
  4. moment of inertia

Explanation

Slenderness ratio is the effective length divided by the radius of gyration about the axis of buckling, and the least radius of gyration governs because buckling occurs about the weakest axis. The ratio is dimensionless, so dividing by area, depth or moment of inertia would not give a consistent measure of buckling tendency.

Question 28Civil Engineering

The bulking of sand is the increase in volume of sand due to:

  1. presence of organic impurities
  2. over-vibration during compaction
  3. addition of coarse aggregate
  4. presence of free moisture film around particles Correct answer.

Explanation

Thin films of water around sand grains push particles apart and cause apparent volume increase, which is maximum at about 4 to 6 percent moisture. This is why sand is measured by volume in the field with a bulking correction applied.

Question 29Civil Engineering

In a chain survey, the process of locating a point by measuring offsets from two chain lines whose intersection fixes the point is known as:

  1. traversing
  2. intersection Correct answer.
  3. radiation
  4. resection

Explanation

In the intersection method a point is fixed by the intersection of two measured lines or rays, so no offset distance is measured to the point itself. Radiation fixes points by a single measured line and angle from one station, while traversing connects successive stations.

Question 30Civil Engineering

The unit of the coefficient of permeability of soil, as used in Darcy's law, is:

  1. m/s Correct answer.
  2. dimensionless
  3. kN/m²
  4. m²/s

Explanation

Darcy's law states v = ki, so the permeability k has the same units as velocity, namely length per time. The hydraulic gradient i is dimensionless, so no other unit combination is possible.

Question 31Civil Engineering

In open channel flow, the hydraulic mean depth (hydraulic radius) of a channel section is defined as the:

  1. top width divided by area of flow
  2. area of flow divided by top width
  3. area of flow divided by wetted perimeter Correct answer.
  4. wetted perimeter divided by area of flow

Explanation

Hydraulic radius equals the flow area divided by the wetted perimeter, and it appears in the Manning and Chezy equations. Area divided by top width gives the hydraulic depth, a different quantity used in specific-energy and Froude-number calculations.

Question 32Civil Engineering

The standard Proctor compaction test is carried out using a mould of volume:

  1. 2250 cm³
  2. 1000 cm³ Correct answer.
  3. 1500 cm³
  4. 944 cm³

Explanation

The standard Proctor test uses a 1000 cm³ mould with a 2.6 kg rammer dropped through 310 mm in three layers of 25 blows. The 2250 cm³ mould belongs to the modified Proctor test, which uses heavier compaction energy.

Question 33Civil Engineering

In a simply supported beam carrying a uniformly distributed load over its whole span, the bending moment diagram is:

  1. a parabola Correct answer.
  2. a triangle
  3. a rectangle
  4. a cubic curve

Explanation

The shear force varies linearly for a uniformly distributed load, so integrating the shear gives a bending moment that varies as a second-degree parabola. A triangular diagram arises only for a concentrated load.

Question 34Civil Engineering

A simply supported beam of span 6 m carries a uniformly distributed load of 4 kN/m over its entire span. The maximum bending moment is:

  1. 36 kN·m
  2. 24 kN·m
  3. 18 kN·m Correct answer.
  4. 12 kN·m

Explanation

The maximum moment for a simply supported beam with a uniform load is wL²/8 = 4 × 36 / 8 = 18 kN·m at midspan. Total load times span divided by eight is the standard formula for this case.

Question 35Civil Engineering

A rectangular beam 230 mm wide and 450 mm deep is subjected to a shear force of 90 kN. Taking the maximum shear stress as 1.5 times the average, the maximum shear stress is closest to:

  1. 0.87 N/mm² Correct answer.
  2. 1.74 N/mm²
  3. 0.58 N/mm²
  4. 1.30 N/mm²

Explanation

Average shear stress is V/(bd) = 90000/(230 × 450) = 0.87 N/mm², and for a rectangular section the maximum shear stress is 1.5 times this value, about 1.30 N/mm². The maximum occurs at the neutral axis where the shear flow is greatest.

Question 36Civil Engineering

A soil sample has a water content of 18 percent and a dry unit weight of 16.5 kN/m³. The bulk unit weight of the sample is closest to:

  1. 18.0 kN/m³
  2. 14.0 kN/m³
  3. 20.7 kN/m³
  4. 19.5 kN/m³ Correct answer.

Explanation

Bulk unit weight equals dry unit weight multiplied by (1 + w), so 16.5 × 1.18 = 19.47 kN/m³, about 19.5 kN/m³. The water content is expressed as a decimal fraction in this relation.

Question 37Civil Engineering

A soil has a liquid limit of 55 percent, a plastic limit of 25 percent and a natural water content of 40 percent. The liquidity index of the soil is:

  1. 0.75
  2. 0.27
  3. 1.33
  4. 0.50 Correct answer.

Explanation

Liquidity index is (w − PL)/(LL − PL) = (40 − 25)/(55 − 25) = 15/30 = 0.50. A value of 0.5 indicates the soil is at the midpoint between plastic and liquid states.

Question 38Civil Engineering

A pipe of diameter 300 mm carries water at a velocity of 2 m/s. The discharge in the pipe is closest to:

  1. 0.283 m³/s
  2. 0.042 m³/s
  3. 0.565 m³/s
  4. 0.141 m³/s Correct answer.

Explanation

Discharge is area times velocity, so Q = (π/4)(0.3)² × 2 = 0.0707 × 2 = 0.141 m³/s. The diameter must be converted to metres before applying the formula.

Question 39Civil Engineering

In a hydraulic jump formed in a rectangular channel, the energy lost is:

  1. the difference between the sequent depths
  2. the sum of the specific energies before and after the jump
  3. the product of discharge and velocity
  4. the difference between the specific energies before and after the jump Correct answer.

Explanation

A hydraulic jump converts supercritical flow to subcritical flow, and the head lost is the difference in specific energy between the two conjugate depths. Sequent depths are the depths on either side of the jump, not an energy quantity.

Question 40Civil Engineering

The coefficient of passive earth pressure for a cohesionless soil with angle of internal friction 30° is:

  1. 0.50
  2. 3.00 Correct answer.
  3. 0.33
  4. 1.73

Explanation

Rankine passive pressure coefficient is (1 + sin φ)/(1 − sin φ), which for φ = 30° gives 3.0. The active coefficient for the same soil is 1/3, so the passive resistance is nine times the active thrust.

Question 41Civil Engineering

A trapezoidal channel has a bottom width of 4 m, side slopes of 1:1, and a flow depth of 2 m. The wetted perimeter is closest to:

  1. 9.66 m Correct answer.
  2. 8.00 m
  3. 12.00 m
  4. 10.83 m

Explanation

Each sloping side has length 2√2 = 2.828 m, so the wetted perimeter is 4 + 2 × 2.828 = 9.66 m. The side length follows from the depth and the 1:1 side slope, which gives a 45° inclination.

Question 42Civil Engineering

In the limit state method, the design bending strength of a laterally supported steel beam depends primarily on the:

  1. plastic section modulus and yield stress Correct answer.
  2. torsional constant only
  3. elastic section modulus and span
  4. moment of inertia and Poisson's ratio

Explanation

For a compact, laterally supported section, the plastic moment capacity is Zp × fy divided by the partial safety factor for material, so the plastic section modulus and yield stress govern. Elastic section modulus is used only for sections that cannot develop the plastic moment.

Question 43Civil Engineering

The maximum permissible free fall of concrete in a drop chute or through a vertical pipe, to avoid segregation, is generally limited to:

  1. 1.5 m Correct answer.
  2. 5.0 m
  3. 3.0 m
  4. 0.5 m

Explanation

IS 456 and good concreting practice restrict the free fall of concrete to about 1.5 m so that the mix does not segregate on impact. Greater heights require a chute, tremie or vertical pipe.

Question 44Civil Engineering

The workability of concrete is best assessed by the slump test when the concrete is:

  1. containing large coarse aggregate
  2. highly cohesive and rich
  3. of medium to high workability Correct answer.
  4. very dry and lean

Explanation

The slump test is sensitive and reliable for concrete of medium to high workability, where the cone settles in a measurable way. For very dry mixes or very stiff mixes, the slump is nearly zero and the test loses its discriminating power.

Question 45Civil Engineering

In a theodolite, the line of collimation is the line joining the:

  1. intersection of the cross-hairs and the optical centre of the objective Correct answer.
  2. vertical axis and the horizontal axis
  3. intersection of the cross-hairs and the centre of the eye-piece
  4. centre of the trunnion axis and the eye-piece

Explanation

The line of collimation, also called the line of sight, passes through the intersection of the cross-hairs and the optical centre of the objective lens. It must be perpendicular to the horizontal axis for the instrument to be in adjustment.

Question 46Civil Engineering

A rectangular footing 2 m × 3 m carries a gross load of 1500 kN. The average contact pressure on the soil is:

  1. 125 kPa
  2. 500 kPa
  3. 750 kPa
  4. 250 kPa Correct answer.

Explanation

Contact pressure equals load divided by base area, so 1500/(2 × 3) = 250 kPa, assuming uniform distribution. The footing area is six square metres.

Question 47Civil Engineering

A soil has a specific gravity of solids of 2.70, a void ratio of 0.60 and a degree of saturation of 50 percent. The bulk unit weight is closest to:

  1. 20.7 kN/m³ Correct answer.
  2. 18.4 kN/m³
  3. 22.1 kN/m³
  4. 16.5 kN/m³

Explanation

Water content is w = (S × e)/G = (0.5 × 0.6)/2.70 = 0.111. Dry unit weight is (G × γw)/(1 + e) = (2.70 × 9.81)/1.6 = 16.55 kN/m³, and bulk unit weight is 16.55 × 1.111 = 18.4 kN/m³.

Question 48Civil Engineering

A singly reinforced concrete beam has an effective depth of 500 mm and a limiting neutral axis depth of 0.48d. If the actual neutral axis depth is 220 mm, the section behaves as:

  1. doubly reinforced by necessity
  2. over-reinforced
  3. balanced
  4. under-reinforced Correct answer.

Explanation

The limiting depth is 0.48 × 500 = 240 mm, and the actual depth of 220 mm is less than this, so the steel yields before concrete crushes and the section is under-reinforced. Under-reinforced sections are ductile and preferred in design.

Question 49Civil Engineering

A simply supported beam of span 8 m carries a point load of 40 kN at 3 m from the left support. The maximum bending moment is:

  1. 60 kN·m
  2. 120 kN·m
  3. 75 kN·m Correct answer.
  4. 90 kN·m

Explanation

Reaction at the left support is 40 × 5/8 = 25 kN, and the maximum moment occurs under the load, giving 25 × 3 = 75 kN·m. The moment diagram is triangular with its peak at the load point.

Question 50Civil Engineering

In a triaxial compression test on a saturated normally consolidated clay, the effective stress path during undrained shearing:

  1. moves to the left with constant total confining pressure Correct answer.
  2. moves to the right with increasing effective confining pressure
  3. remains vertical at constant deviator stress
  4. coincides with the total stress path

Explanation

In undrained shearing of a saturated soil, volume change is prevented and pore pressure builds up, so effective confining stress decreases while total confining stress stays constant. The effective stress path therefore slopes to the left and ends on the critical state line.