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WRD Maharashtra JE practice questions

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Question 1Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

According to IS 456:2000, what is the minimum grade of concrete permitted for reinforced cement concrete work in a structure exposed to mild environmental conditions?

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

Explanation

IS 456:2000 cl. 6.1.3 specifies M20 as the minimum grade for reinforced concrete under mild exposure, while plain concrete may be M15. Higher exposure classes demand higher minimum grades, such as M25 for moderate and M30 for severe exposure.

Question 2Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

A simply supported beam of effective span 6 m carries a uniformly distributed load of 20 kN/m including its self-weight. What is the maximum bending moment in the beam?

  1. 120 kN·m
  2. 45 kN·m
  3. 90 kN·m Correct answer.
  4. 60 kN·m

Explanation

For a simply supported beam with a uniformly distributed load, the maximum bending moment occurs at midspan and equals wL²/8. Substituting w = 20 kN/m and L = 6 m gives 20 × 36 / 8 = 90 kN·m.

Question 3Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

In limit state design of a reinforced concrete flexural member, which pair of partial safety factors for loads is used for the limit state of collapse with dead load plus imposed load?

  1. 1.0 on dead load and 1.5 on imposed load
  2. 1.5 on dead load and 1.2 on imposed load
  3. 1.2 on dead load and 1.2 on imposed load
  4. 1.5 on dead load and 1.5 on imposed load Correct answer.

Explanation

IS 456:2000 Table 18 assigns a partial safety factor of 1.5 to both dead load and imposed load when checking the collapse limit state with the two loads acting together. The factor 1.2 applies when wind or seismic load is combined with dead load.

Question 4Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

A soil sample has a void ratio of 0.60 and the specific gravity of its solids is 2.70. What is the saturated unit weight of the soil, taking the unit weight of water as 9.81 kN/m³?

  1. 18.6 kN/m³
  2. 16.8 kN/m³
  3. 21.5 kN/m³
  4. 20.3 kN/m³ Correct answer.

Explanation

The saturated unit weight equals (G + e) × γw / (1 + e). Substituting G = 2.70, e = 0.60 and γw = 9.81 gives (3.30 × 9.81) / 1.60 ≈ 20.3 kN/m³.

Question 5Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

Which laboratory test is used to determine the liquid limit of a fine-grained soil by measuring the number of blows required to close a standard groove?

  1. Standard Proctor test
  2. Shrinkage limit test
  3. Vane shear test
  4. Casagrande cup apparatus test Correct answer.

Explanation

The liquid limit is determined with the Casagrande cup, in which a grooved soil pat is subjected to repeated blows until the groove closes over a specified length. The water content corresponding to 25 blows is reported as the liquid limit.

Question 6Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

In a closed traverse, the sum of the interior angles of a polygon with n sides should equal which expression?

  1. (2n − 4) × 90°
  2. n × 90°
  3. (n − 2) × 180° Correct answer.
  4. (2n + 4) × 90°

Explanation

The interior angles of any closed polygon with n sides sum to (n − 2) × 180°, which is the same as (2n − 4) × 90°. Surveyors use this check to distribute the angular misclosure in a closed traverse.

Question 7Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

A levelling instrument is set up midway between two points A and B, and the staff readings are 1.250 m at A and 2.100 m at B. What is the reduced level of B if the reduced level of A is 100.000 m?

  1. 99.150 m Correct answer.
  2. 102.100 m
  3. 101.850 m
  4. 98.850 m

Explanation

The difference in level equals the back sight minus the fore sight, that is 1.250 − 2.100 = −0.850 m. Adding this to the reduced level of A gives 100.000 − 0.850 = 99.150 m, so B lies below A.

Question 8Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

Which of the following is the primary purpose of providing a soffit or lintel band in a masonry building located in a seismic zone?

  1. To reduce the quantity of mortar required in the masonry
  2. To tie the walls together and resist out-of-plane bending during an earthquake Correct answer.
  3. To increase the plinth height above ground level
  4. To improve the thermal insulation of the roof slab

Explanation

Horizontal seismic bands, including the lintel band, act as ties that hold masonry walls together and limit out-of-plane failure during ground shaking. IS 4326 and IS 13920 recommend such bands at plinth, sill, lintel and roof levels depending on the zone.

Question 9Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

A rectangular channel 4 m wide carries a discharge of 12 m³/s at a depth of 1.5 m. What is the Froude number of the flow, taking g = 9.81 m/s²?

  1. 1.58
  2. 1.10
  3. 0.52 Correct answer.
  4. 0.74

Explanation

The Froude number equals V/√(gD), where D is the hydraulic depth equal to area divided by top width. Here V = 12/(4 × 1.5) = 2.0 m/s and D = 1.5 m, giving 2.0/√(14.715) ≈ 0.52, which indicates subcritical flow.

Question 10Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

In the design of a septic tank for a small residential unit, which criterion primarily governs the liquid retention period adopted?

  1. The rate of sludge digestion and settlement of suspended solids Correct answer.
  2. The slope of the land on which the tank is built
  3. The peak hourly water demand of the household
  4. The diameter of the incoming sewer pipe

Explanation

A septic tank relies on quiescent retention so that suspended solids settle and anaerobic digestion of sludge proceeds. The retention period, commonly 24 hours or more, is therefore fixed by the time needed for these biological and physical processes rather than by flow capacity alone.

Question 11Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

A concrete mix has a nominal water-cement ratio of 0.50 by mass. If 400 kg of cement is used per cubic metre of concrete, what is the mass of water per cubic metre, assuming complete utilisation of the water in the mix?

  1. 240 kg
  2. 250 kg
  3. 160 kg
  4. 200 kg Correct answer.

Explanation

The water-cement ratio is the mass of water divided by the mass of cement. Multiplying 0.50 by 400 kg of cement gives 200 kg of water per cubic metre of concrete.

Question 12Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

Which test is standard for determining the compressive strength of hardened concrete cubes in Indian practice?

  1. Rebound hammer test on a cast cube
  2. Ultrasonic pulse velocity measurement
  3. Compression test on 150 mm cubes cured for 28 days Correct answer.
  4. Split tensile test on a cylindrical specimen

Explanation

IS 516 specifies compression testing of 150 mm cubes (or cylinders) that have been cured and tested at 28 days as the standard measure of concrete strength. Non-destructive methods such as rebound hammer and pulse velocity are used only for assessment of existing concrete.

Question 13Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

A vertical retaining wall retains dry cohesionless backfill of unit weight 18 kN/m³ to a height of 5 m. Using Rankine theory with an active earth pressure coefficient of 0.33, what is the total active thrust per metre length of wall?

  1. 37.1 kN/m
  2. 74.25 kN/m Correct answer.
  3. 222.8 kN/m
  4. 148.5 kN/m

Explanation

The active thrust per metre length equals half the coefficient times unit weight times the square of the height. Thus 0.5 × 0.33 × 18 × 25 = 74.25 kN/m, acting at one-third of the height above the base.

Question 14Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

In a singly reinforced concrete beam, what does the term balanced section mean in limit state design?

  1. The section in which the steel yields before the concrete crushes
  2. The section in which the neutral axis lies at the mid-depth of the beam
  3. The section in which the concrete and steel reach their design strengths simultaneously Correct answer.
  4. The section in which the beam carries no tensile reinforcement

Explanation

A balanced section is one where the tensile steel reaches its design yield stress at the same instant that the concrete reaches its limiting strain of 0.0035. Sections with less steel are under-reinforced and fail in a ductile manner, which is preferred in design.

Question 15Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

Which type of foundation is most suitable for transferring heavy loads from a multi-storey building to a deep stratum of stiff soil while minimising settlement?

  1. Pile foundation Correct answer.
  2. Raft foundation
  3. Strip footing
  4. Isolated footing

Explanation

Pile foundations transmit load through weak upper strata to a deeper bearing stratum by end bearing and skin friction. They are chosen when shallow spread foundations would cause excessive settlement or when the soil near the surface is too weak.

Question 16Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

A trapezoidal channel has a bottom width of 3 m, side slopes of 1 horizontal to 1 vertical, and a flow depth of 1.2 m. What is the wetted perimeter?

  1. 5.4 m
  2. 7.2 m
  3. 4.8 m
  4. 6.4 m Correct answer.

Explanation

For a trapezoidal section the wetted perimeter equals b + 2y√(1 + z²), where z is the side slope. Here 3 + 2 × 1.2 × √2 ≈ 3 + 3.39 = 6.39 m, which rounds to 6.4 m.

Question 17Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

Which of the following best describes the function of a shear key provided at the base of a gravity dam?

  1. To improve resistance against sliding by mobilising passive resistance of the foundation Correct answer.
  2. To reduce uplift pressure acting on the base
  3. To increase the weight of the dam body
  4. To facilitate the construction of contraction joints

Explanation

A shear key projects into the foundation rock or soil and mobilises passive earth resistance, thereby increasing the factor of safety against sliding. It does not add significant weight and is not a drainage measure.

Question 18Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

A simply supported rectangular beam of width 230 mm and effective depth 450 mm is reinforced with 3 bars of 16 mm diameter. What is the percentage of tensile steel provided, rounded to two decimals?

  1. 0.58 % Correct answer.
  2. 0.29 %
  3. 1.16 %
  4. 1.45 %

Explanation

The area of three 16 mm bars is 3 × 201 = 603 mm², and the effective concrete area is 230 × 450 = 103 500 mm². The percentage is 100 × 603 / 103 500 ≈ 0.58 %, which satisfies the minimum tension steel requirement.

Question 19Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

In the standard penetration test, the recorded blow count is conventionally reported for which penetration increment?

  1. The middle 300 mm of drive, after seating Correct answer.
  2. The full 450 mm of drive including seating
  3. The first 150 mm of drive
  4. The last 75 mm of drive

Explanation

The SPT is performed by driving a split spoon 450 mm in total, but the first 150 mm is treated as seating and discarded. The N value is the number of blows required for the remaining 300 mm of penetration.

Question 20Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

Which statement about the workability of concrete measured by the slump test is correct?

  1. A true slump indicates a stiff mix with very low water content
  2. Slump is a direct measure of the compressive strength of concrete
  3. A collapse slump always indicates a well-proportioned mix
  4. A shear slump suggests a mix with poor cohesion or insufficient fines Correct answer.

Explanation

A shear slump, in which one side of the concrete mass slides away, indicates lack of cohesion and is often associated with harsh mixes deficient in fines. Slump measures consistency only and is not a direct measure of strength.

Question 21Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

In a theodolite traverse, the closing error is found to be 0.30 m in latitude and 0.40 m in departure over a total traverse length of 500 m. What is the relative precision of the traverse?

  1. 1 in 2500
  2. 1 in 1000 Correct answer.
  3. 1 in 500
  4. 1 in 1250

Explanation

The linear closing error is √(0.30² + 0.40²) = 0.50 m. The relative precision is the traverse length divided by this error, giving 500/0.50 = 1000, expressed as 1 in 1000.

Question 22Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

Which of the following is the correct sequence of operations in the preparation of a cement concrete pavement using the slip-form paver method?

  1. Paving, joint sawing, texturing, curing, dowel placement
  2. Texturing, paving, curing, joint sawing, dowel placement
  3. Placing reinforcement, paving, curing, texturing, joint sawing Correct answer.
  4. Curing, paving, texturing, dowel placement, joint sawing

Explanation

In slip-form paving, reinforcement or dowel baskets are positioned ahead of the paver, the concrete is extruded and finished, and then texturing, curing and sawing of joints follow in sequence. Joint sawing is done after the concrete has hardened sufficiently to avoid raveling.

Question 23Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

A prestressed concrete beam is designed with a cable whose eccentricity produces a compressive stress at the bottom fibre equal to the tensile stress due to external load. This condition is best described as which of the following?

  1. Pretensioning with straight tendons only
  2. Full prestressing with no tension under service load Correct answer.
  3. Unbonded post-tensioning without grout
  4. Partial prestressing permitting controlled tension

Explanation

When the prestress compression exactly cancels the load-induced tension at the extreme fibre, the section remains uncracked in compression-only under service load, which defines full prestressing. Partial prestressing deliberately allows some tension or cracking under service conditions.

Question 24Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

In the design of a reinforced concrete column subjected to combined axial load and uniaxial bending, the interaction diagram is used to determine which of the following?

  1. The modulus of elasticity of the concrete at the time of loading
  2. The shear reinforcement spacing required along the column height
  3. The combination of axial load and moment that the section can safely resist Correct answer.
  4. The development length of the longitudinal bars in the footing

Explanation

A column interaction diagram plots the axial load capacity against the moment capacity for a given reinforcement arrangement. Any load-moment pair lying inside the curve is safe, while points outside indicate failure of the section.

Question 25Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

A soil sample in the field has a natural moisture content of 20 % and a dry unit weight of 16 kN/m³. If the specific gravity of solids is 2.70, what is the degree of saturation?

  1. 81 %
  2. 52 %
  3. 68 % Correct answer.
  4. 96 %

Explanation

The void ratio is obtained from e = Gγw/γd − 1 = (2.70 × 9.81)/16 − 1 ≈ 0.655. Then the degree of saturation is S = wG/e = (0.20 × 2.70)/0.655 ≈ 0.824, that is about 82 %, so the closest listed value is 81 %.

Question 26Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

In a compaction test on a soil, the maximum dry density is obtained at the optimum moisture content. If water is added beyond the optimum moisture content, what happens to the dry density of the compacted soil?

  1. It remains unchanged because the soil solids and their weight are constant
  2. It first decreases and then increases again at very high water content
  3. It decreases because the extra water occupies volume and reduces the soil solids per unit volume Correct answer.
  4. It increases because water acts as a lubricant and allows closer packing

Explanation

On the dry side of the optimum, water lubricates particles and increases density; beyond the optimum, the additional water occupies pore space and pushes particles apart, so the dry density falls. The compaction curve is therefore a single-peaked curve with one maximum.

Question 27Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

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

  1. 0.600
  2. 0.400
  3. 0.375 Correct answer.
  4. 0.625

Explanation

Porosity n = e/(1+e), where e is the void ratio. Substituting e = 0.60 gives n = 0.60/1.60 = 0.375, i.e. 37.5 %.

Question 28Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

In the limit state design of a reinforced concrete beam, which limit state ensures that the structure remains fit for normal use without excessive deflection or cracking under service loads?

  1. Limit state of serviceability Correct answer.
  2. Limit state of equilibrium
  3. Limit state of collapse
  4. Limit state of fatigue

Explanation

The serviceability limit state checks deflection, cracking and vibration under working loads so the structure stays usable. The collapse limit state deals instead with safety against structural failure.

Question 29Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

Which of the following is the standard size of a concrete cube specimen used for the compressive strength test of concrete in Indian practice?

  1. 300 mm
  2. 100 mm
  3. 150 mm Correct answer.
  4. 200 mm

Explanation

The standard cube specimen for compressive strength of concrete is 150 mm, and strength is reported as load divided by the cross-sectional area. Other sizes require correction factors before comparison with standard results.

Question 30Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

In chain surveying, which of the following is the main principle on which the survey is based?

  1. Measuring offsets only from a single base line
  2. Running a closed traverse around the boundary
  3. Dividing the area into a network of well-conditioned triangles Correct answer.
  4. Measuring all internal angles with a theodolite

Explanation

Chain surveying works by covering the area with a framework of triangles that are as nearly equilateral as possible, since such well-conditioned triangles give the most reliable plotted positions. Only linear measurements are taken, so angles are not measured directly.

Question 31Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

Which of the following is the primary function of a distribution system in a municipal water supply scheme?

  1. To store raw water before treatment
  2. To collect and convey sewage to the treatment plant
  3. To remove suspended impurities from the raw water
  4. To deliver treated water to consumers at adequate pressure and in required quantity Correct answer.

Explanation

The distribution network carries treated water from the service reservoir to individual consumers while maintaining adequate residual pressure and flow. Treatment and sewage conveyance are handled by other components of the scheme.

Question 32Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

In the analysis of a simply supported truss, a member carrying zero force under the given loading condition is known as which of the following?

  1. A tie member
  2. A redundant member
  3. A zero-force member Correct answer.
  4. A strut

Explanation

A zero-force member is one in which the axial force works out to zero for the particular loading, often identified by inspection at joints with only two non-collinear members. It may still be needed for stability or to resist other load cases.

Question 33Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

Which of the following is the correct order of the four operations carried out in the preparation of a cement concrete pavement by the slip-form paver method?

  1. Curing, paving, joint sawing, texturing
  2. Joint sawing, paving, curing, texturing
  3. Placing reinforcement, paving, curing, joint sawing
  4. Preparation of subgrade, paving with slip-form paver, texturing and curing, joint sawing Correct answer.

Explanation

In slip-form paving the prepared subgrade or base receives the concrete, which is shaped and compacted by the paver, then textured and cured, and finally joints are sawed at the specified spacing. Sawing must follow paving but before the concrete hardens excessively.

Question 34Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

A rectangular beam of width 250 mm and overall depth 500 mm carries a factored bending moment of 120 kN·m. Using the limit state method with effective cover 50 mm, what is the approximate area of tension steel required if the lever arm is taken as 0.9 times the effective depth and steel of design strength 0.87 fy with fy = 500 N/mm²?

  1. 1050 mm²
  2. 615 mm² Correct answer.
  3. 1300 mm²
  4. 820 mm²

Explanation

Effective depth = 500 − 50 = 450 mm, so lever arm = 0.9 × 450 = 405 mm. Area of steel = M/(0.87 fy × lever arm) = 120×10⁶/(0.87×500×405) ≈ 681 mm², closest to 615 mm² among the given choices when rounded conservatively.

Question 35Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

A trapezoidal channel has a bottom width of 4 m, side slopes of 1H:1V, and carries water at a depth of 1.5 m. What is the wetted perimeter of the channel section?

  1. 8.24 m Correct answer.
  2. 9.50 m
  3. 7.00 m
  4. 10.00 m

Explanation

Wetted perimeter = b + 2d√(1+m²), with m = 1. Substituting b = 4 m and d = 1.5 m gives 4 + 2×1.5×√2 = 4 + 4.243 = 8.24 m.

Question 36Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

A soil has a liquid limit of 45 % and a plastic limit of 25 %. What is its plasticity index, and how is the soil classified in terms of plasticity?

  1. 70 %, high plasticity
  2. 20 %, medium plasticity Correct answer.
  3. 45 %, high plasticity
  4. 20 %, low plasticity

Explanation

Plasticity index = liquid limit − plastic limit = 45 − 25 = 20 %. A PI of 20 % falls in the medium plasticity range in the usual classification.

Question 37Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

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

  1. 45 kN·m Correct answer.
  2. 30 kN·m
  3. 60 kN·m
  4. 90 kN·m

Explanation

For a simply supported beam with a uniformly distributed load, the maximum bending moment at midspan is wL²/8 = 10×6²/8 = 45 kN·m.

Question 38Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

In a theodolite survey, the horizontal angle between two points is measured by taking the difference of the two vernier readings. If the readings on the same vernier are 42°18′20″ and 138°42′50″, what is the included angle?

  1. 180°00′00″
  2. 95°24′30″
  3. 96°34′30″
  4. 96°24′30″ Correct answer.

Explanation

The included angle is the difference of the two readings: 138°42′50″ − 42°18′20″ = 96°24′30″. Subtraction is done in degrees, minutes and seconds, borrowing 60 where needed.

Question 39Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

A rectangular sedimentation tank is to treat a flow of 0.5 MLD with a surface overflow rate of 20 m³/m²/day. What surface area of the tank is required?

  1. 25 m² Correct answer.
  2. 100 m²
  3. 50 m²
  4. 10 m²

Explanation

Surface area = flow/surface overflow rate = 500 m³/day ÷ 20 m³/m²/day = 25 m². Note that 0.5 MLD equals 500 m³/day.

Question 40Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

A retaining wall retains a saturated clay backfill to a height of 4 m with unit weight 18 kN/m³. If the undrained cohesion is 20 kPa and the wall is assumed smooth, what is the depth of the tension crack at the top of the backfill?

  1. 4.00 m
  2. 0.55 m
  3. 1.11 m
  4. 2.22 m Correct answer.

Explanation

Depth of tension crack zc = 2c/γ = 2×20/18 = 2.22 m. Cohesion reduces the active pressure near the top, producing a cracked zone of this depth.

Question 41Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

In a singly reinforced concrete beam designed by the limit state method, if the actual steel provided is less than the limiting steel for a balanced section, how does the section behave at ultimate load?

  1. It is an under-reinforced section and fails by yielding of steel Correct answer.
  2. It fails by shear before bending in all cases
  3. It is an over-reinforced section and fails by crushing of concrete
  4. It is a balanced section and steel and concrete reach their limits simultaneously

Explanation

When steel is below the limiting value, the steel yields first while concrete is still below its ultimate strain, giving a ductile under-reinforced failure. Design codes require such ductile behaviour for safety.

Question 42Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

A vertical curve is to be provided between a rising gradient of +2 % and a falling gradient of −3 % at a summit. What is the algebraic change of gradient, and what type of vertical curve is required?

  1. −5 %, valley curve
  2. 1 %, summit curve
  3. 5 %, summit curve Correct answer.
  4. −1 %, valley curve

Explanation

The change of gradient is the difference of the two grades: (+2) − (−3) = 5 %. Since the gradient changes from rising to falling, the curve is a summit (crest) curve, which is designed for stopping sight distance.

Question 43Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

A concrete mix is specified with a water-cement ratio of 0.45 by mass. If the cement content is 380 kg/m³, what is the water content per cubic metre?

  1. 190 kg
  2. 152 kg
  3. 171 kg Correct answer.
  4. 209 kg

Explanation

Water content = water-cement ratio × cement content = 0.45 × 380 = 171 kg/m³, which is about 171 litres per cubic metre.

Question 44Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

A soil sample in the field has a natural moisture content of 18 % and a dry unit weight of 17 kN/m³. What is the bulk unit weight of the soil?

  1. 14.41 kN/m³
  2. 19.00 kN/m³
  3. 20.06 kN/m³ Correct answer.
  4. 18.00 kN/m³

Explanation

Bulk unit weight = dry unit weight × (1 + w) = 17 × (1 + 0.18) = 17 × 1.18 = 20.06 kN/m³.

Question 45Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

In a compression member, the slenderness ratio is defined as the effective length divided by the appropriate radius of gyration. What is the primary purpose of limiting this ratio in design?

  1. To ensure the member is fully restrained against torsion
  2. To prevent buckling failure of the member Correct answer.
  3. To limit the tensile stress in the member
  4. To control the deflection of the member under service loads

Explanation

Slenderness ratio governs the tendency of a compression member to buckle, so limiting it keeps the member in the stable range. It is not a direct deflection or tensile stress check.

Question 46Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

A rectangular channel 5 m wide carries a discharge of 15 m³/s at a depth of 1.0 m. What is the specific energy of the flow, taking the velocity head into account?

  1. 1.83 m
  2. 1.46 m Correct answer.
  3. 1.00 m
  4. 2.00 m

Explanation

Velocity = Q/(bd) = 15/(5×1) = 3 m/s, so velocity head = v²/2g = 9/19.62 = 0.46 m. Specific energy = depth + velocity head = 1.00 + 0.46 = 1.46 m.

Question 47Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

A gravity dam of height 30 m retains water to its full height. Assuming the unit weight of water as 9.81 kN/m³, what is the total hydrostatic thrust per metre length of the dam, and at what height above the base does it act?

  1. 4414.5 kN acting at 10 m above the base Correct answer.
  2. 2943.0 kN acting at 10 m above the base
  3. 2943.0 kN acting at 15 m above the base
  4. 4414.5 kN acting at 15 m above the base

Explanation

Total thrust P = ½γH² = 0.5×9.81×30² = 4414.5 kN per metre. The resultant of a triangular pressure distribution acts at H/3 = 10 m above the base.

Question 48Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

In a standard penetration test, the observed blow count is 30 for the test depth. If the test was conducted at a depth where the effective overburden pressure correction factor is 1.25, what is the corrected N value?

  1. 37.5 Correct answer.
  2. 30
  3. 24
  4. 45

Explanation

The corrected value is the observed blow count multiplied by the correction factor: 30 × 1.25 = 37.5. Overburden correction is applied to the measured N to account for the confining stress at the test depth.

Question 49Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

A singly reinforced concrete beam has a width of 300 mm with an effective depth of 550 mm. If the limiting percentage of tensile steel for a balanced section is 0.96 %, what is the limiting area of steel for the section?

  1. 1056 mm²
  2. 1320 mm²
  3. 1584 mm² Correct answer.
  4. 1680 mm²

Explanation

Limiting steel = percentage × b × d/100 = 0.96 × 300 × 550/100 = 1584 mm². This is the steel that produces a balanced section for the given concrete and steel grades.

Question 50Civil Engineering (स्थापत्य) - technical paper for the Civil JE stream

A trapezoidal channel has a bottom width of 6 m, side slopes of 1H:1V, a flow depth of 2 m, and a longitudinal bed slope of 1 in 2500. Using Manning's n = 0.025, what is the approximate discharge?

  1. 22.4 m³/s Correct answer.
  2. 30.1 m³/s
  3. 26.8 m³/s
  4. 18.5 m³/s

Explanation

Flow area A = (6 + 2)×2 = 16 m²; wetted perimeter P = 6 + 2×2×√2 = 11.66 m; hydraulic radius R = 16/11.66 = 1.372 m. Manning's equation gives Q = (1/0.025)×16×1.372^(2/3)×(1/2500)^0.5 ≈ 22.4 m³/s.