Tamil Nadu PSC Building Materials, Theory of Structures & Construction: practice questions

1 · Bricks, stone and cement · easy

In English bond brickwork, how are headers and stretchers arranged?

1. Every course is laid with stretchers only, offset by half a brick
2. Each course has headers and stretchers alternating along its length
3. Every course is laid with headers only, offset by a quarter brick
4. Alternate courses are entirely headers and entirely stretchers

2 · Reinforced concrete beams and slabs · easy

A slab panel 3.5 m × 8.0 m is supported on all four edges by beams. How should it be designed?

1. As a one-way slab spanning the 3.5 m direction, because ly/lx exceeds 2
2. As a two-way slab, because every slab supported on four edges is two-way
3. As a one-way slab spanning the 8.0 m direction, because the long span governs
4. As a flat slab without beams, because the ratio ly/lx is less than 3

3 · Trusses · easy

What is the main purpose of a north-light (saw-tooth) roof truss in a workshop or packhouse?

1. To increase natural ventilation by forming a ridge vent over the span
2. To carry crane loads without any internal columns over long spans
3. To admit even daylight through glazing that faces away from direct sun
4. To shed heavy snow from both slopes equally in cold climates

4 · Foundations · medium

A column carries a service load of 750 kN. Allowing 10% for the footing's self-weight and backfill, what side length of square footing is needed on soil with an allowable bearing pressure of 150 kN/m²?

1. 2.87 m
2. 5.50 m
3. 2.24 m
4. 2.35 m

5 · Foundations · easy

When is a raft (mat) foundation usually preferred to individual column footings?

1. When the water table is very deep and the soil bearing capacity is high
2. When the building is a light single-storey shed governed only by wind uplift
3. When the footings would cover more than half the plan area or the soil is weak and variable
4. When the soil is dense gravel and individual footings would be very small and widely spaced

6 · Foundations · medium

A farm godown is to be built on expansive black cotton soil. Which foundation approach is commonly used in Indian practice to limit swelling and shrinkage damage?

1. A timber raft laid on the soil surface so the building moves freely with the clay
2. Isolated footings on the surface with the floor slab cast directly on the swelling clay
3. Under-reamed piles anchored below the zone of seasonal moisture change, with a grade beam
4. Shallow strip footings at 0.3 m depth on a thick layer of the same compacted black cotton soil

7 · Estimation, costing and rate analysis · medium

How much cement is needed for 0.30 m³ of dry 1:6 cement–sand mortar, taking cement bulk density as 1,440 kg/m³?

1. 205.7 kg
2. 61.7 kg
3. 72.0 kg
4. 432.0 kg

8 · Estimation, costing and rate analysis · hard

A slab 6 m × 4 m × 0.12 m is cast in 1:1.5:3 nominal-mix concrete. With a dry-volume factor of 1.54 and cement at 1,440 kg/m³, how many 50 kg bags of cement are needed?

1. 28.4 bags
2. 23.2 bags
3. 15.1 bags
4. 8.1 bags

9 · Specifications and contracts · easy

What is the purpose of the earnest money deposit (bid security) submitted with a tender?

1. To cover defects that appear during the defects liability period after completion
2. To pay the contractor in advance for mobilising equipment to the site after award
3. To pay liquidated damages if the completed work is handed over after the due date
4. To guarantee that the bidder will not withdraw its bid and will sign the contract if it is accepted

10 · Specifications and contracts · easy

What is the measurement book used for in public works?

1. Recording the results of cube tests for the quality-control laboratory only
2. Recording the specifications of each item before the tender is invited
3. Recording measurements of work done and materials received, as the basis for payments
4. Recording the names and wages of daily labourers for the contractor's payroll