Sample Questions for Paper 3 – Building Structures
1. Load path is one of the key considerations in structural design, and it is about
how to bring the load acting on the building
A. to the building façade.
B. to the ground / foundation.
C. to the columns.
D. to the beams.
Ans : B
2. End enlargements or bellout in piles are
A. used to increase frictional resistance.
B. used to increase end-bearing resistance.
C. more suitable in driven rather than bored piles.
D. used to prevent water penetration from artesian pressure.
Ans : B
3. In general, which of the following foundation systems gives the largest
founding capacity?
A. Bored pile on rock
B. Driven H-pile
C. Mini-pile on rock
D. Shallow raft foundation
Ans : A
4. Which of the following statements is not true about a framed-tube structural
system for tall buildings?
A. This system requires closely spaced perimeter columns.
B. The shear lag phenomenon occurs in this system.
C. This system achieves an interior floor plan relatively free of core
bracing and large columns.
D. The perimeter structure primarily resists vertical loads while the core
primarily takes the lateral loads.
Ans : D
Sample question 2011 – Paper 3 Building Structures
Sample Questions for Paper 3 – Building Structures
5. Which of the following steel sections is most ideal for resisting torsion?
A. Channel section
B. H section
C. T – section
D. Circular hollow section
Ans : D
6. Which of the following reinforced concrete beam slab floors would be
considered an effective two-way system?
A B C D
Ans : C
7. The main function of a transfer slab is to
A. transfer column loads from above to widely spaced piers or
mega-columns below.
B. transfer mechanical services such as HVAC conduits.
C. transfer passengers between express lifts and local lifts.
D. transfer lateral loads to outrigger trusses and super columns.
Ans : A
8. In general, which of the following gives a stiffer column section assuming all
are of the same dimension?
A. Plain concrete column
B. Reinforced concrete column of 4% reinforcement ratio and
normal-strength concrete
C. Reinforced concrete column of 4% reinforcement ratio and
high-strength concrete
D. Composite column of 10% structural steel section
Ans : D
Sample question 2011 – Paper 3 Building Structures
Sample Questions for Paper 3 – Building Structures
9. For a 30-storey commercial building with a central core, which of the following
is the most common lateral force resisting system?
A. Bearing- and shear-wall system
B. Truss-wall frame
C. Tubular frame
D. Core and frame
Ans : D
10. Which of the following is considered to be a rigid connection?
A. Bolted at B. Precast C. Column welded D. Sliding
web of beam to base plate joint
Ans : C
11. According to the Building Regulations, which of the following building types /
spaces by occupancy has the highest uniform imposed load?
A. Banking hall
B. General office
C. Hotel guestroom
D. School classroom
Ans : A
Sample question 2011 – Paper 3 Building Structures
Sample Questions for Paper 3 – Building Structures
12. Which of the following statements regarding wind loads is not true?
A. Wind pressure varies with building height.
B. Wind pressure varies with building shape and degree of exposure.
C. Suction forces due to wind are very small and therefore negligible.
D. The use of dampers is a means of resisting dynamic effects of wind.
Ans : C
13. A building subject to a horizontal force (F) results in a displacement (D). If the
force is now increased to 2F, what will be the displacement D?
A. D will increase proportionally.
B. D will increase unproportionally.
C. D will decrease proportionally.
D. D will be unchanged.
Ans : A
14. Stiffness (K) defines the relationship between the applied load (F) and the
displacement (D). For a column, the column stiffness (Kc) is defined as
Where : E – elastic modulus of the column material
A – cross sectional area of column
L – length of column
A. (E x A) / L
B. A/L
C. L / (E x A)
D. L/E
Ans : A
Sample question 2011 – Paper 3 Building Structures
Sample Questions for Paper 3 – Building Structures
Refer to the diagrams of a beam below to answer Questions 15 to 17, where w is a
uniform distributed load and P is a point load.
e f g h
15. For the beam supported and loaded as shown, which of the diagrams from A to D
represents its shear force diagram?
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. D
Ans : A
16. For the beam supported and loaded as shown, which of the diagrams from A to D
represents its bending moment diagram?
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. D
Ans : D
Sample question 2011 – Paper 3 Building Structures
Sample Questions for Paper 3 – Building Structures
17. If this is a reinforced concrete beam, at which point along its length will require
tension reinforcements at the top of the beam?
A. Point e
B. Point f
C. Point g
D. Point h
Ans : C
18. Which of the following is not a factor in the choice of a foundation system?
A. Geographical location.
B. Below ground soil conditions.
C. The weight of the building and all applied loads.
D. The proximity of adjacent buildings.
Ans : A
19. Concrete is strong in compression and weak in tension, and steel is
A. similar to concrete.
B. strong in both compression and tension.
C. weak in compression and strong in tension.
D. weak in both compression and tension in comparison with concrete.
Ans : B
20. The role of stirrups in reinforced concrete beams includes the following except
A. to provide shear reinforcement.
B. to arrest the development of diagonal tension cracking.
C. to provide torsion reinforcement when stirrups are in closed configuration.
D. to provide compression reinforcement.
Ans : D
Sample question 2011 – Paper 3 Building Structures
Sample Questions for Paper 3 – Building Structures
21. The purpose of the raised profiles on ribbed reinforcement bars is
A. to create a mechanical interlock between the concrete and the steel bar.
B. to provide more surface area for the cohesion of the cement onto the bar.
C. to serve as an edge that catches the reinforcement ties and prevents them
from slipping along the bar.
D. to provide a non-smooth surface on the bars that makes handling and lifting
easier.
Ans : A
22. The diaphragm action of a floor or roof system refers to
A. the manner in which it transfers gravity loads to columns and walls.
B. the manner in which it transfers lateral loads to shear walls or frames.
C. the resistance to uplift forces of wind.
D. the vibration caused by impact loads.
Ans : B
23. Which of the following about core and outrigger tall structures is not true?
A. Core and outrigger structures are lateral resisting systems normally capable
of supporting buildings much taller than normal moment resisting frames or
braced frames.
B. Core and outrigger structures allow clear spans between cores and external
structure columns thereby allowing flexible planning of those spaces.
C. Outrigger trusses or girders can be two or more storeys deep and often
allocated as mechanical equipment floors, elevator transfer floors, or refuge
floors.
D. Core and outrigger tall structures are only appropriate for buildings with
square plans.
Ans : D
Sample question 2011 – Paper 3 Building Structures
Sample Questions for Paper 3 – Building Structures
24. In which of the following arrangements will the forces of all the internal diagonal
web members of the truss be tension?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Ans : C
25. Which of the following structures derives its stiffness and stability from synclastic
curvature?
A. Dome
B. Stretched membrane
C. Barrel Shell
D. Folded plate
Ans : A
Sample question 2011 – Paper 3 Building Structures
Sample Questions for Paper 3 – Building Structures
26. Which of the following structures derives its stiffness and stability from anticlastic
curvature?
A. Barrel Shell
B. Folded plate
C. Dome
D. Stretched membrane
Ans : D
27. Which of the following is not a one-way long-span structure?
A. Barrel Shell
B. Deep steel plate girder
C. Space frame
D. Folded plate
Ans : C
Refer to the diagram of the pin-connected truss below with a point load P to answer
Questions 28 to 30.
28. Which truss member is a zero-force member?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 7
Ans : A
Sample question 2011 – Paper 3 Building Structures
Sample Questions for Paper 3 – Building Structures
29. Which truss member is in tension?
A. 3
B. 5
C. 6
D. 8
Ans : C
30. Which truss member is in compression?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 6
D. 7
Ans : B
Sample question 2011 – Paper 3 Building Structures