©2023 TVET CDACC
073206T4CEN
CIVIL ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN LEVEL 6
CON/OS/CET/CR/01/6A
CONDUCT MATERIAL TESTING
JULY/AUGUST 2023
TVET CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND CERTIFICATION
COUNCIL (TVET CDACC)
WRITTEN ASSESSMENT
TIME: 3 HOURS
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INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATE
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1. This paper has two sections A and B.
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2. You are provided with a separate answer booklet.
3. Do not write on the question paper.
4. Marks for each question are indicated in the brackets ().
This paper consists of THREE (3) printed pages.
The candidate should check the question paper to ascertain that all pages are printed as
indicated and that no pages are missing.
Page 1 of 3
©2023 TVET CDACC
SECTION A (40 MARKS)
Attempt all questions in this section
1. List TWO tests done on cement in the laboratory. (2 Marks)
2. Concrete workability is determined by the percentage of water added in the mix. State FOUR
ways used to test workability of concrete. (4 Marks)
3. Material testing is the quantification of values associated with the properties of materials such
as plastics, elastomers, metals, composites, and textiles. State FOUR different types of
material tests. (2 Marks)
4. Explain the importance of material testing in civil engineering projects. (2 Marks)
5. State FOUR types of construction material tests. (4 Marks)
6. Explain the purpose of sieve analysis in construction material testing. (2 Marks)
7. State THREE major factors that can affect the strength of concrete. (3 Marks)
8. The moisture content of soil is described as the ratio of the mass of water held in the
soil to the dry soil. List THREE methods of determining the moisture content of soil.
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(3 Marks)
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9. Discuss the importance of performing concrete tests in civil engineering. (2 Marks)
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10. Compressive strength is measured by breaking cylindrical concrete specimens in a
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compression-testing machine. Explain how a compressive strength testing of concrete is
conducted. (4 Marks)
11. Non-air-entrained concrete contains between 1% and 2% of trapped air, explain THREE
ways how air content of concrete can be determined. (3 Marks)
12. Explain how destructive testing is performed on structural timber. (2 Marks)
13. Outline FOUR tests carried out on bitumen. (2 Marks)
14. Analyzing and interpreting material test results is an essential step in understanding the
properties and behavior of a material. Highlight the process you would use to analyze and
interpret material test results in the field. (5 Marks)
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©2023 TVET CDACC
SECTION B: (60 MARKS)
Attempt any THREE questions in this section.
15.
a. Timber structural tests help determine the mechanical properties, load-bearing
capacity, and overall suitability of structural timber for different construction
applications. It is important to conduct these tests in compliance with relevant
standards and building codes to ensure the safety and reliability of timber structures.
Discuss FOUR tests conducted on timber. (8 Marks)
b. With the aid of a well labeled sketch explain the process of carrying out a slump test
on concrete. (12 Marks)
16.
a. As a civil engineer assigned to a road construction project in Nairobi city, you have
been tasked to conduct material testing at each point in time as required by the
engineers at the project site. Briefly describe how you will perform soil test using the
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California Bearing Ratio. (14 Marks)
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b. Using a sketch discuss the stress verses penetration curve. (6 Marks)
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17.
a. Bitumen is a material often used in road construction and as a civil engineer you
require to undertake testing of each material before using it on site. With an aid of a
sketch explain the procedure of conducting a penetration test on bitumen.
(16 Marks)
b. State FOUR reasons for carrying out a viscosity test for liquid bitumen. (4 Marks)
18. Steel is a material that is well known for its good behavior in tension and hence used
in the civil engineering projects. However, it is important to undertake tension testing
for steel. As a civil engineering technician discuss the important of testing steel and
outline the required data that you will be required to collect in order to make
decisions about the test. (20 Marks)
Page 3 of 3