✅ 200 Construction Questions and Answers

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A. Building Materials – 30 Q&A

1. Q: What is the initial setting time of OPC cement?

A: 30 minutes.

2. Q: What is the final setting time of OPC cement?

A: 600 minutes (10 hours).

3. Q: Grade of commonly used cement in India?

A: OPC 43 and 53 grade.

4. Q: Fineness of cement is measured by?

A: Blaine’s air permeability method.
5. Q: Main ingredient responsible for strength of cement?
A: C3S (Tricalcium Silicate).

6. Q: Bulking of sand occurs due to presence of?

A: Moisture.

7. Q: Maximum bulking occurs at what moisture content?

A: 4–5%.

8. Q: Specific gravity of sand?

A: 2.6 to 2.7.

9. Q: Specific gravity of cement?

A: 3.15.

10. Q: Standard size of brick in India?

A: 190 × 90 × 90 mm.

11. Q: Compressive strength of 1st class brick?

A: 10.5 N/mm².

12. Q: Slump test is used to measure?

A: Workability of concrete.

13. Q: Curing time of concrete (minimum)?

A: 7 days (for OPC).

14. Q: Water-cement ratio for M20 concrete?

A: 0.45–0.55.

15. Q: Aggregate size used in RCC?

A: 20 mm.

16. Q: Soundness of cement is checked by?

A: Le Chatelier test.

17. Q: Standard consistency of cement?

A: 30%.
18. Q: IS code for cement testing?
A: IS 4031.

19. Q: IS code for aggregate?

A: IS 383.

20. Q: IS code for concrete mix design?

A: IS 10262.

21. Q: Fly ash is used as?

A: Pozzolanic material.

22. Q: What increases the strength of concrete?

A: Low w/c ratio.

23. Q: Timber seasoning is done to remove?

A: Moisture.
24. Q: Bitumen grade commonly used in road work?
A: VG-30.

25. Q: Crushing value of good aggregate?

A: Less than 30%.

26. Q: Abrasion value of road aggregate?

A: < 30%.

27. Q: Shape test for aggregates?

A: Flakiness & Elongation.

28. Q: Density of steel?

A: 7850 kg/m³.

29. Q: Density of cement?

A: 1440 kg/m³.
30. Q: Density of concrete?
A: 2400 kg/m³.

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B. Concrete Technology – 30 Q&A

31. Q: M20 concrete ratio?

A: 1:1.5:3.

32. Q: M25 concrete ratio?

A: 1:1:2.

33. Q: Cube test of concrete done after?

A: 7 & 28 days.

34. Q: Size of concrete cube?

A: 150 × 150 × 150 mm.
35. Q: Ideal curing temperature?
A: 27°C ± 2°C.

36. Q: Target mean strength formula?

A: fck + 1.65σ.

37. Q: Spacing of stirrups in beams?

A: 100–150 mm (typical).

38. Q: Minimum grade of concrete for RCC?

A: M20 (as per IS 456).

39. Q: Segregation occurs due to?

A: Excess water.

40. Q: Bleeding occurs due to?

A: Water rising to surface.
41. Q: Concrete cover for beams?
A: 25 mm.

42. Q: Concrete cover for slabs?

A: 15 mm.

43. Q: Concrete cover for footing?

A: 50 mm.

44. Q: Pozzolana improves?

A: Durability.

45. Q: Cold weather concreting needs?

A: Hot water & admixtures.

46. Q: Hot weather concreting problem?

A: Loss of workability.

47. Q: Retarder admixture used for?

A: Delay setting time.

48. Q: Accelerator admixture used for?

A: Fast setting.

49. Q: Air entraining agents improve?

A: Workability & frost resistance.

50. Q: Vibrators used to avoid?

A: Honeycombing.

51. Q: Workability increases by?

A: Increasing water content.

52. Q: Screeding is?

A: Leveling concrete surface.

53. Q: Shuttering removed after?

A: Slab: 7 days, Beam: 14 days.
54. Q: Curing of concrete is required for?
A: Hydration.

55. Q: Concrete strength is highest at?

A: 28 days.

56. Q: Modulus of elasticity of concrete?

A: 5000 √fck.

57. Q: Plastic shrinkage cracks occur due to?

A: Rapid evaporation of water.

58. Q: Excess water in concrete leads to?

A: Low strength.

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C. Surveying – 20 Q&A

61. Q: Benchmark is used for?

A: Elevation reference.

62. Q: Instrument for leveling?

A: Auto level.

63. Q: 1 chain = ?
A: 66 ft or 20 m.

64. Q: Formula for R.L.?

A: R.L. = B.S. – F.S.

65. Q: L-section is used for?

A: Road alignment.

66. Q: Contour interval meaning?

A: Vertical distance between contours.
67. Q: Contour lines never?
A: Intersect.

68. Q: Theodolite measures?

A: Horizontal/vertical angles.

69. Q: GTS benchmark provided by?

A: Survey of India.

70. Q: Temporary adjustment of level?

A: Focusing, leveling.

71. Q: Staff reading inverted means?

A: Staff below instrument level.

72. Q: Plumb bob used for?

A: Vertical alignment.
73. Q: Radiation method used for?
A: Plane table surveying.

74. Q: Scale used in surveying?

A: Representative fraction (RF).

75. Q: Closed traverse error adjusted by?

A: Bowditch rule.

76. Q: Total station combines?

A: EDM + Theodolite.

77. Q: Accuracy of total station?

A: 2–5 seconds.

78. Q: Levelling error increases due to?

A: Earth curvature.
79. Q: Contours form V-shape in?
A: Valleys.

80. Q: Contours form U-shape in?

A: Ridges.

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D. Estimation – 20 Q&A

81. Q: Long wall measured?

A: Out to out.

82. Q: Short wall measured?

A: In to in.

83. Q: Dry volume of concrete = ?

A: Wet volume × 1.54.
84. Q: 1 m³ brickwork requires bricks?
A: 500 nos. approx.

85. Q: 1 bag cement = ?

A: 50 kg.

86. Q: Plinth area rate includes?

A: Building cost per sq ft/sq m.

87. Q: Labour requirement for 1 m³ RCC?

A: 2–3 mazdoor.

88. Q: Bar bending schedule includes?

A: Length, shape, weight of bars.

89. Q: Formula for steel weight?

A: (D² / 162).
90. Q: Paint required for 1 coat on plaster?
A: 0.1 liter/m².

91. Q: Mortar ratio for brickwork?

A: 1:6.

92. Q: Mortar ratio for plaster?

A: 1:4.

93. Q: Carpenter rate unit?

A: Per sq ft or per day.

94. Q: Earthwork measured in?

A: Cubic meter.

95. Q: Reinforcement steel measured in?

A: Kg or tonnes.

96. Q: Centre line method used for?

A: Estimating compound walls.

97. Q: Brickwork ratio?

A: 1:6 mortar.

98. Q: RCC ratio?

A: 1:2:4 (nominal).

99. Q: Lintel thickness?

A: 150 mm.

100. Q: Beam depth rule?

A: Span/12.

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E. RCC & Steel – 40 Q&A

101. Fe415 means? → Yield strength 415 N/mm²

102. Lap length for tension? → 50d

103. Development length formula? → Ld = Φ × σs / 4 × τbd

104. Hook length of stirrup? → 9d

105. Minimum bar dia in slab? → 8 mm

106. Maximum spacing in slab? → 150 mm

107. Clear cover for beam? → 25 mm

108. Clear cover for column? → 40 mm

109. Slenderness ratio for column? → < 12

110. Minimum depth of beam? → 230 mm

111. Column minimum size? → 230 × 230 mm

112. Minimum bars in square column? → 4

113. Minimum bars in circular column? → 6

114. Pitch of spiral reinforcement? → 25–75 mm

115. Concrete grade for columns? → M20

116. Anchorage length? → 40d

117. Tie spacing in column? → Least of (16d, L/48, 300 mm)

118. Cantilever depth = Span/8

119. Minimum reinforcement in slab → 0.12%

120. Shear reinforcement required when τv > τc

121. One-way slab ratio → Ly/Lx > 2

122. Two-way slab ratio → Ly/Lx < 2

123. Crank length = L/4

124. Neutral axis depends on? → Beam section

125. Prestressed concrete uses? → High strength steel

126. Bearing capacity of soil? → 100–300 kN/m²

127. Footing thickness ≥ 150 mm

128. Maximum column eccentricity = L/500

129. Steel elongation? → 14–20%

130. Structural steel grade: Fe250, Fe410

131. Rivet used for? → Structural joints

132. Weld strength depends on? → Size & length

133. Gusset plate used in? → Truss

134. Base plate used under? → Column

135. Bracing increases? → Stability

136. Modulus of elasticity of steel? → 2 × 10⁵ N/mm²

137. Lateral ties prevent? → Buckling of bars

138. Column load = Axial + moment

139. Beam camber provided to? → Counteract deflection

140. Shear cracks appear at? → 45° angle

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F. Soil & Foundation – 30 Q&A

141. Soil classified by IS code → IS 1498

142. Atterberg limits determine → Consistency

143. LL means → Liquid Limit

144. PL means → Plastic Limit

145. SL means → Shrinkage Limit

146. SPT test gives → N-value

147. High N-value indicates → Dense soil

148. Bearing capacity test → Plate load test

149. Clay has → Low permeability

150. Sand has → High permeability

151. Cohesion in soil → C

152. Angle of friction → φ

153. Black cotton soil → Highly expansive

154. Raft foundation used in → Weak soil

155. Pile foundation used for → Deep foundations

156. End bearing pile rests on → Hard strata

157. Uplift pressure causes → Foundation failure

158. Compaction test → Proctor test

159. OMC = Optimum Moisture Content

160. Maximum dry density → At OMC

161. CBR test used for → Road design

162. Expansive soil treated by → Lime

163. Safe bearing capacity unit → kN/m²

164. Differential settlement → Unequal settlement

165. Foundation depth rule → ≥ 1 m

166. Retaining wall resists → Lateral earth pressure

167. Water table affects → Bearing capacity

168. Strip footing used for → Load-bearing walls

169. Soil stabilization improves → Strength

170. Gravel soils → Best base course

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G. Highway Engineering – 30 Q&A

171. Road camber provided for? → Drainage

172. Typical camber value? → 2–3%

173. Super elevation used for? → Curves

174. Max super elevation in India? → 7%

175. IRC stands for? → Indian Road Congress

176. Design speed defined by? → IRC

177. Stopping sight distance? → Reaction time + braking distance

178. Reaction time considered → 2.5 sec

179. Bitumen grade used? → VG-30

180. Marshall stability test used for? → Bituminous mix

181. WBM full form → Water Bound Macadam

182. WMM → Wet Mix Macadam

183. Prime coat used on? → Granular base

184. Tack coat used between? → Bituminous layers

185. Rolling completed by? → Tandem roller

186. Kerb stones used for? → Road edges

187. Road shoulders? → Side portions

188. Flexible pavement made of? → Bitumen

189. Rigid pavement made of? → Concrete

190. Expansion joints in concrete? → To allow movement

191. Rutting common in? → Bituminous roads

192. Pumping common in? → Concrete roads

193. Pavement thickness depends on? → CBR value

194. Traffic count measured by? → PCU

195. Road gradient → Rise/run

196. Maximum gradient → 1 in 15

197. Transition curve → Spiral

198. Kerb height → 15–20 cm

199. Road width for 2-lane → 7 m

200. Road width for 4-lane → 14 m