 Name various authorities or workers on a construction site?

Senior Engineer/Project manager

Site Engineer
Contractor
Mistry
Mason/labor
 What is least cover provided for different RCC Members?
Footing = 50 mm
Column = 40mm
Beam = 25mm
Slab = 20mm
 What are the functions of column in a building?
Column is a vertical member in building whose primary function is to support structural load and transfer it through
beams. Upper columns transfers the load to the lower columns and finally to the ground through footings.
 What is the cement sand & aggregate ratios for various grades of concrete mix?
M10 – 1:3:6
M15 – 1:2:4
M20 – 1:1.5:3
M25 – 1:1:2
M30 – 1:1:1
 What do you mean by honeycomb in concrete?
Honeycomb, also known as air pocket, is nothing but the air voids in concrete. It is usually formed during concrete
casting.
 Does Water damage concrete?
Plain concrete is not affected or damaged by water but Reinforced Concrete (RCC) can be damaged due to water. This
is because the water may seep into the concrete and corrode the steel reinforcement inside.
 What is the initial and final setting time of ideal cement mix?
Initial setting time for ideal cement mix is around 30 minutes for almost all kind of cements. For masonry cement it can
be 90minutes. Final setting time of ideal cement mix should be 10 hours at max. For masonry cement it shouldn’t
exceed 24hours.
 What are common methods of curing the concrete?
Spraying
Wet covering of Surface
Ponding
Application of curing chemicals
Steam curing
 What is the formula for weight of steel?
Weight of steel in kg can be calculate by formula (D2*L)/162; where D is diameter of steel bar in millimeter and L is
total length of steel bar in meter.
 What do you know about “TMT”?
TMT stands for “Thermo Mechanically Treated”. Generally we use TMT bars and sheet for construction purposes for
the reason that they have high strength and high corrosion resistance compared to normal steels.
 What is difference between working stress method and limit state method?
Working stress method is an elastic design method in which structure is designed to bear the load upto elastic limit.
Whereas, limit state method is a plastic design method in which structure is designed to bear the load beyond plastic
limit.
 What field tests are required for quality check of cement?
Quality of cement can be checked with color, physical properties, etc. Cement should have grey color with light
greenish shade. It should feel smooth when rubbed between fingers. If hand is inserted in a heap of cement or its bags,
it should feel cool. When pinch of cement is thrown in Water then cement should float for some time before it sink.
Also, it should be lump free.
 What are the types of foundation used in construction?
There are basically two types of foundation: Shallow & Deep foundation. Again shallow foundation can be classified as
spread footing, combined footing, strap or cantilever footing and finally mat or raft footing. Deep foundations can be
classified as pile footing, pier footing, caissons footing and well foundation.
 What are the types of cement?
There are various types of cement which are: Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), White Portland Cement (WPC),
Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC), Low Heat Portland Cement, Coloured Portland Cement, Hydrophobic cement,
Rapid Hardening Cement, Portland Slag Cement, Sulphate resisting Portland cement, etc.
  What is guniting?
It is a process in which mixture of cement & sand in proportion of 1:3 is shooted on concrete surface with the help of
cement gun under pressure of 2 to 3 kg/cm2. It is a highly effective process for repairing concrete walls or damaged
surfaces.
 What is the function of sand in mortar?
The main role of sand (aggregate) in mortar or plaster is to provide core strength, but it has other benefits too. If water
is mixed with binder without adding sand to the mixture, both compressive and tensile strength of the mixture would be
drastically lower than in mixture with added sand. It also helps to prevent mortar shrinkage, increases density and helps
in setting.
 What are various tests for checking brick quality?
We can use water absorption test, hardness test, shape & size, crushing strength test, soundness test, etc. to check the
brick quality. In water absorption test, we dip the brick for 16 hours in water. If weight of brick after dipping in water
doesn’t exceed by 20%, it can be considered as first class brick, if below 22.5% it can be considered as second class
brick, if below 25% it can be considered as third class brick. In crushing test, it crushing strength should be minimum
of 10 N/mm2 for first class brick, 7.5 N/mm2 for second class bricks. In hardness test, we scratch the brick with nails.
It should be scratch free. In soundness test we check the metallic sound by striking two bricks with each other.
 What is void ratio?
Void ratio is the ratio of volume of voids to volume of solids.
Q24. What is shuttering? How it is done on site?
Shuttering is Temporary Structure. This Structure used for Placing of Permanent Structure according to Approved
Drawing and Design. This structure generally Wooden or Steel.
 How to differentiate the volumes of wet and dry sand / soil?
It should find out by Rapid moisture meter, method moisture correction method.In Wet sand moisture become more
and it dry moisture become less then wet.In sand moisture should be allowing only 12 %. 25% of Volume will be differ
from the both.
 Which is more efficient – rectangular beam or a circular beam? Give example?
According to material of beam if we use concrete then rectangular beam but on using steel beam tubular section are
better than rectangular.
 What is fineness of cement?
Fineness of cement is property of cement that indicate particle size of cement and specific surface area. and indirectly
effect heat of hydration. If fineness is more than heat of hydration should be more.
To calculate fineness of cement sieving are done sieve number 9 and size of sieve 90 micron sieve
 Describe briefly the various methods of concrete curing?
Curing is the process of maintaining the moisture and temperature conditions for freshly deployed concrete. This is
done for small duration of time to allow the hardening of concrete. The methods that are involved in saving the
shrinkage of the concrete includes:
(a) Spraying of water: on walls, and columns can be cured by sprinkling water.
(b) Wet covering of surface: can be cured by using the surface with wet gunny bags or straw
(c) Ponding: the horizontal surfaces including the slab and floors can be cured by stagnating the water.
(d) Steam curing: of pre-fabricated concrete units steam can be cured by passing it over the units that are under closed
chambers. It allows faster curing process and results in faster recovery.
(e) Application of curing compounds: compounds having calcium chloride can be applied on curing surface. This keeps
the surface wet for a very long time.
 Why are steel plates inserted inside bearings in elastomeric bearings?
In order to make a elastomeric bearing act/ function as a soft spring it should be made to allow it to bulge laterally and
also the stiffness compression can be increased by simply increasing the limiting amount of the lateral bulging. In many
cases in order to increase the compression stiffness of the bearing the usage of metal plates is made. Once steel plates
are included in the bearings the freedom of the bulge is restricted dramatically, also the deflection of the bearing is
reduced as compared to a bearing without the presence of steel plates. The tensile stresses of the bearings are induced
into the steel plates. But the presence of the metal plates does not affect the shear stiffness of the bearings.
 What reinforcements are used in the process of prestressing?
The major types of reinforcements used in prestressing are:
Spalling Reinforcement: The spalling stresses leads to stress behind the loaded area of the anchor blocks. This results in
the breaking off of the surface concrete. The most likely causes of such types of stresses are Poisson`s effects strain
interoperability or by the stress trajectory shapes.
Equilibrium reinforcements: This type of reinforcements are required where several anchorages exist where the
prestressing loads are applied in a sequential manner.
Bursting Reinforcements: These kinds of stresses occur in cases where the stress trajectories are concave towards the
line of action of load. In order to reduce such stresses reinforcements in the form of bursting is required.
75 CIVIL ENGINEERING INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

1. What is bending moment (BM) & Shear force (SF) – Explain.

2. What are the steps involved in the concreting process, explain?
3. Describe briefly the various methods of concrete curing.
4. What is the minimum curing period?
5. What Do You Understand by M25 Concrete?
6. What is Water-Cement Ratio and How it is related to the strength of concrete?
7. What is a bearing capacity of soil?
8. How to increase the bearing capacity of soil?
9. What are the different types of foundation?
10. Explain moment of inertia and its importance.
11. How do we determine the specific gravity of a cement?
12. Density Of 1 cum cement?
13. What are the causes of building collapse?
14. What is bar bending schedule (BBS) & how to prepare it?
15. Why is concrete cube test carried out?
16. Why is concrete slump test carried out?
17. What is bleeding, segregation, honeycombing of concrete?
18. What is pre-stressed concrete? Which reinforcement is used in prestressed concrete?
19. What is the ratio of steel and concrete to use in slabs, beams, columns?
20. Difference between pre-tensioning and post-tensioning?
21. What are the weights of 16mm, 12mm, 20mm, 25mm, 8mm Dia. Bars?
22. What is the minimum Propping Period of Beams and Slabs of various Spans?
23. What are the advantages of Prestressed Concrete over R.C.C?
24. Quantity of materials required for different works.
25. Which is stronger solid steel rod or hollow steel pipe?
26. Initial & final setting time of concrete?
27. Why we use steel reinforcement in concrete for construction?
28. Is brick strength more or concrete block?
29. How to Calculate Number of Bricks Per Square Foot?
30. 28 days compressive strength of concrete in PSI?
31. How to calculate the unit weight of steel bars?
32. What is Plinth Level and Sill Level?
33. What is Brest Wall?
34. What is Brick crushing strength (PSI)?
35. How many Types of Joints are in Concrete Pavement?
36. How can cracks in concrete be avoided?
37. How many types Of Damp proofing in construction?
38. 28 Days Strength of Concrete (1:2:4)?
39. How many types of slabs are there & how to design it?
40. How much is the cover for slab?
41. Maximum % of Steel in columns and beams?
42. What is fineness modulus?
43. What is Packing Factor?
44. Difference between one way slab & two way slab?
45. Difference between QA & QC?
46. What do you mean by Fe415?
47. What are the functions of a column in a building?
48. How many feet are in 4 square yards?
49. What is the average density of soil?
50. What is the ratio of Grades M5, M7.5, M10, M15, M20, M25, M30, M35, M40?
51. Why foundation is provided?
52. The concrete slump recommended for beams and slabs; is-
53. What is the meaning of soil reinforcement?
54. What is the different type of slump test indications?
55. What is buckling or crippling load?
56. Define slenderness ratio. What is its effect on the design of compression member?
57. Shear force and BM diagrams for different types of loadings on beams.
58. Difference between mild steel and HYSD bars?
59. What is meant by 80/100 grade bitumen?
60. What is differential settlement?
61. What does 33,43 and 53-grades of cement mean?
62. How do you construct a 25 storey building with no columns?
63. Types of loads on structure?
64. Difference between pre-tensioning and post-tensioning?
65. What is the L/D ratio of a cantilever beam?
66. What is camber?
67. What is batching? Difference between volume and weight batching?
68. How is a theodolite leveled?
69. What is a benchmark? Name the different types.
70. Types of admixtures?
71. What are the CAD softwares you have used?
72. Interpret a strss vs strain curve.
73. Define modulus of elasticity.
74. What are the chemical compositions of cement?
75. What is creep & shrinkage of concrete?