Building Engineering Building Civil Engineering 2

Question 1

Which type of footing distributes the load from a single column to the soil beneath it?

Accepted Answer

Spread (isolated) footing

Answer

A spread or isolated footing supports a single column by distributing its load over a wider soil area.

Question 2

What is the primary purpose of a retaining wall in civil construction?

Accepted Answer

Retain lateral earth pressure

Answer

Retaining walls are designed to hold back soil or other material on one side, resisting lateral earth pressure.

Question 3

In reinforced concrete design, what does the term 'cover' refer to?

Accepted Answer

Distance from rebar to outer concrete surface

Answer

Cover is the minimum distance between the outer surface of the rebar and the nearest concrete face, protecting steel from corrosion.

Question 4

Which soil test is most commonly used on-site to estimate bearing capacity and relative density of granular soils?

Accepted Answer

Standard Penetration Test (SPT)

Answer

The Standard Penetration Test (SPT) uses blow counts (N-values) to estimate in-situ soil density and bearing capacity.

Question 5

What is the primary structural role of shear walls in a building?

Accepted Answer

Resist lateral forces like wind and seismic loads

Answer

Shear walls are vertical structural elements that resist lateral forces from wind or earthquakes by acting as vertical cantilevers.

Building Engineering Practice Test