MATERIALS ENGINEER ACCREDITATION EXAMINATION

September 9, 2006
1.

Sample for CBR test is soaked for ____ hrs before subjecting to penetration test.
Ans. 96 HRS

2.

A field density result of 88% degree of compaction obtained on the subgrade indicates that
Ans. SUBGRADE FAILS AND NEEDS ADDITIONAL COMPACTION

3.

Steel bars are considered undersized if

Ans. DOES NOT MEET THE EXACT SIZE

4.

The optimum moisture content of soil is determined during

Ans. LABORATORY COMPACTION

5.

The Immersion Compression test is to determine

Ans. STABILITY

6.

The sand to be used in the field density test is passing

Ans. NO 10 RETAINED NO. 200

7.

In abrasion test using Los Angeles Abrasion Machine, how many cast iron spheres are used in Grading B?
Ans. 11 SPHERES

8.

The DPWH specs provide ____ tolerance for asphalt pavement thickness
Ans. 5 mm

9.

What is the preliminary quality control mechanism for the production of asphalt mixture?
Ans. JOB MIX FORMULA

10. What is the sampling requirement for bituminous mixtures?

Ans. 1 SAMPLE PER 130T
11. What class and slump of concrete is used in all superstructure, i.e, beams and columns?
Ans. CLASS A
12. What is the upper limit of the sand to be used in Atterberg Limit Test?
Ans. NO. 40 (0.425 mm)
13. The proportion of bituminous material into the total dry aggregate in Item 300
Ans. 5% - 8%
14. The minimum dry compressive strength of Item 310
Ans. 1.40 MPa
15. If the bulk volume of asphalt specimen is 500cc and the weight of dry specimen in air is 1200 grams, what is
the bulk specific gravity?
Ans. 2.40
16. Which of the following cut-back asphalt is the finest?
a. MC-30
b. MC-70
c. MC-250

d. MC-800

17. The spot test on asphalt is used to determine

Ans. OVERHEATING DURING THE PROCESS OF MANUFACTURE
18. What is the compressive strength in psi of the concrete cylinder if the sample fails at 92,000 lbs?
Ans. 3,254 PSI
19. Two tests are done in one lot sample. The test differs from each other, third test is taken, what will be this test?
Ans. REFEREE TEST
20. Which part of the batch for fresh concrete should the sample is taken from a stationary mixer?
Ans. MIDDLE BATCH
21. SS designation in emulsified asphalt indicates what?
Ans. SLOW SETTING
22. What type of asphalt that uses water as catalyctic agent?
Ans. EMULSIFIED ASPHALT

23. What is the penetration grade of joint filler?

Ans. 0 - 30
24. What is the purpose of trial section?
Ans. TO DETERMINE THE NO. OF ROLLER PASSES
25. What is the latest state - of - the art equipment used in the measurement of moisture content?
Ans. NUCLEAR DENSITY GAUGE
26. Bringing of the materials to be tested in the DPWH testing laboratory is the responsibility of ____
Ans. CONTRACTORS MATLS ENGR
27. Which of the following is not included in the provision of Job Mix Formula?
a. mixing time
b. temperature upon delivery
c. grading of aggregates
28. What is the average minimum strength requirement of load bearing concrete masonry units?
Ans. 1000 psi
29. It is a dynamic test in the field to obtain rapid empirical results which can be used to estimate shear strength and
bearing capacity.
Ans. CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO
30. The allowable % variation in mass of deformed reinforcing steel bar is ____
Ans. 0.06%
31. What is the plasticity index of the soil having a liquid limit of 36% and a plastic limit of 6%?
Ans. 6%
32. If theres a necessity to add water to the concrete mix in order to increase its workability (provided that concrete
does not exceed specified slump), how many minutes after the initial time of mixing does adding water
permitted?
Ans. 45 MINUTES
33. What test is used to determine silt and clay?
Ans. HYDROMETER TEST
34. The smaller the finess modulus is, ____________
Ans. THE FINER THE MATERIALS
35. The minimum weight of sample of cement for testing is ______
Ans. 10 KG
36. The minimum weight sample of bituminous mix for testing is ______
Ans. 20 KG
37. Factors affecting the workability of bituminous mixes
a. gradation of aggregates
b. temperature of mix
c. quality of asphalt
38. The minimum testing requirement for every project is indicated in a duly
Ans. APPROVED QUALITY CONTROL PROGRAM
39. Mass percent of wear of coarse aggregates for Portland Cement Concrete Pavement
Ans. 40%
40. The apparatus used in determining the initial setting of hydraulic cement
Ans. VICAT APPARATUS
41. A core specimen taken from a concrete pavement was measured for thickness determination. The required
pavement thickness is 23 cm. The actual measurements at the periphery were: 23, 24, 23, 23, 24, 24, 24, 23 and
23 cm at the center. What is the accepted thickness?
Ans. 23.22 mm
42. Concrete represented by the cores will be considered adequate if the average strength of the cores is equal to
_____
Ans. 85% OF fc AND IF NO INDIVIDUAL CORE STRENGTH LESS THAN 75% fc
43. Which of the following does not affect the compressive strength of concrete core?
a. Manner of drilling
b. L d ratio
c. diameter of core
d. none of the above

44. Unconfined compressive strength is applicable only to _____

Ans. CLAYEY SOILS
45. A concrete core sample having a maximum height of less than _____ of its diameter before capping or a height
loss less than its diameter after capping shall not be tested.
Ans. 95%
46. Grade of steel bars indicates what?
Ans. YIELD STRENGTH
47. Cut back asphalt and emulsified asphalt are used as
Ans. TACK COAT
48. The thickness of Item 200 is 300mm. The aggregate sub base shall spread and compacted in _____
Ans. 2 OR MORE LAYERS
49.
a.
b.
c.
d.

Which of the following is considered unsuitable materials for embankment?

soil with LL of 50%
soil with density of 1200kg/m3
organic soils
soil with PL of 60%

50. The dividing line for fine aggregates and coarse aggregates for concrete and asphalt respectively.
Ans. NO. 10
51. The minimum compaction trial of embankment
Ans. 500 sq. m
52. What type of asphalt is used as tack coat?
Ans. CUT BACK AND EMULSIFIED ASPHALT
53. Which of the following is considered suitable materials for embankment?
a. highly organic soils
b. soils with moisture content exceeding 100%
c. soils with 60% as PL
d. none of the above
54. Concrete sample shall be de molded from the cylinder mold after _______
Ans. 24 HOURS
55. Which of the following is not a duty of a Materials Engineer?
a. sampling of materials
b. analysis of test result of material
c. scheduling of the delivery of the materials
d. design of concrete mix
56. The process of maintaining sufficient moisture and favorable temperature in concrete during the hardening
process.
Ans. CURING
57. Determines the proportioning of the ingredients that will produce concrete of proper workability when fresh and
desired strength after it has hardened.
Ans. DESIGN MIX
58. What should be the condition of soil before it is subjected to compaction?
Ans. AT OPTIMUM MOISTURE CONTENT
59. The wet stability of a soil is 2400 KPa and its dry stability is 3000 KPa. What is its Index of
strength?
Ans. 80%

retained

60. The maximum tine of interval for the delivery of concrete mix
Ans. 30 MINUTES
61. Too wet and over sanded concrete mix will result to
Ans. RAVELING
62. If no core was taken at the end of each days operation and the project has already been completed, a core shall
be taken for
Ans. AT LEAST ONE BUT NOT MORE THREE
63. What is loss of ignition in cement?
Ans.

64. Field Density Test (Sand Cone Method Problem). Degree of Compaction?
Ans. 74%
65. Two samples, A and B, were tested in a uniaxial test. Sample A is in saturated condition while sample B is in dry
condition. What can you conclude about its compressive strength?
Ans.
66. What is the sampling requirement for 1 QT for boulders for stone masonry?
Ans.
67. What is the allowable tolerance for density of asphalt pavement?
Ans. 3%
68. What is the proper way of getting sample from a high stockpiled aggregate?
Ans.
69. What type of admixture is used in reducing thermal cracking?
Ans.
70. What is the proper way of handling aggregates if the smaller aggregates are subject to be combined with larger
ones?
Ans.
71. Which of the following is not essential in using Nuclear Density Gauge?
a. operator must be licensed
b. radiation limit must be specified
c. the operator must wear thin shirt
72. If the slump of concrete mix delivered by the transit mixer is 6 and the design only allows 3, what will you do
with it?
Ans. REJECT
73. Two out of three samples taken for compressive strength determination passed the test and the remaining one
failed. What will you do?
Ans.
74. The location of the project is in a remote area, afar from the DPWH testing center. What will be required
(RCCP) to be submitted for testing?
Ans.
75. If the strength of concrete pavement is deficient by 15%, what will you recommend as a Materials Engr.?
Ans. RECOMMEND PAYMENT AT AN ADJUSTED PRICE
76. What is the proper way of performing slump test?
Ans.
77. In materials point of view, what is subgrade material?
Ans.
78. How can we attain a production of high strength concrete?
Ans.
79. What is California Bearing Ratio?
Ans.
80. Materials to be used for embankment shall be _____
Ans.
81. As a Materials Engineer you visited the site. Youve found out that the concrete mix in the transit was already
one hour and 50 minutes from the time of mixing. What will you do?
Ans. REJECT
82. Nine samples of concrete cylinders were passed to the testing center for compressive strength determination. If 3
of the samples failed, what will you do?
Ans.
83. The property of asphalt/concrete pavements to allow water and air effects
Ans.
84. It was formulated in 1987 as the guideline in material testing
Ans.
85. Bailey bridge (What sample should be submitted)
Ans. REDUCE SAMPLE AS PRESCRIBED

86. RSB having an elongation of 20mm and failed in elongation test, what will you do?
Ans.
87. Having known the source of the sample, what will you do?
Ans.
88. What will be the result of having a faster loading rate in compression test?
Ans.
89. What test is performed to determine he suitability of matls to be used as foundation?
Ans. FIELD DENSITY TEST
90. If the top of a concrete cylinder is rough, by how much is the compressive strength reduced?
a.
b. 1/3
c.
d. 1/5