CE23 : Design of RC Structures Assignment-1 July-October, 2017 : Week-1

Questions with Solution

Q 1: For making fresh concrete, the quantity of water is expressed in the ratio of

(a) Coarse aggregates

(b) Fine aggregates
(c) Cement
(d) None of these

Explanation: In a mix proportion, the quantity of all ingredients are expressed in

terms of cement, even the quantity of water.

Answer: (c)
CE23 : Design of RC Structures Assignment-1 July-October, 2017 : Week-1
Q 2: The dimension of cube cast for finding the strength of concrete is

(a) 100 mm (b) 150 mm (c) 200 mm (d) 250 mm

Explanation: The dimension of the cubes cast for finding the strength of concrete
is 150mm in dimension.

Answer: (b)
CE23 : Design of RC Structures Assignment-1 July-October, 2017 : Week-1
Q 3: The number given for Indian Standard code for plain and reinforced concrete
is

(a) 123 (b) 456 (c) 465 (d) 564

Explanation: IS 456: 2000- Indian Standard for Plain and Reinforced Concrete- Code
of Practice.

Answer: (b)
CE23 : Design of RC Structures Assignment-1 July-October, 2017 : Week-1
Q 4: The number given for Indian standard code of practice for design loads
(other than earthquake) for buildings and structures is

(a) 456 (b) 800 (c) 875 (d) 876

Explanation: IS 875- Indian Standard Code for Practice for Design Loads (other than
Earthquake) for building and structures

Part I- Dead Loads- unit weights of building materials and stored materials
Part II- Imposed Load
Part III- Wind Loads
Part IV- Snow Loads
Part V- Special Loads and Combinations

Answer: (c)
CE23 : Design of RC Structures Assignment-1 July-October, 2017 : Week-1
Q 5: In the concrete grade M20, the number 20 means

(a) 20 N/mm2 (b) 20 N/m2

(c) 20 kN/m2 (d) Testing after 20 days

Explanation: M20 indicates that the mix has a characteristic strength of 20 MPa or 20
N/mm2 at 28 days.

Answer: (a)
CE23 : Design of RC Structures Assignment-1 July-October, 2017 : Week-1
Q 6: The workability of concrete is measured by

(a) Core test (b) Permeability test (c) Fineness test (d) Slump test

Explanation: The workability is measured by Slump cone having a top diameter of

100mm, base diameter of 200mm and a height of 300mm.

Answer: (d)
CE23 : Design of RC Structures Assignment-1 July-October, 2017 : Week-1
Q 7: The time dependent deformation at constant loading is known as

(a) Tension (b) Fracture (c) Shrinkage (d) Creep

Explanation: If we assume a load is applied to the concrete, we find that it has an

effect on the long-time deformations of the concrete sample. There is an instantaneous
strain which is called the "elastic" strain since it can be removed by unloading the
sample. It is observed that there is a gradual increase in strain for days after a stress
has been applied to concrete and kept constant. This is called the "creep" strain. Creep
can thus be defined as the increase in strain under a sustained stress; and since this
increase can be several times as large as the strain on loading, creep is of considerable
importance in structural mechanics. (A more detailed discussion is provided in
discussion forum)

Answer: (d)
CE23 : Design of RC Structures Assignment-1 July-October, 2017 : Week-1
Q 8: The presence of voids in concrete will

(a) reduce its strength

(b) increase its strength
(c) retard setting
(d) increase its density

Explanation: Presence of voids provides the weaker zone in the matrix. There will be
always micro-void in between the hydrated products. But presence of excess void will
provide pathways for cracks, to branch out faster. Hence strength capacity will
reduce. More formation of cracks will result in interconnected void systems which is
again harmful for durability in the long run. Interconnected voids will have more
ingress of moisture and air from the outer environment which may result in
carbonation, sulphate attack on concrete or the chloride attack on the reinforcements.
New products are formed which will give pressure on the surrounding mortar. Also
the air within the voids may expand giving pressure on the surrounding concrete. If
the generated stress is more than the tensile capacity of the concrete more cracks will
generate. So this will be chained propagation of cracks which will ultimately result in
failure.

Answer: (a)
CE23 : Design of RC Structures Assignment-1 July-October, 2017 : Week-1
Q 9: The cubes and cylinders are stored under water or placed in constant
temper- ature at 100% relative humidity before testing

(a) to provide proper curing

(b) to enhance workability
(c) to increase water cement ratio
(d) to decrease water cement ratio

Explanation: Concrete that is allowed to dry out quickly undergoes considerable

early age shrinkage which can cause shrinkage cracks. Besides curing also ensures the
cement hydration reaction to progress steadily producing calcium silicate hydrate gel
making the concrete denser thereby decreases the porosity and enhances the physical
and mechanical properties of concrete.

Answer: (a)
CE23 : Design of RC Structures Assignment-1 July-October, 2017 : Week-1
Q 10: The lateral ties are provided in columns

(a) to decrease shear strength

(b) to resist axial force
(c) to resist lateral buckling
(d) none of these

Explanation: The lateral ties are provided to resist lateral buckling.

Answer: (c)
CE23 : Design of RC Structures Assignment-1 July-October, 2017 : Week-1
Q 11: The modular ratio used in working stress method means

(a) the ratio of moduli of elasticity of steel and coarse aggregates

(b) the ratio of moduli of elasticity of concrete and aggregates
(c) the ratio of moduli of elasticity of concrete and steel
(d) the ratio of moduli of elasticity of steel and concrete

Explanation: Consider a composite beam of steel (1) and concrete (2).

E1 = Young’s Modulus of Steel
σ1 = Stress in Steel
ε1 = Strain in Steel
E2 = Young’s Modulus of Concrete
σ2 = Stress in Concrete
ε2 = Strain in Concrete

Strain in steel = ε1 =

Strain in concrete = ε2 =

But strain of whole system should be same

i.e. ε1 = ε2
or =

or = ×
or = ×

where m= Modular ratio = Ratio of Young’s moduli of steel to concrete.

Answer: (d)
CE23 : Design of RC Structures Assignment-1 July-October, 2017 : Week-1
Q 12: The characteristic strength of a material means that the value of the
strength of the material

(a) below which not more than 2 percent of the test results are expected to fall
(b) below which not more than 5 percent of the test results are expected to fall
(c) below which fifty of test results are expected to fall
(d) below which no test results are expected to fall

Explanation:

Assuming that the strength follows this normal distribution 5% of cubes are allowed
to fall below the characteristic strength. (A more detailed explanation is provided in
the discussion forum)

Answer: (b)
CE23 : Design of RC Structures Assignment-1 July-October, 2017 : Week-1
Q 13: In ultimate limit state, the partial safety factor for dead load is

(a) 1.0 for dead and live load combination

(b) 1.2 for dead and live load combination
(c) 1.5 for dead and live load combination
(d) 1.5 for dead, live and wind load combination

Explanation: Refer Table 18, page- 68, IS 456: 2000

Answer: (c)
CE23 : Design of RC Structures Assignment-1 July-October, 2017 : Week-1
Q 14: In limit state of serviceability, the partial safety factor for wind load is
taken as

(a) 1.0 (b) 1.2 (c) 1.5 (d) 0.9

Explanation: Refer Table 18, page- 68, IS 456: 2000

Answer: (a)
CE23 : Design of RC Structures Assignment-1 July-October, 2017 : Week-1
Q 15: The concrete is

(a) strong in both compression and tension

(b) weak in compression and weak in tension
(c) weak in compression and strong in tension
(d) strong in compression and weak in tension

Explanation: Concrete is a heterogeneous material with the aggregates being

connected by the mortar system. There is a very narrow interfacial transition zone
between the two filled with the hydrated products. This is the weakest link connected
through Van der Waals force. When the system undergo compression the load is
transferred from aggregate to aggregate. Now under tension the aggregates are torn
away from each other and the transition zone which was hold together through weak
Van Der Waals force gives away to much less amount of stress. Thus concrete is strong
in compression and weak in tension.

Answer: (d)