BUILDING MATERIALS

1) Consider the following statements:

1. Calcination is defined as heating of Limestone to a temperature of about 900oC
in the absence of air to obtain Lime.
2. Slaking is an exothermic reaction which converts quick lime to Hydraulic Lime.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 only.
b) 2 only.
c) Both 1 and 2.
d) Neither 1 nor 2.

Correct Option: d)

Solution: Both the statements are incorrect. Calcination is done in the presence of air.
Slaking converts quick lime to Hydrated lime (not Hydraulic Lime).

2) Which of the following statements is NOT correct?

a. Fat Lime has impurities of clay less than 5%.
b. Hydraulic Lime has impurities of clay less than 30%.
c. Poor Lime has impurities of clay more than 30%.
d. None of the above.

Correct Option: d)

Solution: All the three statements (i.e., a, b and c are correct).

3) Consider the following statements:

1. For flakiness and elongation index tests, length gauge and thickness gauge are
used respectively.
2. For Aggregate Crushing Value test, Universal Testing machine or Compression
Testing machine is used.
3. For Aggregate Impact Value test, Impact Testing machine is used.
4. For Aggregate Abrasion Value test, Los Angeles Testing machine is used.

Which of the above statements are correct?

a) 1, 2 and 3 only.
 b) 1, 2 and 4 only.
c) 1, 3 and 4 only.
d) 2, 3 and 4 only.

Correct Option: d)

Solution: Length gauge is used for Elongation index test and Thickness gauge is used
for Flakiness Index test.

4) Consider the following statements:

1. Bulking affects become more and more significant as the size of aggregate
decreases. Hence, coarse aggregates practically don’t show any bulking effect
and clay shows maximum bulking effects.
2. Percentage Bulking is minimum at 0% moisture content and maximum at 100%
saturation point.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 only.
b) 2 only.
c) Both 1 and 2.
d) Neither 1 nor 2.

Correct Option: d)

Solution: Bulking affects become more and more significant as the size of aggregate
decreases. Coarse aggregate doesn’t show bulking effects due to their large
size. However, due to cohesive forces in clay particles Bulking effects are not
observed in clay as well. Bulking effects are observable only in Sand and Silt.
With increase in moisture content, percentage Bulking increases initially. It
reaches a maximum value and then its value decreases. At 100% saturation
conditions, its value becomes zero.

5) The sand at a borrow pit has % Bulking = 20%. Sand from this borrow pit is excavated
and used in the preparation of concrete. Determine the amount of sand needed for 1 cum of
cement in the preparation of this concrete.
a. 2.00 cum.
b. 2.20 cum.
c. 2.40 cum.
 d. 2.60 cum.

Correct Option: c)

6) Consider the following statements:

1. Flakiness Index and Elongation Index test is done only for coarse aggregates.
2. Aggregate Abrasion Test is done for both coarse and fine aggregates.
3. Aggregate Impact Test is done for both coarse aggregates and fine aggregates.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1 only.
b) 1 and 2 only.
c) 1 and 3 only.
d) 1, 2 and 3.

Correct Option: a)

Solution: All the above-mentioned tests are done only for coarse aggregates.

7) Consider the following statements regarding Mortar sand.

1. The sand should be chemically inert.
2. The sand should not contain any organic matter.
3. The fineness modulus of the sand should be in the range of 2 to 3.

Which of the above statements is/are true?

a) 1 and 2 Only.
b) 2 and 3 Only.
c) 1, 2 and 3 Only.
d) None of the above.

Correct Option: c)

Solution: All the statement are correct.

8) Consider the following statements regarding stages in the production of concrete:

1. Mixing of ingredients of concrete must be done in such a way all the ingredients
are uniformly distributed throughout the concrete volume.
 2. To maintain the workability of concrete while transporting it over long distances,
admixtures like calcium chloride are used.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 only.
b) 2 only.
c) Both 1 and 2.
d) Neither 1 nor 2.

Correct Option: a)

Solution: Retarders are generally used to maintain the workability of concrete while
transporting it over long distances. Commonly used retarders are Gypsum
and common sugar. Calcium Chloride cannot be used here, as it is an
accelerator.

9) Which of the following statements is NOT correct regarding Ultra Sonic Pulse
Velocity Test?
a. The test results are affected by the presence of reinforcement.
b. High Strength concrete have lower values of time taken for the pulse to travel
through the concrete.
c. In this test, electro-magnetic pulse is used to determine the strength of concrete.
d. None of the above.

Correct Option: c)

Solution: Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity test used mechanical waves not electro-magnetic
waves.

10) Consider the following statements regarding admixtures of concrete.

1. Plasticizers improve the workability of concrete and also increase the setting
times.
2. Sulphonates Melamine Formaldehyde is a commonly used plasticizer for
concrete.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 only.
b) 2 only.
c) Both 1 and 2.
 d) Neither 1 nor 2.

Correct Option: a)

Solution: Sulphonates Melamine Formaldehyde is a commonly used super-plasticizer

for concrete.

11) Which of the following statements is NOT correct?

a. Plowman’s equation is used to determine the strength gain in concrete in a given
period based on the Maturity value of concrete.
b. Maturity value of concrete is the product of Curing Temperature and Curing
Period.
c. Plowman’s equation has three coefficients.
d. Maturity of concrete is measured in oC hours or oC days.

Correct Option: c)

Solution: Plowman’s equation is Fc = A + Blog10(Maturity/1000). It has only two

coefficients A and B, called as Plowman’s coefficients.

12) Consider the following statements:

1. Workability of concrete decreases with decrease in water cement ratio.
2. Workability of concrete decreases with increase in aggregate cement ratio.
3. Workability of concrete decreases with increase in size of aggregates.
4. Workability of concrete decreases with decrease in water content.

Which of the above statements are correct?

a) 1, 2 and 3 only.
b) 1, 2 and 4 only.
c) 1, 3 and 4 only.
d) 2, 3 and 4 only.

Correct Option: b)

Solution: Workability of concrete and size of aggregates are directly proportional i.e.,
workability of concrete increases with increase in size of aggregates.
13) Consider the following statements regarding manufacturing of bricks:
1. First Class bricks can be obtained from Kilns as well as from Clamps.
2. Third Class bricks are generally obtained only from Clamps.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 only.
b) 2 only.
c) Both 1 and 2.
d) Neither 1 nor 2.

Correct Option: b)

Solution: Clamps cannot produce first class bricks. Clamps produce second class and
third-class bricks only. Kilns produce first class and second-class bricks.

14) Consider the following statements:

1. The age of an exogenous tree can be determined by counting the number of
distinct annular rings in its horizontal section.
2. Chip mark, Diagonal grain and Wane are examples of defects in timber due to
conversion.
3. Dry rot and wet rot are examples of defects in timber due to fungi.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 Only.
b) 2 and 3 Only.
c) 1 and 3 Only.
d) 1, 2 and 3 Only.

Correct Option: d)

Solution: All the three statements are correct.

15) Consider the following statements:

1. Teak and Sal come under Refractory timber category.
2. Compreg Timber and Impreg Timber have better electrical insulating property
than ordinary timber.
3. Insects like Beetles, Marine Bores, etc use timber as food.
 4. Electrical seasoning is costly; however, it gives seasoned timber is a very short
duration.

Which of the above statements are correct?

a) 1, 2 and 3 only.
b) 1, 2 and 4 only.
c) 1, 3 and 4 only.
d) 2, 3 and 4 only.

Correct Option: b)

Solution: Insects like Beetles, Marine Bores, etc use timber as breeding (not for food).

16) Consider the following statements.

1. Hardening of Lime mortar is slower than that of cement mortar.
2. The shrinkage of lime mortar is less than that of cement mortar.

Which of the following statements is correct?

a. Only 1.
b. Only 2.
c. Both 1 and 2.
d. Neither 1 not 2.

Correct Answer: c)

Solution: Both the statements are correct.

17) Consider the following statements regarding stones.

1. Acid test is used to determine the presence of soluble matter in stones.
2. Smith’s test is used to determine the presence of calcium carbonate is stones.
3. Impact test is used to determine the resistance of stones against sudden loading.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 3 only.
b) 1 and 2 only.
c) 1 and 3 only.
d) 1, 2 and 3.
Correct Option: a)

Solution: Acid test is used to determine the presence of calcium carbonate in stones.
Smith’s test is used to determine the presence of soluble matter in stones.