Building Civil Engineering Flashcards
7 cards from real Building Engineering practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Building Civil Engineering flashcards as text
Which type of footing distributes the load from a single column to the soil beneath it?
Answer: Spread (isolated) footing
A spread or isolated footing supports a single column by distributing its load over a wider soil area.
What is the primary purpose of a retaining wall in civil construction?
Answer: Retain lateral earth pressure
Retaining walls are designed to hold back soil or other material on one side, resisting lateral earth pressure.
In reinforced concrete design, what does the term 'cover' refer to?
Answer: Distance from rebar to outer concrete surface
Cover is the minimum distance between the outer surface of the rebar and the nearest concrete face, protecting steel from corrosion.
Which soil test is most commonly used on-site to estimate bearing capacity and relative density of granular soils?
Answer: Standard Penetration Test (SPT)
The Standard Penetration Test (SPT) uses blow counts (N-values) to estimate in-situ soil density and bearing capacity.
What is the primary structural role of shear walls in a building?
Answer: Resist lateral forces like wind and seismic loads
Shear walls are vertical structural elements that resist lateral forces from wind or earthquakes by acting as vertical cantilevers.
In concrete mix design, what does a lower water-to-cement (w/c) ratio generally produce?
Answer: Higher strength and lower permeability
A lower w/c ratio produces denser, stronger concrete with less porosity, improving both compressive strength and durability.
Which method is used to improve weak subgrade soils by injecting a cementitious grout under pressure?
Answer: Grouting
Grouting injects cementitious or chemical grout under pressure to fill voids and strengthen weak or loose soils.