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
What is the primary difference between a 'one-way slab' and a 'two-way slab'?
Answer: Direction(s) in which bending moments are developed
A one-way slab bends in a single direction, while a two-way slab bends in both directions when supported on all four sides.
Which phenomenon causes long-term deflection in concrete structures beyond initial elastic deflection?
Answer: Creep and shrinkage
Creep (deformation under sustained load) and shrinkage (volume reduction as concrete dries) both contribute to long-term deflection.
What is the purpose of a 'weep hole' in a masonry retaining wall?
Answer: Relieve hydrostatic pressure behind the wall
Weep holes allow water to drain from behind the retaining wall, preventing buildup of hydrostatic pressure that could cause failure.
In steel construction, what is the 'effective length factor' (K) used to determine?
Answer: Column buckling capacity based on end conditions
The effective length factor K accounts for end restraint conditions to determine the effective buckling length of a column.
What does 'liquefaction' refer to in geotechnical engineering?
Answer: Saturated loose sand behaving like a liquid during earthquake shaking
Liquefaction occurs when saturated loose granular soil loses shear strength due to earthquake-induced pore pressure increase, causing it to behave like a liquid.
Which beam condition results in the largest mid-span deflection for the same span and total load?
Answer: Simply supported beam
A simply supported beam has no end moment restraint, producing the greatest mid-span deflection compared to fixed or continuous conditions.
What is the main advantage of using a mat (raft) foundation?
Answer: It reduces differential settlement by distributing loads over the entire building footprint
A mat foundation spreads building loads over a large area, reducing bearing pressure and minimizing differential settlement between columns.