Civil Engineering Interview Questions (Top

70)

Important Civil Engineering Interview Questions:

1. What is bending moment (BM) & Shear force (SF) – Explain.

2. What are the steps involved in the concreting process, explain?

3. Describe briefly the various methods of concrete curing.

4. What is the minimum curing period?

5. What Do You Understand by M25 Concrete?

6. What is Water-Cement Ratio and How it is related to the strength of concrete?

7. What is a bearing capacity of soil?

8. How to increase the bearing capacity of soil?

9. What are the different types of foundation?

10. Explain moment of inertia and its importance.

11. How do we determine the specific gravity of a cement?

12. Density Of 1 cum cement?

13. What are the causes of building collapse?

14. What is bar bending schedule (BBS) & how to prepare it?

15. Why is concrete cube test carried out?

16. Why is concrete slump test carried out?

17. What is bleeding, segregation, honeycombing of concrete?

18. What is pre-stressed concrete? Which reinforcement is used in prestressed concrete?

19. What is the ratio of steel and concrete to use in slabs, beams, columns?

20. Difference between pre-tensioning and post-tensioning?

Civil Engineering Interview Questions:

21. What are the weights of 16mm, 12mm, 20mm, 25mm, 8mm Dia. Bars.

22. What is the minimum Propping Period of Beams and Slabs of various Spans?

23. What are the advantages of Prestressed Concrete over R.C.C?

24. Quantity of materials required for different works.

25. Which is stronger solid steel rod or hollow steel pipe?

26. Initial & final setting time of concrete?

27. Why we provide steel in concrete?

28. Is brick strength more or concrete block?

29. How many bricks are there in 100cft?

30. 28 days compressive strength of concrete in PSI?

31. How to calculate the unit weight of steel bars?

32. What is Plinth Level and Sill Level?

33. What is Brest Wall?

34. What is Brick crushing strength(PSI)?

35. How many are the types of joints?

36. How can cracks in concrete be avoided?

37. Types Of DPC and its Thickness used?

38. 28 Days Strength of Concrete (1:2:4)?

39. How many types of slabs are there & how to design it?

40. How much is the cover for slab?

41. Maximum % of Steel in columns and beams?

42. What is fineness modulus?

43. What is Packing Factor?

44. Difference between one way slab & two way slab?

45. Difference between QA & QC?

Civil Engineering Interview Questions:

46. What do you mean by Fe415?

47. What are the functions of a column in a building?

48. How many feet are in 4 square yards?

49. What is the average density of soil?

50. What is the ratio of Grades M5, M7.5, M10, M15, M20, M25, M30, M35, M40?

51. Why foundation is provided?

52. The concrete slump recommended for beams and slabs; is-

53. What is the meaning of soil reinforcement?

54. What is the different type of slump test indications?

55. What is buckling or crippling load?

56. Define slenderness ratio. What is its effect on the design of compression member?

57. Shear force and BM diagrams for different types of loadings on beams.

58. Difference between mild steel and HYSD bars?

59. What do you understand by 80/100 bitumen?

60. What is differential settlement?

Civil Engineering Interview Questions:

61. What do 53 stands for in 53-grade cement?

62. How do you construct a 25 storey building with no columns?

63. Types of loads on structure?

64. Difference between pre-tensioning and post-tensioning?

65. What is the L/D ratio of a cantilever beam?

66. What is camber?

67. What is batching? Difference between volume and weight batching?

68. How is a theodolite leveled?

69. What is a benchmark? Name the different types.

70. Types of admixtures?

71. What are the CAD softwares you have used?

72. Interpret a strss vs strain curve.

73. Define modulus of elasticity.

74. What are the chemical compositions of cement?

75. What is creep & shrinkage of concrete?

Useful Civil Engineering Tips For Site Engineers:

Following are the basic civil engineering tips you should be remembered while working on a
construction site.

1. Grade Of Concrete:
M5 – 1 : 4 : 8

M10 – 1 : 3 : 6

M15 – 1 : 2 : 4
 M20 – 1 : 1.5 : 3

M25 – 1 : 1 : 2

2. Clear Cover To Main Reinforcement:

Footings : 50 mm

Raft Foundation (Top) : 50 mm

Raft Foundation (Bottom) : 75 mm

Raft Foundation (Side) : 75 mm

Beam : 25 mm

Strap Beam : 50 mm

Column :40 mm

Slab : 15 mm

flat Slab : 20 mm

Staircase : 15 mm

Retaining Wall : 20 – 25 mm

Water Retaining Structures : 2 0- 30 mm

Maximum water absorption by bricks – 15%

Compressive strength of bricks – 3.5 N/mm2

Density Of Bricks- 1600-1920 Kg/m3

Minimum thickness of slab – 125 mm

Dimension tolerance for cubes – +2

Maximum free fall of concrete – 1.50 m

Lapping should not be used for the bars having larger dia than 36 mm.

Binding wire required for steel reinforcement – 8 kg per MT

3 samples should be taken for every 100 m2 in core cutting test.

Maximum chair spacing – 1 m.

Minimum dia should be used in dowels rod – 12 mm.

Hook for strriups (one side) – 9D

No. of strriups = (clear span/spanning) + 1

Length of main steel in cantilever anchorage – 69D.

Minimum no. of bars in square column – 4

Minimum no. of bars in circular column – 6

Minimum dia of main bars and distributors in the slab – 8 mm.

Maximum dia of main bars and distributors in the slab – 1/8 of slab thickness.

All reinforcement should be free from mill scales, loose rust, and coats of paints, oil or any other
substances.

3. Setting Time:
Initial setting time should not be less than 30 minutes.

Final setting time should not be greater than 10 hours.

4. Required Curing Days:

Super sulfate cement – 7 days

Ordinary portland cement – 10 days

Cement with minerals and admixtures – 14 days.

5. Slump Value (IS-456):

Lightly reinforced concrete: 25 – 75 mm.

Heavily reinforced concrete: 75 – 100 mm.

Trench fill : 100 – 150 mm ( for in-situ & tremie).

6. Cube Samples:
1 – 5 m3 : 1 No.

6 – 15 m3 : 2 No..

16 – 30 m3 :3 No.

31 -50 m3 : 4 No.

Above 50 m3 : 4 + 1 no. of addition for each 50 m3.

Civil Engineering Requirements:

THESE ARE THE TOP 10 CIVIL ENGINEERING REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A
SUCCESSFUL CIVIL ENGINEER:

1. Tests Of Building Materials:

A good civil engineer should have proper knowledge of different tests of building materials.
Some important tests are listed below.

Concrete Test: Slump test, compression test, split tensile test, soundness etc.

Soil Test: Core cutter test, compaction test,sand replacement test, triaxial test, consolidation test
etc.

Bitumen Test: Ductility test, softening point test, gravity test, penetration test etc.

2. Investigation Of soil:
Various soil tests are conducted to determine the settlement and stability of soils before starting a
construction. So as a civil engineer, you should have enough knowledge of these tests which are
performed at the site.

3. Uses Of Surveying Instruments:

Usages of surveying instruments like the total station, theodolite etc is also a mandatory
knowledge for every civil engineer. These instruments are used for marking and measurements.

4. Standard Codes Used In Construction:

Every country has their standard safety specifications (eg: Is Code) for construction related
works. All new construction should be done by following all the rules and procedures mentioned
in the standard codes. Otherwise, chances of failure of a structure will be always high.

5. Bar Bending Schedule:

Bar bending schedule is an essential chart for civil engineers. It provides the reinforcement
calculation of RC beam such as cutting length, type of bending, the length of bending etc.

6. Drawing And Design:

Drawing and design are the primary keys of an ongoing project. It provides all the required
specifications of that project. Every site engineers should have the analyzing power of such
drawings and designs.

7. Estimation and Bills:

Estimation and bills should be prepared by a civil engineer in a construction project.

8. Quality Control:
Quality control ensures the profit of a project by reducing the extra costs. So you must have a
basic knowledge of quality control.

9. On Field Management:
Knowledge of form-work, concreting, safety measures etc is also a key aspect.

10. Coordination With Labor:

What is 1 BHK, 2 BHK, 3 BHK (0.5 BHK)

etc. in a Flat layout?
BHK:
Full form of BHK is – Bedroom, Hall & Kitchen

B means – Bedroom,

H means – Hall/Living room,

K means – Kitchen.

1 BHK:
Full form – 1 Bedroom, 1 Hall & 1 Kitchen

Explanation:

1 Bedroom with 1 Hall & 1 Kitchen.

Plan:
2 BHK:
Full form – 2 Bedrooms, 1 Hall & 1 Kitchen

Explanation:

2 Bedrooms with 1 Hall & 1 Kitchen. Sometimes it is also defined as 1 Master Bedroom (larger
than standard size) & 1 Small Bedroom, 1 Hall & 1 kitchen

Plan:

3 BHK:
Full form – 3 Bedrooms, 1 Hall & 1 Kitchen

Explanation: 3 Bedrooms with 1 Hall & 1 Kitchen

Plan:
4 BHK:
Full form – 4 Bedroom, 1 Hall & 1 Kitchen

Explanation: 4 Bedrooms with 1 Hall & 1 Kitchen

Plan:
0.5 BHK:

Full form – 0.5 Bedroom with 1 Hall & 1 Kitchen

Explanation – Bedroom smaller than the standard size. Normally they are recommended as
library or study room. But it can be used as bedroom.

Plan: Same as 1BHK just bedroom size is smaller than standard size.

1.5 BHK:
Full form – 1.5 Bedroom, 1 Hall & 1 Kitchen

Explanation – 1.5 indicates 1 bedroom (standard size) & 1 bedroom (0.5).

Plan:

2.5 BHK:
Full form – 2.5 Bedroom, 1 Hall & 1 Kitchen.

Explanation – 2.5 indicates 2 bedrooms(standard size) & 1 bedroom (0.5)

Plan: Same as 1.5 BHK layout but have one more bedroom.
1 RK:
Full form: 1 Room & 1 Kitchen

Explanation: Studio Apartments have this types of layouts. It has 1 room which is used as living
room & 1 kitchen.

Plan:

2 BHK 2T:
Full form: 2 Bedroom, 1 Hall, 1 Kitchen & 2 Toilets.

Explanation: 2 Bedrooms, 1 Hall, 1 kitchen & 2 Toilets ( 1 common & 1 attached with master
bedroom)

Plan:
3 BHK 2T:
Full form: 3 Bedroom, 1 Hall, 1 Kitchen & 2 Toilets.

Explanation: 3 Bedrooms, 1 Hall, 1 kitchen & 2 Toilets ( 1 common & 1 attached with master
bedroom)

Plan: Same as 2BHK 2T With 2 Toilets.

3 BHK 3T:
Full form: 3 Bedroom, 1 Hall, 1 Kitchen & 3 Toilets.

Explanation: 3 Bedrooms, 1 Hall, 1 kitchen & 3 Toilets ( 1 common & 1 attached with master
bedroom).

Plan: Same as 2BHK 2T With 3 Toilets.

Difference Among Scaffolding, Shuttering,
Centering, Stagging
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Scaffolding:
Scaffolding is a temporary framework having platforms at different level of a structure which
enables the masons/labor for working at the height. They are usually used for activities such as
plastering, painting, brickwork at heights etc. There are various types of scaffolding:

1. Brick Layer / Single Scaffolding.

2. Mason’s Or Double Scaffolding.

3. Steel Scaffolding.

4. Needle Or Cantilever Scaffolding.

5. Gantries.

6. Bamboo/Wooden Scaffold

3. Suspended Scaffolding.

Shuttering/Formwork:
Formwork is a temporary structure used as a mold in which fresh concrete are poured to cast the
members of the structure at the site. It is also known as falsework or shuttering. In the context of
concrete construction, the falsework supports the shuttering molds for example column sides,
beam sides, slab side, wall side etc.

So, By their definitions, scaffolds are for supporting labor and materials and act as working
platforms. Formwork (Shuttering) acts as molds for pouring concrete.

Centering:
Part of the formwork which supports the horizontal surface is called centering for example slab
bottom, beam bottom etc.

Staging:
That portion which supports centering & shuttering is called Staging. This can be:

1. Wooden Ballies
2. Pipes/Props/Jacks
3. H frames
4. Space frames using Coupler / Cup-Lock system