Civil Engineering Structures: Purpose, Uses & Load Mechanism (Short for Interview)
1. Buildings (RCC / Steel)
Purpose: Shelter for residential, commercial, industrial use
Uses: Housing, offices, malls, factories
Load Mechanism: Dead, Live, Wind, Seismic → Slab → Beam → Column → Foundation → Soil
2. Bridges
Purpose: Connects points over obstacles like rivers/roads
Uses: Vehicles, trains, pedestrians
Load Mechanism: Live, Dead, Impact, Wind, Seismic → Deck → Girders → Piers → Foundation
3. Dams
Purpose: Store water, hydro power, flood control, irrigation
Uses: Water supply, energy, agriculture
Load Mechanism: Water Pressure, Self-weight, Uplift, Seismic → Foundation → Rock
4. Roads & Pavements
Purpose: Stable transportation surface
Uses: Highways, city roads, runways
Load Mechanism: Traffic, Impact, Temperature → Surface → Base → Subgrade
5. Water Tanks (Overhead/Underground)
Purpose: Store and supply water
Uses: Municipal water, fire-fighting
Load Mechanism: Hydrostatic, Self-weight, Wind/Seismic → Hoop Tension
6. Transmission Towers
Purpose: Carry power lines
Uses: Long-distance electricity
Load Mechanism: Self-weight, Wind, Conductor Tension → Truss → Foundation
7. Retaining Walls
Purpose: Retain soil/water
Uses: Embankments, basements, waterfronts
Load Mechanism: Earth Pressure, Water Pressure, Self-weight → Bending/Overturning
8. Culverts
Purpose: Water passage under road/rail
Uses: Drainage, flood prevention
Load Mechanism: Earth, Water, Traffic → Arch/Slab → Abutments → Soil
9. Chimneys & Towers
Purpose: Vent gases/smoke
Uses: Factories, power plants
Load Mechanism: Self-weight, Wind, Seismic → Cantilever action
10. Foundations
Purpose: Transfer load to ground
Uses: All structures
Load Mechanism: Vertical, Moment, Shear → Spread to Soil
Civil Engineering Placement Interview Questions (Easy, Medium, Tough) - Advanced Set
EASY LEVEL:
1. Difference between nominal mix and design mix concrete?
Answer: Nominal mix (fixed ratio like 1:2:4), Design mix (lab-designed for strength & durability).
2. Typical cover in RCC?
Answer: Slabs 20 mm, Beams 25-30 mm, Columns 40 mm, Footings 50 mm.
3. Why is curing done in concrete?
Answer: Maintain moisture for hydration, prevent cracks, achieve strength.
4. Difference between working stress and ultimate stress?
Answer: Working stress is safe stress; ultimate stress is maximum before failure.
5. Types of loads on structures?
Answer: Dead, Live, Wind, Earthquake, Snow, Impact loads.
MEDIUM LEVEL:
6. What is M sand and its use?
Answer: Manufactured sand; alternative to river sand for environment and quality reasons.
7. Difference between QA and QC in construction?
Answer: QA is process-based; QC is product/testing-based.
8. Types of slump in concrete?
Answer: True slump, Shear slump, Collapse slump.
9. Purpose of contraction joints in pavements?
Answer: Control shrinkage cracks due to temperature or drying.
10. Difference between one-point and two-point load tests?
Answer: One-point: max bending at mid-span; Two-point: uniform bending in mid-span.
TOUGH LEVEL:
11. Importance of moment of inertia in structural design?
Answer: Indicates stiffness; higher value reduces deflection and resists bending.
12. How to check concrete quality on site without lab?
Answer: Slump test, rebound hammer test, visual inspection for honeycombing/segregation.
13. Safety measures in deep excavation?
Answer: Shoring, bracing, dewatering, step cutting in loose soil.
14. Difference between raft and pile foundation and usage?
Answer: Raft for low but uniform SBC; Pile for weak topsoil or waterlogged areas.
15. Why do L&T and similar companies focus on project work?
Answer: To check practical skills, problem-solving, and application of civil engineering.
Civil Engineering Placement Interview Questions (Easy, Medium, Tough)
EASY LEVEL:
1. What is the unit weight of concrete?
Answer: 24 kN/m³ (RCC), 23 kN/m³ (PCC).
2. Difference between PCC and RCC?
Answer: PCC has no steel; RCC has steel to resist tensile stress.
3. Define factor of safety (FoS).
Answer: FoS = Ultimate load / Working load; ensures safety.
4. What are the types of foundations?
Answer: Shallow (isolated, mat) and Deep (pile, caisson).
5. Why are steel rods used in concrete?
Answer: To resist tensile stresses.
MEDIUM LEVEL:
6. Difference between one-way and two-way slabs?
Answer: One-way carries load in one direction; Two-way in both directions.
7. Purpose of expansion joints?
Answer: To allow thermal movement and prevent cracks.
8. How to prevent segregation in concrete?
Answer: Correct mix, control water, avoid over-vibration, careful placement.
9. Difference between compaction and consolidation of soil?
Answer: Compaction removes air (instant); consolidation removes water (time-dependent).
10. Purpose of a retaining wall?
Answer: To resist lateral earth pressure and prevent soil sliding.
TOUGH LEVEL:
11. How to determine safe bearing capacity (SBC) of soil?
Answer: Plate load test, SPT (field); Triaxial & Direct shear tests (lab).
12. Why use pile foundations in loose soil?
Answer: Transfer load to deeper strong strata, bypass weak soil.
13. Difference between working stress and limit state design?
Answer: WSM uses elastic theory; LSM uses ultimate load and serviceability checks.
14. Effect of wind load on tall buildings?
Answer: Causes bending/sway; controlled by bracing, shear walls, rigid frames.
15. Checks for cantilever retaining wall design?
Answer: Check sliding, overturning, SBC, and structural strength.
Civil Engineering Technical Interview Questions (Easy, Medium,
Tough) – New Set
Easy Level
1. Difference between bulking of sand and shrinkage of soil?
Bulking = Increase in sand volume due to moisture.
Shrinkage = Decrease in soil volume on drying.
2. Standard size of brick in India?
190 × 90 × 90 mm (modular brick).
3. Functions of a footing?
Distribute load to soil, reduce settlement, provide stability.
4. Water-cement ratio for M20 concrete?
About 0.45 to 0.55.
5. Difference between cement and concrete?
Cement = Binding material.
Concrete = Cement + Sand + Aggregate + Water.
Medium Level
6. What is honeycombing in concrete and prevention?
Voids in concrete due to poor compaction; prevent with proper vibration
and correct mix.
7. Cantilever beam and its use?
Beam fixed at one end and free at other; used in balconies, canopies.
8. Difference between shear force and bending moment?
Shear force slides a beam section; bending moment bends the beam.
9. Role of admixtures in concrete?
Improve workability, setting, strength, and durability (e.g., plasticizers,
retarders).
10.Importance of soil compaction?
Increases bearing capacity, reduces settlement and permeability.
Tough Level
11.How does earthquake load act on buildings?
Acts as lateral forces at floors due to ground shaking; proportional to
weight and dynamic properties.
12.Why use raft foundation in high-rise buildings?
Distributes load widely, reduces differential settlement, and is suitable for
soft soil.
13.What is pre-stressed concrete and its advantage?
Concrete with tensioned steel tendons; reduces cracks and allows long
spans.
14.Role of geotextiles in road construction?
Used for separation, filtration, reinforcement, and drainage; improves
road on weak subgrade.
15.Difference between ductile and brittle failure?
Ductile = Gradual deformation before failure (steel).
Brittle = Sudden failure without warning (plain concrete).
