In this ultimate guide, we will provide you with a list of the 25 most frequently asked civil engineering technical interview questions asked during an engineering interview with a brief explanation of each to enable you to know what it is about.
Civil engineering forms one of the oldest as well as one of the most significant engineering disciplines, which forms the foundation of the current-day infrastructure. Whether you are a new graduate attending an interview, an experienced engineer renewing the knowledge or an individual who wants to learn on the aspects you need not to worry since knowing the general interviews technical civil engineering questions will give you the assurance.
24 Civil Engineering Technical interview Questions (Explained)
1. What is the distinction between working stress and limit state method?
The basis of Working Stress Method (WSM) is the elastic theory where this theory proposes structures such that the stresses produced in the buildings will either be lower or within allowable stresses when the buildings are under service loads.
The LSM considers many limit states: ultimate (strength), serviceability. Buildings are designed to sustain factored loads and must not fail at extreme conditions. More reasonable and cheaper, LSM is the most fashionable in the design codes now.
2. What is characteristic strength of concrete?
Characteristic strength of concrete is the level that the test results are not supposed to exceed beyond 5 per cent. It is commonly known as fck and covers disparity in materials and workmanship.
3. What is slenderness ratio? Why is it important?
Slenderness Ratio = En effective length / Minimum lateral dimension. It demonstrates the easiness with which a column will be liable to give way. The risk of buckling is more in case the slenderness ratio is larger.
4. What is the difference between design mix and nominal mix?
M10,M15,M20 etc. fixed proportion usually added in normal concrete called nominal mix.
Design Mix: It is the ratio that is determined within the relation with regard to the lab test so that certain strength and workability may be reached. Design mix offers greater optimization of materials as well as durability.
5. What is the meaning of concrete curing?.
The process of maintaining concrete under the condition of moisture when placed in the position of desirable strength and durability is known as curing. Ordinary process: ponding, wet coverings, curing compounds and steam curing
6. What is admixing? Explains certain kinds.
The other than cement, water and aggregates that can be added to concrete to manipulate its qualities are the alternate materials.
Types: Superplasticizers / plasticizers, Accelerators, Retarders, Air-entraining agents, Waterproofing agents
7. What is the difference between the one-way slab and a two-way slab?
One-way slab: This is one that is supported on two sides working opposite each other and the major bending is allowed in one direction. Ly/Lx 2).
Two-way slab: It is supported at four sides; it curves in both the directions. Ly/Lx <=gt0099 high-income earners / social background problems (Ly/Lx <=gt0099 household incomes / social-background problems).
8. What is the lower grade of RCC concrete?
IS 456: 2000 provides minimum grade of reinforced concrete structure as M20.
9. What is ductility and brittleness?
Ductility: Ability of a material to stretch to a far extent without fracture (e.g. steel).
Brittle: Breaks in one go and deforms little (e.g. concrete).
10. What are bleeding in concrete and segregation?
The coarse aggregates are separated by a separating mechanism called segregation using cement paste.
Bleeding: Water at the surface of a new concrete.
The two suppress the density and strength of concrete.
11. Describe what is compaction factor and its significance.
Compaction factor is used to determine the workability of concrete. It is weight of partially compacted to fully compacted concrete. It is used on low workability concrete which cannot be utilized to conduct slump test.
12. How long is development?
The concrete cover exposed reinforcement bar to attain optimal force of friction so as the reinforcement bar does not slip along length of reinforcement.
13. Short column / long column?
Short Column: To fail to Crush.
Long column: Buckles. When the slenderness ratio becomes greater than 12 then it is assumed to be a long column.
14. What is the use of shear key?
Shear key resists force in sideways directions and prevents slip of elements of the structure as between footing and retaining wall.
15. Explain what camber is in the beams.
It is a minor intentional upward curve which has been incorporated on beams/girders to check on deflection as a result of loads.
16. What is compacted soil and what is its significance?
Compaction of the soil increases its density because the air voids are compressed:
Increases load-carrying power, Reduces settlement. It prevents soil erosions.
17. What is the distinction between a bearing capacity and allowable bearing capacity?
Ultimate Bearing Capacity: Load bearing (or weight) limit of a given square centimeter of the soil.
Bearing Capacity: Ultimate FS: Ultimate / factor of safety.
18. What are the causes of foundation settlements?
Soil compacting, Clay shrinkage Shrinkage, Uneven loads, Unacceptable construction procedures.
19. What is the difference between isolated footing and combined footing?
Isolated footing: Only one column is supported by the footing.
Combined Footing: It has over two columns e.g. columns are near columns or property lines.
20. What is moment of inertia and its meaning?
The resistance to bending or to rotation of an area is a measurement of moment of inertia. An augmented moment of inertia has been provided that there is less bending of the load.
21. What is grouting?
Proceeding through the following activities namely completing holes or other openings in buildings or ground by over filling with cementitious, resin or chemical materials to strengthen and reduce infiltration of drinking water.
22. What does Characteristic load mean?
The load represent the likelihood of non chances greater than 95 percent life-span of the structure construction.
23. What is the distinction between dead load regarding live load?
Dead Load: Static load (on permanent basis): self-weight, walls.
Live Load: movable load (People and furniture).
24. Why is water-cement ratio important?
It sets the concrete strength and the durability. The higher the w/c ratio the greater the strength but the low workability and the higher the ratio the low strength and easy to work.
How You Can Prepare Your Interview Using These Questions
It is not only definitions. Research after the regular codes (IS:456, IS:875, IS:3370 etc.).
Be familiar with practical features like site issues, repair of cracks, choice of concrete mixture, etc. These civil engineering technical interview questions found in civil engineering interview help in gaining comfort and preparedness to answer practical questions submitted during the interview by senior engineers or panel of judges.
Conclusion:
Civil engineering does not necessarily involve calculations and designs it involves the knowledge of why and how things work on site and on the designing process. These are the 24 of the best technical questions which could help you to master them and become a better prepared and confident individual in any job interview.