INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

(Prepared By: Muhammad Sajid Hanif)

1. Density of
i)
Steel 490lb/cft or 7850 kg/m3
ii)
Concrete 150lb/cft or 24 kN/m3
iii)
Water
62.4lb/cft or 10kN/m3
iv)
Soil
120lb/cft or 190kN/m3
2. Modulus of Elasticity
i)
Concrete
57000fc where fc in psi
ii)
Steel
29 x 106 psi or 200000MPa
3. What is modular ratio?
n= Es/Ec (Ratio of Modulus of Elasticity of Steel to Modulus of Elasticity of Concrete)
4. Why Steel is used in concrete?
As concrete is good in compression and weak in tension and steel behavior is vice
versa. To cater for tensile stresses reinforcement is provided. Moreover, coefficient of
thermal expansion of both materials is nearly same.
5. What are determinate and indeterminate Structures?
Determinate structures can be solved using basic equations of equilibrium i-e No of
unknowns is equal to Number of Equilibrium Equations while indeterminate structures
are not capable of being analyzed by mere use of basic equilibrium equations.
6. What type of forces produced in trusses?
Axial forces (Compression and Tension)

7. What is difference between cable and arch?

Cable is designed for tension force while an arch is for compression force.
8. What is creep and shrinkage?
Creep is defined as deformation of a structure under sustained load.
9. How to calculate stiffness of truss element and beam elements?
For Truss Elements EA/L
For Beams
EI/L

10. What is stress and strain?

P
A
L

11. Draw stress-strain diagram subjected to axial load to steel and concrete?

For Steel

For Concrete

12. 1kip = 1000lbs

13. Define Poisson Ratio?
When a material is compressed in one direction, it usually tends to expand in the other
two directions perpendicular to the direction of compression. This phenomenon is called
the Poisson effect
14. Formula of Bending Stress?

My
I

15. Modulus of Inertia of Circular section?

D 4
64
16. What is radius of gyration?
Distribution of cross-sectional area around centroidal axis.

I
A

17. Location of maximum shear stress in a section?

At Neutral Axis

18. What is section modulus?

The ratio of the moment of inertia of the cross section of a beam undergoing flexure to
the greatest distance of an element of the beam from the neutral axis.

I
c
19. What is difference between centroid and center of gravity?
Centroid is the geometric centre of the object while centre of gravity is the point
through which resultant gravitational force act.
20. Define Hooks law?
Stress is directly proportional to strain.

E
21. What is interaction diagram? Draw it?
Interaction diagram of a column is drawn to determine whether maximum axial load and
moment exceeds the capacity of the column or not.

22. What is difference between long and short column?

L/r < 45
L/r > 45

Short Column (L/r = Least Dimension of Column to radius of Gyration)

Long Column

23. Type of failure in long and short column?

Long Column: Fail in Buckling
Short Column: Fail in Crushing of Concrete
24. Minimum Reinforcement in beams, columns and slab?
Beam:
Columns:
Slabs:

0.0033bh or 200/fy
1% to 8% of Gross area of concrete
0.002bh (Grade 40)
0.0018bh (Grade 60)

25. Difference between one way and two way slab?

Longer Span/ Shorter Span < 2
Longer Span/ Shoter Span > 2

Two way Slab

One way Slab

26. = Asbd
27. What is shear modulus?
Shear Modulus or Modulus of Rigidity is defined as the ratio of shear stress to the shear
strain.
G = Shear Stress/Shear Strain
28. What is difference between singly and doubly reinforced beams?
If the reinforcement is only in tension zone then it is called Singly Reinforcement Beam and if
the reinforcement is both at Tension and Compression zone then it is called Doubly reinforced
Beam.

29. Types of cracks in beam?

Three Types of Crack
i)
Flexural Crack
ii)
Shear Crack
iii)
Flexural Shear Crack
30. Over reinforced beam
Over-reinforced concrete" beam fails by crushing of the compressive-zone concrete and
before the tension zone steel yields, which does not provide any warning before failure
as the failure is instantaneous.

31. Under reinforced beam

Under reinforced is that in which provided steel ratio is less than balanced steel ratio.
Concrete beams are designed as under reinforced beams. The reason is that the failure
starts by yielding of steel instead of crushing of concrete.
32. What is max reinforcement in beam?

max 0.75 b (Max Steel Ratio = 0.75 x Balanced Steel Ratio)

33. Allowable deflection against live load?
360

34. Allowable deflection against dead plus live?

240
35. Minimum to maximum percentage of steel in column?
1% to 8% (According to code)
We cannot provide more than 4% because at laps, steel become double.
36. What is Eulers buckling load?
When a column is loaded axially in compression, it is possible for it to become unstable
before the material reaches its yield point. This load is termed the 'buckling load' or often
the 'Euler buckling load'
Pcr =
37. Types of Foundation?
i)

ii)

Shallow Foundation
Isolated Footing
Combined Footing
Strip Footing
Strap Footing
Matt Footing
Deep Foundation
Pile Foundation
Well Foundation
Cassions

38. Stability check for retaining walls?

Overturning
FOS >2
Sliding
FOS > 1.5
Bearing Pressure should be less than bearing capacity
39. Lateral active and passive pressure calculation?
Active Pressure =
Passive Pressure =

40. Effect of angle of internal friction on lateral earth pressure?

Indirectly Proportional
41. Draw retaining wall and their components?

42. Difference between buttress and counter fort?

43. What is point of contra flexure?
Point of contraflexure(POC) is a point in the bending moment diagram where moment
changes its sign.. ie from +ve to -ve or vice versa...by this we can come to a conclusion
that POC is a point where bending moment is zero.
44. Grades of reinforcement?
Grade 40 or Grade 300 = 40,000Psi or 300MPa
Grade 60 or Grade 420 = 60,000Psi or 420MPa
45. How to calculate the depth of beam?
Depth of beam is calculated on the basis of deflection criteria/ Serviceability
requirements.

46. Types of Joints in concrete?

Expansion Joints
Contraction Joints
Construction Joints
47. What is Base Shear? How to calculate?
Base shear is an estimate of the maximum expected lateral force that will occur due to
seismic ground motion at the base of a structure.

V = Cv I W / R T
48. How many zones of Pakistan? Lahore is located in which zone?
Five Zones (1, 2A, 2B, 3, 4)
Lahore is in zone 2A
49. What is dynamic equation of equilibrium?
M+C+ku = F(t)
50. What is story drift?
STORY DRIFT is the lateral displacement of one level relative to the level above or
below
51. How to calculate the time period of structure?
Time Period = Ct h(3/4)
52. Method of dynamic analysis?
i)
ii)
iii)

Modal Analysis
Time History Analysis
Response Spectrum Analysis

53. Parts of Bridge?

i)
Wearing Course
ii)
Deck Slab
iii)
Girder
iv)
Transom
v)
Pier
vi)
Pile Cap
vii)
Piles
viii)
Bearing Pads
ix)
Shear Blocks
x)
Abutments
xi)
Wing Wall

54. Which code is followed for seismic analysis?

UBC 97 and BCP 2007, IBC
55. Which code is used for vehicular loading in Pakistan?
West Pakistan Highway Code, AASHTO
56. What is difference between LRFD and ASD?
If the major part of FOS is applied on the service loads and the material strength are
divided by the minor remaining part of FOS the design method is called LRFD.
If FOS is applied by reducing the material strength and service loads are considered as
such without any increase the method is called ASD.
57. Define Lacing?
The lateral system used in built up columns to carry transverse shear force are called lacing,
batten plates or latticing.
58. W310x16 means
W Section, 310 mean depth of section
16 mean sections has a weight of 16 lb/ft
59. What is Eaves Gutter?
A rain gutter is a narrow channel, or trough, forming the component of a roof system which
collects and diverts rainwater shed by the roof. It is also known as an eaves trough.

60. What is difference between pre tensioning and post tensioning?

In pretesioning, prestressing tendons passing through the formwork are stretched before the
placing of concrete whereas in posttensioning stressing is done after the concrete pouring.
61. What is Mohr circle?
Mohrs circle is a geometric representation of the 2-D transformation of stresses and is
very useful to perform quick and efficient estimations, checks of more extensive work,
and other such uses.
62. Names of Softwares used for Building Design
SAP 2000, STAD Pro v8i, ETABS, SAFE 12
63. ETABS stands for?
Extended 3-Dimensional Analysis of Building System

64. Modulus of sub grade reaction?

=
65. 1 ton/sft = 2.204 kip/ft2

66. What are column capital and drop panel and why we provide it?
Capital forms the topmost member of a column
Drop Panel: On the lower side of a flat concrete slab, the thickened portion which surrounds a
column, column capital, or bracket.
Used to cater two way punching shear

67. What is column and middle strip?

Column Strip means a design strip having a width of L1/4 or L2/4 whichever is less. The
remaining middle portion which is bound by the column strips is called middle strip.

68. Location of laps in footing?

Positive or Bottom Reinforcement = Center of the columns
Negative or Top Reinforcement = Face of the column

69. Sketch of beam curtailment sectional elevation?

70. Why sand is used for backfill material?

i)
ii)

Compaction is effective in sand as compared to clay

Lateral earth pressure in sand is less as compared to clay resulting in
economical design

iii)

Better for backfill because of less pressure in case of wet conditions, free
drainage nature no stability loss with the passage of time.

71. Calculate depth of 20x20 ft span beam supported slab thickness?

Thickness of slab = Perimeter/180
= {(20+20)x2x12}/180 = 5.3 in

72. What is shear wall?

SHEAR WALLis a wall designed to resist lateral forces parallel to the plane of the wall
(sometimes referred to as vertical diaphragm or structural wall).
73. Split cylinder test is performed to determine?
Modulus of Rupture
74. How to calculate modulus of rupture of concrete?
Modulus of Rupture = 7.5fc

75. What is composite structure?

A structural member (such as a panel, plate, pipe, or other shape) that is built up by
bonding together two or more distinct components, each of which may be made of a
metal, alloy, nonmetal, or composite material.
76. Why high strength concrete is used in pre stressed concrete?
As concrete is strong in compression and weak in tension. Hence, the basic purpose of
prestressing of concrete structure is to reduce or eliminate the tensile stresses by
presence of pre compression in the member.
77. Strength of strands?
250 Ksi
270 Ksi
78. What is influence line diagram?
Influence line graphs is the variation of a function at a specific point on
a beam or truss caused by a unit load placed at any point along the structure.
79. Methods of Cost Estimation?

Two methods
i)
Long wall/Short wall method
ii)
Center Line Method
80. Why weep holes are provided in retaining wall?
A weep hole or weeper hole is a small opening left in the retaining wall as an outlet
for water inside a wall to move outside the wall and evaporate.
81. Calculation of size of foundation?
=
82. #6 bar means?
(6/8) Diameter of Bar

83. Calculate spacing of steel for given steel area?

12

Spacing =

Area of Steel = 0.24in2 , Use #4 Bars

Spacing =

.
.

12 = 9.8

#4@9c/c

84. Stresses are calculated on the basis of factored or unfactored load?

Unfactored load
85. What is varignon theorem?
The theorem states that the moment of a resultant of two concurrent force about any
point is equal to the algebraic sum of the moments of its components about the same
point

.
86. What is parallel axis theorem?
The theorem determines the moment of inertia of a rigid body about any given axis,
given that moment of inertia about the parallel axis through the center of mass of an
object and the perpendicular distance between the axes.

87. How to increase workability of concrete keeping strength constant?

By the use of plasticizers
88. What is diaphragm?
It is a horizontal or nearly horizontal system acting to transmit lateral forces to the
vertical resisting elements. The term diaphragm includes horizontal bracing systems.
89. What are mode shapes? How many modes of a cantilever column?
Mode shapes are used to understand the behavior of structure under dynamic loadings.
It is used for determining the time period and natural frequency of the structure
Infinite number of modes of cantilever column.
90. What is soft story concept?
SOFT STORY is one in which the lateral stiffness is less than 70 percent of the stiffness
of the story above.
91. Basic Wind Speed?
75 miles per hour
92. PC-I stands for?
Planning Commission
93. Stands for
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)

LRFD
ASD
ACI
UBC

= Load and Resistance Factor Design

= Allowable Stress Design
= American Concrete Institute
= Uniform Building Code

v)
vi)
vii)
viii)
ix)

AISC
AASHTO
ASTM
BCP
FIDIC

= American Institute of Steel Construction

= American association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
= American Society of Testing Materials
= Building Code of Pakistan
= International Federation of Consulting Engineers

94. Bids are evaluated on the basis of proposals? Which one?

Technical and Financial Proposals
95. What is the principal of combined foundation?
The centroid of the combined footing should coincide with the location of the resultant
load on the footing.
96. What is kern of section?
If load is applied within the kern of the section no tension is developed anywhere in the
section.
97. Draw BMD and SFD of given beams and frames?