Building Construction Questions

• Foundation Settlement – Permissible differential settlement on clay For typical building foundations resting on clayey soil, what is the usual maximum permissible differential settlement to limit damage?
• Soil Mechanics – Typical behavior of clayey soils in foundations and earthworks In geotechnical engineering practice, which of the following statements about clay soils (high plasticity, water-sensitive fine-grained soils) are generally true for structures resting on or constructed with clay?
• Masonry Arches – Name of the inclined surface on an abutment that receives the arch In arch construction terminology, what is the inclined bearing surface prepared on the abutment or pier to receive the arch barrel and transmit thrust into the support called?
• Building Design – Column design actions in multi-storey structures In a multi-storeyed building, reinforced concrete or steel columns must be proportioned to withstand which combination of design actions under relevant codes and load combinations?
• Mortars for Brickwork – Typical lime:sand proportions used in construction For general brick masonry work, which of the following lime–sand mortar proportions (lime:sand by volume) is commonly adopted in practice?
• Flooring Materials – A floor finished with about 3 mm marble chips is called what? In building finishes, identify the correct term for a floor where approximately 3 mm marble chips are mixed with cementitious binder, laid, compacted, and polished to a smooth finish.
• Flat Arches – Approximate angle between skewback and horizontal For a flat (jack) arch, what approximate angle is commonly kept between the skewback surface and the horizontal to align with thrust and facilitate construction?
• Subsurface Exploration – Minimum depth below heavy embankments or dams For heavy embankments and dams of height h, what is the recommended minimum depth of soil exploration below ground level to ensure foundation adequacy and identify weak strata?
• When to use a raft foundation – Rule of thumb based on area of isolated footings In foundation selection for buildings, a raft (mat) foundation is typically preferred when the total area that would be covered by individual isolated footings exceeds what percentage of the building footprint?
• Arches – Definition of the depth (thickness) of an arch ring In arch terminology, the “depth” (also referred to as the thickness of the arch ring) is defined as the distance between which two surfaces or lines?
• Staircase Terminology – Name of the platform at the end of a flight of steps In stair design, what is the proper term for the flat platform provided at the end of a series of steps to allow rest, change of direction, or doorway transition?
• Bathroom finishes: To control splash, seepage, and hygienic cleaning, the skirting (dado tiling) on the walls of a bathroom should be provided up to what height?
• Foundation detailing for heavy wall loads on soil with low safe bearing capacity: which bed should be provided?
• Pile selection for very soft soils that offer little resistance to the lateral flow of fresh concrete: which type is preferred?
• Cast-in-situ piles: In which pile system is the concrete in a drilled hole compacted by compressed air?
• Cast iron piles: choose the most appropriate statement about their suitability and behavior
• Piling and foundations: identify the incorrect statement
• Stair types: identify the incorrect statement about dog-legged, open newel, and geometric (geometrical) stairs
• Brickwork terminology: A brick laid on its side (9 cm × 9 cm face as the bed) with the frog in a vertical plane is called
• Site investigation basics: How can the depth of the local ground water table be ascertained quickly on site?