Category: Highway Engineering Objective Questions

250+ TOP MCQs on Stresses in Rigid Pavements and Answers

Highway Engineering Multiple Choice Questions on “Stresses in Rigid Pavements”.

1. What are the major stresses in CC pavement?
a) Wheel load stress
b) Warping stress
c) Wheel load and warping stress
d) Frictional stress
Answer: c
Clarification: The major stress is caused due to wheel load and temperature, remaining all are the minor stresses.

2. What is the unit of ‘K’?
a) Kg
b) Kg/cm
c) Kg/cm2
d) Kg/cm3
Answer: d
Clarification: The modulus of sub grade reaction is the pressure per deflection unit, it was obtained by Westrergaard for deflection analysis.

3. The deflection in Westergaard analysis is __________
a) 0.125
b) 0.250
c) 0.375
d) 0.500
Answer: a
Clarification: The deflection is assumed as 0.125 in Westergaard analysis, it is constant value for the deflection for modulus of sub grade reaction.

4. The Poisson’s ratio of concrete is __________
a) 0.15
b) 0.3
c) 0.6
d) 1.1
Answer: a
Clarification: The Poisson’s ratio of concrete is mostly assumed as 0.15 however it may lie between 0.13 and 0.15.

5. The deflection of slab is dependent on __________
a) Flexural strength
b) Compressive strength
c) Tensile strength
d) Roughness
Answer: a
Clarification: The deflection is dependent on the flexural strength of the material on how it breaks.

6. The stiffness of slab mainly depends on __________
a) Radius of wheel
b) Radius of rotary
c) Radius of relative pavement
d) Radius of relative pavement
Answer: d
Clarification: The radius of relative stiffness mainly depends on the soil sub grade reaction.

7. If any load is placed at interior away from all edges then it is called __________
a) Edge loading
b) Far edge loading
c) Interior loading
d) Exterior loading
Answer: c
Clarification: The loading that takes place inside of the pavement away from all edges is called as interior loading.

8. The loading which does not exist is __________
a) Edge
b) Interior
c) Exterior
d) Corner
Answer: c
Clarification: The loading that doesn’t exist is exterior loading because a load cannot be outside of pavement.

9. The distance at which the crack is developed is given by __________
a) 2.58 al
b) 2.58(al)
c) 1.58al
d) 0.58al
Answer: b
Clarification: The distance is given by the equation 2.58al, where a is the radius of wheel distribution and l is radius of relative stiffness.

10. Warping stress coefficient charts were prepared by __________
a) Burnister
b) Telford
c) Bradbury
d) IRC
Answer: c
Clarification: The charts were prepared by Bradbury, assuming it depends on seasonal coefficient and radius of relative stiffness.

250+ TOP MCQs on Maintenence Requirement in Different Road Components and Answers

Basic Highway Engineering Questions and Answers on “Maintenence Requirement in Different Road Components”.

1. The maintenance works are not possible for __________
a) Shoulder
b) Pavement
c) Embankment
d) Sub grade
Answer: d
Clarification: The sub grade or soil cannot be maintained as it is covered with other layers of surface.

2. The maintenance of rigid pavement is __________
a) Easy
b) Difficult
c) Very difficult
d) Neutral
Answer: a
Clarification: The maintenance of the rigid pavement is easy when compared to the flexible pavement.

3. The desired cross slope in embankment is __________
a) 1%
b) 2%
c) 3%
d) 4%
Answer: d
Clarification: The desired cross slope is 4 to 5%, as it is required to maintain the embankment dry.

4. On roads where the soil has been deposited should be stripped by __________
a) Trowel
b) Vicat apparatus
c) Blade grader
d) Bulldozer
Answer: c
Clarification: The deposited soil should either be removed by using a blade grader or suitable machinery.

5. The soil erosion may take place on roadside drains where the longitudinal slope is?
a) Very steep
b) Steep
c) Normal
d) Not steep
Answer: b
Clarification: The erosion of the soil takes place where the longitudinal slope of the drainage is steep.

6. The longitudinal slope erosion can be corrected by __________
a) Compaction
b) Consolidated soil
c) Permeability
d) Void ratio
Answer: a
Clarification: The longitudinal slope of the erosion of soil may be corrected by using the compacted soil.

7. The culvert is a structure whose span is less than __________
a) 15m
b) 60m
c) 7m
d) 6m
Answer: d
Clarification: The span of a bridge which is less than 6m is called as a culvert and if up to 15 m as minor bridge and up to 60 m as a major bridge.

8. The slopes and edges of road embankment get eroded leading to the formation of __________
a) Ruts
b) Cuts
c) Pot holes
d) Cracks
Answer: a
Clarification: The slopes and edges of the embankment get eroded usually leading to the formation of ruts.

9. The measure not adopted to take care of the embankment failure is __________
a) Benching
b) Grass turf
c) Stone pitching
d) Rise of embankment above HFL
Answer: d
Clarification: Rise of embankment is not an adopted measure it is considered in the design, before the construction as it is a requirement not modification.

10. The miscellaneous road factor for maintenance is __________
a) Surface of pavement
b) Shoulder
c) Kerbs and median
d) Geometric design
Answer: c
Clarification: The kerb, median and other facilities like traffic signals etc.., are considered as miscellaneous factor for maintenance.

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250+ TOP MCQs on Alignment of Hill Roads – 2 and Answers

Highway Engineering Assessment Questions and Answers on “Alignment of Hill Roads – 2”.

1. The alignment of hill roads is divided into how many stages?
a) One
b) Two
c) Three
d) Four
Answer: c
Clarification: The alignment of hill road is divided into three stages namely reconnaissance, trace cut and detailed survey.

2. The general route for alignment is selected during __________
a) Reconnaissance
b) Trace cut
c) Detailed survey
d) Detailed project report
Answer: a
Clarification: The general route for the alignment is selected during the reconnaissance survey and after any problem is found it is modified later.

3. The bench marks are fixed during the __________
a) Preliminary survey
b) Reconnaissance
c) Detailed survey
d) After detailed project report
Answer: c
Clarification: The bench marks are fixed and longitudinal and cross section are obtained during the detailed survey.

4. What is the strip length to be surveyed on the straight alignment?
a) 5 m
b) 10 m
c) 15 m
d) 30 m
Answer: c
Clarification: The strip length required to be surveyed on the straight paths is 15 m and on curves it is 30 m.

5. What is the speed limit on the national highway on hill road in Kmph?
a) 60
b) 50
c) 40
d) 30
Answer: b
Clarification: The speed limit on the national highway for hill road is 50 Kmph and on curves it is 30 Kmph, in plain rotary it is 40 Kmph and on plain it is 60 Kmph.

6. What is the minimum right of way distance in exceptional cases?
a) 7 m
b) 5 m
c) 3 m
d) 4 m
Answer: c
Clarification: The minimum right of way required is 5 m but in exceptional cases it should be 3 m, it is good if it is 7m.

7. The pavement width for a single lane road on a hill is __________
a) 3.5 m
b) 3.75 m
c) 7.0 m
d) 7.5 m
Answer: d
Clarification: The pavement width required for a single lane pavement is 3.75 m and 7 m for two lanes, on the national highway it is 7.5m.

8. The flatter camber may be provided if the road has a longitudinal gradient greater than __________
a) 1 in 40
b) 1 in 35
c) 1 in 30
d) 1 in 20
Answer: d
Clarification: The flatter camber may be provided if the longitudinal gradient is greater than 1 in 20, if it is 1 in 30 or 1 in 45, then a cross slope may be provided.

9. The camber for the earth roads should be never less than __________
a) 4%
b) 3.75%
c) 3.5%
d) 3.0%
Answer: d
Clarification: The camber value recommend for the earth roads in hill alignment is 3.0 to 4.0%, so it should be never less than 3.0%.it may vary depending on the type of road like for bitumen it is 4.0%.

10. What is the stopping sight distance for a speed limit of 50 Kmph?
a) 30 m
b) 40 m
c) 60 m
d) 120 m
Answer: c
Clarification: The stopping sight distance as recommended by IRC is 60 m for a speed of 50 Kmph, for the value of 40,30 the SSD is 40m and 30 m, 120 m is the ISD.

11. What is the intermediate sight distance for a speed limit of 50 Kmph?
a) 120 m
b) 60 m
c) 40 m
d) 30 m
Answer: a
Clarification: The intermediate sight distance is equal to twice the stopping sight distance.

12. What is the maximum super elevation on snow bound area?
a) 3.0%
b) 5.0%
c) 7.0%
d) 10.0%
Answer: c
Clarification: The maximum permissible slope is 10% in hill roads, but in snow area it is 7.0% only.

13. The minimum sufficient straight distance between the transitional ends for reverse curves is __________
a) 3.0 m
b) 5.0 m
c) 9.0 m
d) 12.0 m
Answer: c
Clarification: The minimum distance between the two transitional ends for reverse curves is 9.0 m.

14. The absolute minimum radius of the curve in snow bound area is __________
a) 60 m
b) 70 m
c) 80 m
d) 90 m
Answer: a
Clarification: The minimum absolute radius of the snow bound area as recommended by IRC is 60 m, it may be up to 90 m depending on the area.

Highway Engineering Assessment Questions,

250+ TOP MCQs on Design of Horizontal Alignment – 1 and Answers

Highway Engineering Multiple Choice Questions on “Design of Horizontal Alignment – 1”.

1. The degree if curve is central angle subtended by an arc of length is?
a) 20m
b) 25m
c) 30m
d) 35m
Answer: c
Clarification: The relation between degree and radius of circular curve is RDπ/180=30.

2. The ratio between centrifugal force and weight of the vehicle is called ___________
a) Impact factor
b) Impact ratio
c) Centrifugal factor
d) Centrifugal impulse
Answer: a
Clarification: The relationship between centrifugal force and weight of the vehicle is called impact factor or centrifugal ratio.

3. Which of the following is equal to super elevation?
a) Sinθ
b) Cosθ
c) Tanθ
d) Secθ
Answer: c
Clarification: The transverse inclination to the pavement surface is called as super elevation or cant banking which is equal to tanθ.

4. If the radius of a horizontal curve is 120m, then calculate the safe allowable speed.
a) 50kmph
b) 60kmph
c) 70kmph
d) 80kmph
Answer: b
Clarification: The safe allowable speed is Va = √(27.94R)
Va = √(27.94*120)
Va = 60kmph.

5. If the super elevation of the highway provided is zero, then the design speed of highway having a curve of 200m and coefficient of friction 0.10 is?
a) 40kmph
b) 50kmph
c) 55kmph
d) 60kmph
Answer: b
Clarification: The design velocity is given by V=√127Rf
V=√127×200×0.1
V=50Kmph.

6. The design speed on a highway is 60kmph; calculate the super elevation if radius of curve is 150m and coefficient of friction is 0.15.
a) 0.07
b) 0.038
c) 0.04
d) 0.15
Answer: b
Clarification: e+f=v2/127R
e+f=3600/(127*150)
e+f=0.188
e=0.188-0.15
e=0.038.

7. The super elevation is calculated for ___________
a) 75% of design speed including friction
b) 80% of design speed neglecting friction
c) 75% of design speed neglecting friction
d) 80% of design speed including friction
Answer: c
Clarification: The super elevation is calculated for 75% of design speed neglecting the friction on the pavement.

8. If the super elevation is 0.07 and width of pavement is 7m then the raise of outer edge with respect to inner edge is ___________
a) 0.47m
b) 0.48m
c) 0.49m
d) 0.50m
Answer: c
Clarification: The raise of outer edge is given by
E=Be,
E=7*0.07=0.49m

9. The ruling minimum radius in the curve is given by ___________
a) R=V2/127(e+f)
b) R=V’2/127 (e+f)
c) R=127(e+f)
d) R=127/(e+f)
Answer: b
Clarification: The ruling minimum radius is calculated by using the minimum design speed provided by IRC.

10. The extra widening is the sum of ___________
a) Mechanical widening and psychological widening
b) Two times of mechanical widening
c) Two times of psychological widening
d) Mechanical widening – physical widening
Answer: a
Clarification: The extra widening is the sum of mechanical widening and physiological widening, the mechanical widening is done for the safety of vehicles and psychological widening is done for the comfort of passengers.

250+ TOP MCQs on Soil – 1 and Answers

Highway Engineering Multiple Choice Questions on “Soil – 1”.

1. A good soil should have __________
a) Ease of compaction
b) Temporary strength
c) High sensitivity
d) High void ratio
Answer: a
Clarification: A good soil should have ease of compaction, permanent strength and less sensitivity.

2. The process by which the water voids are removed is called __________
a) Compaction
b) Consolidation
c) Permeability
d) Shear strength
Answer: b
Clarification: The water voids are mostly removed by consolidation; it is a long process so mostly compaction is used.

3. If the GWT rises to the ground level, then the bearing capacity reduces by __________
a) 1/2
b) 1/3
c) 1/4
d) 3/4
Answer: a
Clarification: The bearing capacity of the soil reduces by 50% if the ground water rises to the ground level.

4. What is the most common method used for the removal of voids in soil?
a) Compaction
b) Consolidation
c) Permeability
d) Shear strength
Answer: a
Clarification: Compaction is the most commonly used method for removal of voids; it is mostly done by modified proctor or standard proctor test.

5. What is the volume of voids in the 3 phase diagram of soil?
a) Volume of air
b) Volume of water
c) Volume of air and volume of water
d) Volume of solids
Answer: c
Clarification: Both the volume of air and volume of water contribute to the voids in the 3 phase diagram of soil.

6. What is the ratio of volume of voids and volume of soil solids?
a) Void ratio
b) Porosity
c) Saturation
d) Air content
Answer: a
Clarification: The ratio of volume of voids and volume of soil solids is called as void ratio, porosity is the ratio of voids and total volume, saturation is volume of voids in volume of water, air content is air voids in volume.

7. Montimorrite is a type of mineral which causes expansive behaviour is found in __________
a) Black cotton soil
b) Laterite soil
c) River soil
d) Glacial soil
Answer: a
Clarification: Montimorolite is a type of mineral which is of expansive nature, it is found in mostly black cotton soil.

8. The soil that is formed by the action of wind is called __________
a) Lacustrine soil
b) Alluvial soil
c) Aeolian soil
d) Glacial soil
Answer: c
Clarification: The soil that is formed by the action of wind is called as Aeolian soil, lacustrine by lakes, alluvial by River and glacial by glacier.

9. The maximum density which is desirable in highway embankments is __________
a) Dry density
b) Saturated density
c) M.D.D
d) O.M.C
Answer: c
Clarification: The maximum density which is desirable in highway embankments is M.D.D, if it is greater than MDD then it’s density decreases.

10. The void ratio can never be __________
a) Less than 1
b) Greater than 1
c) Less than zero
d) Equal to 1
Answer: c
Clarification: The void ratio can never be less than zero, as it is a positive quantity, but it can be greater than 1 or equal to 1.

11. In Indian system the soil is classified as per __________
a) USCS
b) ISCS
c) BIS
d) ASTM
Answer: b
Clarification: In Indian system the soil is classified as per ISCS. In international as per USCS, BIS regards the standard in India and ASTM in USA.

12. The theoretical void ratio of sand is taken as __________
a) 0.87
b) 0.91
c) 1.01
d) 1.03
Answer: b
Clarification: The theoretical void ratio of sand is taken as 0.91.

13. If the water content of a soil sample is 25%, and dry density is 15KN/m3 then its dry density in KN/m3 is?
a) 18.75
b) 19
c) 20
d) 21
Answer: a
Clarification: Ὑd=Ὓ/1+w
Ὓ=15*1.25
=18.75KN/m3.

14. If the permeability is high then its void ratio is __________
a) High
b) Low
c) Medium
d) Depends on soil
Answer: a
Clarification: If the void ratio is high then, the permeability of the soil will be very high, for example gravel in which there is a lot of void ratio so the permeability is very high.

15. The property of soil by which its state and size changes are called __________
a) Activity
b) Sensitivity
c) Thixotropy
d) Shear strength
Answer: c
Clarification: Thixotropy means changing in touch; it is used for very sensitive soils.

250+ TOP MCQs on Rigid Pavement Design Methods and Answers

Highway Engineering Multiple Choice Questions on “Rigid Pavement Design Methods”.

1. Based on topography and climate of the location which factor is estimated?
a) Temperature
b) Pavement quality
c) Pavement thickness
d) Pavement design method
Answer: b
Clarification: The thickness is the most important factor that is designed as per requirement, pavement quality and pavement method are indirectly dependent on pavement design.

2. The warping stress is dependent on __________
a) Length of slab
b) length and width of slab
c) Thickness of slab
d) Water content in slab
Answer: b
Clarification: The warping stress is due to the variation in the temperature of the pavement depends on length and width.

3. The first thickness assumed in pavement is called __________
a) IRC thickness
b) MORTH thickness
c) Trial thickness
d) Estimated thickness
Answer: c
Clarification: The first thickness is assumed as a trail thickness, it may be later revised after design.

4. The factor of safety is the stress caused at __________
a) Mid day
b) Summer
c) Winter
d) Rainy
Answer: a
Clarification: The stress caused is measured at the mid day due to wheel load and temperature stress.

5. What is the minimum factor of safety for rigid pavement?
a) 1
b) 1.1
c) 1.5
d) 1.7
Answer: b
Clarification: The minimum factor of safety is 1.1 and if it doesn’t satisfy then the pavement thickness is revised.

6. The Westergaard equation was modified by __________
a) Bradbury
b) Burnister
c) Teller and Sutherland
d) Telford
Answer: c
Clarification: The Westergaard analysis gave low stress results so it was modified by Teller and Sutherland at edge.

7. If the flexural strength of a pavement is 45 and it’s stress is 40 then factor of safety is __________
a) 1
b) 1.1
c) 1.15
d) 1.2
Answer: c
Clarification: The ratio of the flexural strength to total flexural stress is called as factor of safety.

9. The pavement thickness is usually assumed in rigid pavement as __________
a) 20 cm
b) 25 cm
c) 30 cm
d) 35 cm
Answer: b
Clarification: The trail thickness usually assumed in rigid pavement is 25 cm, if it doesn’t satisfy then the pavement thickness is revised.

10. The temperature differential in coastal regions in India for a thickness of 25 cm is __________
a) 15
b) 16.2
c) 17
d) 18
Answer: b
Clarification: The temperature differential in coastal regions in India is assumed as 16.2 degrees centigrade as recommended by IRC.

11. What is the minimum quality of thickness in the low volume roads?
a) 15
b) 20
c) 25
d) 35
Answer: d
Clarification: The minimum grade required is M 40 but for low volume roads M 30 roads can be used.

12. The cement concrete roads are designed with __________
a) Plain concrete
b) RCC
c) ICPB
d) Bitumen
Answer: a
Clarification: The cement slab is provided with dowel bars but it’s not considered as reinforced concrete.

13. The dowel bars are provided __________
a) Longitudinally
b) Laterally
c) Any directoion required
d) In base of pavement
Answer: a
Clarification: The dowel bars are provided mostly in longitudinal direction to prevent movement of pavement.

14. The minimum diameter of dowel bar used is __________
a) 25 mm
b) 35 mm
c) 40 mm
d) 50 mm
Answer: a
Clarification: The minimum diameter of dowel bar used in pavement for load transfer is 25 mm.

15. The dowel should transfer __________
a) 40% of safe load
b) 40% of design load
c) 45% of safe load
d) 45% of design load
Answer: b
Clarification: The dowels are designed in such a way that it should be able to transfer 40% of the design axle load.