All Free Civil Engineering MCQs with Answers

• A. Circular curve
• B. Parabolic curve
• C. Spiral curve
• D. Compound horizontal curve

Explanation: A parabolic vertical curve provides a gradual change in gradient and gives a convenient relationship between elevation and distance.

• A. Driver reaction time on the approach
• B. Pavement thickness at the low point
• C. Headlight sight distance along the curve
• D. Width of the shoulder on the curve

Explanation: At night, the driver’s view on a sag curve is limited by the headlight beam and its upward angle.

• A. Aggregate crushing value
• B. Flakiness index
• C. Los Angeles abrasion value
• D. Aggregate impact value

Explanation: The aggregate impact value measures resistance to sudden impact or shock loading.

• A. To accommodate slab expansion due to temperature rise
• B. To improve the skid resistance of the pavement
• C. To prevent water from entering the subgrade
• D. To increase the compressive strength of concrete

Explanation: An expansion joint provides space for concrete slabs to expand when temperature increases.

• A. Parking accumulation survey
• B. Cordon count survey
• C. Spot speed survey
• D. Axle load survey

Explanation: A cordon count records traffic crossing a defined boundary, or cordon, around an urban area.

• A. Total traffic volume entering the intersection daily
• B. Average number of vehicles waiting during red
• C. Maximum discharge rate of a lane under continuous green
• D. Time required for pedestrians to cross the road

Explanation: Saturation flow is the maximum rate at which vehicles can discharge from a lane when a continuous green signal is available and the queue…

• A. Recreational function
• B. Warning function
• C. Guide function
• D. Regulatory function

Explanation: Regulatory signs communicate legal restrictions, prohibitions, and required actions, such as speed limits or no entry.

• A. Join two rail ends in a continuous track
• B. Support the rail directly on the ballast
• C. Provide extra elevation on a curve
• D. Guide a train from one track to another

Explanation: Fish plates, used with bolts, connect the ends of two rails and maintain alignment across the rail joint.

• A. Hangar
• B. Terminal building
• C. Control tower
• D. Runway shoulder

Explanation: The terminal building handles passenger processing, boarding, arrivals, and baggage movement.

• A. Weathering by repeated wetting and drying
• B. Shape deformation during compaction
• C. Wear and impact in service
• D. Absorption of bitumen during mixing

Explanation: The Los Angeles abrasion test evaluates aggregate toughness and resistance to abrasion and impact caused by traffic and handling.

• A. Median island
• B. Central reserve
• C. Traffic refuge island
• D. Catch-water drain

Explanation: A catch-water drain is placed on the uphill side of a cut to intercept runoff before it reaches the road slope or pavement.

• A. Examine broad terrain and identify feasible route corridors
• B. Set out the final centreline with construction instruments
• C. Determine the final pavement layer thicknesses
• D. Measure the completed road's traffic capacity

Explanation: A reconnaissance survey provides a broad understanding of terrain, drainage, soil and obstacles so feasible corridors can be identified.

• A. Resistance to aggregate crushing under impact
• B. Consistency or hardness at a specified temperature
• C. Adhesion between concrete and steel bars
• D. Loss of mass under abrasive wheel action

Explanation: The penetration test measures the depth reached by a standard needle under specified load, time and temperature.

• A. Heavy compared with their specific gravity
• B. Rounded compared with their surface area
• C. Thin compared with their length and width
• D. Soft compared with their colour and texture

Explanation: Flaky particles have a small thickness compared with their other dimensions.

• A. Prevent all temperature changes in the surface layer
• B. Provide a waterproof seal over the wearing course
• C. Mark traffic lanes for night-time visibility
• D. Distribute wheel loads over the subbase and subgrade

Explanation: The base course is a major load-carrying layer that spreads traffic stresses before they reach weaker underlying layers.

• A. Contact pressure to the corresponding slab deflection
• B. Traffic volume to the available road width
• C. Bitumen content to aggregate gradation
• D. Concrete strength to its curing period

Explanation: The modulus of subgrade reaction, commonly denoted by k, is the pressure applied to the subgrade divided by the resulting deflection.

• A. Harmonic mean of travel speeds over a section
• B. Arithmetic mean of spot speeds at a location
• C. Average speed obtained by dividing density by flow
• D. Speed of the slowest vehicle in the stream

Explanation: Time mean speed is the arithmetic average of the individual vehicle speeds passing a fixed point.

• A. Manual priority controller
• B. Fixed-time controller
• C. Actuated controller
• D. Flashing warning controller

Explanation: An actuated controller receives information from detectors and adjusts the signal timing according to traffic demand.

• A. Number of passengers carried by each vehicle
• B. Total distance travelled by each parked vehicle
• C. Average speed of vehicles on the approach road
• D. Number of vehicles parked at a particular time

Explanation: Parking accumulation is the number of vehicles parked in a specified area at a given time.

• A. Secure the rail to the sleeper and maintain its position
• B. Provide drainage through the centre of the ballast
• C. Increase the gradient of the railway track
• D. Replace the need for sleepers under the rail

Explanation: Rail fastenings hold the rail to the sleeper, maintain the required gauge and resist lateral or longitudinal movement.