Civil Engineering UPSC PYQ 2015

Determine the diameter of the vertical pipe needed for a flow of a liquid of kinematic viscosity 1.95 x 10^-3 m^2s^-1 at a Reynolds number of 1500. The constant pressure is maintained throughout its length.

A town with population of 1 lakh is supplied with 150 lpcd of water. The chlorine required for disinfection was found to be 0.28 mg/l and residual chlorine required was 0.2 mg/l. Estimate the chlorine dose and quantity of bleaching powder required per year (in kg/year), if available chlorine in bleaching powder is 30%.

5% diluted wastewater was subjected to BOD test and the following observations are recorded: DO of water used for dilution = 3.6 mg/l; DO of wastewater sample = 0.8 mg/l; DO in sample after 5 days = 0.7 mg/l; k20 = 0.12/day. Determine: (i) BOD of wastewater; (ii) ultimate BOD.

Prototype data of Tidal Channel are as follows: Length of channel = 18 km, Discharge = 250 m^3s^-1, Depth = 2.5 m, Width of the channel = 50 m. Model is built with a vertical scale of 1 : 50 and a horizontal scale of 1 : 500. Tidal period is 12 hours. Compute the average velocity in ms^-1 and tidal period in the model.

From the following data of a traverse, compute the length CD, if traverse stations A, D and E are in a straight line: Line AB, Length 110 m, Bearing 83 deg 12'; Line BC, Length 165 m, Bearing 30 deg 41'; Line CD, Length unknown, Bearing 346 deg 06'; Line DE, Length 212 m, Bearing 16 deg 18'.

Describe the methods used for determining mean depth of precipitation in catchments when point rainfall data are available.

The following data were entered in a level book, where some entries were omitted (marked with x). Find out the missing data and apply checks: Station 1, BS 2.285, RL 232.460, Remark BM1; Station 2, BS 1.650, Fall x, Rise 0.020; Station 3, IS 2.105, Fall x; Station 4, BS x, FS 1.960, Rise x; Station 5, BS 2.050, FS 1.925, Fall 0.300; Station 6, IS x, Rise x, RL 232.255, Remark BM2; Station 7, BS 1.690, FS x, Rise 0.340; Station 8, BS 2.865, FS 2.100, Fall x; Station 9, IS x, FS x, RL 233.425, Remark BM3.

What is the preconsolidation pressure? Describe a method to determine the preconsolidation pressure.

A particle moves on a vertical line with an acceleration a = 3*sqrt(v). At t = 2 sec, its displacement is 8 m and velocity is 6 m/s. Determine its displacement, velocity and acceleration at time t = 4 sec. a = acceleration and v = velocity.

Explain the importance of COD/BOD ratio while designing the treatment options for COD/BOD ratio of 1, 3 and 6, and justify the selection of treatment units.

The ground water movement at a site takes place through a soil zone comprised of 3 m thick sand with coefficient of permeability 0.01 cm/s (in both directions) overlain by 1 m thick fine gravel with coefficient of permeability 0.1 cm/s (in both directions). Determine the coefficient of permeabilities applicable for horizontal and vertical ground water movements through the layer.

In order to predict lift and drag forces on a scale model of an aircraft during a section of operational envelope, involves sea level flight at 100 ms^-1, where the speed of sound may be taken as 340 ms^-1. It is proposed to utilise cryogenic wind tunnel with Nitrogen at 5 atmosphere of pressure and a temperature of -90 deg C (rho = 7.7 kg m^-3, viscosity 1.2 x 10^-5 Ns for nitrogen). The speed of sound in nitrogen at this temperature is 295 ms^-1. Determine the wind tunnel flow velocity, the scale of model to ensure full dynamic similarity and, the ratio of forces acting on the model and prototype. Mass density of air 1.2 kg m^-3 and viscosity 1.8 x 10^-5 Ns.

A national highway with dual 2-lane carriageway is to be constructed in the year 2017 for a design life of 25 years. However, traffic count reveals that only 2000 commercial vehicles (summation of both directions) are plying per day in the year 2015 and annual rate of increase in commercial vehicles is 5%. Hence, from economical reasons, it was decided to construct new flexible pavement for this national highway in stages initially for a period of 15 years. Determine the traffic for which this new flexible pavement is to be designed assuming vehicle damage factor as 4.8. Assume any other data suitably, if required.

An in-situ vane shear test was conducted at the bottom of a borehole in a soft clayey soil. A torque of 155 N-m was required to shear the soil. The vane was 100 mm diameter and 150 mm long. What was the undrained shear strength, Cu of the soil? Derive the relevant expression relating to torque, vane dimension, and undrained shear strength of the soil.

An aerial photograph was taken from a flying height of 15 km above m.s.l. A straight portion of a canal measures 20 cm on this photograph, whereas it is 10 km on the ground. If the height of the terrain is 5000 m above m.s.l., compute the focal length of camera lens used for taking the photograph.

A hydraulic jump has an energy loss of 9.0 m and the downstream Froude number is 0.12. Determine the initial depth and the discharge intensity.

A horizontal shaft 12 m in length is fixed at its ends. When viewed from its left end, axial couples of 50 kNm clockwise and 75 kNm counterclockwise act at 5 m and 9 m from the left end respectively. Determine the end fixing couples and the position where the shaft suffers no angular twist.

Determine the slope at A, vertical deflections at B and mid span using the moment-area theorem, for the given beam with 20 kN loads at points 2 m, 1 m, 1 m, 2 m along the span. Take EI = Const.

Briefly explain the weaving angle and weaving length with reference to traffic rotary.

Write the purpose of tie bars and dowel bars in joints of cement concrete pavement.

What are the different types of machinery required at civil construction project? Discuss the factors which influence the performance of an earth-moving machinery.

For the sluice gate shown in Figure, if Cv = 0.98 and Cc = 0.62, what is the height of the opening? Given V1 = 2.006 m/s, g = 9.81 ms^-2. Also determine the flow per unit width.

At the entry of the pump intake the velocity v varies inversely as the square of the radial distance r from inlet to suction pipe. The velocity is found to be 0.8 ms^-1 at a radial distance of 1.5 m. Compute the acceleration of flow at radial distances of 0.5 m and at 1.25 m, from the inlet assuming the stream-lines to be radial.

What is meant by proportioning of concrete? Discuss its properties. Describe different methods of proportioning concrete.

What are the various factors to be considered in the design of traffic islands for channelized intersections? Briefly explain, with the help of sketch, how speed of vehicles can be controlled by using traffic islands at intersections.

A pile group consists of nine friction piles driven into a deep layer of clay soil. The diameter of each pile is 0.4 m, the embedded length is 12 m and center to center spacing of the piles is 1.2 m. The soil has cohesion, c = 50 kN/m^2, unit weight, gamma = 18 kN/m^3. Determine (i) the block capacity of the pile group using a factor of safety = 3.0, (ii) group capacity based on individual pile failure criterion and (iii) design capacity of the pile group (Assume adhesion factor alpha = 0.8).

What are the basic requirements to be considered for construction of a railway track to achieve higher speeds and better riding quality? Sketch a typical cross-section of a BG railway track for double line on curve in cutting section.

Draw the B.M. diagram for the beam shown in figure when support B settles by 10 mm, using moment distribution method. The beam ABCD has supports at A (5 m), B (4 m from A), C (6 m from B), with EI = Constant, I = 200 x 10^-6 m^4, E = 200 GPa.

Two wheels, placed at a distance of 2.5 m apart, with a load of 200 kN on each of them, are moving on a simply supported girder (I-section) of span 6.0 m. The top and bottom flanges of the I-section are of 200 x 200 mm and the size of web plate is 800 x 6 mm. If the allowable bending compressive, bending tensile and average shear stresses are 110 MPa, 165 MPa and 100 MPa respectively, check the adequacy of the section against bending and shear stresses, self weight of the girder may be neglected.

Using the data pertaining to Activated Sludge Process (ASP) given below, determine: (i) efficiency; (ii) volume of aerator; (iii) hydraulic retention time (HRT); (iv) volumetric loading. Wastewater flow = 20 MLD; BOD in settled wastewater = 200 mg/l; Effluent BOD required = 15 mg/l; F/M ratio = 0.2; MLSS = 3000 mg/l.

What do you mean by scheduling of a Civil Engineering project? What are the advantages of scheduling? Discuss the classification of scheduling.

Define duty and delta. Derive a relationship between duty and delta. Using this relation, find delta for a crop with base period of 100 days. The duty of the crop is 432 ha/cumec.

The global stiffness matrix of a structure contains rigid body displacements. Describe how to modify it to account for nodes having zero displacements. Give two approaches.

Three pipes are connected as shown in figure. The characteristics of pipe are as follows: Pipe A, D = 150 mm, L = 600 m, f = 0.020; Pipe B, D = 100 mm, L = 480 m, f = 0.032; Pipe C, D = 200 mm, L = 1200 m, f = 0.024. Determine the flow rate in each pipe. Minor losses may be neglected.

A radial flow turbine has the following dimensions: Outer periphery radius r1 = 0.5 m; Inner periphery radius r2 = 0.3 m. The angle made by the relative velocity at the inlet is (beta1) = 80 degrees. The width of the flow passage between the two sides of the turbine is 0.25 m. The flow of 4 m^3s^-1 goes through the turbine when the speed is 300 rpm. Find the blade angle beta2 such that water exits radially. Find the torque exerted by the water in the turbine and the power thus developed. Find the head utilised by the runner and the power resulting therefrom. Assume no shock at the entrance and blades are of negligible thickness.

Design the water main to supply water from reservoir to a city with a population of 5 lakhs. Assume per capita demand as 270 lpd and peak factor as 1.8. Also, find the hydraulic gradient at which the main is to be laid. Take velocity of flow as 1.2 m/s and CH = 110.

A booster pump is installed in the pipeline between two reservoirs. If the energy added by the pump is 20 m, determine the flow rate in the pipeline in m^3s^-1. Length of the pipeline = 1500 m; Coefficient of friction = 0.02; Diameter of the pipeline = 300 mm; WSEL of A = 200 m; WSEL of B = 185 m.

Enumerate the tests to which a stone should be subjected for making it fit for building construction purposes. What is meant by dressing of stone? What are the advantages of quarry dressing?

Design and sketch the shape of an ogee spillway using the data given below: Upstream head of water, H = 20 m; Shape of upstream face = 1 : 1.5 (H:V); k = 1.939, n = 1.81.

(i) State the Abram's law on water-cement ratio. (ii) Name the various grades of ordinary Portland cement. (iii) Define characteristic strength of reinforcing steel. (iv) State any five applications of prestressed concrete.

Material for an earthfill was available from three different borrow pits/sites. In the compacted state the fill measured 1.0 x 10^5 m^3 at a void ratio of 0.75. The corresponding in-situ void ratio and cost (cost of material and transportation) of the material for three sites are as follows: Borrow site 1, void ratio 0.8, total cost per cubic meter Rs. 200; Borrow site 2, void ratio 1.15, Rs. 180; Borrow site 3, void ratio 1.25, Rs. 175. Determine the most economical site for the above earthfill work.

For the truss shown in the figure (a Pratt-type truss with panels U1-U7 on top chord and L0-L6 on bottom chord, 6 panels of 5 m each, height 5 m), draw the influence lines for force in members U3L3, U3L2 and L2L3. The load moves on the bottom chord.

Describing the major categories of pollutants generated by thermal power plants, discuss the environmental impacts of thermal power plants.

Following data are given for a rectangular channel: Width = 9 m, n = 0.017, S0 = 1 : 4000; D/S depth is 6.80 m, U/S depth is 3.6865 m; Discharge 48.748 m^3s^-1. Using single step method compute the length of profile.

Design a section of wall of a water tank on uncracked basis to resist a pull of 60 kN and a bending moment of 7.5 kNm/m width producing tension on the water face. Use M 30 concrete and Fe 415 grade steel. Effective cover = 30 mm; Permissible stress in direct tension in concrete = 1.5 MPa; Permissible stress in bending tension in concrete = 2 MPa; Modular ratio = 9.

A beam has a cross-section in the shape of a cross/plus sign, with flanges 100 mm on each side and web thickness 50 mm, total depth made of four 50 mm segments. It is subjected to a vertical shear force of 10 kN at a given section. Determine the shear stress distribution on the section.

Explain various uses of a contour map in Civil Engineering projects.

With the help of flow diagram, explain various elements involved in municipal solid waste management.

Compute the shear stress acting on the river bed for the data given: Discharge = 5000 m^3s^-1, River bed slope = 1 : 2500, Depth of flow = 4.50 m. Assume the river to be wide.

Design a welded lap joint to join two plates of size 300 x 10 mm and 280 x 10 mm in Fe 410 grade steel to mobilise the tensile strength of the plates using field weld. Yield strength of material = 250 MPa; gamma_mo = 1.1; Partial safety factor for field weld = 1.5.

A rod AB 6 m long is held against sliding by a string AD. The rod weighs 10 kN. Determine the tension in the string AD assuming that all surfaces are smooth.

The uniform flow depth is 1.5 m in a trapezoidal channel of bottom width of 20 m with a side slope of 1(V) : 2(H). The bed slope is 1 x 10^-4. Manning roughness coefficient is 0.2. The downstream control raises the water surface by 3 m. Classify the profile.

The following data are collected to determine irrigation requirement. The water application efficiency is 65% and consumptive use coefficient in the growing season is 0.8. Find evapotranspiration and irrigation requirement: November - Mean monthly temp 18 deg C, Monthly % sunshine 7.20 hr, Effective rainfall 2.6 cm; December - 15 deg C, 7.15 hr, 2.8 cm; January - 13.5 deg C, 7.30 hr, 3.5 cm; February - 14.5 deg C, 7.10 hr, 2.0 cm.

Using the following details of trains running on a 3 degree main BG curve track, determine (i) equilibrium cant for equilibrium speed and (ii) length of transition curve to be adopted: Speed 75 km/hr, No. of trains 3; Speed 65 km/hr, No. of trains 6; Speed 55 km/hr, No. of trains 12; Speed 45 km/hr, No. of trains 18. Assume: (1) maximum permissible speed on the curve as 80 km/hr; (2) allowable cant deficiency as 7.5 cm; (3) weighted average may be used as the equilibrium speed of trains.

A counterfort retaining wall is shown in figure in plan and sectional elevation. It retains dry earth having a density of 19 kN/m^3 and angle of repose of 30 degrees. Design a counterfort in flexure only using the limit state design. Take M 30 grade of concrete and Fe 500 grade steel.

An infinite natural slope with angle of slope 15 degrees (inclination measured from horizontal) has a saturated unit weight of 18 kN/m^3 and an effective angle of internal friction, phi = 35 degrees. Determine the factor of safety against failure of the slope (i) when the slope is completely dry or submerged but without seepage, (ii) when seepage occurs at and parallel to the surface of the slope.

For the earth retaining structure shown in the figure, determine the total active thrust on the wall, and the point of application of the thrust above the base of the wall. Given H = 5 m, phi = 30 degrees, C = 0, beta = 90 degrees, hw = 2.0 m, gamma_sat = 18 kN/m^3, gamma_bulk = 17 kN/m^3 (above water table), q = 250 kN/m^2 (surcharge on top).

Differentiate between open-graded and dense-graded bituminous construction.

List the methods available for estimation of runoff in catchments. In detail, explain the rational method used for estimation of runoff in urban catchments.

A 20 cm well penetrates 30 m below the static water level. Water is pumped at the rate of 1800 lpm, and the drawdown in the wells is observed as 1.2 m and 0.6 m. The observation wells are 12 m and 36 m from the well. Determine: (i) the transmissibility of the aquifer; (ii) the drawdown in the pumped well taking R as 300 m; (iii) the specific capacity of the well.

What are the constituents of a good brick earth? Discuss the properties of a first class brick. Describe the tests to be performed to check the quality of bricks.

What are the general requirements of a bituminous mix?

Define PERT and discuss its significance. Explain different time estimates used in PERT.

Explaining the objectives of river training, discuss the methods used for river training.

A bracket connection shown in figure, consists of a joist cutting welded to the flange of a column by shop fillet welds 8 mm on flanges and 6 mm on the web. Determine the safe service load 'W', the bracket can support at a distance of 200 mm from the face of the column if the steel grade is Fe 410. Partial factor of safety on shop weld = 1.25; Yield strength of steel = 250 MPa.