Important Questions

Unit1-short answer questions

1. What is stone?

Naturally available construction material - quarried and extracted

from the rock is called stone.

2. List out the advantages of stones and disadvantages of stones in

construction

Following are the various uses of stones in construction work.

1. For masonry work .

2. For lintels and vertical columns .
3. for covering floors of building.
4. for paving of roads and foot paths .
5. As a covering material for buildings.
6. For the construction of roads in the form of boulders and aggregate
7. As an aggregate in cement concrete as well as in lime concretes .
8. Base material for water and sewage filters.
9. For the manufacture of cement and lime.
10. In the construction of masonry dams , stones of good quality
and durability are of vital importance .
11. For the elevation purpose .
12. For railway ballasting purpose.
Stones – Disadvantages

• Difficult to handle
• High dressing charges
• High transport charges
3. Define Brick .Mention what are the advantages bricks over stones in
construction.
Brick – Definition:

An artificial rectangular blocks made from Clay with Uniform size and
Uniform shape is called as brick

Bricks advantages over stone in construction

• Clay Product
• Available every where
• Easy handling
• Easy transportation
 Low cost
4.Write Composition of Bricks .
1.Alumina: Main material in brick-20 to 30%-It gives plasticity . If
it exceeds this limit it will shrink and warp while drying.
 2.Silica: 50 to 60% silica prevents cracking , shrinkage &
warping of bricks hence helps in providing uniform shape to the
bricks

3.Lime: 4 to 5%- Also prevents shrinkage in bricks. If it is used in

excess , the brick will melt during burning process . Hence result
in loss of shape.

4.Oxide of iron:5-6%-Iron oxide helps in silica &Lime to fuse with

each other there by imports strength to the bricks . It also induces
reddish brown tint in the bricks.

5.Magnesia:1%-Presence of magnesia also prevents shrinkage in

bricks and induces yellow tint in it.

5.What are harmful ingredients of Bricks ?

1.Lime:
If it exceeds it will shrink and warp while drying

2.Iron Pyrites:
Presence of iron pyrites leads to crystallization and disintegration
of the bricks during the burning due to their oxidation.

3.Alkalies:
They act as flux during burning process . If they are in excess they
leads to warping and twisting during burning .
Alkalis also leads to efflorescence and staining in bricks.

4.Stones/pebbles:
Leads to formation of weak porous bricks

5.Organic matter/vegetative matter:

Leads to formation of numerous cracks due to which load carrying
capacity is reduced.

Unit1-Long Answer questions

1.what are the properties of a good building stone ?

The following are the properties of good building stone.

1. Structure of stone
2. Texture of stone
3. Durability
4. Hardness
5. Strength
6. Toughness
7. Porosity and absorption
8. Specific gravity
9. Resistance to fire
10. Resistance to electricity
 11. Seasoning
12. Dressing
13. Appearance
14. Workability
15. Cost

1.Structure of stone
Good building stone should contain
Uniform structure
Free from cavities, cracks, patches etc.,
 Igneous rock have uniform structure
 Igneous rock take more loads
 Igneous rock is most suitable for construction works. Eg
:Granite
2.Texture
Good building stone should contain
 Homogeneous and crystalline in structure.
 Hard and compact.
3.Durability
Good building stone should

Resist the effect of atmospheric agencies like wind, rain, temperature etc.
Durability depends on Chemical composition and Physical structure

4.Hardness

Good building stone should contain

 Resistance against abrasive forces developed due to wear and tear and
friction.

 Hardness is Expressed in Number

 It varies from 1 to 10.

 More the number Harder is the stone.

5.Strength

Good building stone should have

 Resistance against crushing.

 A good stone should withstand higher loads.

 Crushing strength varies between 15 to 100 N/mm2.

6.Toughness

Good building stone should contain

  Resistance against impact.

 Stone should be hard and tough.

 Tough enough to withstand stresses developed due to vibration of

machinery, moving loads over them.

7.Porosity and absorption

Good building stone

 Should be less porous.

 Higher porosity reduces the life of structure.

 Should not absorb water more than 5% of its volume or in weight

when immersed in water for 24 hours.

8.Specific gravity

Good building stone

 Ranges between 2.4 to 2.8.
 Higher Specific gravity stones preferred for Dams, bridges, weirs etc.
 Less specific gravity stones preferred for domes and roof covers etc.
9.Resistance to Fire
 Should constitutes minerals having equal coefficient of thermal
expansion for better resistance to fire.
 Such stone preferred for Construction.
Example :sand stone
10.Resistance to Electricity
 Good building stones should offer greater resistance to electricity.
 Dry stone - Good resistance
 More porous stone - Less resistance
 Dense stones with low porosity - Preferred
Example : Marble ,slate
11.Seasoning
 Good building stone should be well seasoned
 Removal of quarry sap is called seasoning.
 Moisture makes stone as soft and damages it.
 For effective seasoning stone is to be left for a period of 6 to 12
months in presence of air and sun light.
12.Dressing

 Dressing is bringing the stone to proper shape and size.

 Dressing is essential for ornamental and structural work like
Arches, sills etc.
 The stone becomes weak in strength and durability when under
go dressing.
13.Appearance
  Important for the face work of the building
 Uniform texture
 Light in colour
14.Workability
Ease with which the stones can be

 Cut
 Dressed to different sizes
 Should be economical to dress
15.Cost
 Depends on

- type of stone
- method of quarrying
- transportation distance
- mode of transport
 Select best and economical one.
Dressing of stones

 Freshly quarried stones are irregular in shape, size and rough in

surface.
 Process of cutting the stones to suitable size, shape and surface is
called as “ Dressing of Stone”.
 Useful for special purposes like arches, sills, columns etc.,
 Carried out near the quarry.
Necessity of Dressing
 To obtain the pleasing appearance.
 To obtain proper bedding with good mortar joints.
 To obtain special shapes for arches and pillars etc.,
 To suit to the requirements of stone masonry.
Preliminary dressing
 The preliminary dressing of stones is done in the quarry itself due to
the following reasons:
 Freshly quarried stones offers less resistance and dressing is easy and
economical.
 It reduces the weight and these further become economy in
transportation.
 The labour are easily available at quarry site.
 Heavy machinery is available at quarry and hence handling of huge
stones is easy.
Final dressing
 Final dressing is done at work spot with the help of dressing tools for
the following reasons .
 Accuracy in size and shape.
 To obtain the required degree of surface finish.
 The purpose for which they are using.
2.what are the different Varieties of stone finishes adopted in
construction?
1. Axed finish
2. Hammer dressed finish
 3. Plain finish
4. Polished finish
5. Punched finish
6. Boasted or Droved finish
7. Rubbed finish
8. Dragged or combed finish
9. Chisel – draughted finish
10.Circular finish
11.Moulded finish
12.Furrowed finish
13.Tooled surface
14.Reticulated surface finish
15.Scrabbling finish
16.Sunk finish
17.Vermiculated finish
18.Self- faced or quarry-faced finish
1.Axed Finish :
Irregular surfaces of hard stones such as Granite
are dressed by means of an axe.

2.Hammer dressed finish:

 This is the rough form of surface finish.

 Quarried stones have large projections which are chipped off by
Waller’s hammer.
 In this finish irregular shaped stones are made into square or
rectangular blocks.
 The hammered dressed stones have no sharp or irregular corners and
suitable in masonry.

3.Plain finish:

In this type of finish , the surface of the stone is made approximately

smooth with a saw or a chisel.
4. Polished finish:

The rubbed surfaces of marble, granite or lime stones etc., are polished
to improve their texture.

Polishing is also done by manual labour using sand and pumice stone
etc., or by rubbing with machine.

5.Punched finish:

Small size depressions made on the surface of a stone by using a punch.

The surface of the stone takes the form of a series of hollows and ridges.

6. Boasted or Droved finish :

A boaster is a chisel having an edge width of about 60 mm.

This boaster is used to make non-continuous parallel marks on the
stone surface as shown in fig.
These marks may be horizontal, inclined or vertical.
7.Rubbed finish :

This finish is obtained by grinding or rubbing a piece of stone with the

surface or with a machine.

Water and sand are used to accelerate the process of rubbing.

8.Dragged or combed finish :

A drag or a comb which is a piece of steel with a number of teeth is

rubbed on the surface in all directions and surface as shown in fig.

This finish is suitable for soft stones only.

9.Chisel – draughted finish :

In order to obtain uniform joints in stone work, the margins are

placed which may be either squared or pitched or chamfered.
10.Circular finish:

In this type of finish, the surface of stone is made round or circular as in

case of a column.

11.Moulded finish :

In this finish, the surface of stone can be moulded in any desired shape
as to improve the appearance of the work.

The mouldings can be made either by hand or by machine.

12.Furrowed finish :

A margin of about 20mm width, is sunk on all the edges of stone and the
central portion is made to project about 15mm.
 A number of vertical or horizontal grooves are formed in the projected
portion.

13. Tooled surface :

The surface of stone is finished by means of a chisel and parallel

continuous marks, either horizontal or inclined or vertical.

14. Reticulated surface finish :

This finish presents a net-like appearance.A margin of 20mm wide is

marked on the edges of stone.Irregular sinkings are made on the
enclosed space.A pointed tool is used to put the marks on the sunk
surface.

15. Scrabbling finish :

 In this finish, the irregular projections are removed with a
scrabbling hammer and in this way the stones are roughly dressed.

16. Sunk finish :

This finish is obtained by sinking the surface below the original level in
the form of wide grooves, chamfers, inclined surfaces etc.,

17. Vermiculated finish :

This finish is just similar to reticulated type except that the sinkings are
more curved.

This finish presents a worm-eaten appearance

18. Self- faced or quarry-faced finish :

Some stones obtained from quarry possess smooth surface and they can
be placed directly on the work.Such a stone is termed as quarry-faced
finish.
3.Classify bricks as per different catagories. And explain detaildly.

Bricks - Classification

Bricks

General Indian Standard

General
Classification
Cross
Size Use
section

Solid Standard Walls

Vertically Modula Paving

Perforated r
Horizontally Block Sewer
Perforated
Fire
 Indian Standard Classification

Second
First Class Third class Over burnt
Class

First Class Bricks

Properties:
 Well burnt
 Uniform in colour
 Smooth & even surface
 Plane rectangular faces
 Uniform texture
 Gives metallic ringing sound when struck
 Water absorption should not be more than 20%
Applications:
 walls
 Floors
 Reinforced Brick slabs
Second class Bricks
Properties:
 Slightly over burnt
 Uniform in colour
 Rough surface
 Not having Plane rectangular faces
 Uniform texture
 Gives ringing sound when struck
 Water absorption should not be more than 22%
Where used:
 Internal walls
 Facing work with plastering
 Reinforced Brick slabs
Third class Bricks
Properties:
 Not burnt properly
 Slightly under-over burnt
 Light red in colour with yellowish tinge
 Rough surface
 Not having Plane rectangular faces
 Do not give ringing sound
 Water absorption should not be more than 25%
Where used:
 Inferior construction works
  Areas with less rain fall
 Areas with less dampness
Over burnt Bricks
Properties:
 Over burnt due to excess heat
 Loose their shape
 Get twisted
 Dark bluish in colour
 Rough surface
Where used:
 Foundations
 Floors as soling material
 Not fit for construction works

4.Explain Bricks manufacturing Process in detail.

Operations:
• Preparation of Brick Earth
• Moulding
• Drying
• Burning
Explain this question steps in detail

5.Explain burning of bricks by Hoffman’s Kiln method with advantages

and disadvantages.

Construction
 Continuous type of kiln covered with roof
 Constructed above ground level
 Circular in plan
 Have 12 chambers with central chimney
Hoffman’s Kiln – Construction
 Each chamber has a door way leading outside
 Door way can be - Closed with dry bricks- Plastered with mud
 Each chamber is Connected by means of flue leading to the
central chimney
  Flue can be closed or opened, as required by using its relevant
damper.
 Fire holes with covers are provided at top of chambers to feed fuel.
 Powdered coal is used as fuel
Hoffman’s Kiln – Working
 In this kiln, each chamber performs its functions in succession
 When the chamber 1 is being loaded with raw bricks, the burnt up
bricks are un-loaded in some other chamber.

 Fresh air enters through door ways 1 & 2 and cools the bricks in
chambers 3 to 6, which are already burnt.
 This air also helps burning of fuel in chambers 7 & 8, where bricks
are undergoing the process of burning.
 Hot gases are further made to pass through the raw bricks in
chambers 9 to 12
- To dry them prior to burning
- At the end of chamber 12,
 - An iron shutter is fixed temporarily
- - Hot gases thus pass through flue into the central chimney
through open damper

 Thus in Hoffman’s kiln the following process are done continuously

and simultaneously.
- Receiving of raw bricks
- Drying
- Heating
- Burning
- Cooling
- Unloading of cooled burnt bricks
 About 20,000 bricks per day can be burnt in a moderately sized kiln,
having compartment of size
- Length = 12m
- Width = 5m
- Height = 2.5m
Hoffman’s Kiln – Coal Consumption
Coal consumption:
 For burning of 1 lakh bricks, Powdered coal required is
- 15 to 20 tonnes in first round
- 12 to 15 tonnes in successive round
Hoffman’s Kiln – Advantages
Advantages:
 Fuel consumption is low as
- Heat of hot gases is fully utilized in drying & heating the bricks
 Regular supply of bricks is assured as
- Kiln can be made to work through out the year
 Drying space & time are saved as
- Raw bricks are loaded directly into the chambers
 There is high percentage of good quality bricks
 Most economical when large number of bricks are required
continuously

Hoffman’s Kiln – Disadvantages

 The initial cost is high
 Constant & Skilled supervision is required

Unit –II

Short Answer questions

1.Define Hydration of cement.

2.What are different ingredients of cement?
3.What is seasoning of Timber?explain its importance.
4.What are main constituents in paints ?
5.What are main constituents in varnish ?

Long Answer Questions

1.Explain Cement manufacturing process with flow chart.

2.Explain different tests conducted on cements as per IS codes .
3. What is meant by Admixtures ?How many types of admixtures are there
?Mention four admixtures with their uses.

Unit III

Short Answer Questions

1.What is meant by mortar?
2.What is plastering? And explain method of plastering
3.what is meant by foundation of the building? Explain the difference
between the footing and foundation.
4.Explain difference between English bond and Flemish bond
5.Explain working principle of Truss.

Long Answer Questions

 1. What is meant by Lintel ?How many types of Lintels are there?
Explain them with figures?
2. What are different types of foundations? Explain them neatly with
figures?
3. What are different types of mortars used in construction ?Explain
them with neat sketches.
4. Explain different types of Stone Masonry with neat sketches.
5. What are different types of Floorings used in buildings.
6. Explain different Building components which are used in building
construction.
7. What are different types of Stair cases used in buildings?
Unit –IV

Short Answer questions

1.what is meant by under pinning?
2Explain what is the difference between form work and scaffolding.
3.What is meant by Fire load and Fire Rating?
4.What are different types of building services?

Long Answer questions

1.Explain different types of ventilations in buildings?Explain in detail about
air conditioning in buildings
2.What do you under stand by Accoustics? What are the defects in
Accoustics in buildings
3.Explain the different components of Form work with their purpose.

Unit –V

Short Answer Questions

1.What is Green Building?

2.What is meant by sustainability?
3.What is energy conservation?
4.What are different Emerging materials in building construction industry?
5.What are building bye laws? Explain the need of building bye laws in
construction?

Long Answer questions

1.What are smart materials ?Explain the uses of different types of smart
materials used in civil engineering ?
2.What are the principles of planning ?Explain them briefly.
3.What are the important points observed while selecting a site for
construction?