Bce0103:Building Science Question Paper
Bce0103:Building Science
Course:Diploma In Civil Engineering
Institution: Meru University Of Science And Technology question papers
Exam Year:2014
(a) (i) Describe the manufacture of Portland cement. (4½ Marks)
(ii) You have been given a contract by Meru University College of Science and
Technology to put up a two storey students’ hostel. What steps will you take to ensure
that the cement delivered to the site is of:
- Required strength
- The standard setting time. (3 Marks)
(b) (i) Explain the influence of the following properties of aggregates on the quality of
concrete mix
- Texture
- Shape
- Specific gravity and bulk density (1½ Marks)
(ii) What is fineness modulus? What is its significance? (1 Mark)
(iii) The IS sieve sizes are 40mm, 20mm, 10mm, 4,75mm, 2.36mm, 1.18mm, 600
micron, 300micron and 150 micron. A sample of sand measuring 2kg is sieved and it’s
found that 0.20kg, 0.36kg, 0.52kg, 0.48kg and 0.42kg are retained on 2.36mm, 1.18mm,
600micron, 300micron and 150 micron respectively.
- What is the fineness modulus of the sand?
- Draw a grading curve for the sand above and specify the zone of sand.
(5 Marks)
2
(c) (i) Define the following terms used in concrete mix.
- Curing
- Workability
- Segregation
- Bleeding (2 Marks)
(ii) What factors will you consider while deciding the strength of concrete to be used for
a given work? (1½ Marks)
(iii) Describe any four means of transporting concrete in construction site. (4 Marks)
(d) (i) Explain three methods of curing concrete. (3 Marks)
(ii) Describe how workability of concrete can be assessed by slump-test method.
(4½ Marks)
SECTION B
QUESTION TWO – (15 MARKS)
(a) Explain hydration of cement and show the effect of cement constituents compounds on
this process. (4 Marks)
(b) Name four types of cement and briefly describe the situations where they can be used in
site. (8 Marks)
(c) Differentiate between volume batching and weigh batching. (3 Marks)
QUESTION THREE – (15 MARKS)
(a) What are the factors affecting workability of concrete? (5 Marks)
(b) Define admixtures for concrete mix design (1 Mark)
(c) Explain the effects of the following admixtures in mixed concrete giving two examples in
each case.
(i) Accelerators
(ii) Retarders
(iii)Air-entraining agents (9 Marks)
QUESTION FOUR – (15 MARKS)
(a) Describe the first two stages of concrete mix. (5 Marks)
(b) (i) What is grading of aggregates. (2 Marks)
(ii) By use of sketches where necessary, show how aggregate crushing value of
aggregates can be determined and explain its significance to and highway engineer.
(8 Marks)
More Question Papers