Building Materials & Construction interview questions
30 real Building Materials & Construction questions from the Civil Core bank, as asked in Indian campus drives and tech interviews. Every question has a verified answer and an AI-tutor explanation on placd — free to start.
1. What is Bogue compounds?
Junior
A.blended cement with 15 to 35 percent fly ash under IS 1489, giving lower heat and better durability but slower early strength
B.alternate courses of headers and stretchers give the strongest wall, whereas headers and stretchers alternating in each course give better appearance
C.grade numbers are 28-day compressive strength in N/mm², with initial setting at least 30 minutes and final setting within 600 minutes
D.C3S gives early strength, C2S later strength, C3A causes flash set and heat unless gypsum is added, and C4AF contributes colour
2. Which term means: "C3S gives early strength, C2S later strength, C3A causes flash set and heat unless gypsum is added, and C4AF contributes colour"?
A.Bogue compounds — alternate courses of headers and stretchers give the strongest wall, whereas headers and stretchers alternating in each course give better appearance
B.Bogue compounds — modular size 190×90×90 mm with minimum compressive strength 3.5 N/mm² and water absorption not over 20 percent after 24 hours
C.Bogue compounds — impervious layer at plinth level, such as 1:2:4 concrete with waterproofer or bitumen felt, that stops capillary rise of moisture into walls
D.Bogue compounds — C3S gives early strength, C2S later strength, C3A causes flash set and heat unless gypsum is added, and C4AF contributes colour
A.alternate courses of headers and stretchers give the strongest wall, whereas headers and stretchers alternating in each course give better appearance
B.blended cement with 15 to 35 percent fly ash under IS 1489, giving lower heat and better durability but slower early strength
C.grade numbers are 28-day compressive strength in N/mm², with initial setting at least 30 minutes and final setting within 600 minutes
D.modular size 190×90×90 mm with minimum compressive strength 3.5 N/mm² and water absorption not over 20 percent after 24 hours
5. Which term means: "grade numbers are 28-day compressive strength in N/mm², with initial setting at least 30 minutes and final setting within 600 minutes"?
A.OPC grades 33, 43 and 53 — impervious layer at plinth level, such as 1:2:4 concrete with waterproofer or bitumen felt, that stops capillary rise of moisture into walls
B.OPC grades 33, 43 and 53 — white salt deposit on masonry from soluble salts in brick or mortar carried to the surface by moisture, rated nil to heavy by IS 3495
C.OPC grades 33, 43 and 53 — grade numbers are 28-day compressive strength in N/mm², with initial setting at least 30 minutes and final setting within 600 minutes
D.OPC grades 33, 43 and 53 — modular size 190×90×90 mm with minimum compressive strength 3.5 N/mm² and water absorption not over 20 percent after 24 hours
A.blended cement with 15 to 35 percent fly ash under IS 1489, giving lower heat and better durability but slower early strength
B.alternate courses of headers and stretchers give the strongest wall, whereas headers and stretchers alternating in each course give better appearance
C.grade numbers are 28-day compressive strength in N/mm², with initial setting at least 30 minutes and final setting within 600 minutes
D.white salt deposit on masonry from soluble salts in brick or mortar carried to the surface by moisture, rated nil to heavy by IS 3495
A.Portland pozzolana cement — volume increase of 20 to 30 percent at 4 to 6 percent moisture due to surface tension films, which vanishes when saturated and distorts volume batching
B.Portland pozzolana cement — blended cement with 15 to 35 percent fly ash under IS 1489, giving lower heat and better durability but slower early strength
C.Portland pozzolana cement — reactive silica in aggregate reacts with cement alkalis to form an expansive gel that cracks concrete years later, avoided by low-alkali cement or pozzolana
D.Portland pozzolana cement — white salt deposit on masonry from soluble salts in brick or mortar carried to the surface by moisture, rated nil to heavy by IS 3495
A.C3S gives early strength, C2S later strength, C3A causes flash set and heat unless gypsum is added, and C4AF contributes colour
B.expansion of a cement paste specimen after boiling, limited to 10 mm to guard against delayed expansion from free lime
C.modular size 190×90×90 mm with minimum compressive strength 3.5 N/mm² and water absorption not over 20 percent after 24 hours
D.alternate courses of headers and stretchers give the strongest wall, whereas headers and stretchers alternating in each course give better appearance
A.Le Chatelier soundness test — volume increase of 20 to 30 percent at 4 to 6 percent moisture due to surface tension films, which vanishes when saturated and distorts volume batching
B.Le Chatelier soundness test — reactive silica in aggregate reacts with cement alkalis to form an expansive gel that cracks concrete years later, avoided by low-alkali cement or pozzolana
C.Le Chatelier soundness test — grade numbers are 28-day compressive strength in N/mm², with initial setting at least 30 minutes and final setting within 600 minutes
D.Le Chatelier soundness test — expansion of a cement paste specimen after boiling, limited to 10 mm to guard against delayed expansion from free lime
A.volume increase of 20 to 30 percent at 4 to 6 percent moisture due to surface tension films, which vanishes when saturated and distorts volume batching
B.impervious layer at plinth level, such as 1:2:4 concrete with waterproofer or bitumen felt, that stops capillary rise of moisture into walls
C.C3S gives early strength, C2S later strength, C3A causes flash set and heat unless gypsum is added, and C4AF contributes colour
D.modular size 190×90×90 mm with minimum compressive strength 3.5 N/mm² and water absorption not over 20 percent after 24 hours
A.Common burnt clay brick — alternate courses of headers and stretchers give the strongest wall, whereas headers and stretchers alternating in each course give better appearance
B.Common burnt clay brick — modular size 190×90×90 mm with minimum compressive strength 3.5 N/mm² and water absorption not over 20 percent after 24 hours
C.Common burnt clay brick — expansion of a cement paste specimen after boiling, limited to 10 mm to guard against delayed expansion from free lime
D.Common burnt clay brick — blended cement with 15 to 35 percent fly ash under IS 1489, giving lower heat and better durability but slower early strength
A.grade numbers are 28-day compressive strength in N/mm², with initial setting at least 30 minutes and final setting within 600 minutes
B.white salt deposit on masonry from soluble salts in brick or mortar carried to the surface by moisture, rated nil to heavy by IS 3495
C.reactive silica in aggregate reacts with cement alkalis to form an expansive gel that cracks concrete years later, avoided by low-alkali cement or pozzolana
D.expansion of a cement paste specimen after boiling, limited to 10 mm to guard against delayed expansion from free lime
17. Which term means: "white salt deposit on masonry from soluble salts in brick or mortar carried to the surface by moisture, rated nil to heavy by IS 3495"?
A.Efflorescence — white salt deposit on masonry from soluble salts in brick or mortar carried to the surface by moisture, rated nil to heavy by IS 3495
B.Efflorescence — reactive silica in aggregate reacts with cement alkalis to form an expansive gel that cracks concrete years later, avoided by low-alkali cement or pozzolana
C.Efflorescence — expansion of a cement paste specimen after boiling, limited to 10 mm to guard against delayed expansion from free lime
D.Efflorescence — volume increase of 20 to 30 percent at 4 to 6 percent moisture due to surface tension films, which vanishes when saturated and distorts volume batching
A.expansion of a cement paste specimen after boiling, limited to 10 mm to guard against delayed expansion from free lime
B.white salt deposit on masonry from soluble salts in brick or mortar carried to the surface by moisture, rated nil to heavy by IS 3495
C.volume increase of 20 to 30 percent at 4 to 6 percent moisture due to surface tension films, which vanishes when saturated and distorts volume batching
D.impervious layer at plinth level, such as 1:2:4 concrete with waterproofer or bitumen felt, that stops capillary rise of moisture into walls
20. Which term means: "volume increase of 20 to 30 percent at 4 to 6 percent moisture due to surface tension films, which vanishes when saturated and distorts volume batching"?
A.Bulking of sand — volume increase of 20 to 30 percent at 4 to 6 percent moisture due to surface tension films, which vanishes when saturated and distorts volume batching
B.Bulking of sand — impervious layer at plinth level, such as 1:2:4 concrete with waterproofer or bitumen felt, that stops capillary rise of moisture into walls
C.Bulking of sand — C3S gives early strength, C2S later strength, C3A causes flash set and heat unless gypsum is added, and C4AF contributes colour
D.Bulking of sand — reactive silica in aggregate reacts with cement alkalis to form an expansive gel that cracks concrete years later, avoided by low-alkali cement or pozzolana
A.alternate courses of headers and stretchers give the strongest wall, whereas headers and stretchers alternating in each course give better appearance
B.C3S gives early strength, C2S later strength, C3A causes flash set and heat unless gypsum is added, and C4AF contributes colour
C.modular size 190×90×90 mm with minimum compressive strength 3.5 N/mm² and water absorption not over 20 percent after 24 hours
D.white salt deposit on masonry from soluble salts in brick or mortar carried to the surface by moisture, rated nil to heavy by IS 3495
23. Which term means: "alternate courses of headers and stretchers give the strongest wall, whereas headers and stretchers alternating in each course give better appearance"?
A.English vs Flemish bond — volume increase of 20 to 30 percent at 4 to 6 percent moisture due to surface tension films, which vanishes when saturated and distorts volume batching
B.English vs Flemish bond — alternate courses of headers and stretchers give the strongest wall, whereas headers and stretchers alternating in each course give better appearance
C.English vs Flemish bond — reactive silica in aggregate reacts with cement alkalis to form an expansive gel that cracks concrete years later, avoided by low-alkali cement or pozzolana
D.English vs Flemish bond — expansion of a cement paste specimen after boiling, limited to 10 mm to guard against delayed expansion from free lime
A.alternate courses of headers and stretchers give the strongest wall, whereas headers and stretchers alternating in each course give better appearance
B.volume increase of 20 to 30 percent at 4 to 6 percent moisture due to surface tension films, which vanishes when saturated and distorts volume batching
C.impervious layer at plinth level, such as 1:2:4 concrete with waterproofer or bitumen felt, that stops capillary rise of moisture into walls
D.blended cement with 15 to 35 percent fly ash under IS 1489, giving lower heat and better durability but slower early strength
26. Which term means: "impervious layer at plinth level, such as 1:2:4 concrete with waterproofer or bitumen felt, that stops capillary rise of moisture into walls"?
A.Damp-proof course — volume increase of 20 to 30 percent at 4 to 6 percent moisture due to surface tension films, which vanishes when saturated and distorts volume batching
B.Damp-proof course — C3S gives early strength, C2S later strength, C3A causes flash set and heat unless gypsum is added, and C4AF contributes colour
C.Damp-proof course — modular size 190×90×90 mm with minimum compressive strength 3.5 N/mm² and water absorption not over 20 percent after 24 hours
D.Damp-proof course — impervious layer at plinth level, such as 1:2:4 concrete with waterproofer or bitumen felt, that stops capillary rise of moisture into walls
A.C3S gives early strength, C2S later strength, C3A causes flash set and heat unless gypsum is added, and C4AF contributes colour
B.modular size 190×90×90 mm with minimum compressive strength 3.5 N/mm² and water absorption not over 20 percent after 24 hours
C.reactive silica in aggregate reacts with cement alkalis to form an expansive gel that cracks concrete years later, avoided by low-alkali cement or pozzolana
D.blended cement with 15 to 35 percent fly ash under IS 1489, giving lower heat and better durability but slower early strength
29. Which term means: "reactive silica in aggregate reacts with cement alkalis to form an expansive gel that cracks concrete years later, avoided by low-alkali cement or pozzolana"?
A.Alkali-aggregate reaction — volume increase of 20 to 30 percent at 4 to 6 percent moisture due to surface tension films, which vanishes when saturated and distorts volume batching
B.Alkali-aggregate reaction — reactive silica in aggregate reacts with cement alkalis to form an expansive gel that cracks concrete years later, avoided by low-alkali cement or pozzolana
C.Alkali-aggregate reaction — impervious layer at plinth level, such as 1:2:4 concrete with waterproofer or bitumen felt, that stops capillary rise of moisture into walls
D.Alkali-aggregate reaction — white salt deposit on masonry from soluble salts in brick or mortar carried to the surface by moisture, rated nil to heavy by IS 3495
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