April / May 2015

Two marks with answers

1) What is the structural action of
(a) Heel &
(b)Toe of a cantilever retaining wall.
Ans: The structural action of heel slab is to withstand maximum B.M. due to earth pressure from
bottom and weight of earth and heel slab from top
The structural action of toe slab is to withstand maximum B.M. due to earth pressure from
bottom and weight of earth on toe slab from top
2) Why counterforts are provided in counterfort retaining wall?
Ans: The counterforts take reactions both from the stem as well as the heel slab. The stem of the
counterfort retaining wall acts as a continuous slab supported on counterforts. The counterforts take
reactions both from the stem as well as the heel slab. Since the active earth pressure on stem acts
outwards and net pressure heel slab acts downwards, the counterforts are subjected to tensile stresses
along the outer face of the counterforts.
3) Why cover domes are for a circular tank is economical than a flat cover slab?
Ans: The cover domes are economical due to following reasons,
i. The thickness of domes is less when compared with flat cover slab.
ii. The uninterrupted floor space is desirable.
iii. The reinforcement is very less when compared with normal flat cover slab.
4) Why bracings are provided in the staging of water tanks?
Overhead tanks are supported on columns.As columns are very long, they are susceptible for
buckling due to wind pressure.Hence to reduce the effect of long column and convert as short
columns braces are provided . thus the effective length of columns is taken as the distance
between centres of adjacent bracings.bracings are designed for bending moment and shear.shear
reinforcement is generally provided at top and bottom of the brace section.
5) When a mat foundation is restored to a structure?
Ans: A mat foundation is generally used where the base soil has a low bearing capacity and or
the column loads are so large that more than 50% of area is covered by conventional spread
footings.it is also restores to in bridging over weak spots in underlying non-uniform soil.
6) What are the advantages of a box culvert over slab culvert?
Ans: Separate foundations are not required for box culverts since the bottom slab is resting
directly on the soil which seves as a raft. Economical due to the rigidity and monolithic action of
the slabs.

7) Why yield line theory for slab always yield upper bound solutions?
Ans: The upper bound of the true collapse load is that external load for which the internal work
done by the slab for a small increment of displacement, assuming that moment at every plastic
hinge is equal to the yield moment and satisfying the boundary conditions, is equal to the
external work done by that external load for the same amount of small increment of
displacement.

8) Sketch an yield line pattern for a circular slab continuous over its edge supports?
Ans:

9) Define slenderness ratio of a masonry wall?

Ans: Slenderness ratio is the ratio of effective height or effective length to effective thickness of
the masonry unit. Slenderness ratio is the important factor to be considered in the stability of a
wall.
10) List out any two factors which affect the permissible stress of a masonry?
Ans: permissible stress for brick masonry depends on the following factors:
Type and strength of bricks
Strength of mortar
Slenderness ratio
Eccentricity of loading
Shape and size of bricks
Cross sectional area of the masonry.