Civil Engineering (CE) 2012 GATE Paper with solution - GATE Civil Engineering (CE) 2024 Mock Test Series

 Page 1


2012                                                                                                                                                                                           CIVIL ENGINEERING  - CE                                                                                            
CE 1/16 
CE : CIVIL ENGINEERING 
 
Duration: Three Hours                          Maximum Marks: 100 
Read the following instructions carefully. 
 
1. Do not open the seal of the Question Booklet until you are asked to do so by the invigilator. 
 
2. Take out the Optical Response Sheet (ORS) from this Question Booklet without breaking the seal 
and read the instructions printed on the ORS carefully.   
 
3. On the right half of the ORS, using ONLY a black ink ball point pen, (i) darken the bubble 
corresponding to your test paper code and the appropriate bubble under each digit of your registration 
number and (ii) write your registration number, your name and name of the examination centre and 
put your signature at the specified location.  
 
4. This Question Booklet contains 16 pages including blank pages for rough work. After you are 
permitted to open the seal, please check all pages and report discrepancies, if any, to the invigilator. 
 
5. There are a total of 65 questions carrying 100 marks. All these questions are of objective type. Each 
question has only one correct answer. Questions must be answered on the left hand side of the ORS 
by darkening the appropriate bubble (marked A, B, C, D) using ONLY a black ink ball point pen 
against the question number. For each question darken the bubble of the correct answer. More 
than one answer bubbled against a question will be treated as an incorrect response. 
 
6. Since bubbles darkened by the black ink ball point pen cannot be erased, candidates should darken 
the bubbles in the ORS very carefully. 
 
7. Questions Q.1 – Q.25 carry 1 mark each. Questions Q.26 – Q.55 carry 2 marks each. The 2 marks 
questions include two pairs of common data questions and two pairs of linked answer questions. The 
answer to the second question of the linked answer questions depends on the answer to the first 
question of the pair. If the first question in the linked pair is wrongly answered or is unattempted, then 
the answer to the second question in the pair will not be evaluated. 
 
8. Questions Q.56 – Q.65 belong to General Aptitude (GA) section and carry a total of 15 marks. 
Questions Q.56 – Q.60 carry 1 mark each, and questions Q.61 – Q.65 carry 2 marks each.   
 
9. Unattempted questions will result in zero mark and wrong answers will result in NEGATIVE marks.  
For all 1 mark questions, ? mark will be deducted for each wrong answer. For all 2 marks questions, 
? mark will be deducted for each wrong answer.  However, in the case of the linked answer question 
pair, there will be negative marks only for wrong answer to the first question and no negative marks 
for wrong answer to the second question.  
 
10. Calculator is allowed whereas charts, graph sheets or tables are NOT allowed in the examination hall. 
 
11. Rough work can be done on the question paper itself. Blank pages are provided at the end of the 
question paper for rough work. 
 
12. Before the start of the examination, write your name and registration number in the space provided 
below using a black ink ball point pen. 
 
Name 
 
 
Registration Number 
CE 
      
 
 
Page 2


2012                                                                                                                                                                                           CIVIL ENGINEERING  - CE                                                                                            
CE 1/16 
CE : CIVIL ENGINEERING 
 
Duration: Three Hours                          Maximum Marks: 100 
Read the following instructions carefully. 
 
1. Do not open the seal of the Question Booklet until you are asked to do so by the invigilator. 
 
2. Take out the Optical Response Sheet (ORS) from this Question Booklet without breaking the seal 
and read the instructions printed on the ORS carefully.   
 
3. On the right half of the ORS, using ONLY a black ink ball point pen, (i) darken the bubble 
corresponding to your test paper code and the appropriate bubble under each digit of your registration 
number and (ii) write your registration number, your name and name of the examination centre and 
put your signature at the specified location.  
 
4. This Question Booklet contains 16 pages including blank pages for rough work. After you are 
permitted to open the seal, please check all pages and report discrepancies, if any, to the invigilator. 
 
5. There are a total of 65 questions carrying 100 marks. All these questions are of objective type. Each 
question has only one correct answer. Questions must be answered on the left hand side of the ORS 
by darkening the appropriate bubble (marked A, B, C, D) using ONLY a black ink ball point pen 
against the question number. For each question darken the bubble of the correct answer. More 
than one answer bubbled against a question will be treated as an incorrect response. 
 
6. Since bubbles darkened by the black ink ball point pen cannot be erased, candidates should darken 
the bubbles in the ORS very carefully. 
 
7. Questions Q.1 – Q.25 carry 1 mark each. Questions Q.26 – Q.55 carry 2 marks each. The 2 marks 
questions include two pairs of common data questions and two pairs of linked answer questions. The 
answer to the second question of the linked answer questions depends on the answer to the first 
question of the pair. If the first question in the linked pair is wrongly answered or is unattempted, then 
the answer to the second question in the pair will not be evaluated. 
 
8. Questions Q.56 – Q.65 belong to General Aptitude (GA) section and carry a total of 15 marks. 
Questions Q.56 – Q.60 carry 1 mark each, and questions Q.61 – Q.65 carry 2 marks each.   
 
9. Unattempted questions will result in zero mark and wrong answers will result in NEGATIVE marks.  
For all 1 mark questions, ? mark will be deducted for each wrong answer. For all 2 marks questions, 
? mark will be deducted for each wrong answer.  However, in the case of the linked answer question 
pair, there will be negative marks only for wrong answer to the first question and no negative marks 
for wrong answer to the second question.  
 
10. Calculator is allowed whereas charts, graph sheets or tables are NOT allowed in the examination hall. 
 
11. Rough work can be done on the question paper itself. Blank pages are provided at the end of the 
question paper for rough work. 
 
12. Before the start of the examination, write your name and registration number in the space provided 
below using a black ink ball point pen. 
 
Name 
 
 
Registration Number 
CE 
      
 
 
2012                                                                                                                                                                                           CIVIL ENGINEERING  - CE                                                                                            
CE 2/16 
 
Q. 1 – Q. 25 carry one mark each. 
Q.1  
The estimate of 
1.5
0.5
d x
x
?
 obtained using Simpson’s rule with three-point function evaluation exceeds 
the exact value by 
(A) 0.235   (B) 0.068 (C) 0.024 (D) 0.012 
 
Q.2  The annual precipitation data of a city is normally distributed with mean and standard deviation as 
1000 mm and 200 mm, respectively. The probability that the annual precipitation will be more than 
1200 mm is 
(A) < 50% (B) 50% (C)  75% (D)  100% 
 
Q.3  
The infinite series  
234
1 ...
2! 3! 4!
x x x
x ? ? ? ? ? corresponds to  
(A) sec x (B) e
x
  (C)  cos x (D) 1+sin
2
x 
 
Q.4  The Poisson’s ratio is defined as  
(A) 
axial stress
lateral stress
 (B) 
lateral strain
axial strain
 (C)  
lateral stress
axial stress
 (D)  
axial strain
lateral strain
 
 
Q.5  The following statements are related to bending of beams:  
 
I The slope of the bending moment diagram is equal to the shear force. 
II The slope of the shear force diagram is equal to the load intensity. 
III The slope of the curvature is equal to the flexural rotation. 
IV The second derivative of the deflection is equal to the curvature. 
 
The only FALSE statement is 
 (A) I (B) II (C)  III (D) IV 
 
Q.6  If a small concrete cube is submerged deep in still water in such a way that the pressure exerted on 
all faces of the cube is p, then the maximum shear stress developed inside the cube is 
(A) 0 (B)  
2
p
 (C)  p (D)  2p 
 
Q.7  As per IS 456:2000, in the Limit State Design of a flexural member, the strain in reinforcing bars 
under tension at ultimate state should not be less than 
(A) 
y
s
f
E
 (B) 0.002
y
s
f
E
? (C)  
1.15
y
s
f
E
 (D)  0.002
1.15
y
s
f
E
? 
 
Q.8  Which one of the following is categorised as a long-term loss of prestress in a prestressed concrete 
member? 
(A) Loss due to elastic shortening (B) Loss due to friction 
(C) Loss due to relaxation of strands (D) Loss due to anchorage slip 
 
Q.9  In a steel plate with bolted connections, the rupture of the net section is a mode of failure under 
(A) tension (B) compression  (C)  flexure (D) shear  
Page 3


2012                                                                                                                                                                                           CIVIL ENGINEERING  - CE                                                                                            
CE 1/16 
CE : CIVIL ENGINEERING 
 
Duration: Three Hours                          Maximum Marks: 100 
Read the following instructions carefully. 
 
1. Do not open the seal of the Question Booklet until you are asked to do so by the invigilator. 
 
2. Take out the Optical Response Sheet (ORS) from this Question Booklet without breaking the seal 
and read the instructions printed on the ORS carefully.   
 
3. On the right half of the ORS, using ONLY a black ink ball point pen, (i) darken the bubble 
corresponding to your test paper code and the appropriate bubble under each digit of your registration 
number and (ii) write your registration number, your name and name of the examination centre and 
put your signature at the specified location.  
 
4. This Question Booklet contains 16 pages including blank pages for rough work. After you are 
permitted to open the seal, please check all pages and report discrepancies, if any, to the invigilator. 
 
5. There are a total of 65 questions carrying 100 marks. All these questions are of objective type. Each 
question has only one correct answer. Questions must be answered on the left hand side of the ORS 
by darkening the appropriate bubble (marked A, B, C, D) using ONLY a black ink ball point pen 
against the question number. For each question darken the bubble of the correct answer. More 
than one answer bubbled against a question will be treated as an incorrect response. 
 
6. Since bubbles darkened by the black ink ball point pen cannot be erased, candidates should darken 
the bubbles in the ORS very carefully. 
 
7. Questions Q.1 – Q.25 carry 1 mark each. Questions Q.26 – Q.55 carry 2 marks each. The 2 marks 
questions include two pairs of common data questions and two pairs of linked answer questions. The 
answer to the second question of the linked answer questions depends on the answer to the first 
question of the pair. If the first question in the linked pair is wrongly answered or is unattempted, then 
the answer to the second question in the pair will not be evaluated. 
 
8. Questions Q.56 – Q.65 belong to General Aptitude (GA) section and carry a total of 15 marks. 
Questions Q.56 – Q.60 carry 1 mark each, and questions Q.61 – Q.65 carry 2 marks each.   
 
9. Unattempted questions will result in zero mark and wrong answers will result in NEGATIVE marks.  
For all 1 mark questions, ? mark will be deducted for each wrong answer. For all 2 marks questions, 
? mark will be deducted for each wrong answer.  However, in the case of the linked answer question 
pair, there will be negative marks only for wrong answer to the first question and no negative marks 
for wrong answer to the second question.  
 
10. Calculator is allowed whereas charts, graph sheets or tables are NOT allowed in the examination hall. 
 
11. Rough work can be done on the question paper itself. Blank pages are provided at the end of the 
question paper for rough work. 
 
12. Before the start of the examination, write your name and registration number in the space provided 
below using a black ink ball point pen. 
 
Name 
 
 
Registration Number 
CE 
      
 
 
2012                                                                                                                                                                                           CIVIL ENGINEERING  - CE                                                                                            
CE 2/16 
 
Q. 1 – Q. 25 carry one mark each. 
Q.1  
The estimate of 
1.5
0.5
d x
x
?
 obtained using Simpson’s rule with three-point function evaluation exceeds 
the exact value by 
(A) 0.235   (B) 0.068 (C) 0.024 (D) 0.012 
 
Q.2  The annual precipitation data of a city is normally distributed with mean and standard deviation as 
1000 mm and 200 mm, respectively. The probability that the annual precipitation will be more than 
1200 mm is 
(A) < 50% (B) 50% (C)  75% (D)  100% 
 
Q.3  
The infinite series  
234
1 ...
2! 3! 4!
x x x
x ? ? ? ? ? corresponds to  
(A) sec x (B) e
x
  (C)  cos x (D) 1+sin
2
x 
 
Q.4  The Poisson’s ratio is defined as  
(A) 
axial stress
lateral stress
 (B) 
lateral strain
axial strain
 (C)  
lateral stress
axial stress
 (D)  
axial strain
lateral strain
 
 
Q.5  The following statements are related to bending of beams:  
 
I The slope of the bending moment diagram is equal to the shear force. 
II The slope of the shear force diagram is equal to the load intensity. 
III The slope of the curvature is equal to the flexural rotation. 
IV The second derivative of the deflection is equal to the curvature. 
 
The only FALSE statement is 
 (A) I (B) II (C)  III (D) IV 
 
Q.6  If a small concrete cube is submerged deep in still water in such a way that the pressure exerted on 
all faces of the cube is p, then the maximum shear stress developed inside the cube is 
(A) 0 (B)  
2
p
 (C)  p (D)  2p 
 
Q.7  As per IS 456:2000, in the Limit State Design of a flexural member, the strain in reinforcing bars 
under tension at ultimate state should not be less than 
(A) 
y
s
f
E
 (B) 0.002
y
s
f
E
? (C)  
1.15
y
s
f
E
 (D)  0.002
1.15
y
s
f
E
? 
 
Q.8  Which one of the following is categorised as a long-term loss of prestress in a prestressed concrete 
member? 
(A) Loss due to elastic shortening (B) Loss due to friction 
(C) Loss due to relaxation of strands (D) Loss due to anchorage slip 
 
Q.9  In a steel plate with bolted connections, the rupture of the net section is a mode of failure under 
(A) tension (B) compression  (C)  flexure (D) shear  
2012                                                                                                                                                                                           CIVIL ENGINEERING  - CE                                                                                            
CE 3/16 
 
Q.10  The ratio of the theoretical critical buckling load for a column with fixed ends to that of another 
column with the same dimensions and material, but with pinned ends, is equal to 
(A) 0.5 (B) 1.0 (C)  2.0 (D)  4.0 
 
Q.11  The effective stress friction angle of a saturated, cohesionless soil is 38 ?. The ratio of shear stress to 
normal effective stress on the failure plane is 
(A) 0.781 (B) 0.616  (C) 0.488 (D) 0.438  
 
Q.12  Two series of compaction tests were performed in the laboratory on an inorganic clayey soil 
employing two different levels of compaction energy per unit volume of soil.  With regard to the 
above tests, the following two statements are made.  
 I  The optimum moisture content is expected to be more for the tests with higher energy.  
 II The maximum dry density is expected to be more for the tests with higher energy. 
 
The CORRECT option evaluating the above statements is 
(A) Only I is TRUE (B) Only II is TRUE 
(C) Both I and II are TRUE (D) Neither I nor II is TRUE 
 
Q.13  As per the Indian Standard soil classification system, a sample of silty clay with liquid limit of 40% 
and plasticity index of 28% is classified as 
(A) CH (B) CI (C) CL  (D) CL-ML  
 
Q.14  A smooth rigid retaining wall moves as shown in the 
sketch causing the backfill material to fail. The 
backfill material is homogeneous and isotropic, and 
obeys the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion.  The major 
principal stress is   
 
(A) parallel to the wall face and acting downwards 
(B) normal to the wall face  
(C) oblique to the wall face acting downwards 
(D) oblique to the wall face acting upwards 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Q.15  An embankment is to be constructed with a granular soil (bulk unit weight = 20 kN/m
3
) on a 
saturated clayey silt deposit (undrained shear strength = 25 kPa). Assuming undrained general shear 
failure and bearing capacity factor of 5.7, the maximum height (in m) of the embankment at the 
point of failure is  
(A) 7.1  (B) 5.0  (C) 4.5  (D) 2.5  
 
Q.16  A trapezoidal channel is 10.0 m wide at the base and has a side slope of 4 horizontal to 3 vertical. 
The bed slope is 0.002. The channel is lined with smooth concrete (Manning’s n = 0.012). The 
hydraulic radius (in m) for a depth of flow of 3.0 m is 
(A) 20.0  (B) 3.5  (C)  3.0  (D)  2.1  
 
Q.17  A rectangular open channel of width 5.0 m is carrying a discharge of 100 m
3
/s. The Froude number 
of the flow is 0.8. The depth of flow (in m) in the channel is 
(A) 4 (B) 5  (C)  16 (D)  20 
Initial wall position 
Final wall position 
Dry, granular,  
cohesionless  
backfill with 
horizontal top 
surface  
Page 4


2012                                                                                                                                                                                           CIVIL ENGINEERING  - CE                                                                                            
CE 1/16 
CE : CIVIL ENGINEERING 
 
Duration: Three Hours                          Maximum Marks: 100 
Read the following instructions carefully. 
 
1. Do not open the seal of the Question Booklet until you are asked to do so by the invigilator. 
 
2. Take out the Optical Response Sheet (ORS) from this Question Booklet without breaking the seal 
and read the instructions printed on the ORS carefully.   
 
3. On the right half of the ORS, using ONLY a black ink ball point pen, (i) darken the bubble 
corresponding to your test paper code and the appropriate bubble under each digit of your registration 
number and (ii) write your registration number, your name and name of the examination centre and 
put your signature at the specified location.  
 
4. This Question Booklet contains 16 pages including blank pages for rough work. After you are 
permitted to open the seal, please check all pages and report discrepancies, if any, to the invigilator. 
 
5. There are a total of 65 questions carrying 100 marks. All these questions are of objective type. Each 
question has only one correct answer. Questions must be answered on the left hand side of the ORS 
by darkening the appropriate bubble (marked A, B, C, D) using ONLY a black ink ball point pen 
against the question number. For each question darken the bubble of the correct answer. More 
than one answer bubbled against a question will be treated as an incorrect response. 
 
6. Since bubbles darkened by the black ink ball point pen cannot be erased, candidates should darken 
the bubbles in the ORS very carefully. 
 
7. Questions Q.1 – Q.25 carry 1 mark each. Questions Q.26 – Q.55 carry 2 marks each. The 2 marks 
questions include two pairs of common data questions and two pairs of linked answer questions. The 
answer to the second question of the linked answer questions depends on the answer to the first 
question of the pair. If the first question in the linked pair is wrongly answered or is unattempted, then 
the answer to the second question in the pair will not be evaluated. 
 
8. Questions Q.56 – Q.65 belong to General Aptitude (GA) section and carry a total of 15 marks. 
Questions Q.56 – Q.60 carry 1 mark each, and questions Q.61 – Q.65 carry 2 marks each.   
 
9. Unattempted questions will result in zero mark and wrong answers will result in NEGATIVE marks.  
For all 1 mark questions, ? mark will be deducted for each wrong answer. For all 2 marks questions, 
? mark will be deducted for each wrong answer.  However, in the case of the linked answer question 
pair, there will be negative marks only for wrong answer to the first question and no negative marks 
for wrong answer to the second question.  
 
10. Calculator is allowed whereas charts, graph sheets or tables are NOT allowed in the examination hall. 
 
11. Rough work can be done on the question paper itself. Blank pages are provided at the end of the 
question paper for rough work. 
 
12. Before the start of the examination, write your name and registration number in the space provided 
below using a black ink ball point pen. 
 
Name 
 
 
Registration Number 
CE 
      
 
 
2012                                                                                                                                                                                           CIVIL ENGINEERING  - CE                                                                                            
CE 2/16 
 
Q. 1 – Q. 25 carry one mark each. 
Q.1  
The estimate of 
1.5
0.5
d x
x
?
 obtained using Simpson’s rule with three-point function evaluation exceeds 
the exact value by 
(A) 0.235   (B) 0.068 (C) 0.024 (D) 0.012 
 
Q.2  The annual precipitation data of a city is normally distributed with mean and standard deviation as 
1000 mm and 200 mm, respectively. The probability that the annual precipitation will be more than 
1200 mm is 
(A) < 50% (B) 50% (C)  75% (D)  100% 
 
Q.3  
The infinite series  
234
1 ...
2! 3! 4!
x x x
x ? ? ? ? ? corresponds to  
(A) sec x (B) e
x
  (C)  cos x (D) 1+sin
2
x 
 
Q.4  The Poisson’s ratio is defined as  
(A) 
axial stress
lateral stress
 (B) 
lateral strain
axial strain
 (C)  
lateral stress
axial stress
 (D)  
axial strain
lateral strain
 
 
Q.5  The following statements are related to bending of beams:  
 
I The slope of the bending moment diagram is equal to the shear force. 
II The slope of the shear force diagram is equal to the load intensity. 
III The slope of the curvature is equal to the flexural rotation. 
IV The second derivative of the deflection is equal to the curvature. 
 
The only FALSE statement is 
 (A) I (B) II (C)  III (D) IV 
 
Q.6  If a small concrete cube is submerged deep in still water in such a way that the pressure exerted on 
all faces of the cube is p, then the maximum shear stress developed inside the cube is 
(A) 0 (B)  
2
p
 (C)  p (D)  2p 
 
Q.7  As per IS 456:2000, in the Limit State Design of a flexural member, the strain in reinforcing bars 
under tension at ultimate state should not be less than 
(A) 
y
s
f
E
 (B) 0.002
y
s
f
E
? (C)  
1.15
y
s
f
E
 (D)  0.002
1.15
y
s
f
E
? 
 
Q.8  Which one of the following is categorised as a long-term loss of prestress in a prestressed concrete 
member? 
(A) Loss due to elastic shortening (B) Loss due to friction 
(C) Loss due to relaxation of strands (D) Loss due to anchorage slip 
 
Q.9  In a steel plate with bolted connections, the rupture of the net section is a mode of failure under 
(A) tension (B) compression  (C)  flexure (D) shear  
2012                                                                                                                                                                                           CIVIL ENGINEERING  - CE                                                                                            
CE 3/16 
 
Q.10  The ratio of the theoretical critical buckling load for a column with fixed ends to that of another 
column with the same dimensions and material, but with pinned ends, is equal to 
(A) 0.5 (B) 1.0 (C)  2.0 (D)  4.0 
 
Q.11  The effective stress friction angle of a saturated, cohesionless soil is 38 ?. The ratio of shear stress to 
normal effective stress on the failure plane is 
(A) 0.781 (B) 0.616  (C) 0.488 (D) 0.438  
 
Q.12  Two series of compaction tests were performed in the laboratory on an inorganic clayey soil 
employing two different levels of compaction energy per unit volume of soil.  With regard to the 
above tests, the following two statements are made.  
 I  The optimum moisture content is expected to be more for the tests with higher energy.  
 II The maximum dry density is expected to be more for the tests with higher energy. 
 
The CORRECT option evaluating the above statements is 
(A) Only I is TRUE (B) Only II is TRUE 
(C) Both I and II are TRUE (D) Neither I nor II is TRUE 
 
Q.13  As per the Indian Standard soil classification system, a sample of silty clay with liquid limit of 40% 
and plasticity index of 28% is classified as 
(A) CH (B) CI (C) CL  (D) CL-ML  
 
Q.14  A smooth rigid retaining wall moves as shown in the 
sketch causing the backfill material to fail. The 
backfill material is homogeneous and isotropic, and 
obeys the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion.  The major 
principal stress is   
 
(A) parallel to the wall face and acting downwards 
(B) normal to the wall face  
(C) oblique to the wall face acting downwards 
(D) oblique to the wall face acting upwards 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Q.15  An embankment is to be constructed with a granular soil (bulk unit weight = 20 kN/m
3
) on a 
saturated clayey silt deposit (undrained shear strength = 25 kPa). Assuming undrained general shear 
failure and bearing capacity factor of 5.7, the maximum height (in m) of the embankment at the 
point of failure is  
(A) 7.1  (B) 5.0  (C) 4.5  (D) 2.5  
 
Q.16  A trapezoidal channel is 10.0 m wide at the base and has a side slope of 4 horizontal to 3 vertical. 
The bed slope is 0.002. The channel is lined with smooth concrete (Manning’s n = 0.012). The 
hydraulic radius (in m) for a depth of flow of 3.0 m is 
(A) 20.0  (B) 3.5  (C)  3.0  (D)  2.1  
 
Q.17  A rectangular open channel of width 5.0 m is carrying a discharge of 100 m
3
/s. The Froude number 
of the flow is 0.8. The depth of flow (in m) in the channel is 
(A) 4 (B) 5  (C)  16 (D)  20 
Initial wall position 
Final wall position 
Dry, granular,  
cohesionless  
backfill with 
horizontal top 
surface  
2012                                                                                                                                                                                           CIVIL ENGINEERING  - CE                                                                                            
CE 4/16 
 
Q.18  The circular water pipes shown in the sketch are 
flowing full. The velocity of flow (in m/s) in the 
branch pipe “R” is 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(A) 3 (B) 4 (C) 5 (D) 6 
 
Q.19  The ratio of actual evapo-transpiration to potential evapo-transpiration is in the range 
(A) 0.0 to 0.4 (B) 0.6 to 0.9  (C) 0.0 to 1.0  (D)  1.0 to 2.0 
 
Q.20  A sample of domestic sewage is digested with silver sulphate, sulphuric acid, potassium dichromate 
and mercuric sulphate in chemical oxygen demand (COD) test. The digested sample is then titrated 
with standard ferrous ammonium sulphate (FAS) to determine the un-reacted amount of
 
(A)  mercuric sulphate (B)  potassium dichromate   
 (C)  silver sulphate (D)  sulphuric acid   
 
Q.21  Assertion [a]:  At a manhole, the crown of the outgoing sewer should not be higher than the crown 
of the incoming sewer. 
Reason [r]:    Transition from a larger diameter incoming sewer to a smaller diameter outgoing 
sewer at a manhole should not be made. 
The CORRECT option evaluating the above statements is : 
(A)  Both [a] and [r] are true and [r] is the correct reason for [a] 
(B)  Both [a] and [r] are true but [r] is not the correct reason for [a] 
(C)  Both [a] and [r] are false 
(D)  [a] is true but [r] is false  
 
Q.22  Two major roads with two lanes each are crossing in an urban area to form an un-controlled 
intersection. The number of conflict points when both roads are one-way is “X” and when both 
roads are two-way is “Y”. The ratio of X to Y is  
(A) 0.25 (B) 0.33 (C)  0.50 (D)  0.75 
 
Q.23  Two bitumen samples “X” and “Y” have softening points 45 ?C and 60 ?C, respectively. Consider 
the following statements:  
 
I.  I   Viscosity of “X” will be higher than that of “Y” at the same temperature. 
 II  Penetration value of “X” will be lesser than that of “Y” under standard conditions. 
 
The CORRECT option evaluating the above statements is 
(A) Both I and II are TRUE (B) I is FALSE and II is TRUE 
(C) Both I and II are FALSE (D) I is TRUE and II is FALSE 
 
Q.24  Road roughness is measured using 
(A) Benkelman beam (B) Bump integrator 
(C) Dynamic cone penetrometer (D) Falling weight deflectometer 
 
V = 5 m/s 
P Q 
R 
dia = 2 m  
V = 6 m/s 
dia = 4 m  
 
V = ? 
 
Page 5


2012                                                                                                                                                                                           CIVIL ENGINEERING  - CE                                                                                            
CE 1/16 
CE : CIVIL ENGINEERING 
 
Duration: Three Hours                          Maximum Marks: 100 
Read the following instructions carefully. 
 
1. Do not open the seal of the Question Booklet until you are asked to do so by the invigilator. 
 
2. Take out the Optical Response Sheet (ORS) from this Question Booklet without breaking the seal 
and read the instructions printed on the ORS carefully.   
 
3. On the right half of the ORS, using ONLY a black ink ball point pen, (i) darken the bubble 
corresponding to your test paper code and the appropriate bubble under each digit of your registration 
number and (ii) write your registration number, your name and name of the examination centre and 
put your signature at the specified location.  
 
4. This Question Booklet contains 16 pages including blank pages for rough work. After you are 
permitted to open the seal, please check all pages and report discrepancies, if any, to the invigilator. 
 
5. There are a total of 65 questions carrying 100 marks. All these questions are of objective type. Each 
question has only one correct answer. Questions must be answered on the left hand side of the ORS 
by darkening the appropriate bubble (marked A, B, C, D) using ONLY a black ink ball point pen 
against the question number. For each question darken the bubble of the correct answer. More 
than one answer bubbled against a question will be treated as an incorrect response. 
 
6. Since bubbles darkened by the black ink ball point pen cannot be erased, candidates should darken 
the bubbles in the ORS very carefully. 
 
7. Questions Q.1 – Q.25 carry 1 mark each. Questions Q.26 – Q.55 carry 2 marks each. The 2 marks 
questions include two pairs of common data questions and two pairs of linked answer questions. The 
answer to the second question of the linked answer questions depends on the answer to the first 
question of the pair. If the first question in the linked pair is wrongly answered or is unattempted, then 
the answer to the second question in the pair will not be evaluated. 
 
8. Questions Q.56 – Q.65 belong to General Aptitude (GA) section and carry a total of 15 marks. 
Questions Q.56 – Q.60 carry 1 mark each, and questions Q.61 – Q.65 carry 2 marks each.   
 
9. Unattempted questions will result in zero mark and wrong answers will result in NEGATIVE marks.  
For all 1 mark questions, ? mark will be deducted for each wrong answer. For all 2 marks questions, 
? mark will be deducted for each wrong answer.  However, in the case of the linked answer question 
pair, there will be negative marks only for wrong answer to the first question and no negative marks 
for wrong answer to the second question.  
 
10. Calculator is allowed whereas charts, graph sheets or tables are NOT allowed in the examination hall. 
 
11. Rough work can be done on the question paper itself. Blank pages are provided at the end of the 
question paper for rough work. 
 
12. Before the start of the examination, write your name and registration number in the space provided 
below using a black ink ball point pen. 
 
Name 
 
 
Registration Number 
CE 
      
 
 
2012                                                                                                                                                                                           CIVIL ENGINEERING  - CE                                                                                            
CE 2/16 
 
Q. 1 – Q. 25 carry one mark each. 
Q.1  
The estimate of 
1.5
0.5
d x
x
?
 obtained using Simpson’s rule with three-point function evaluation exceeds 
the exact value by 
(A) 0.235   (B) 0.068 (C) 0.024 (D) 0.012 
 
Q.2  The annual precipitation data of a city is normally distributed with mean and standard deviation as 
1000 mm and 200 mm, respectively. The probability that the annual precipitation will be more than 
1200 mm is 
(A) < 50% (B) 50% (C)  75% (D)  100% 
 
Q.3  
The infinite series  
234
1 ...
2! 3! 4!
x x x
x ? ? ? ? ? corresponds to  
(A) sec x (B) e
x
  (C)  cos x (D) 1+sin
2
x 
 
Q.4  The Poisson’s ratio is defined as  
(A) 
axial stress
lateral stress
 (B) 
lateral strain
axial strain
 (C)  
lateral stress
axial stress
 (D)  
axial strain
lateral strain
 
 
Q.5  The following statements are related to bending of beams:  
 
I The slope of the bending moment diagram is equal to the shear force. 
II The slope of the shear force diagram is equal to the load intensity. 
III The slope of the curvature is equal to the flexural rotation. 
IV The second derivative of the deflection is equal to the curvature. 
 
The only FALSE statement is 
 (A) I (B) II (C)  III (D) IV 
 
Q.6  If a small concrete cube is submerged deep in still water in such a way that the pressure exerted on 
all faces of the cube is p, then the maximum shear stress developed inside the cube is 
(A) 0 (B)  
2
p
 (C)  p (D)  2p 
 
Q.7  As per IS 456:2000, in the Limit State Design of a flexural member, the strain in reinforcing bars 
under tension at ultimate state should not be less than 
(A) 
y
s
f
E
 (B) 0.002
y
s
f
E
? (C)  
1.15
y
s
f
E
 (D)  0.002
1.15
y
s
f
E
? 
 
Q.8  Which one of the following is categorised as a long-term loss of prestress in a prestressed concrete 
member? 
(A) Loss due to elastic shortening (B) Loss due to friction 
(C) Loss due to relaxation of strands (D) Loss due to anchorage slip 
 
Q.9  In a steel plate with bolted connections, the rupture of the net section is a mode of failure under 
(A) tension (B) compression  (C)  flexure (D) shear  
2012                                                                                                                                                                                           CIVIL ENGINEERING  - CE                                                                                            
CE 3/16 
 
Q.10  The ratio of the theoretical critical buckling load for a column with fixed ends to that of another 
column with the same dimensions and material, but with pinned ends, is equal to 
(A) 0.5 (B) 1.0 (C)  2.0 (D)  4.0 
 
Q.11  The effective stress friction angle of a saturated, cohesionless soil is 38 ?. The ratio of shear stress to 
normal effective stress on the failure plane is 
(A) 0.781 (B) 0.616  (C) 0.488 (D) 0.438  
 
Q.12  Two series of compaction tests were performed in the laboratory on an inorganic clayey soil 
employing two different levels of compaction energy per unit volume of soil.  With regard to the 
above tests, the following two statements are made.  
 I  The optimum moisture content is expected to be more for the tests with higher energy.  
 II The maximum dry density is expected to be more for the tests with higher energy. 
 
The CORRECT option evaluating the above statements is 
(A) Only I is TRUE (B) Only II is TRUE 
(C) Both I and II are TRUE (D) Neither I nor II is TRUE 
 
Q.13  As per the Indian Standard soil classification system, a sample of silty clay with liquid limit of 40% 
and plasticity index of 28% is classified as 
(A) CH (B) CI (C) CL  (D) CL-ML  
 
Q.14  A smooth rigid retaining wall moves as shown in the 
sketch causing the backfill material to fail. The 
backfill material is homogeneous and isotropic, and 
obeys the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion.  The major 
principal stress is   
 
(A) parallel to the wall face and acting downwards 
(B) normal to the wall face  
(C) oblique to the wall face acting downwards 
(D) oblique to the wall face acting upwards 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Q.15  An embankment is to be constructed with a granular soil (bulk unit weight = 20 kN/m
3
) on a 
saturated clayey silt deposit (undrained shear strength = 25 kPa). Assuming undrained general shear 
failure and bearing capacity factor of 5.7, the maximum height (in m) of the embankment at the 
point of failure is  
(A) 7.1  (B) 5.0  (C) 4.5  (D) 2.5  
 
Q.16  A trapezoidal channel is 10.0 m wide at the base and has a side slope of 4 horizontal to 3 vertical. 
The bed slope is 0.002. The channel is lined with smooth concrete (Manning’s n = 0.012). The 
hydraulic radius (in m) for a depth of flow of 3.0 m is 
(A) 20.0  (B) 3.5  (C)  3.0  (D)  2.1  
 
Q.17  A rectangular open channel of width 5.0 m is carrying a discharge of 100 m
3
/s. The Froude number 
of the flow is 0.8. The depth of flow (in m) in the channel is 
(A) 4 (B) 5  (C)  16 (D)  20 
Initial wall position 
Final wall position 
Dry, granular,  
cohesionless  
backfill with 
horizontal top 
surface  
2012                                                                                                                                                                                           CIVIL ENGINEERING  - CE                                                                                            
CE 4/16 
 
Q.18  The circular water pipes shown in the sketch are 
flowing full. The velocity of flow (in m/s) in the 
branch pipe “R” is 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(A) 3 (B) 4 (C) 5 (D) 6 
 
Q.19  The ratio of actual evapo-transpiration to potential evapo-transpiration is in the range 
(A) 0.0 to 0.4 (B) 0.6 to 0.9  (C) 0.0 to 1.0  (D)  1.0 to 2.0 
 
Q.20  A sample of domestic sewage is digested with silver sulphate, sulphuric acid, potassium dichromate 
and mercuric sulphate in chemical oxygen demand (COD) test. The digested sample is then titrated 
with standard ferrous ammonium sulphate (FAS) to determine the un-reacted amount of
 
(A)  mercuric sulphate (B)  potassium dichromate   
 (C)  silver sulphate (D)  sulphuric acid   
 
Q.21  Assertion [a]:  At a manhole, the crown of the outgoing sewer should not be higher than the crown 
of the incoming sewer. 
Reason [r]:    Transition from a larger diameter incoming sewer to a smaller diameter outgoing 
sewer at a manhole should not be made. 
The CORRECT option evaluating the above statements is : 
(A)  Both [a] and [r] are true and [r] is the correct reason for [a] 
(B)  Both [a] and [r] are true but [r] is not the correct reason for [a] 
(C)  Both [a] and [r] are false 
(D)  [a] is true but [r] is false  
 
Q.22  Two major roads with two lanes each are crossing in an urban area to form an un-controlled 
intersection. The number of conflict points when both roads are one-way is “X” and when both 
roads are two-way is “Y”. The ratio of X to Y is  
(A) 0.25 (B) 0.33 (C)  0.50 (D)  0.75 
 
Q.23  Two bitumen samples “X” and “Y” have softening points 45 ?C and 60 ?C, respectively. Consider 
the following statements:  
 
I.  I   Viscosity of “X” will be higher than that of “Y” at the same temperature. 
 II  Penetration value of “X” will be lesser than that of “Y” under standard conditions. 
 
The CORRECT option evaluating the above statements is 
(A) Both I and II are TRUE (B) I is FALSE and II is TRUE 
(C) Both I and II are FALSE (D) I is TRUE and II is FALSE 
 
Q.24  Road roughness is measured using 
(A) Benkelman beam (B) Bump integrator 
(C) Dynamic cone penetrometer (D) Falling weight deflectometer 
 
V = 5 m/s 
P Q 
R 
dia = 2 m  
V = 6 m/s 
dia = 4 m  
 
V = ? 
 
2012                                                                                                                                                                                           CIVIL ENGINEERING  - CE                                                                                            
CE 5/16 
Q.25  Which of the following errors can be eliminated by reciprocal measurements in differential 
leveling? 
 
 I  Error due to earth’s curvature  
 II  Error due to atmospheric refraction 
(A) Both I and II (B) I only (C) II only (D) Neither I nor II 
Q. 26 - Q. 55 carry two marks each. 
Q.26  The error in 
0
d
()
d
fx
x
xx ?
for a continuous function estimated with h = 0.03 using the central 
difference formula 
00
0
( ) ( ) d
()
d2
f x h f x h
fx
xh
xx
? ? ?
?
?
 , is 2×10
-3
.  The values of x
0
 and f(x
0
) are 
19.78 and 500.01, respectively.  The corresponding error in the central difference estimate for         
h = 0.02 is approximately  
(A) 1.3×10
-4
 (B) 3.0×10
-4
 (C) 4.5×10
-4
 (D) 9.0×10
-4
 
 
Q.27  In an experiment, positive and negative values are equally likely to occur. The probability of 
obtaining at most one negative value in five trials is 
(A) 
1
32
 (B) 
2
32
 (C)  
3
32
 (D)  
6
32
 
 
Q.28  The eigenvalues of  matrix 
95
58
??
??
??
 are 
(A) -2.42 and 6.86  (B) 3.48 and 13.53  (C) 4.70 and 6.86  (D) 6.86 and 9.50 
 
Q.29  For the parallelogram OPQR shown in the sketch, 
ˆˆ
OP ai b j ?? and 
ˆˆ
OR ci d j ?? .  The area of the 
parallelogram is 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(A)  a d – b c (B)  a c + b d 
(C)   a d + b c (D)   a b – c d 
 
Q.30  The solution of the ordinary differential equation 
d
20
d
y
y
x
?? for the boundary condition, y = 5 at 
x = 1 is  
(A) 
2x
ye
?
? (B) 
2
2
x
ye
?
? (C)  
2
10.95
x
ye
?
? (D)  
2
36.95
x
ye
?
? 
 
Q.31  A simply supported beam is subjected to a uniformly distributed load of intensity w per unit length, 
on half of the span from one end. The length of the span and the flexural stiffness are denoted as l 
and EI, respectively. The deflection at mid-span of the beam is  
(A) 
4
5
6144
wl
EI
 (B) 
4
5
768
wl
EI
 (C)  
4
5
384
wl
EI
 (D)  
4
5
192
wl
EI
 
O 
P 
R 
Q