BAHIR DAR UNIVERSITY

Institute of Technology
School of Civil and Water Resources Engineering
Entrance Examination for PG students Date: 03 January 2011
2011/2012 A.Y. (2004EC) Time allowed: 2 hours
Instruction: For each the following question four or five possible answers (A, B, C, and D & E) are given, out of
which only one is correct.
Name

Please write order of field of interest: 1._________2._________3__________4.__________

a) Construction Management ----------------- b) Geotechnical Engineering----------------------

c) Hydraulic Engineering-------------------------------- d) Structural Engineering--------------------------

1. Value of the integral I = ∭ ( 1+ x ) (1−x ) dx

3 5 3 5
x x x x
(a) + +C ( y ) (b) + +C (x)
6 60 6 60
3 5
y x y3 x5
(c) + + C( y ) (d) + + C(x )
6 60 6 60
2. Which one of the following is NOT true for complex number Z1 and Z2
Z1 Z1 Z2
(a) Z = 2 (b)|Z 1−Z 2|≤|Z 1|−|Z 2|
2 |Z 2|
(c)|Z 1+ Z 2|≤|Z 1|+|Z2|
2 2 2 2
(d) |Z 1−Z 2| +|Z 1−Z 2| =2|Z 1| −2|Z2|

3. Which one of the following statement is NOT true?

(a) The measurement of skew ness is dependent upon the amount of dispersion
(b) In a symmetric distribution, the values of mean, mode and median are the same
(c) In a positively skewed distribution: mean > median > mode
(d) In a negatively skewed distribution: mode > mean > median

4. Determine the deflection of cantilevered beam AB at the mid length of the beam EI constant.

P L3 P L3 P L2
(a) (b) (c) (d) None
3 EI 8 EI 3 EI
5. In the design of reinforced concrete beam, ensuring the ductility of the design is mandatory. Which measure is
taken to ensure the ductility of the beam?
(a) Increasing the number of reinforcement bars
(b) Increasing the depth of the beam
(c) Increasing the grade of concrete
(d) b and c
(e) a and c
6. In using coefficient method of slab analysis according to EBCS-2, the following are the limitations stated
except.
a) The four sides of the slab should be supported.
b) It should be rectangular in shape.

1
 c) The ratio of longer side to shorter side length should be greater than two.
d) a&c
e) None
7. Identify the most efficient nut joint (with double cover plates) for a plate in tension from the patterns (plan
view) shown below, each comprising 6 identical bolts with the same pitch and gauge.

(Plates have same thickness)

8. Ultimate Limit state involves a structural collapse of part or all of the structure. Such a limit state should have
a very low probability of occurrence since it may lead to loss of life and major financial losses. Which one is
not categorized under major ultimate limit states:
(a) Rupture of critical parts
(b) Loss of Equilibrium
(c) Deflection
(d) Formation of plastic mechanism
9. The comparison between pumps operating in series and in parallel is
(a) Pumps operating in series boost the discharge, whereas pumps operating in parallel boost the head
(b) Pumps operating in parallel boost the discharge, whereas pumps operating in series boost the head
(c) In both cases there would be a boost in discharge only
(d) In both cases there would be a boost in head only
10.The direct runoff hydrograph of a storm obtained from a catchment is triangular in shape and has a base
period of 80 hours. The peak flow rate is 30m 3/sec and catchment area is 86.4 km 2. The rainfall excess that
has resulted the above hydrograph is
(a) 5 cm (b) 8 cm (c) 10 cm (d) 16 cm
11. The trapezoidal channel with bottom width of 3m and side slope of 1V: 1.5H carries a discharge of 8m 3/sec
with the flow depth of 1.5m. The Froude number of the flow is
(a) 0.066 (b) 0.132 (c) 0.265 (d) 0.528
12. Which one of the following is not the overturning force of the gravity dam if the point of rotation is at the
toe?
(a) Uplift pressure (b) weight of the dam
(c) Upstream hydrostatic pressure (d) all
13. Uplift pressure at points E and D (Figure A) of a straight horizontal floor of negligible thickness with sheet
pile at downstream end are 28% and 20%, respectively. If the sheet pile is at upstream end of the floor
(Figure B), the uplift pressure at pints D1 and C1 are

2
 (a) 68% and 60% respectively (b) 88% and 70% respectively
(c) 80% and 72% respectively (d) 100% and zero respectively

14. Which one of the following is TRUE about Event:

(a) It is the beginning and ending points of an activities
(b) It is the start and/or completion of an activity
(c) It is a specific point in time commonly denoted graphically by circle and may carry
nomenclatures(e.g. words, numbers, alphanumeric codes)
(d) All
(e) None
15. which one is not included in the Construction Project Parameters
(a)Time (c) Quality
(b)Cost (d) Client acceptance (e) none
16. It is known that to plan the project properly, you must attend to. Which one of the following is not TRUE
(a) Strategy, Logistics and Tactics are three kinds of activities that may have to be performed during
the life of the job to plan the project properly.
(b) Strategy should be decided on project before implementation planning begins
(c) Logistic refers to supplying people with materials and supplies they need to do their jobs
(d) Logistics should be develop before tactics

PART_II
Show your steps clearly
1. Attereberg Limit tests were conducted on a soil sample and the following test results were obtained. Which of the
following test result combinations is/are correct? Justify your answer?
LL=20%, PL=30, SL=40%
LL=50%, PL=40%, SL=30%
LL=60%, PL=70%, SL=80% LL=40%, PL=30%, SL=40%
2. Diagonal cracks were observed on a certain residential building on an isolated footing. To know the source of the
problem field and laboratory investigation were conducted on the foundation soil. The test results showed that the
soil exhibit a remarkable volume change during wet and dry seasons. During the dry season, the ground water table
was found at depth of 1.5m below the normal ground level and the soil is found to be normally consolidated. Based on
the given information match column A with column B.
Column A Column B
Soil Type Clay soil , sand soil , silt soil
Mineral type Kaolinite, Illite, Montmorillonite
Effect of ground water table on the Decreases BC, Increase BC , No effect
Bearing Capacity (BC) of the soil
Overconsolidation ratio (OCR) OCR=1, OCR>1, OCR<1
Coefficient of permeability of the > k of another soil having percentage of finer 25%,
foundation soil, k <k of another soil having percentage of finer 25%,
= k of another soil having percentage of finer 25%,
3. Compare the cost of construction and the time of construction required among footing, ribbed mat and pile foundations
in Ethiopian context. Diagrammatically, show the critical section for moment, wide beam shear and punching shear.
Use LSD
4. Which type of piles (End bearing / frictional) would be appropriate to support a heavy structure on an undulating
bedrock surface located 15 to 20 m below the ground surface? Assume the tip/base resistance of the soil provides

3
 more than less than 10 percent of the total axial load capacity. Explain the reasons for your choice? What construction
methods could a contractor use to overcome caving or squeezing problems in pile foundation construction?
5. What type of sheet piles (anchored/cantilever) would be more appropriate for short walls? Give justification for you
answer
6.Which type of structures (light / heavy) is more susceptible to damage from expansive soils? Explain the reason
7.Describe the difference between special and general conditions of contract in construction contracts?
8.Assume that the electrical installation of the certain project is done by a specialized sub contractor. If the installation has
got a problem and it causes considerable damage at the time testing, who will be responsible ( the main contractor or
sub contractor) for the damage caused as a result of this problem? Explain the reason very briefly.
9.Assume that the contract date for the project you are working with as a resident engineer is delayed by some time from
the date the contractor and the client was agreed upon. Referring the clause in the contract the owners requested
your approval to recover the revenue he lost as a result of delaying completion period. Which clause in the contract
are you going to refer to make this decision and what decision are you going to make regarding this issue.
10. In the middle of construction stage of a certain project in which you are responsible for, it was identified that the
items glazing work and main entrance door for the building are not included in the contract. What should be done to
incorporate this remaining items which are very crucial for the completion of the entire project in the following three
cases;
a. If the total cost of these items are 8% of the total project cost?
b. If the total cost of these items are 17% of the total project cost? and
c. If the total cost of these items are 27% of the total project cost? Assume the project is administrated with is
the condition of contract prepared by public procurement agency 2006.