German University in Cairo

Faculty of Engineering and Material Science

Civil Engineering Department
Building and High-Rise Construction
Winter 2014 / 15

CIG 704: Heavy Civil Construction

Midterm Exam [100]

1. Resources are crucial for the implementation of projects. Give a brief introduction on the
main resources required for large-scale infrastructure projects and their specific
importance to the project. [12]
 Staff and Labor: qualification, number, time of availability
 Materials: cut-and-fill materials, crushed rock for roads and structures, bitumen,
cement, steel, cables, aluminum, glass etc.
 Equipment: earth moving, structure concrete, road construction, lifting etc.
 Sub-Contractors and suppliers: all trades
 Funds: required for start-up and site mobilization and running all construction
operations.
It is crucial that all required resources are deployed to the project as per schedule needs, in
the right qualification and numbers (staff and labor) and as per specification and sufficient
capacity / amounts (equipment and material). Resources need to be carefully selected to not
only fulfill the technical requirements but also the available budgets. In many cases, project
resources require the owner’s / consultants approval.

2. Explain the significance of traffic management during road projects under traffic
operations. Name the main requirements. [10]
 Significance: Traffic management has to allow for safe and efficient travel during the
construction works. Detours have to be engineered and properly executed as per
applicable temporary works standard and regulation. For driver orientation, detours
have to be equipped with clear signage, traffic lanes need to be marked and as per
needs, detours might require a lighting system for night times.
 Requirements:
o Constructing detours / alternative routes
o Temporary works construction to be considered in the project’s schedule
o Detour traffic capacity has to consider the actual traffic flows,
o Speed limits have to be considered
o Avoidance of critical works during traffic peak hours
3. False work or ground supported system scaffolding is often used in bridge construction as
temporary support structure to carry the loads of the superstructure (formwork and fresh
concrete). Explain in which cases you would choose this kind of scaffolding and name the
main criteria for the choice. Make a sketch showing the components of a ground
supported system scaffolding. [6+6]

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Mahmoud El Khafif Midterm Exam WS 2014 / 15, Page [2]
 German University in Cairo
Faculty of Engineering and Material Science
Civil Engineering Department
Building and High-Rise Construction
Winter 2014 / 15

 Cases:
o Height of the superstructure above ground is limited to make the false work
solution feasible.
o Normally, false work is best used when there is no traffic interference.
Crossing existing traffic roads is possible through beam scaffolding with
special safety requirements to be observed, e.g. against lateral impact by
vehicles.
o When the terrain permits making scaffolding, i.e. the soil must be able to bear
the loads of the scaffolding and the fresh concrete of the permanent structure;
temporary foundations / pre-cast elements are required to transfer the loads
to the ground.
 Criteria
o Height above ground
o Loads and load bearing capacity of the soil
o Length and numbers of spans
o Time and speed of construction
o Site restrictions
 Sketch

False-work soffit

Stringer

Top Caps

Transverse Bracing

Poles (Timber or steel pipe)

Bottom Caps

Timber pads

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Mahmoud El Khafif Midterm Exam WS 2014 / 15, Page [3]
 German University in Cairo
Faculty of Engineering and Material Science
Civil Engineering Department
Building and High-Rise Construction
Winter 2014 / 15

4. Make a sketch of a formwork for a box girder super- structure, name its components and
the order of casting concrete. [6+3+3]

 The main elements of a box girder formwork are:

a. Bottom slab formwork
b. Web formwork outside
c. Cantilever slab formwork
d. Inner formwork for web and deck
e. Bulkheads to close the formwork at the front and end of the segment.
f. Supporting scaffolding mechanism that allows quick dismantling

 The order of concrete casting is normally:

a. Bottom slab
b. Webs & deck and cantilevers

or

a. Bottom slab
b. Webs
c. Deck and cantilevers

Front and back ends of the formwork are closed by bulk heads.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Mahmoud El Khafif Midterm Exam WS 2014 / 15, Page [4]
 German University in Cairo
Faculty of Engineering and Material Science
Civil Engineering Department
Building and High-Rise Construction
Winter 2014 / 15

5. Demonstrate with the help of suitable sketches the bridge method “Balanced Cantilever
Bridge Construction”. What are the main advantages of this method and where is it
preferably applied? Explain the effect of the various implementation stages on the
structural system and the required measures. [14]

 Main Advantages:
1. There is no need for ground supported false work to support the deck during
casting in the spanned area.
2. Superstructure cross sections can be either constant or varying.
3. Work is repetitive resulting in manpower efficiency with time.
4. Several spans could be started at the same time hence reducing construction time.
5. Used in areas where the terrain does not permit the use of false work.

 The method typically used for water crossings or over steep valleys with limited
ground access. Material supply however requires vertical transport at the piers or
from the abutment side if first / last span is already closed.

 Effect of the various implementation stages on the structural system:

The change in the structural system during the construction process – from
“cantilever” to “continuous beam” – needs to be considered with the respective
reinforcement, required only temporarily until the closure of the span, which means
additional cost versus a construction method using false work.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Mahmoud El Khafif Midterm Exam WS 2014 / 15, Page [5]
 German University in Cairo
Faculty of Engineering and Material Science
Civil Engineering Department
Building and High-Rise Construction
Winter 2014 / 15

6. Name two different methods of building bridge superstructures using pre-cast elements.
Make a suitable sketch for each method. [7+7]

I-Beam Superstructures

Segmental Superstructures

Full-span Element Superstructures

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Mahmoud El Khafif Midterm Exam WS 2014 / 15, Page [6]
 German University in Cairo
Faculty of Engineering and Material Science
Civil Engineering Department
Building and High-Rise Construction
Winter 2014 / 15

Incremental launching Method:

This method is not an in-situ solution. Span segments are casted in a field factory, forming a
continuous superstructure. The method could therefore be considered a pre-cast method.

7. Explain with suitable sketches the construction process for a cut-and-cover tunnel. You
have to consider a down-town area with surrounding traffic, light soil with sand gravel mix
and a high ground water level. [14]

Dewatering Deep wells

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Mahmoud El Khafif Midterm Exam WS 2014 / 15, Page [7]
 German University in Cairo
Faculty of Engineering and Material Science
Civil Engineering Department
Building and High-Rise Construction
Winter 2014 / 15

8. Safety in Construction [6+6]

a. Explain the main safety measures for the following works during the installation of a
factory building, using steel truss frames for the roof construction. The building’s height is
10m. You are required to:
 Transport the trusses on site (each 1 ton) from their storage location to their position
of erection at a distance of 20m,
 Connect the trusses by welding,
 Install the roof panels,
 Erect and finish the external masonry walls.
Safety Measures: all works require personal protection equipment (PPE)
 For mobile crane for Installing roof panels
o Due study of the lifting application, select the appropriate equipment.
o Make a pre-use inspection
o Don’t drive or place the crane near unprotected edges or soft ground or
floor holes.
o Don’t use crane in high winds
 Welding works at height
o Works at height, welder needs to be protected by using scaffolding /
hydraulic platform / harness against fall.
o Full personal protection equipment to be used, incl. eye and hand
protection / gloves.
o Electric source and connections have to be safe,
o Beware of sparks that might create flames

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Mahmoud El Khafif Midterm Exam WS 2014 / 15, Page [8]
 German University in Cairo
Faculty of Engineering and Material Science
Civil Engineering Department
Building and High-Rise Construction
Winter 2014 / 15

o Don’t make any changes in the equipment without the supervision of the
technician.
o Before using, deal with the equipment as live until proven it is not.
 Installation of trusses
o Works at height, fall protection required, workers to use harness.
o Truss connection, especially if temporary measures are required to be
safe against slipping, tilting or falling of trusses.
o Make training and educational sessions, especially regarding heavy
element lifting.
 Scaffolding needed for finishing masonry walls
o Only used approved scaffolds,
o Keep the work platform clear of clutter that could cause tripping hazards,
o Do not work in scaffolds that are covered with ice/snow,
o Don not overload scaffolding to avoid collapse.
b. A trench for a sewer line (width / depth = 1.5m / 4m) has to be excavated in sandy soil.
Explain how the trench shall be secured against collapse to provide a safe working space
and explain your choice. Make a suitable 3D sketch and name the components of the
chosen method.
 The trench will be secured using the shoring method,
Shoring is the provision of a support system for trench faces used to prevent movement
of soil, underground utilities, roadways, and foundations. Shoring or shielding is used
when the location or depth of the cut makes sloping back to the maximum allowable
slope impractical.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Mahmoud El Khafif Midterm Exam WS 2014 / 15, Page [9]