Std. No.

ROYAL UNIVERSITY OF BHUTAN

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
PHUENTSHOLING: BHUTAN

SPRING SEMESTER EXAMINATION: 2019

Class : BE First Year Civil

Module : Building Materials and Construction

Module Code : BPD101

Max. Marks : 50

Max. Time : 3 Hrs

General Instructions:
1. Answer all the questions.
2. Assume any missing data.
3. Support your answer with neat sketches wherever
necessary and assume all necessary parameters required.
4. Answers written with pencil other than the sketches will
be not evaluated.

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Question No.1 [0.5x10=5]

Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate answer and write down only
the answer against the question number on your answer script.

1.1 Kneading of earth/clay with feet in order to make the mass stiff and
plastic in the manufacturing of bricks is known as ………..
1.2 Wood panels/ veneers are glued together in …………. numbers
while manufacturing plywood.
1.3 …………… is a type of spirit varnish prepared by dissolving resin
in methylated spirit for use on hardwood.
1.4 …………… is the chemical ingredient which imparts the grey
colour to the cement.
1.5 Mix proportion of M20 grade concrete is …………….
1.6 ……………. is the horizontal distance between the vertical joints
of successive brick courses.
1.7 In Ashlar fine tooled, no projections in the exposed surface should
be more than ………….. from a 600mm long straight edge
1.8 Metal straps known as …………. are used in regular intervals in
order to hold the two leaves of a cavity wall together.
1.9 For a residential building, the setback facing road shall not be less
than ………….. at any point or it should follow existing building
lines.
1.10 The process of filling up hollow spaces in the solid background
before applying the main body of the plaster is known as …………

Question No.2 [ 2,2,1]

Differentiate:
2.1 Softwood and hardwood based on colour, annual rings, weight and
growth.
2.2 Brick masonry and stone masonry based on building units used,
sizes of building units, uses and finishing provided to the building
units.
2.3 Fine aggregate and coarse aggregate based on aggregate passing/
retaining and fineness modulus.
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Question No.3 [0.5x10 =5]
Define:

3.1 Hardness
3.2 Plinth Area
3.3 Plasticity
3.4 Right of Way
3.5 Seasoning
3.6 Shotcreting
3.7 Ventilation
3.8 Segregation
3.9 Frog
3.10 Dampproofing

Question No.4 [2,2,2,2,2]

4.1 Write down at least 8 characteristics of a good timber.

4.2 Name the types of acid resistant and non-acid resistant asbestos.
4.3 Draw and name the various types of brick closers and brick bats.
4.4 A new glass manufacturing company in Pasakha is facing some
problem in fabricating the molten glass into desired shapes and it
has been seen that the molten glass is deficient in one of the
ingredient. What would you suggest to the company to address the
issue as a renowned glass manufacturer? Also write down the
ingredients of glass.
4.5 Write short notes on the following types of cement:
a. Rapid hardening Portland cement
b. Air entraining cement

Question No.5 [2,2,2,3,3,2]

5.1 Why is knotting done on wooden surfaces before painting?

Describe the methods of knotting.
5.2 Write down at least 4 essential points that must be kept in mind
while supervising a brick work.

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5.3 What are some of the purposes of providing a foundation?
5.4 Name and draw different types of steel roof trusses.
5.5 Name and draw at least six types of pointing.
5.6 Explain the construction method of terrazzo flooring and mosaic
flooring.

Question No.6 [ 3,8]

6.1 Write down the thumb rules used for the dimensioning of a step for
a comfortable ascent and descent. The staircase in lecture theatre II
is to be redesigned as a dog legged staircase instead of straight
stairs. The height difference between the two floors is 3m. Find the
total number of steps in each flight and also the total run.

6.2 Design a concrete mix to be used in structural elements by IS

method for the following requirements.
a. Grade of concrete = M30
b. Maximum size of aggregate = 20mm
c. Shape of coarse aggregate = angular
d. w/c ratio from graph for target strength = 0.44
e. Degree of workability desired= 0.81 (compacting factor)
f. Degree of quality control = good
g. Exposure condition = severe
h. Specific gravity of cement = 3.15
i. Specific gravity of coarse aggregate = 2.46
j. Specific gravity of fine aggregate = 2.44
k. Water absorption of coarse aggregate = 0.12%
l. Surface moisture of fine aggregate = 1.5%
m. Grade of cement = 53 grade
n. Maximum free water cement ratio (IS 456)= 0.45
o. Minimum cement content (IS 456)= 320kg/m3
p. Fine aggregate conforming to grading zone I

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Tables from IS 10262:2009

Standard
deviation for
good quality
control at site

Maximum water
content/m3 for maximum
aggregate size and slump
of 50mm or C.F. of 0.8

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Volume of coarse
aggregate for maximum
size of aggregate, grading
of fine aggregate and w/c
of 0.5

Best of luck!

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