MATERIALS ENGINEER ACCREDITATION EXAMINATION Ans.

5% - 8%
September 9, 2006
14. The minimum dry compressive strength of Item 310
Ans. 1.40 MPa

1. Sample for CBR test is soaked for ____ hrs before subjecting to penetration test. 15. If the bulk volume of asphalt specimen is 500cc and the weight of dry specimen in air
Ans. 96 HRS is 1200 grams, what is the bulk specific gravity?
Ans. 2.40
2. A field density result of 88% degree of compaction obtained on the subgrade indicates
that 16. Which of the following cut-back asphalt is the finest?
Ans. SUBGRADE FAILS AND NEEDS ADDITIONAL a. MC-30 b. MC-70 c. MC-250 d. MC-800
COMPACTION
17. The spot test on asphalt is used to determine
3. Steel bas are considered undersized if Ans. OVERHEATING DURING THE PROCESS OF
Ans. DOES NOT MEET THE EXACT SIZE MANUFACTURE

4. The optimum moisture content of soil is determined during 18. What is the compressive strength in psi of the concrete cylinder if the sample fails at
Ans. LABORATORY COMPACTION 92,000 lbs?
Ans. 3,254 PSI
5. The Immersion – Compression test is to determine
Ans. STABILITY 19. Two tests are done in one lot sample. The test differs from each other, third test is
taken, what will be this test?
6. The sand to be used in the field density test is passing Ans. REFEREE TEST
Ans. NO 10 RETAINED NO. 200
20. Which part of the batch for fresh concrete should the sample is taken from a stationary
7. In abrasion test using Los Angeles Abrasion Machine, how many cast iron spheres are mixer?
used in Grading B? Ans. MIDDLE BATCH
Ans. 11 SPHERES
21. SS designation in emulsified asphalt indicates what?
8. The DPWH specs provide ____ tolerance for asphalt pavement thickness Ans. SLOW SETTING
Ans. – 5 mm
22. What type of asphalt that uses water as catalyctic agent?
9. What is the preliminary quality control mechanism for the production of asphalt Ans. EMULSIFIED ASPHALT
mixture?
Ans. JOB – MIX FORMULA 23. What is the penetration grade of joint filler?
Ans. 0 - 30
10. What is the sampling requirement for bituminous mixtures?
Ans. 1 SAMPLE PER 130T 24. What is the purpose of trial section?
Ans. TO DETERMINE THE NO. OF ROLLER PASSES
11. What class and slump of concrete is used in all superstructure, i.e, beams and
columns? 25. What is the latest state - of - the – art equipment used in the measurement of moisture
Ans. CLASS A content?
Ans. NUCLEAR DENSITY GAUGE
12. What is the upper limit of the sand to be used in Atterberg Limit Test?
Ans. NO. 40 (0.425 mm) 26. Bringing of the materials to be tested in the DPWH testing laboratory is the
responsibility of ____
13. The proportion of bituminous material into the total dry aggregate in Item 300 Ans. CONTRACTOR’S MATLS ENGR
 Ans. 40%
27. Which of the following is not included in the provision of Job – Mix Formula?
a. mixing time 40. The apparatus used in determining the initial setting of hydraulic cement
b. temperature upon delivery Ans. VICAT APPARATUS
c. grading of aggregates
41. A core specimen taken from a concrete pavement was measured for thickness
28. What is the average minimum strength requirement of load bearing concrete masonry determination. The required pavement thickness is 23 cm. The actual measurements at
units? the periphery were: 23, 24, 23, 23, 24, 24, 24, 23 and 23 cm at the center. What is the
Ans. 1000 psi accepted thickness?
Ans. 23.22 mm
29. It is a dynamic test in the field to obtain rapid empirical results which can be used to
estimate shear strength and bearing capacity. 42. Concrete represented by the cores will be considered adequate if the average strength of
Ans. CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO the cores is equal to _____
Ans. 85% OF f’c AND IF NO INDIVIDUAL CORE STRENGTH LESS THAN
30. The allowable % variation in mass of deformed reinforcing steel bar is ____ 75% f’c
Ans. 0.06%
43. Which of the following does not affect the compressive strength of concrete core?
31. What is the plasticity index of the soil having a liquid limit of 36% and a plastic limit a. Manner of drilling
of 6%? b. L – d ratio
Ans. 6% c. diameter of core
d. none of the above
32. If there’s a necessity to add water to the concrete mix in order to increase its
workability (provided that concrete does not exceed specified slump), how many 44. Unconfined compressive strength is applicable only to _____
minutes after the initial time of mixing does adding water permitted? Ans. CLAYEY SOILS
Ans. 45 MINUTES
45. A concrete core sample having a maximum height of less than _____ of its diameter
33. What test is used to determine silt and clay? before capping or a height loss less than its diameter after capping shall not be tested.
Ans. HYDROMETER TEST Ans. 95%

34. The smaller the finess modulus is, ____________ 46. Grade of steel bars indicates what?
Ans. THE FINER THE MATERIALS Ans. YIELD STRENGTH

35. The minimum weight of sample of cement for testing is ______ 47. Cut – back asphalt and emulsified asphalt are used as
Ans. 10 KG Ans. TACK COAT

36. The minimum weight sample of bituminous mix for testing is ______ 48. The thickness of Item 200 is 300mm. The aggregate sub base shall spread and
Ans. 20 KG compacted in _____
Ans. 2 OR MORE LAYERS
37. Factors affecting the workability of bituminous mixes
a. gradation of aggregates 49. Which of the following is considered unsuitable materials for embankment?
b. temperature of mix a. soil with LL of 50%
c. quality of asphalt b. soil with density of 1200kg/m3
c. organic soils
38. The minimum testing requirement for every project is indicated in a duly d. soil with PL of 60%
Ans. APPROVED QUALITY CONTROL PROGRAM
50. The dividing line for fine aggregates and coarse aggregates for concrete and asphalt
39. Mass percent of wear of coarse aggregates for Portland Cement Concrete Pavement respectively.
 Ans. NO. 10
63. What is loss of ignition in cement?
51. The minimum compaction trial of embankment Ans.
Ans. 500 sq. m
64. Field Density Test (Sand Cone Method Problem). Degree of Compaction?
52. What type of asphalt is used as tack coat? Ans. 74%
Ans. CUT – BACK AND EMULSIFIED ASPHALT
65. Two samples, A and B, were tested in a uniaxial test. Sample A is in saturated
53. Which of the following is considered suitable materials for embankment? condition while sample B is in dry condition. What can you conclude about its
a. highly organic soils compressive strength?
b. soils with moisture content exceeding 100% Ans.
c. soils with 60% as PL
d. none of the above 66. What is the sampling requirement for 1 – QT for boulders for stone masonry?
Ans.
54. Concrete sample shall be de – molded from the cylinder mold after _______
Ans. 24 HOURS 67. What is the allowable tolerance for density of asphalt pavement?
Ans. 3%
55. Which of the following is not a duty of a Materials Engineer?
a. sampling of materials 68. What is the proper way of getting sample from a high stockpiled aggregate?
b. analysis of test result of material Ans.
c. scheduling of the delivery of the materials
d. design of concrete mix 69. What type of admixture is used in reducing thermal cracking?
Ans.
56. The process of maintaining sufficient moisture and favorable temperature in concrete
during the hardening process. 70. What is the proper way of handling aggregates if the smaller aggregates are subject to
Ans. CURING be combined with larger ones?
Ans.
57. Determines the proportioning of the ingredients that will produce concrete of proper
workability when fresh and desired strength after it has hardened. 71. Which of the following is not essential in using Nuclear Density Gauge?
Ans. DESIGN MIX a. operator must be licensed
b. radiation limit must be specified
58. What should be the condition of soil before it is subjected to compaction? c. the operator must wear thin shirt
Ans. AT OPTIMUM MOISTURE CONTENT
72. If the slump of concrete mix delivered by the transit mixer is 6” and the design only
59. The wet stability of a soil is 2400 KPa and its dry stability is 3000 KPa. What is its allows 3”, what will you do with it?
Index of retained strength? Ans. REJECT
Ans. 80%
73. Two out of three samples taken for compressive strength determination passed the test
60. The maximum tine of interval for the delivery of concrete mix and the remaining one failed. What will you do?
Ans. 30 MINUTES Ans.

61. Too wet and over sanded concrete mix will result to 74. The location of the project is in a remote area, afar from the DPWH testing center.
Ans. RAVELING What will be required (RCCP) to be submitted for testing?
Ans.
62. If no core was taken at the end of each day’s operation and the project has already
been completed, a core shall be taken for 75. If the strength of concrete pavement is deficient by 15%, what will you recommend as
Ans. AT LEAST ONE BUT NOT MORE THREE a Materials Engr.?
 Ans. RECOMMEND PAYMENT AT AN ADJUSTED PRICE 90. If the top of a concrete cylinder is rough, by how much is the compressive strength
reduced?
76. What is the proper way of performing slump test? a. ½ b. 1/3 c. ¼ d. 1/5
Ans.

77. In materials point of view, what is subgrade material?

Ans.

78. How can we attain a production of high strength concrete?

Ans.

79. What is California Bearing Ratio?

Ans.

80. Materials to be used for embankment shall be _____

Ans.

81. As a Materials Engineer you visited the site. You’ve found out that the concrete mix in
the transit was already one hour and 50 minutes from the time of mixing. What will you
do?
Ans. REJECT

82. Nine samples of concrete cylinders were passed to the testing center for compressive
strength determination. If 3 of the samples failed, what will you do?
Ans.

83. The property of asphalt/concrete pavements to allow water and air effects
Ans.

84. It was formulated in 1987 as the guideline in material testing

Ans.

85. Bailey bridge (What sample should be submitted)

Ans. REDUCE SAMPLE AS PRESCRIBED

86. RSB having an elongation of 20mm and failed in elongation test, what will you do?
Ans.

87. Having known the source of the sample, what will you do?
Ans.

88. What will be the result of having a faster loading rate in compression test?
Ans.

89. What test is performed to determine he suitability of matls to be used as foundation?

Ans. FIELD DENSITY TEST