GPSC Civil Engineering (Combine Exam) Paper Solution (03-05-26) – Page 13

121) Consider the following statements about tunneling methods:

1. The New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) relies on the inherent load-bearing capacity of the surrounding rock/soil, utilising primary lining of shotcrete and rockbolts.
2. The cut-and-cover method is suitable for deep tunnels in hard rock conditions.
3. In shield tunnelling, the shield provides temporary support to the tunnel face during excavation and ring installation.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1 and 3 only

122) Consider the following about Mechanically Stabilised Earth (MSE) walls used in highway embankments:

1. MSE walls use soil reinforcement (geogrid/metallic strips) to increase the shear strength of the backfill.
2. The facing panels of MSE walls are purely decorative and carry no structural function.
3. MSE walls can typically be used for heights up to 15 m and are generally not economical than conventional RCC retaining walls beyond 6 m height.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

123) A highway bridge deck is subjected to both Dead Load (DL) and Live Load (LL). As per IRC:6-2017, for the Ultimate Limit State (ULS) design using IS approach, which load combination factor is applied?

1. 1.35 DL + 1.5 LL for basic combination (ULS)
2. 1.0 DL + 1.0 LL (unfactored, used for working stress method)
3. 1.5 DL + 1.5 LL uniformly for all IRC bridge loads
4. 1.2 DL + 1.6 LL as per AASHTO LRFD adopted for IRC

124) Consider the following statements about pavement distress and maintenance:

1. ‘Rutting’ in flexible pavements is primarily caused by shear failure in the subgrade or inadequate base/sub-base, leading to permanent deformation in the wheel path.
2. ‘Reflection cracking’ occurs in flexible overlays placed over rigid (concrete) pavements where cracks propagate through the overlay at existing PCC joint/crack locations.
3. Slurry seal is used to improve surface texture of rigid pavements to increase skid resistance.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 2 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

125) Match the following bridge types with their CORRECT characteristic structural features:

Bridge Type

• P) Extradosed Bridge
• Q) Integral Bridge
• R) Incrementally Launched Bridge
• S) Balanced Cantilever Bridge

Feature

• 1) No bearings or expansion joints – deck continuous with piers
• 2) Deck built in segments from piers outward on both sides
• 3) Stay cables with lower pylon height and shallower cable angle than cable-stayed
• 4) Deck slid longitudinally from one end using hydraulic jacks

1. P-2, Q-1, R-4, S-3
2. P-3, Q-1, R-4, S-2
3. P-3, Q-4, R-1, S-2
4. P-1, Q-3, R-2, S-4

126) Consider the following statements about slope stability analysis:

1. In the Swedish Circle method (φ = 0 analysis), factor of safety = Overturning moment/Resisting moment
2. Bishop’s simplified method considers interslice normal forces but ignores interslice shear forces.
3. For an infinite slope in dry cohesionless soil, FS = tanφ / tanβ, where β is the slope angle.
4. A factor of safety of 1.5 is generally considered adequate for permanent slopes in India.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. 1, 2 and 3 only
2. 2, 3 and 4 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

127) In the context of shallow foundation design, which of the following correctly represents Terzaghi’s general bearing capacity equation for a square footing (1943)?

1. qu = 1.3c⋅Nc + q⋅Nq + 0.4γ⋅B⋅Nγ
2. qu = c⋅Nc + q⋅Nq + 0.5γ⋅B⋅Nγ
3. qu = 1.3c⋅Nc + q⋅Nq + 0.3γ⋅B⋅Nγ
4. qu = 1.2c⋅Nc + q⋅Nq + 0.6γ⋅B⋅Nγ

128) Consider the following statements about compaction of soils:

1. In the Standard Proctor test, the compaction energy is 592 kJ/m³.
2. For a given compaction energy, cohesive soils exhibit a more pronounced peak on the dry density-moisture content curve.
3. The zero air void curve always lies to the right of and above the compaction curve.
4. Compaction on the wet side of optimum produces a flocculated structure which gives higher strength.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 1 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 2, 3 and 4 only

129) Consider the following statements about permeability and seepage in soils:

1. For a layered soil having equal thickness with flow parallel to the bedding planes, the equivalent permeability is the arithmetic mean of individual layer permeabilities.
2. The exit gradient at the downstream toe of a dam should always be less than the critical hydraulic gradient to prevent piping.
3. Quicksand condition occurs when upward seepage force equals the submerged weight of soil.
4. The phreatic line in an earthen dam always starts at the upstream face and ends at the downstream toe.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. 1 and 3 only
2. 1, 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 2 only
4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

130) In a saturated soil deposit having a density of 22 kN/m³, the effective normal stress on a horizontal plane at 5 m depth will be (taking unit weight of water as 10 kN/m³)

1. 22 kN/m²
2. 50 kN/m²
3. 60 kN/m²
4. 110 kN/m²