Reinforced Concrete Design I Exam – 240 Practice
Questions with Answers (Ch 1-8, Slab Design) | Design
of Reinforced Concrete Slabs
Instructions: Select the single best answer for each multiple-choice question. Use the
following material properties unless otherwise specified:
Concrete compressive strength, f'c = 25 MPa
Steel yield strength, fy = 415 MPa
Unit weight of reinforced concrete = 24 kN/m³
Modulus of elasticity of steel, Es = 200,000 MPa
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE
(Questions 1–30)
1. Which of the following best describes reinforced concrete?
A) A composite material where steel resists tensile stresses and concrete resists
compressive stresses
B) A material where concrete resists all types of stresses
C) A material where steel is used only for aesthetic purposes
D) A non-composite material where concrete and steel act independently
Answer: A
2. The primary advantage of reinforced concrete over structural steel is:
A) Higher tensile strength
B) Lower self-weight
C) Fire resistance and ability to be cast into any shape
D) Faster construction speed
Answer: C
3. Which of the following is a disadvantage of reinforced concrete?
A) High maintenance cost
B) Low compressive strength
C) The need for formwork and longer curing time
D) Poor durability
Answer: C
,4. The three methods of design of reinforced concrete structural elements are:
A) Working stress method, Limit state method, and Ultimate load method
B) Elastic method, Plastic method, and Empirical method
C) Working stress method, Limit state method, and Probabilistic method
D) Elastic method, Ultimate strength method, and Serviceability method
Answer: A
5. In reinforced concrete, the bond between steel and concrete is primarily due to:
A) Chemical adhesion only
B) Friction only
C) Chemical adhesion, friction, and mechanical interlocking from deformations on bars
D) Welding of steel to concrete
Answer: C
6. Which of the following is NOT a basic assumption in the design of reinforced concrete?
A) Plane sections remain plane after bending
B) Concrete has infinite tensile strength
C) There is a perfect bond between steel and concrete
D) The stress-strain relationship for steel is known
Answer: B
7. The objectives of reinforced concrete structure design include all EXCEPT:
A) Safety against collapse
B) Serviceability under normal loads
C) Minimum cost regardless of quality
D) Durability throughout the design life
Answer: C
8. Which type of load varies in magnitude and position during the life of a structure?
A) Dead load
B) Live load
C) Self-weight
D) Earth pressure
Answer: B
9. The characteristic strength of concrete is defined as the strength below which not more
than ______ of test results fall.
A) 1%
B) 5%
C) 10%
D) 15%
Answer: B
10. Reinforced concrete is most suitable for which of the following structural applications?
A) Tall buildings requiring minimum self-weight
B) Structures requiring high tensile strength only
C) Buildings, bridges, dams, and foundations
D) Temporary structures only
Answer: C
,11. The person credited with inventing reinforced concrete is generally:
A) Joseph Monier
B) Thaddeus Hyatt
C) François Coignet
D) Ernest Ransome
Answer: A
12. In reinforced concrete design, the term "durability" refers to:
A) The ability to withstand extreme loads without collapsing
B) The ability to resist deterioration over the design life
C) The ability to be recycled
D) The ability to be cast in any shape
Answer: B
13. Which code/standard is most commonly used for reinforced concrete design in the
United States?
A) Eurocode 2
B) BS 8110
C) ACI 318
D) IS 456
Answer: C
14. The tensile strength of concrete is approximately:
A) 5–10% of its compressive strength
B) 20–30% of its compressive strength
C) 50–60% of its compressive strength
D) Equal to its compressive strength
Answer: A
15. Which of the following is a characteristic of the Limit State Design method?
A) It uses only elastic analysis
B) It considers both ultimate and serviceability limit states
C) It ignores material variability
D) It applies a single safety factor to all loads
Answer: B
16. The load combination for the ultimate limit state typically includes:
A) Dead load only
B) Live load only
C) A combination of dead, live, and other factored loads
D) All loads with a factor of 1.0
Answer: C
17. In reinforced concrete, the term "cover" refers to:
A) The distance from the concrete surface to the outer surface of the reinforcement
B) The total depth of the beam
C) The thickness of the slab
D) The width of the beam
Answer: A
, 18. Which environmental exposure class requires the highest concrete cover for durability?
A) Mild exposure
B) Moderate exposure
C) Severe exposure (e.g., marine environments)
D) All exposures require the same cover
Answer: C
19. The unit weight of plain concrete is typically:
A) 18 kN/m³
B) 24 kN/m³
C) 30 kN/m³
D) 35 kN/m³
Answer: B
20. Which type of cement is most commonly used in general reinforced concrete
construction?
A) Type I (Portland cement)
B) Type II (Modified cement)
C) Type III (High early strength)
D) Type V (Sulfate resisting cement)
Answer: A
21. The term "workability" of concrete refers to:
A) The ease with which concrete can be mixed, placed, and compacted
B) The ultimate compressive strength
C) The rate of strength gain
D) The durability of concrete
Answer: A
22. Which of the following admixtures is commonly used to delay the setting time of
concrete in hot weather?
A) Accelerator
B) Retarder
C) Air-entraining agent
D) Superplasticizer
Answer: B
23. The strength of concrete primarily depends on:
A) The amount of cement only
B) The water-cement ratio and degree of compaction
C) The type of aggregate only
D) The curing temperature only
Answer: B
24. In the design of reinforced concrete structures, the "characteristic load" is:
A) The maximum load that can occur
B) The load with a 95% probability of not being exceeded
C) The minimum load expected
D) The average load over the design life
Answer: B
Questions with Answers (Ch 1-8, Slab Design) | Design
of Reinforced Concrete Slabs
Instructions: Select the single best answer for each multiple-choice question. Use the
following material properties unless otherwise specified:
Concrete compressive strength, f'c = 25 MPa
Steel yield strength, fy = 415 MPa
Unit weight of reinforced concrete = 24 kN/m³
Modulus of elasticity of steel, Es = 200,000 MPa
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE
(Questions 1–30)
1. Which of the following best describes reinforced concrete?
A) A composite material where steel resists tensile stresses and concrete resists
compressive stresses
B) A material where concrete resists all types of stresses
C) A material where steel is used only for aesthetic purposes
D) A non-composite material where concrete and steel act independently
Answer: A
2. The primary advantage of reinforced concrete over structural steel is:
A) Higher tensile strength
B) Lower self-weight
C) Fire resistance and ability to be cast into any shape
D) Faster construction speed
Answer: C
3. Which of the following is a disadvantage of reinforced concrete?
A) High maintenance cost
B) Low compressive strength
C) The need for formwork and longer curing time
D) Poor durability
Answer: C
,4. The three methods of design of reinforced concrete structural elements are:
A) Working stress method, Limit state method, and Ultimate load method
B) Elastic method, Plastic method, and Empirical method
C) Working stress method, Limit state method, and Probabilistic method
D) Elastic method, Ultimate strength method, and Serviceability method
Answer: A
5. In reinforced concrete, the bond between steel and concrete is primarily due to:
A) Chemical adhesion only
B) Friction only
C) Chemical adhesion, friction, and mechanical interlocking from deformations on bars
D) Welding of steel to concrete
Answer: C
6. Which of the following is NOT a basic assumption in the design of reinforced concrete?
A) Plane sections remain plane after bending
B) Concrete has infinite tensile strength
C) There is a perfect bond between steel and concrete
D) The stress-strain relationship for steel is known
Answer: B
7. The objectives of reinforced concrete structure design include all EXCEPT:
A) Safety against collapse
B) Serviceability under normal loads
C) Minimum cost regardless of quality
D) Durability throughout the design life
Answer: C
8. Which type of load varies in magnitude and position during the life of a structure?
A) Dead load
B) Live load
C) Self-weight
D) Earth pressure
Answer: B
9. The characteristic strength of concrete is defined as the strength below which not more
than ______ of test results fall.
A) 1%
B) 5%
C) 10%
D) 15%
Answer: B
10. Reinforced concrete is most suitable for which of the following structural applications?
A) Tall buildings requiring minimum self-weight
B) Structures requiring high tensile strength only
C) Buildings, bridges, dams, and foundations
D) Temporary structures only
Answer: C
,11. The person credited with inventing reinforced concrete is generally:
A) Joseph Monier
B) Thaddeus Hyatt
C) François Coignet
D) Ernest Ransome
Answer: A
12. In reinforced concrete design, the term "durability" refers to:
A) The ability to withstand extreme loads without collapsing
B) The ability to resist deterioration over the design life
C) The ability to be recycled
D) The ability to be cast in any shape
Answer: B
13. Which code/standard is most commonly used for reinforced concrete design in the
United States?
A) Eurocode 2
B) BS 8110
C) ACI 318
D) IS 456
Answer: C
14. The tensile strength of concrete is approximately:
A) 5–10% of its compressive strength
B) 20–30% of its compressive strength
C) 50–60% of its compressive strength
D) Equal to its compressive strength
Answer: A
15. Which of the following is a characteristic of the Limit State Design method?
A) It uses only elastic analysis
B) It considers both ultimate and serviceability limit states
C) It ignores material variability
D) It applies a single safety factor to all loads
Answer: B
16. The load combination for the ultimate limit state typically includes:
A) Dead load only
B) Live load only
C) A combination of dead, live, and other factored loads
D) All loads with a factor of 1.0
Answer: C
17. In reinforced concrete, the term "cover" refers to:
A) The distance from the concrete surface to the outer surface of the reinforcement
B) The total depth of the beam
C) The thickness of the slab
D) The width of the beam
Answer: A
, 18. Which environmental exposure class requires the highest concrete cover for durability?
A) Mild exposure
B) Moderate exposure
C) Severe exposure (e.g., marine environments)
D) All exposures require the same cover
Answer: C
19. The unit weight of plain concrete is typically:
A) 18 kN/m³
B) 24 kN/m³
C) 30 kN/m³
D) 35 kN/m³
Answer: B
20. Which type of cement is most commonly used in general reinforced concrete
construction?
A) Type I (Portland cement)
B) Type II (Modified cement)
C) Type III (High early strength)
D) Type V (Sulfate resisting cement)
Answer: A
21. The term "workability" of concrete refers to:
A) The ease with which concrete can be mixed, placed, and compacted
B) The ultimate compressive strength
C) The rate of strength gain
D) The durability of concrete
Answer: A
22. Which of the following admixtures is commonly used to delay the setting time of
concrete in hot weather?
A) Accelerator
B) Retarder
C) Air-entraining agent
D) Superplasticizer
Answer: B
23. The strength of concrete primarily depends on:
A) The amount of cement only
B) The water-cement ratio and degree of compaction
C) The type of aggregate only
D) The curing temperature only
Answer: B
24. In the design of reinforced concrete structures, the "characteristic load" is:
A) The maximum load that can occur
B) The load with a 95% probability of not being exceeded
C) The minimum load expected
D) The average load over the design life
Answer: B
