MATERIALS ENGINEER'S EXAMINATION No.

1
Instruction: Encircle the best answer. This exam is good for 2 hours only.
1. What is A-4 and A-5 means in the Classification of Soils?
a. stone fragments
b. silty soils
c. fine sand
d. none of the above
2. A dark brown to black cementitious material produced by the destructive distillation of bituminous coal?
a. Asphalt cement
b. Coal tar
c. Portland cement
d. Emulsified asphalt
3. Cracks caused by a vertical and Horizontal movement in the pavement beneath the overlay which brought
on by expansion and contraction with temperature or moisture content?
a. Alligator crack
b. Tranverse cracks
c.Reflection cracks
d. Rutting and Shoving
4. No transverse joint shall be constructed withing 1.5m of an expansion joint, contraction joint and plane of weakness?
a. false
b. true
c. maybe
d. none of the above
5. Final Rolling in Bituminous mixes shall be performed with a ________roller?
a. 2-wheel type steel tandem
b. Pneumatic
c. Vibratory
d. 3-wheel or tandem type steel wheel
6. How many times per layer should a concrete specimen molded in a 6"x6"x20" beam molded be rodded?
a. 63 blows
b.60 blows
c. 61 blows
d. 62 blows
7. What kind of test that requires calibrated sand in filling the hole in order to determine the volume of hole?
a. Sieve analysis
b. Attenberg's limit
c. FDT
d. Moisture Density Relation Test
8. What kind of Asphalt that has a penetration grade of 60/70?
a. hot asphalt
b. bituminous mixes
c. asphalt cement
d. allof the above
9.Bituminous Concrete Surface Course mixes contain aggregates by weight equivalent to what?
a. 5%-8%
b. 4%-18%
c. 92%-95%
d. both a & c
10. What is the other name of Transverse contraction joint?
a. longitudinal joints b. transverse contruction joints c. weakened plane joint d. none of the above
11. Half portion of the dowel shall be coated with or painted with?
a. lead or tar
b. bituminous material c. approved lubricant d. all of the above e. both a &b only
12. when concrete is mixed in a central mixing plant, how many seconds is the mixing time?
a. less than 50s or more than 90s
b. less than 50 s nor more than 90s
c. not less than 50s nor more than 90s
d. none of the above choices
13. Who will approve the Job-mix formula?
a. Constractor's Materials Engineer
b. DPWH Project Engineer
c. DPWH Material's Engineer
d. Both b&c
14. A joint constructed when there is an interruption of more than 30 mins in the concreting operation?
a. longitudinal joints
b. tranverse construction joint c. transverse contraction joint d. all of the above
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15. A 350 m of bituminous mixtures has been laid in a day's full operation, how many asphalt core specimen must be taken?

a. 5 cores
b. 4 cores
c. 2 cores
d. 3 cores
16. In no.15 what test must be conducted on each specimen?
a. Grading and extraction b. Marshall stabilty c. core test d. penetration test e. all of the above f. a&b
17. How long does a vibrator be inserted in a concrete mix?
a. not to exceed 50 s at a 50cm space interval
b.not to exceed 50 s at a 60cm space interval
c. not to exceed 50 s at a 15cm space interval
d.not to exceed 15 s at a 60cm space interval
18. Subgrade having a CBR value of less than 2% is considered as ______?
a. Normal
b. stable
c. Weak
d. None of the above
19. What apparatus or equipment is use for testing mass percent of wear?
a. California Bearing Ratio Machine b. Universal testing Machine c. Los Angeles Abrasion machine d. none
20. The test on asphalt used to test to determine overheating during manufacture?
a. Immersion Compression test b. Extraction test c. Spot test d. None of the above
21. The liquid limit is expressed as the moisture content corresponding to how many no. of blows?
a. 56 blows
b. 35 blows
c. 65 blows
d. none of the above
22. If sample splitter is not available for use in reducing samples for test, what is the alternative way of
reducing sample for testing the size of coarse aggregates?

a. applying quartering method and get two adjacent sides as sample

b. just directly get the sample from the sample container
c. applying quartering method and get two opposite sides as sample
d. all of the above method can be applied
23. What seive is use to separate the fine and coarse aggregates in concreting works?
a. No.16/1.118mm b. No.10/2.0mm
c. No.8/ 2.36mm
d. No. 4/4.75mm
24. Asphalt which has been liquefied by blending with petroleum solvents?
a. Asphalt cement
b. Emulsified asphalt c. Cut-back asphalt
d. Portland cement
25. Cement has been in storage for a long time and there is already doubt as to its quality should?
a. be rejected b. still be use c. be tested prior to use d. be re-tested while in use
26. If asphalt mix having a weight 0f 3000 g and an aggregate weighing 2,845g, compute % of asphalt content by weight of mix.
a. 94.55%
b. 5.17%
c. 94.83%
d.5.45%
27. Applying the tolerances for asphalt content in No.26, what is the acceptable range of aspahlt content?
a. 5.05%-5.85%
b.4.77%-5.57%
c.5%-5.57%
d. none of the above
28.What Compaction rammer shall be used if the specification given for Moisture Density Relation in AASHTO T 180 or the modified?
a. 2.5kg rammer with 305 mm drop
b 4.54kg rammer with 305 mm drop
c. 2.5kg rammer with 457 mm drop
d.4.54kg rammer with 457 mm drop
29. What does it mean if there is bleeding in a newly paved asphalt road?
a. too hot asphalt b. excessive asphalt cement c. excessive mineral filler d. all of the above
30. What apparatus is used to determine the temperature of delivered bituminous mix?
a. Penetrometer
b. Viscometer
c. Armored thermometer d. none of the choces
31. Immersion-Compression test is performed to determine the _______ of the bituminous mixes?
a. density
b. air voids
c. stability
d. thickness
32. What is the slump of workable concrete if not vibrated?
a. 10-40mm
b. 35-70mm
c. 40-75mm
d. none of the above
33. What seive is use to separate the fine and coarse aggregates in asphalting works?

a. No.16/1.118mm

b. No.10/2.0mm

c. No.8/ 2.36mm

d. No. 4/4.75mm

34. If Sieve analysis and Plasticity test(Atterberg's limit)are used for soil classification, what test that its test
result be used in the Field Density Test?
a. Moisture Density Relation test b. Compaction test c. Proctor test d. all of the above
35. This test is use to determine the Index Retained Strength of the mixtures.
a. grading test
b. Abrasion test c. California Bearing ratio test d. Atterberg's limit test
36. What is the required temperature for oven drying the soil sample?
a. 95-115 c
b.97-117 c
c. 105-115c
none of the above
37. how many hours do an aggregates tested for specific gravity and absorption be soaked in water?
a. 15-24 hours
b. 10-19 hours
c. 15-19 hours
0nly 4 hours @ 50 c
38. The compacted bituminous pavement shall have a thickness tolerance of what?
a. 5mm
b. -5mm
c. +5mm
d. none of the above
39. adding one gallon of water to a cubic yard of cement will__________?
a. increase slump about one inch
b. decrease compressive strength about 200-300 psi
c. waste as much as one half bag of cement
d. all of the above
40. An emulsifying agent of emulsified asphalt?
a. kerosene
b. gasoline
c. water
d. diesel
41. What apparatus is used to determine the temperature of delivered bituminous mix?
a. Penetrometer
b. Viscometer
c. armrored thermometer d. none of the above
42. What doe A-3 means in the soil Classifiation?
a. stone fragments
b. silty soil
c.fine sand
d. clayey soil
43. It is an adjustment in Concrete Mix Design on the approximate sand content per cubic of concrete for less
workable concrete as pavement?
c.3%
a. +3%
b. -3%
d. all of the above
44. Moisture content of soil can be done by a?

a. Oven-dried weight b. Air-dried weigth c. soil dired weight d. None of the above
45. Slip-form of concrete slump?
a. 3"-4"
b. not more than 3"
c. almost zero
d. none of the above
47. Which is not a duty or responsibility of a Materials Engineer?
a. Testing of Construction Materials b. scheduling of delivery materials c.making materials report d.none
48. The result of Immersion-Compression test conducted on an asphalt mix sample are as follows:
Dry stability= 2,000kPa, Wet satbility= 1000 kPa
What is the IRS?Does it pass for the requirement of item 310(Bituminous Concrete Surface Course)?
a. 40%,No
b. 50%,NO
c. 85%,Yes
d. 80%,Yes
49. What is the penetration grade of asphalt that is used in sealing the joint of PPCP?
a. 60/70
b. 85/100
c.120/180
d. 90,max
3.
50.In a certain project,the volume of an aggreagte base course is 17,5000m How many CBR is required?
a. 5 CBR
b.6 CBR
c. 7 CBR
8. 4 CBR
51. What is SPT for soil stands for?
a. Soil Penetration test b. Standard Penetration test c. Static penetration test d. Soil plasticity test
52. Wgat does a 60/70 means in asphalt construction?
a. a penetration grade b. density garde c. yield point d. stability test
53. The exposed surface of normanl cement concrete should be kept continously moist for a minimum of?
a. 3 days
b. 14 days
c. 5 days
d. 7 days

54. What is the purpose of curing?

a.to promote and maximize concrete stregnth
b. to promote cement hydration
c. to promote shrinkage
d. all of the above
55. A Geosynthetic is used for?
a. Filtration in drainage b. Soil erosion
c. Reinforcment
d. Pipes
56. What is the frequency of sampling and testing for compaction of subbase material?
a. 1/1500 cu. M
b. 1/2500 cu.m
c. 1/500 cu.m
d. 1/750cu.m
57. What is the color of tack coat if it is in a tacky condition?
a. brown
b. grey
c. black
d. any of the above
58. How many samples should be taken for an asphalt mix for one full day operation?
a. 1 core sample but not to exceed 3 core samples b. 1 set of three samples but not more that 6 samples
c. 2 core samples but not to exceed 4 cores samples d.1 set core sample but not to exceed 3 cores
59. Given: LL=37.50, PL=26.80. What is the Plasticity Index?
a. 12.50
b. 11.70
c.10.70
d. 9.85
60. If asphalt contents increases what will happen to the air voids?
a. decreses
b. increases
c. remain constant
d. none of the above
61. It is consist of the excavtion and utilization of an approved material required for the construction of
embankment and shall be obtained from approved sources?
a. Common excavation b. Muck excavaition c. Borrow excavation d. Rock excavation
62. What is the P.I. of the soil having a moisture content of 2.5% and a Liquid Limit of 29.2, & a PL=11.4?
a. 26.70
b. 8.90
c. 17.80
d. 19.00
63. What is the soaked CBR Value for Subbase Course Materials?
a. 15%
b. 25%
c.30%
d.50%
64. What is the %wear of the subbase & base course material using Los Angeles Abarsion Machine Test?
a. 40,max
b. 40,min.
c.50,max
d. 50,min
65. As the work of structural concrete progresses, at least one set of sample consisting of_________ three
3
concrete cylinder test specimens per pouring day and each set to represent not more that 75 m of conc.
a. 100x300mm
b. 150x300mm
c. 150X330mm
d. 200x350mm
66.What is the tolerance permitted for surface irregularity measured by 3-m stright edge for base course matl?
a. 10mm
b.+10mm
c.5mm
d.+5

67.The strength of concrete shall be deemed acceptable if the average of three consecutive strength test result
is equal to or exceed the specified strength and no individual test results falls below the specified strength
by more than_____________?
a. 12%
b. 15%
c. 25%
d. 20%
68. The contractor shall submit in writing a ________ for each mixture to the engineer for testig and approve to
at least how many weeks prior to production?
a. Job-mix formula/3 b. design mix/3 c. sample card/3 d. quality assurance report/3
69. How many quality test of cement is required to be submitted by the contractor on 4300 bags of cement?
a. Q-1
b. Q-2
c.Q-3
d. Q-4
70. Allowable temperature tolerance of Bituminous mix is____?
a. 5F
b.5c
c. a. 10F
d.10c
71. The Bituminous Mixture shall have a Index Retained Strength to a minimum of what?
a. 70%
b. 75%
c.80%
d.85%
72. The porportion of Bituminous material is on the basis of total dry aggregates shall be?
a. 3-5%
b. 4-9%
c.5-8%
d.4-7%
73. Dial & Armored-stem thermometer should be inserted sufficiently in a deep of___into the mixture.
a. @ least 2"
b. @ least 3"
c. @ least 4"
@ least 6"
74. Blue smoke rising from the a truck load of mix is often an indication of______?
a. underheating
b. sluggish mix
c. overheating
d. Rich mix
75. A temperature measuring device used to monitor aggregates temperature as the mat'l leaves the dryer.
a. Pyrometer
b. Pycnometer
c. Hydrometer
d. barometer
76. Measures asphalt content and provide aggregate for gradation analysis.
a. Sieve analysis
b.Sluggish device
c. Extraction test
d. Penetration test
77.Method of sampling used in obtaining undisturbed soil samples(silts and clays and other cohesive clays
free from obstructionand containing little or no granular materials)
a. Split spoon sampling b. Push barrel or thin walled(shelby) tube sampling
b. Rock core boring sampling d. Rotary drilling sampling
78. It is a test that utilizes a drop hammer to drive a split-barrel samples with the number of blows required
to drive the samples 12 inches being designated by the Blow Count "n"?
a. Cone Penetrometer tes b. Standard Penetration test c. Driving Coring test d. Permeablity test
79. It determines the time rate of flow water through the soil?
a. permeability test b. Uncomfined Compression test c. Direct shear test d. tri-axial test
80. It is a series of tests for determining shear strength of cohesive or non cohesive soils. A sample usually
cylindrical, encased in an impervious flexible membrane is placed in a pressure chamber and sheared by
changing the stress on one axis (Commpressed axially to failure)
a. unconfined compression test b. Direct shear test c. Tri-axial test d. Hydrometer test
81. It is a bituminous mixture containing a high percentage of coarse aggregate and has a tendency to
segregate during handling and also may be difficult to compact.
a. Harsh mixture
b. Tender mixture
c. Rich(wet) mixture
d. Any of the above
82. It is the lowest temperature at which the asphalt cement will catch fire and burn?
a. Flashpoint temperature b. Firepoint temperature c.Burning temperature d. None of the above
83. What is the minimum test required for abrasion test of coarse aggregate material of item 311?
a. 1/1500 cu. m
b. 1/2500 cu.m
c. 1/500 cu.m
d. 1/750cu.m
84. If there is necessity to add water to the concrete mix in order to increse its workability(provided concrete
does not exceed the specified slump),how many minutes after the initial time of mixing does adding of
water be permitted?
a. 40 mins, max
b. 45 mins,max
c. 50 mins, max
d.90 mins, max
85. Two test are done in one lot sample. The test differs from each other, third test taken. What test is this?
a. Final test
b. trial test
c. referee test
d. any of the above
86. How many core samples shall be taken from a 2.4 km concrete pavement?
a. 8 cores
b. 9 cores
c. 10 cores
d. 12 cores

87. It measures the velocity of elastic waves trnsmitted in soil and rocks. This method yields information with
regard to the compressional velocity, although sometimes the shear wave can be determined. Also it can
be used to indicate approximate depth to hard strata or the underlying hard layer.
a. Geophysical method b. Seismic refraction metheod c. electrical Resistivity d. Remote Sensing
88. What is the temperatuer to be maintained when curing concrete sampleafter its intial curing?
a. 16-18c
b. 22-25c
c.23-27c
d. 24-28c
89. Concrete in the area represented by the cores will be consider adequate if the average strength of the
cores is equal to at least_____.
a. 80% of, and if no single core is less than 70% of, the specified strength,f'c
a. 80% of, and if no single core is less than 75% of, the specified strength,f'c
a. 85% of, and if no single core is less than 70% of, the specified strength,f'c
a. 85% of, and if no single core is less than 75% of, the specified strength,f'c
90. Quality control of the project is responsibility of_____.
a. DPWH Project engineer b. DPWH Materials engineer c. Contractor d. all of the above
91. Which of the following is not included in the Quality Control documentation?
a. The nature and the number of observations made b. The number and type of deficiency found
c. The quantities approved and rejected d. Manpower and equipment utilization
92. All superstructures and heavily reinforced structures belong to what class of concrete?
a. Class A
b. Class B
c. Class C
d. Class D
93. Concrete samples maybe tested at an earlier stage in order to?
a. Determine the trend of its strength development b. Determine the earlier strength of concrete
c. Determine the highest strength of concrete d. Determine the lowest strength of concrete
94. How many samples shall be submitted for quality test if 800 drums of Bituminous Tack coat are to
be used in the project?
a. 5 Samples
b. 6 samples
c.7 samples
d. 4 samples
95. the thickness of Concrete core using a caliper is based on how many measurements?
a. 9 measurements b. 6 measurements
c. 4 measurements
d. 5 measurements
96. The surface of newly placed concrete when it is sufficiently set shall be cured for the period of?
a. 4 days
b. 7 days
c. 72 hours
d. 24 hours
97. Surface of the newly laid bituminous mix will be checked by the used of a ___ at the site.
a. 300 cm-straigth edge b. 3-m straigth edge c. spot test d. both a & b
98. When the strength test results of concrete beam or cylinder samples are not accceptable,_________
shall be takenfrom each member or area of concrete in-place considered deficient.
a. at least 3 representative concrete cylinder b.at least 3 representative concrete beam
c.at least 3 representative cores d. none of the above
99. If no asphalt core was taken at the end of each day's operationand the project has already been
a. 100 linear kilometer per lane or fraction thereof of the completed pavement
b. 200 linear kilometer per lane or fraction thereof of the completed pavement
a. 100 linear meter per lane or fraction thereof of the completed pavement
a. 200 linear meter per lane or fraction thereof of the completed pavement
100. In water-reducing admixtures that are used to produced flowing concrete especially in placing
in very heavily reinforced section, inaccessible location or where very rapid placing is required.
a. air-entraining admixtures b. accelarators c. retarders admixtures d. superplasticizers

1.75
1.5
1.75
2.25
2.25
1.5
2.75
1.75
2
2.25
2
2.5
2.75
1.75
1.75
3
2
2.5
2
2
1.75
1.75
2.5
3

3
3
3
3
3
6
6
6
6
3
4
4
4
4
4
3
2.25
3
3
3
3
3
4
4

5.25
4.5
5.25
6.75
6.75
9
16.5
10.5
12
6.75
8
10
11
7
7
9
4.5
7.5
6
6
5.25
5.25
10
12
1.5
1.75
1.75
2
2.5
2.5
1.75
1.5

1.75
1.5
3
1.5
1.75
2.5
3
2.25

4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3

7
4.5
9
4.5
5.25
7.5
9
6.75

2
2
2
2
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5

3
3.5
3.5
4
3.75
3.75
2.625
2.25

1.5
3
3
2.5
1.75
2.5
1.25
2
1.5
2
1.5
2.5
2
1.75
2.5
2
2.75
2.5
2
1.75
1.75
1.25
1.5
1.5
1.5
2.75
2.25

4
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
3
4
4
3
3
4
3
3
4
3
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
214.25

6
9
9
7.5
5.25
7.5
3.75
4
3
6
6
10
6
5.25
10
6
8.25
10
6
7
5.25
3.75
4.5
4.5
4.5
8.25
6.75
444.625 2.075263