Most Repeated Civil Engineering Basic Interview Questions [Updated 2023]

Today I will discuss civil engineering interview questions which are very basic questions and every civil engineer should prepare them before going to any interview.

This article is about interview questions because when you go to any interview or recently anyone go to interview then which type of question can be asked from you. These interview question are mostly depends on previously interview question because any interview company or public job asked these question from all engineer of same type of question.

So today I collect all these interview questions from previously selected engineers and everyone should know them, It makes a good image in front of interviewer that how much you know about civil engineers. So let's start;

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Collection of all Civil Engineering Basic Questions For the Interview

All questions which are written here are taken from interview candidates. These interview questions are almost asked in every interview. You must also revise them before going to the civil engineering interview.

• What is the function of tri-calcium silicate in the manufacturing of cement?
• What is Sewerage?
• What is lintle?
• What is underpinning?
• What is shoring?
• What is scaffolding?
• What is water supply and its components?
• Pumps and its types?
• Retaining wall?
• Aggregate?
• Segregation and Bleeding?
• Curves and its Types?
• Road Components?
• Naqqa and Farmgate?
• Outlet ya Mogga
• Water Supply Design
• Waste water Treatment Design?
• What is piping
• What is tread and rise
• Stairs slope
• How will you design a water tank
• Bitumen Tests
• Creep
• Weepholes
• Camber
• Compaction tests of soils
• Cracks Rehabilitation techniques
• RCC structure
• Water Quality Tests
• What Are Sleepers
• What is irrigation

Read Also: Advantages & Disadvantages of Space Frame Structures

• What is prime and tack coat
• Determinate and indeterminate structures?
• What is curing and its methods
• Components of sewers system and its design
• What is structure
• Open and close sewer
• What is honey combing
• Concrete tests
• What is critical line/path method
• Design of water supply scheme
• What is cantilever beams and its tention and compression zone
• Minimum Bars in Columns
• Irrigation and its components
• Types of walls
• Cantilever beam ma steel kahan provide krty hn
• Cavity wall
• Super elevation and its slope in hilly and plain areas?
• Phases of irrigation?
• ASTM abbreviation?
• MOI job description?
• Cube size?
• Slump test?
• Water supply design criteria?
• What is crown in road?
• What is camber?
• Gradeints provided in road?
• BM and SF diagram in cantilever and SS beam?
• Pavement types?
• Wing wall? Why we provide in bridge?
• Define sieve?
• What is delta and duty?
• What is bearing capacity?
• Pile k liye soil ki bearing capacity kitni honi chahye?
• Difference between sewage and sewerage system?
• Manning formula?
• CBR test
• Self cleansing velocity in sewrs?
• Dam and barrage difference?
• Canal fall?
• Hydraulic jump?
• Barrages name?
• Define hydraulics?
• Clay and silt?
• What is sedimentation?
• What is local govt?
• What are concrete mix?
• Segreggtaion and why it occurs?
• How much height is used to avoid segregation?
• What is Apron?
• Runway field tests?
• What is ballast?
• Kinematic and dynamic determinacy?
• Prestress concrete?
• Prestressed tension wire strength?
• How will you handle sewerage problem in your area?
• Difference between domestic and municipal sewage?
• Manholes and why are they provided? 
• In road at which position manholes are provided? 
• Why manholes are provided at centre of road? 
• What is drainage? 
• SSD and PSD 
• The velocity of flow in a canal?
• Difference Between Trafic signals and road signs 
• Difference between weir and barrage 
• Carrage way and Right of way 
• Main purpose of barrage 
• How silt can be controlled 
• What are spirals and ties and thir purpose
• Circular or rectangular column kahan provide krty hn 
• Setting time of cement
• What is link canal 
• Indus water treaty 
• Hardened concrete tests 
• Slab ks material sa bni hoti han 
• Local govt duties 
• Irrigation effects 
• What is dead and live load 
• What is median 
• What is flow net 
• What are fish bolts 
• What is parralex 
• Difference between theodolite and tachometric survey 
• What is Plane table surveying? 
• Shed light on the use of “Slip Joint” when it comes to the Block Work Seawells.
• Why is it necessary to have two gate valves in normal practice for a washout valve?
• Can you describe what a projection line is?
• Generally, separation membranes are inserted between the concrete pavement slab and its
• sub-base. Explain the reasons for this.
• How can you distinguish between Sorption, Absorption and Adsorption?
• Highlight the key points which distinguish Engineering stress from True Stress.
• Discuss some applications of modular elasticity.
• Concrete barriers have curved surface profiles. Briefly explain the reasons for this.
• Elucidate on some of the common roof types.
• Incase of Concrete Box Girder Bridges, how is the number of cells determined?
• Explain briefly why pumping should not be used incase of concrete works
• Why should curing not be done using polythene sheets?
• Once the form work is removed, why is propping required for long structures?
• Can you point out some structure that may be affected by fatigue?
• Describe and explain different slump test indications.
• Explain the concept of built up area and super built-up area.
• Give some advantages as well as disadvantages of plastic and timber fenders.
• What do you understand by “ Cavitation in Pipes”? Explain its mechanism.
• What is the main objective of using bedding under storm water drain pipes?
• Pull-out tests are performed for soil nails. Explain why.
• During reclamation, occurrence of Mud Waves can be seen. How can it be rectified?
• Expand on the importance of sand and geotextiles in reclamation work.
• There are multiple approaches in designing the floors of the service reservoirs. Explain them.
• Generally, in concrete carriageways, granular sub-bases are not preferred. Explain the reasons for this.
• When it comes to the pumping station, which components are used majorly in a waterproofing system.

To get answers to these questions visit here.

Civil Engineering Basic Interview Questions PDF

All basic engineering interview questions were mostly asked by an interviewer as given in below pdf files. These pdf files will help you a lot to impress the interviewer and hopefully, you will be selected as a sub-divisional officer (SDO). These questions will also help experienced people in civil engineering.

Subjects	Interview Questions PDF
Irrigation Interview Question	Download
Civil Engineering Interview Questions as per Site Level / Inspector	Download
Basic Interview Questions for Civil Engineering PDF	Download
Communication and Works Department Civil Engineering Interview Questions PDF File Download	Download
200+ Civil Engineering Interview Questions	Download
civil engineering interview questions on Concrete	Download
civil engineering interviews with short questions and answers	Download
Concrete Related civil engineering Interview Question	Download
Building Design & drawing, Construction Material	Download
Structural Design & Drawing	Download
Engineering Mechanics	Download
Estimating & Costing	Download
Surveying	Download
Transportation Engineering	Download
Soil Mechanics & Foundation Engineering	Download
Top Civil engineering interview-related questions	Download
civil engineering interview question papers with answers pdf	Download
Civil engineering interview questions quiz	Download
basic technical interview questions for civil engineering	Download
Other questions for engineers	Download

Basic Interview Points for Civil Site Engineer

These are important points that every site engineer should know in the interview as a site engineer. These basic points and questions are mostly required for site engineers.

• Thickness of DPC = 2.5cm to 1 inch
• Lintel thickness = 15cm
• Weight of 1bag of cement = 50 kilogram
• Initial setting time of cement is 30min
• Final setting time is 10hrs (1600min)
• Standard-size of a brick is 190mm x 90mm x 90mm
• Size of concrete testing cube = 150mm x 150mm x 150mm
• Slump cone is filled in 4layers
• Minimum thickness of shear walls is 150mm
• Maximum thickness of shear walls is 400mm
• Maximum chair spacing is 1m

Civil Engineering Fresher Job Interview Questions

1. What happens to Load at yielding?
2. What is Plinth Level and Sill Level?
3. What conditions to be considered for design of the swimming pool?
4. What happens when we provide over reinforcement?
5. What is Planning?
6. How cracks in concrete can be avoided?
7. Brick strength is a more or concrete block?
8. Why bricks are used so much in Pakistan?
9. In a cantilever beam, where will be the steel provided, and why?
10. Strength of brick?
11. 28 Days Strength of Concrete (1:2:4)?
12. What is the compressive strength of Brick?
13. What is the water absorption for different classes of brick?
14. Why we provide steel in Concrete?
15. Define Shear Force and when a structure is subjected to gravity loads where will be
16. shear force act?
17. Which are the Steel tests?
18. Which are the concrete Tests?
19. Initial & final setting time of concrete?
20. beam at the bottom and slab are at the same level?
21. What is Passive earth pressure?
22. what is Brest Wall?
23. what is Brick crushing strength (PSI)?
24. what is Bearing Capacity of soil and how it is determined?
25. How much is the curing time period?
26. How many bricks are there in 100cft?
27. what is the Compressive strength of concrete after 28 days?
28. What is a slump Test?
29. How will you check the diameter of the steel bar after construction?
30. What is specific gravity?
31. What is a Critical Path in Ms-Project?
32. where will be the reinforcement of slab placed when there is an inverted beam and the
33. Types Of DPC and its Thickness used?

Technical Interview Questions for Civil Site Engineer

• What are the major problems in using pumping for concreting works?
• Explain what are phases inspections are done by local authorities while construction?
• For the construction project what capital cost has to be taken into consideration?
• What field tests are required for quality check of cement?
• What Do You Understand By “preset” During The Installation Process Of Bridge Bearings?
• What are the major problems in using pumping for concreting works?
• What are the functions of columns in a building?
• What is the process of covering concrete placed on the exposed top of an external wall?
• What is the initial and final setting time of the ideal cement mix?
• In your Training experience, have you performed any Site survey to analyze its constructional needs and possibilities?

Civil Engineering Technical Interview Questions

• What is sustainable development? How would you implement and champion it on a project team?
• Sketch a strip foundation and build up to how you'd construct a suspended slab.
• Tell me about a time when you solved a technical problem.
• Identify the critical points along a buried pipe running down a hill.
• What considerations must be made when building on a site of special scientific interest (SSSI)?
• Tell me about your final-year project/dissertation.
• Why did you choose your degree? Which modules/projects/topics did you find most enjoyable and most difficult or challenging?
• What is the best solution for replacing existing lights in order to improve the lighting efficiency of a highway?
• How would you approach a ground investigation for a building structure?
• What is your understanding of the role of BIM [for this division]?
• What do you know about the CDM regulations?

Civil Engineering Interview Questions for Project Manager

• Do you have experience managing budgets on large construction projects?
• If a project becomes more extensive than originally planned, how do you reorganize the budget to ensure you have the resources to finish?
• What are the methods you use to keep a construction project on time and under budget?
• How do you keep your construction project teams motivated?
• What is your experience managing complex budgets on a large building project?
• What is your method for building a team for a project?
• As a construction project manager, do you have experience hiring subcontractors or dealing with vendors?
• What would you do if some of your workers were not using the necessary safety equipment?
• What methods do you use to monitor and track the progress of your construction project?

 Civil Engineering Interview Questions for Assistant Professors

• What would you do if a client phoned you to say that a pump is not working? How would you solve the problem? What if that solution didn’t work?
• What flow profile can you expect when water is released from behind a weir by opening the sluice gates?
• What are some of the factors affecting the flow capacity of a pipe?
• If you were presented with a beam element, how would you go about the design process?
• What crack width limit would you use to design a diaphragm wall?

Basic Civil Engineering Interview Questions and Answers

Q#1: How do you measure the volume of concrete?

Ans: Length x Width x Thickness

Q#2: Why concrete cover is provided for reinforcement?

Ans: To protect rebar against corrosion and to provide resistance against fire

Q#3: How to do check level on construction site?

Ans: Level checked on construction site by;

• Spirit level

• Dumpy level

• Leveling pipe

Q#4: What is the accuracy of the dumpy level?

Ans: with the help of dumpy level we can take upto 5mm

Q#5: What is the equation used for calculating the unit weight of a steel bar?

Ans: (D² /162)

Q#6: What is the size of a concrete cube?

Ans: 15cm x 15cm x 15cm

Q#7: What is the mix ratio of M20 grade concrete?

Ans: 1:1.5:3

Q#8: What is the unit weight of a 12mm steel bar?

Ans: 0.89kg/m

Read Also: What is a wing wall | Types | Purpose

Q#9: What is the density of steel?

Ans: 7850kg/m³

Q#10: What is the volume of 50kg of bag of cement?

Ans: 0.035m³

Q#11: In residential buildings, average value of stair width?

900mm

Q#12: The slope of the stairs should not exceed

40⁰

Q#13: Minimum diameter of steel in column

12mm

Q#14: The standard size of brick is

19cm x 9cm x 9cm

Q#15: What is the unit weight of RCC?

2500kg/m³

Q#16: One square meter = ---------- sq. ft

10.76 sq. ft

Q#17: Maximum free fall of concrete is allowed

1.5m

Q#18: The minimum bar in a circular column is

6 bars

Q#19: What is the full form of AAC

Autoclaved Aerated concrete

Q#20: What is the full form of NDT

Non - Destructive Test

Q#21: Which test is conducted to determine the bearing capacity of soil

Plate Load Test

Q#22: Minimum hook length as per IS code

75mm

Q#23: What is the full form of EGL

Existing Ground Level

Q#24: A first-class brick should absorb water more than?

20%

Q#25: The normal consistency of Portland cement is

25%

Q#26: The expansion in Portland cement is tested by

Soundness test

Q#27: According to IS code, the full strength of concrete is achieved after

28 days

Q#28: A minimum grade of concrete used for RCC

M20

Q#29: What are the steps involved in Building Construction?

• Concreting
• Masonry Work
• Plastering work
• Flooring work
• FormWork
• Steel cutting and Bending

Q#30: What is the temperature at which different ingredients of cement are burnt?

We adopt pile foundation when the bearing capacity of soil is less than 24KN/sqm

Q#31: How do we calculate weight of steel?

Weight of bar in Kg/m=d² / 162.2
where d is diameter of bar in mm

Q#32: What is the unit weight of RCC and PCC?

• RCC = 25KN/m³
• PCC = 24KN/m³

Q#33: What is the unit weight of steel?

The unit weight of steel is 7850Kg/m³

Q#34: What is the slope of the Staircase?

It should be between 25 to 40⁰ (According to IS code)

Q#35: What do you mean by segregation?

Segregation is the separation of cement sand from the aggregate. This is caused due to improper W/C ratio and when concrete is poured from more than 1.5m height.

Q#36: What is the temperature at which different ingredients of cement are burnt?

The temperature is 1400C⁰

Q#37: What is the volume of the cement bag (50Kg)

It is 0.0347m³ or 1.23cft

Q#38: What is the least count of theodolite and compass?

• Theodolite = 20" (20 seconds)
• Compass = 30' (30 minuets)

Q#39: What is the least cover for slab, Beam, column, and footing?

• Slab = 20mm
• Beam = 25mm
• Column = 40mm
• Footing = 50mm

Q#40: Which machine is used for compressive strength tests?

Universal testing machine (UTM)

Q#41: How many days you can use cement from the manufacturing date?

3 Months

Q#42: What is the ratio of the M20 and M25 mix?

• M20 = 1:1.5:3
• M25 = 1:1:2

Q#43: What is the full form of DPR?

Detailed Project Report

Q#44: What is the full form of 1BHK?

• 1 Bedroom
• 1 Hall
• 1 Kitchen

Q#45: What is the minimum grade of concrete used for the RCC structure?

M20

Q#46: What is standard size of hook and angle?

10x(diameter) and Angle is 135⁰

Q#47: Why foundation is provided? What are the types of it?

Foundation is provided in order to safely distribute the structure load to the soil.

Types are as follows;

• Deep foundation
• Shallow foundation

Q#48: What are concrete tests?

• Slump test
• Compressive strength test
• Water permeability test
• Water absorption test

Q#49: Compressive strength of bricks?

• First class bricks = 105kg/cm²
• Second class bricks = 70kg/cm²
• Fire bricks = 125kg/cm²

Q#50: Initial and final setting time of cement?

• Initial Setting time = 30 minutes
• Final Setting time = 10 hours

Q#51: What are various curing methods?

• Spraying
• Wet covering of a surface
• Ponding
• Curing chemicals
• Steam curing
• Sprinkling

Q#52: How you will define bleeding?

Bleeding is a type of segregation in which water comes out to the surface of a concrete

Q#53: In the cantilever beam where is the tension and compression zone?

• The tension zone is in the top
• The compression zone is in the bottom

Q#54: What is the function of stirrups in beam?

To resist shear force

Q#55: Standard height of each floor?

3 meters

Q#56: What is uniting?

It is a process in which mixture of cement and sand in proportion of 1:3 is shooted on concrete surface with the help of gun pressure 2-3 kg/m²

Q#57: Shuttering removal time?

• Sides of wall, column, and beam side = 24-48 hours
• Beam soffits = 7 days
• Slab = 3 days
• Removal of props of slab span > 6m = 21 days
• Removal of props of slab span < 6m = 14 days

Q#58: How many liters in 1 Gallon?

3.78 Liters

Q#59: What is the difference between a column and a strut?

• The column is a vertical member of the frame structure
• The strut can be inclined or horizontal and is shorter in length

Q#60: How many coats of plastering are required to plaster on wood or steel?

3 coats

Q#61: What is the purpose of the pedestal column isolated footing?

To resist the punching shear

Q#62: Maximum absorption of 1st-class bricks?

15% of dry weight

Q#63: What is flashing in a building?

We provide a safe covering or surface for any portion of the building where water can penetrate.

Q#64: Why do we use the circular shape of steel

• Circular shape steel has the best load distribution property
• East to cast in the company

Q#65: What is ratio of M40 in ACI code?

1:1.3:2.1

Q#66: The thumb rule for brickwork?

• For 9" brick wall = 26 cement bags for 1m³
• For 4.5" wall = 6.5 bags for 1m³ quantity

Q#67: The thumb rule for marble work?

• Marble flooring = 0.3 bag/m²
• Marble skirting = 0.025/m²

Q#68: How many hours should CBR sample be soaked in water?

96 hours

Q#69: What is coping?

The protective layer upon a structure to protect it from watrer is coping. LIke concrete layer on outer wall

Q#70: What is bearing capacity of Granite?

30-35 kg/cm²

Q#71: What is maximum allowable fresh concrete temperature as per ASTM?

32⁰ C

Q#72: What are the types of slump?

• True slump
• Shear slump
• Collapse slump

Q#73: Lap length for column and beam?

• Column = 45x(diameter)
• Beam = 24x(diameter) for compression
• Tension zone = 45x(diameter)
• Slab = 60x(diameter)

Q#74: Steel percentge for RCC structure?

Normally we use steel % as follows;

• Beam = 1% of total volume
• Column = 2% of toal volume
• Slab = 0.8% of total volume
• Footing = 0.8% of total volume

Q#75: Curing time for concrete

• 7 days in normal weather
• 14 days in hot weather

Q#76: Slump values for RCC structure?

• Columns = 75-150mm
• Beams and slabs = 50-100mm
• Pavements = 20-30mm
• Bridges = 30-75mm

Q#77: Vibrator time for concrete?

It should not be more than 15 seconds

Q#78: What is a hybrid foundation?

This foundation is used for high-rise buildings. It contains both mat and piles. It is best for low settlement.

Q#79: Common ways of demolition?

• Hydro demolition
• Pressure bursting
• Dismantling

Q#80: What is a floating slab foundation?

A floating concrete foundation is a type of mat foundation that consists of a hollow mat formed by a grid of thick reinforced concrete between two thick reinforced concrete slabs

Q#81: How to find the weight of a steel bar?

Weight of Bar in Kg/m2 = D^2/162.162

Where D = Diameter of Bar in mm

Q#82: What is the unit weight of RCC and PCC

• RCC = 25KN/m2
• PCC = 24KN/m2

Q#83: The Stretch Bond can only be used when the thickness of the wall is _____ cm?

10cm

Q#84: Size of fine aggregate?

0.15mm - 4.75mm

Q#85: Size of coarse aggregates

Size is greater than 4.75mm and less than 75mm

Q#86: Concrete in which steel bars are used is called?

RCC

Q#87: What is the unit weight of steel?

7850kg/m3

Q#88: Cement can be used after how many days after the manufacturing date

3 Months

Q#89: How many liters in one gallon?

3.78 liters

Q#90: What is the standard length of a steel bar?

12m

Q#91: What is the size of the slump cone?

• Height = 30cm
• Dia lower = 20cm
• Dia top = 10cm

Civil Interview Related Important Videos

You should also check these videos. These will help you a lot in getting a job in the engineering field.

Video 1

Video 2

Video 3

Video 4

Video 5

Video 6

Video 7

Best of Luck!