REVIEW INNOVATIONS

MANILA – CEBU - DAVAO

PHILIPPINES

CIVIL ENGINEERS First Pre-board Examination

Saturday, September 16, 2023 2:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m.
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HYDRAULICS AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING SET A

INSTRUCTION: Select the correct answer for each of the following questions. Mark only
one answer for each item by shading the box corresponding to the letter of your choice
on the answer sheet provided. STRICTLY NO ERASURES ALLOWED.GOOD LUCK.

NOTE: A times B is represented by A × B or A*B. A raised to the power n is expressed

as A^n. All problems are 1 point each.

1. Evaluate the kinetic energy of a unit weight of water, in meters, flowing at 4

m/s.
A. 0.721 C. 0.815
B. 0.439 D. 0.534

2. Given the unit weight of air to be constant at 12 N/m 3, determine the approximate
height of a mountain, in meters, if a mercury barometer at its base reads 750
mm and at the same instant another barometer at the top of the mountain reads
300 mm.
A. 5013 C. 5003
B. 5023 D. 5033

3. A rigid gate of a flood control structure in a river is 6 m wide by 4 m high

and weighs 10 kN. With its longer edge horizontal, it is moved up and down with
its short edge sliding in vertical channel guides. Evaluate the force, in kN,
needed to raise the gate when the surface of water is 2 m above its top edge.
The coefficient of friction between the gate and the channel guides is 0.10.
Neglect the buoyant effect of the water on the gate and the weight of the cables
connected to the gate:
A. 104 C. 110
B. 94 D. 92

4. In order to provide water from a nearby spring, a triangular flume of efficient

cross section was provided on a slope of 0.15 percent. Assuming the roughness
coefficient of the channel equal to 0.02, obtain the depth of flow in meter(s)
of the water in the flume if it is discharging at the rate of 2 cu.m./sec.
A. 1.85 C. 1.31
B. 1.77 D. 1.69

5. If a container containing water 0.50 m deep is carried inside an elevator that

accelerates at 2 m/sec2 evaluate the pressure, in kPa, exerted by the water at
the base of the container if the elevator is travelling downward.
A. 4.15 C. 3.91
B. 4.91 D. 2.45

6. Following are the results for the backfill material used in a vibroflotation
project:
D10 = 0.11 mm
D20 = 0.19 mm
D50 = 1.3 mm
Determine the suitability number and its rating as a backfill.
A. 18.00 (Good) C. 18.00 (Fair)
B. 10.59 (Good) D. 10.59 (Fair)

7. The natural moisture content of a soil mass is 11%, while its void ratio is
0.63. Assuming the void ratio to remain unchanged, determine the quantity of
water to be added to 4 m3 of this soil in order to double its moisture content.
Given that the specific gravity of solids is 2.72.
A. 164 kg C. 183 kg
B. 656 kg D. 732 kg

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CIVIL ENGINEERS Second Preboard Examination
Saturday, September 16, 2023 2:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m. Page 2
HYDRAULICS AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING SET A
8. The weight density of a mud is given by γ = 10 + 0.5h, where γ is in kN/m 3 and
h is in meters. Determine the pressure, in kPa, at a depth of 5 m.
A. 56.25 kPa C. 58.65 kPa
B. 62.50 kPa D. 60.15 kPa

9. A fine-grained soil has a liquid limit of 300% and a plastic limit of 55%. The
natural water content of the soil in the field is 80% and the clay content is
60%. Determine the plasticity index.
A. 200% C. 245%
B. 240% D. 220%

10. A cube, 300 mm on each side is to be held in equilibrium under water by attaching
a lightweight foam buoy to it. The specific weight of the cube and foam are 20
kN/m3 and 0.81 kN/m3, respectively. Evaluate the minimum volume of the foam
required, in m3.
A. 0.0426 C. 0.0306
B. 0.0557 D. 0.0242

11. The sector gate shown consists of a cylindrical surface, of which AB is the
trace. The length of the gate, perpendicular to the paper, is 10 m. Evaluate
the total horizontal force on the gate, in kN.
A. 1320 C. 1490
B. 1080 D. 1113

12. Into a bakery dough mixing chamber water enters at the rate of 200 liters per
sec through pipe A. Cooking oil with specific gravity of 0.80 is forced in at
50 liters per sec through pipe B. Assuming the liquids are incompressible and
form a homogeneous mixture of oil globules in water, evaluate the average
velocity of the mixture leaving through pipe C of diameter 300 mm, in m/sec.
A. 3.54 C. 3.76
B. 3.12 D. 2.14

13. If the velocity head at a velocity v 1 at one point of a pipe is 5.2 m, what is
the velocity head in meters at a point with velocity twice that of v1?
A. 5.2 C. 20.8
B. 2.6 D. 10.4

14. Oil, sg = 0.90, flows through a horizontal commercial steel pipe 150 mm in
diameter with an average velocity of 3.4 m/s. Calculate the pressure drop in
61 m of the pipe, in kPa. f = 0.02
A. 32 C. 52
B. 42 D. 62

Situation 1. A stratified soil deposit consists of four layers. The thickness of the
second, third and fourth layers are equal to half, one-third and one-fourth,
respectively, the thickness of the top layer, while their coefficients of
permeability are respectively twice, thrice and four times that of the top layer.
Determine:
15. Equivalent horizontal coefficient of permeability
A. 1.46 k1 C. 1.92 k1
B. 1.03 k1 D. 1.32 k1
16. Equivalent vertical coefficient of permeability
A. 1.03 k1 C. 1.32 k1
B. 1.46 k1 D. 1.92 k1

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CIVIL ENGINEERS Second Preboard Examination
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HYDRAULICS AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING SET A
17. Ratio of equivalent coefficient of permeability
A. 1.32 C. 1.92
B. 1.46 D. 1.03

Situation 2. A smooth, vertical wall retains a 7 m high granular backfill with the
ground level being horizontal. The water table lies at a depth of 3 m from the
top. The friction angle of the backfill is 32°. The moist unit weight and
saturated unit weight of the soil are 16.5 kN/m3 and 18.0 kN/m3 respectively.
Assuming the soil is in active state:
18. What is the coefficient of lateral earth pressure?
A. 0.26 C. 0.31
B. 0.23 D. 0.35
19. What is the magnitude of the total active force acting on the wall?
A. 255 kN D. 218 kN
B. 278 kN D. 182 kN
20. What is the location from the bottom of the horizontal thrust on the wall?
A. 2.00 m C. 2.80 m
B. 2.50 m D. 2.30 m

Situation 3. A retaining wall of 4 m height and having a smooth vertical back has to
retain a sand backfill having the following properties: γ = 1850 kg/m 3, φ = 30°.
21. Determine the active lateral earth pressure factor.
A. 0.33 C. 0.42
B. 0.27 D. 0.53
22. Determine the total active thrust exerted by the backfill on the wall.
A. 62.2 kN C. 37.6 kN
B. 48.4 kN D. 54.8 kN
23. Determine the percent change in active thrust, if the water table rises from a
great depth to a height of 2 m above the base of the wall. (Assume no change in
unit weight of soil)
A. 33% increase C. 27% increase
B. 33% decrease D. 27% decrease

Situation 4. An open cylindrical tank 1 – meter diameter contains water to a depth

of 3.56 m.
24. If the tank is rotated about its vertical axis at a speed of 80 rpm, evaluate
the least height in meters of the vessel so that no water will be spilled out
of the container.
A. 3.55 C. 3.21
B. 3.87 D. 4.01
25. If the tank is 4 m tall and is rotated at 120 rpm, obtain how much water will
be spilled out, in liters?
A. 452 C. 434
B. 460 D. 444
26. At 120 rpm of revolution, evaluate the gage pressure at the center of the base
of the tank.
A. 28.7 C. 31.5
B. 38.5 D. 25.1

Situation 5. A corner at the bottom of the cross section of a tank is shown in the
figure. The tank is 2 m wide into the plane of this paper. Neglecting atmospheric
pressure, evaluate.

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CIVIL ENGINEERS Second Preboard Examination
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HYDRAULICS AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING SET A
27. The total horizontal force on the corner plate AB, in kN.
A. 444 C. 394
B. 510 D. 324
28. The total vertical force on the corner plate AB, in kN.
A. 444 C. 324
B. 510 D. 394
29. The resultant force acting on the plate AB, in kN.
A. 394 C. 458
B. 510 D. 412

Situation 6. Situation: For the flow net shown below: (k=4×10−7 m/s ,γsat=20 kN/m3)

30. Calculate the head loss per drop in meters.

A. 0.75 C. 0.45
B. 0.23 D. 1.50
31. Calculate the rate of seepage im m3/s.
A. 1.08 x 10-6 C. 2.70 x 10-6
B. 5.40 x 10 -6 D. 5.40 x 10-7
32. Calculate the factor of safety against boiling at the surface AB.
A. 2.0 C. 4.0
B. 3.0 D. 3.5

Situation 7. The result of a consolidated drained triaxial shear test conducted on a

normally consolidated clay are as follows: Liquid pressure = 240 kPa; Deviator
stress at failure = 450 kPa.

33. Determine the angle of friction of the soil sample in degrees.

A. 16.8 C. 27.4
B. 22.4 D. 28.9
34. Determine the shear stress on the failure plane, in kPa.
A. 345 C. 242
B. 197 D. 195
35. Determine the normal stress on the plane of maximum shear, in kPa.
A. 398 C. 465
B. 550 D. 356

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CIVIL ENGINEERS Second Preboard Examination
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HYDRAULICS AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING SET A
Situation 8. Water flows through a 100 mm diameter granular soil specimen as shown.
The water levels on both sides are maintained constant during the test, and the
void ratio of the soil is 0.82, and Gs = 2.68.

36. Calculate the critical hydraulic gradient.

A. 0.923 C. 1.03
B. 0.839 D. 1.12
37. What is the maximum possible value for h such that the soil does not reach quick
condition?
A. 600 mm C. 700 mm
B. 545 mm D. 728 mm
38. For h = 150 mm, 175 ml of water was collected in 15 minutes. Find the permeability
of the soil.
A. 1.58x10-2 cm/s C. 1.18x10-2 cm/s
B. 1.32x10-2 cm/s D. 1.07x10-2 cm/s

Situation 9. Details of a cantilever retaining concrete wall are shown in figure,

the water table being below the base of the wall. The unit weight of the backfill
is 17 kN/m3 and a surcharge pressure of 10 kPa acts on the surface. Characteristic
values of the shear strength parameters for the backfill are c = 0 and  = 36°.
The coefficient of friction between the base and the foundation soil is 0.51.
Assume the unit weight of concrete is 23.5 kN/m3.

39. Calculate the factor of safety against sliding.

A. 1.25 C. 1.63
B. 1.38 D. 2.01
40. Calculate the righting moment.
A. 429 kN-m C. 397 kN-m
B. 477 kN-m D. 340 kN-m
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CIVIL ENGINEERS Second Preboard Examination
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HYDRAULICS AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING SET A
41. Factor of safety against overturning.
A. 2.21 C. 2.79
B. 2.58 D. 3.10

Situation 10. A wooden buoy of specific gravity 0.75 floats in a liquid having a
specific gravity of 0.85.

42. Evaluate the percentage of the volume of the buoy above the liquid surface to
the total volume of the buoy.
A. 10.4 C. 11.8
B. 12.6 D. 13.1

43. If the volume above the liquid surface is 0.045 cubic meters, estimate the weight
of the buoy, in kN.
A. 3.24 C. 2.81
B. 4.11 D. 1.98

44. What vertical force, in kN, applied to the buoy to fully submerge it.
A. 0.272 C. 0.425
B. 0.375 D. 0.275

Situation 11. The discharge pipeline of a water system consists of a 5500 m of 300 –
mm pipe joined by 3660 m of 450 – mm pipe that connects to the base of a huge
water reservoir. The difference in elevation between the water surface in the
reservoir and the center of the 300 – mm pipe at the end of the line is 45.7 m.
Neglecting velocity head and other losses in head due to entrances, and using
coefficient of friction of 0.02 for both pipes.

45. Obtain the velocity of the water in the bigger pipeline, in m/s?
A. 0.728 C. 0.443
B. 0.665 D. 0.500
46. Obtain the velocity of the water in the smaller pipeline, in m/s.
A. 1.68 C. 1.40
B. 1.50 D. 1.75
47. Evaluate the rate of flow in the pipes, in m 3/s.
A. 0.150 C. 0.132
B. 0.106 D. 0.095

Situation 12. A 50-mm square orifice, C = 0.68 on the inclined wall shown is closed.
Determine the following after a quick opening of the orifice if θ = 20°.

48. Cv so that water will rise 75% of the head causing the flow.
A. 0.68 C. 0.87
B. 0.92 D. 0.75

49. Discharge for a head of 3.1 m, in m3/s.

A. 0.023 C. 0.013
B. 0.033 D. 0.003

50. Initial velocity for a head of 3.1 m, in m/s.

A. 5.30 C. 6.78
B. 7.17 D. 5.85

~o0o~

WARNING: Failure to submit your Test Questions (Complete) set will

cause the cancellation of your Test-Results for the subject.

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