MATERIALS REVIEWER Ans: Concrete beam sample

1. What is the sample for compressive 11. What are the tests needed for the 2.650
strength determination of a structural cu.m Item 201 (Aggregate Base
concrete? Course)?

Ans: concrete cylinder sample Ans: CBR, abrasion, GPCD

2. What is the test to determine the
consistency of concrete?
Ans: Slump test
3. What is the length required for RSB
sample for quality test?
Ans: 1.0 m/10,000 kg/size/shipment
4. How many samples should be taken for
every 75 cu.m fresh concrete?
Ans: 1 set consist of 3-pcs sample
5. What is the required size of test
specimen for G.I. sheets?
Ans: 3 pcs-60 mm in 1 sht/100 sheets
12. How many grading tests are required for
a 3,200 cu.m selected borrow topping
(Item 104)?
Ans: 3 grading tests
13. As a materials Engineer, what will you
recommend if you find out that the
materials to be used as Item 200 if finer
than the required materials?
Ans: blend Item 200 with coarser
materials
14. What is the standard specification for LL
and PI of Item 201?
Ans: maximum of 25% and maximum
of 6% respectively

6. What kind of paint that has a reflectance 15. What is the CBR requirement for Item
or beads? 201?

Ans: Reflectorized Paint Ans: 80% maximum

7. For how long or how many hours shall a 16. What is that construction material that
bituminous prime coat be left has a property of being a dark brown to
undisturbed? black cementitious material in which the
predominating substance is bitumen?
Ans: 24 hours
Ans: asphalt
8. What is the rate of application of
bituminous tack coat? 17. What asphalt is used for sealing weaken
plane joint of concrete pavement?
Ans: 0.2 to 0.7 L/sq.m
Ans: Blown Asphalt
9. What is the penetration grade of blown
asphalt? 18. What is Item 311 of the DPWH
Specification (Blue Book)?
Ans: 0 to 30 penetration grade
Ans: Portland cement Concrete
10. What kind of sample is taken for flexural Pavement
test?
19. What is the machine used for abrasion
test?
Ans: Los Angeles Abrasion Machine
20. How to determine the degree of
compaction of Items 104, 200, & 201?
Ans: by Field Density Test
21. What is the formula in obtaining the value
of PI?
Ans: Liquid Limit minus Plastic Limit
22. What are the other terms for sieve
analysis?
Ans: Grading Test, Particle Size
Distribution Test, Mechanical
Analysis
23. What is the degree of compaction of the
soil if the wet density is 2,200 kg/m3, with
an actual moisture content of 10.2% and
a maximum dry density of 1,960 kg/m3?
Ans: 101.23%
24. How many concrete cores shall be taken
for one (1) kilometer concrete pavement?
Ans: 5 holes/km/lane
25. If the group index of a soil is high, what
indication does it mean?
Ans: the soil is clayey
26. For how many bags of cement does a 10
kgs. sample represents?
Ans:
2000 bags
27. For 15, 000 kgs RSB, how many samples
shall be submitted for Quality Test?
Ans: 2 pcs – 1 m sample
28. In oven drying a sample for test, what
temperature shall be maintained?
Ans: 110 ± 5oC
29. Why is it that cooling an oven dried
sample before weighing is advisable?
Ans: because it can affect its weight
30. What is the use of blown asphalt?
Ans: as joint filler and water proofing
31. What is the difference between
hygroscopic moisture content from
natural moisture content?
Ans: hygroscopic moisture content
is the moisture content of an air- dried
sample while natural moisture content
is the moisture content of the original
sample from the field.
32. As a Materials Engineer, how can you
determine that the sample placed in the
oven is already oven – dried?
Ans: if the sample reaches its
constant weight
33. An admixture is being introduced to the
fresh concrete mixture for heavily
reinforced concrete structure using a
pumpcrete to pump out the fresh
concrete mix, what admixture should it
be?
Ans: Superplasticizer
34. What is the moisture content of the soil
having an original weight of 162.5 grams
and an oven – dried weight of 138.2
grams?
Ans: 17.58%
35. What asphalt is commonly known as hot
asphalt or penetration grade asphalt?
Ans: Asphalt Cement
36. How many days does the sample for
Immersion – Compression Test be
soaked in water?

Ans: 4 days @ 50 oC
37. If ductility test is for asphalt, _____ is for
cement?
Ans: Magnesium Oxide, Insoluble
Residue, Loss on Ignition
38. Paint is composed of _____
Ans: 35% vehicle, 50% pigment, 15%
beads
39. What is the size of tamping rod used in
tamping concrete sample?
Ans: 16 mm Ø and 610 mm long with
hemispherical tip
40. What is the temperature to be maintained
when curing sample after its initial
curing?
Ans: 23o C ± 1.7o C
41. Concrete cylinders are cured and ready
for test. Temperature between 63°F to
85°F are permitted for a period not to
exceed _____ hours immediately prior to
test if free moisture is maintained on the
surface of the specimen at all times.
Ans: three (3)
42. The molds of specimen not to be
transported shall be removed after initial
curing of _____ hours and should be
cured to the standard curing temperature
of 73.4 °F ± 3°F
Ans: Twenty-four (24)
43. High plasticity index means _____ of a
soil?
Ans: high degree of compressibility
44. Sample to be used for liquid limit and
plastic limit tests should pass to what
sieve?
Ans: No. 40 (0.425 mm)
45. What compaction rammer shall used if
the specs given for Moisture – Density
Relation Test (MDR) is T – 180?
Ans: 4.54 kg with 457 mm drop
46. A bean mold measuring 6” x 6” x 20 is to
be used for sampling concrete, how
many blows/tamps per layer shall be
applied?
Ans: 60 blows/layer
47. If asphalt mix having a weight of 3,020g
and an aggregate weighing 2,865.98g,
what is the % asphalt by weight of mix?
Ans: 5.10%
48. What is the material used for Bituminous
Prime Coat?
Ans: Cut-back asphalt
49. In Item 303, application of cover
aggregates shall be evenly spread over
the surface at the rate of approximately
_____?
Ans: 0.004 to 0.007 m3/m2
50. Applying the tolerance of 0.4% for
asphalt content to your answer in prob.
47, what is the acceptable range of
asphalt content?
Ans: 4.7% to 5.5%
51. An embankment having a PI of 30%, LL
of 40% and GI of 0, what is the degree of
compaction for this kind of soil?
Ans: 95% degree of compaction
52. The minimum cement factor for concrete
Class “A” is 9 bags/ cu.m, how about for
concrete Class “B”?
Ans: 8 bags/ cu.m
53. Quality control testing in a DPWH project
is the responsibility of the_____?
Ans: Contractor
54. As Materials Engineer, when is the right
time to start sampling and testing
aggregates?
Ans: Once the source is identified
55. The minimum compressive strength for
concrete Class “P” is 5,000 psi, what is
the minimum compressive strength for
concrete Class “C”?
Ans: 3000 psi
56. The volume of concrete mixer per batch
shall not exceed the mixer’s nominal
capacity in cu.m as shown on the
manufacturer’s standard plate on the
mixer, except that an overload up to
_____ percent above the mixer’s nominal
capacity may be permitted provided
concrete test data for strength,
segregation, and uniform consistency
are satisfactory, and provided that no
spillage of concrete takes place.
Ans: Ten (10)
57. Where do we take additional cores when
the measurement of any core taken from
pavement is deficient in thickness by
more than 25 mm?
Ans: at no less than 5 meter intervals
parallel to the centerline in each
direction from the affected location
58. Under what climatic condition do we use
lower penetration grade or hard asphalt?
Ans: hot climate (cold climate –
higher penetration grade or soft
asphalt)
59. What is the basis for the acceptance or
rejection of any construction material?
Ans: Materials test results/reports
60. Penetration test is for asphalt: cement is
to _____?
Ans: consistency
61. Slump test is a very important test in
fresh concrete to determine _____?
Ans: consistency of concrete
62. How many samples should be taken for
an asphalt mix for each full day’s
operation?
Ans: at least one but not to exceed
three samples
63. The thickness of asphalt core using a
caliper is based on how many
measurements?
Ans: four (4)
64. The thickness of concrete core using a
caliper is based on how many
measurements?
Ans: nine (9)
65. Failed samples do not necessarily mean
that the structure it represents is
defective, why?
Ans: may be the sampling is incorrect
66. The specification calls for a 1: 2:4
concrete mix. In a one bagger mixer,
which of the following amount of water is
most likely required for the mix?
Ans: 20 liters
67. How many samples shall be submitted
for test if 315 pails of flat wall enamel
paint are to be used in the project?
Ans: four (4) pails
68. The spot test on asphalt is used to
determine ______.
 Ans: overheating during the process
of manufacture
69. Aggregate Sub – base course has a
volume of 5, 000 cu.m and to be laid in a
15cm compacted depth. How many
samples shall be submitted for CBR test
and for sieve analysis?
Ans: 2 samples for CBR and 17
samples for sieve analysis
70. How many samples shall be submitted
for quality test if 60 tons of Bituminous
Prime Coat is to be used in the project?
Ans:
Two (2) samples
71. How many compaction tests shall be
conducted for Item 201 having a volume
of 8,250 cu.m?
Ans: Six (6) compaction tests
72. What composed of Materials Quality
Control Monthly Reports?
Ans: Summary of field tests and
status of test
73. What is the required mixing of mortar for
Item 505 (Stone Masonry)?
Ans: 1 part cement and 2 parts sand
by volume with sufficient water
74. What is the required mixing of mortar for
Item 500 (Pipe Culverts and Storm
Drains)?
Ans: 1 part cement and 2 parts sand
by volume with sufficient water
75. Before the project starts, the materials
Engineer or the technician must have a
program on how many samples for each
item of work should be tested based on
the minimum testing requirements. What
program or report is this?
Ans: Quality Control Program
76. If sample splitter is not available for use
in reducing samples for test, what is the
alternative way of reducing sample for
testing size?
Ans: apply quartering method and get
two opposite sides as sample
77. The road will not be opened to traffic until
test specimens molded and cured have
attained the minimum strength
requirements. If such tests are not
conducted prior to the specified age the
pavement shall not be operated to traffic
until _____ days after the concrete was
placed.
Ans: Fourteen (14)
78. As the work progresses, the Materials
Engineer should know how many sample
has been submitted and tested and how
many samples are to be submitted, in
other words the ME must refer to what
report so that he/she may be updated on
the balance and on file quality test of the
construction materials being used in the
project?
Ans: Status of Test
79. It is the minimum moisture content at
which the soil can be molded without
breaking or crumbling up to 1/8” (3.2
mm).
Ans: Plastic Limit
80. The _____ is expressed as the moisture
content corresponding to 25 blows.
Ans: Liquid Limit
81. The concrete has been tested for
consistency by the use of a slump cone
with base and tamping rod. After the test,
the height of concrete measured is 178
mm. what is the slump of the concrete?
Ans: 127 mm
82. What is the rate of revolution per minute
of an abrasion Machine used for testing
the mass percent of wear?
Ans: 30 – 33 rpm
83. If the design of concrete mix has the
following corrected batch weights:
cement = 40 kgs, fine aggregates = 65
kgs, coarse aggregate = 115 kgs, and
water = 15 liters. What is your actual
batch weights for 1 cu.m Class “A”
concrete?
Ans: 360 bags of cement; 585 kgs of
fine aggregates; 1035 kgs coarse
aggregates; 130 liters water
84. After the soil has been tested in an
Abrasion Machine, the mass % of wear
computed is equal to 21%. If this material
is for Item 201, does it pass the DPWH
specs?
Ans: Yes, because the specs is 50%
maximum
85. Quality Control Assurance Report should
be submitted every _____?
Ans: week
86. One of the duties of Materials Engineer is
to see to it that all the construction
materials be tested:
Ans: before it is incorporated into
work
87. What is the maximum depth or roadway
embankment per horizontal layer in loose
measurement?
Ans: 200 mm loose measurement
88. Why is it that 6 samples are needed for
quality test of concrete masonry?
Ans: 3 samples for compressive
strength and 3 samples for absorption
89. Along the slope of high embankment
_____ is provided as an erosion control
measures and also to improve the
stability of the slope.
Answer: Berm
90. If course aggregate like embankment is
to be placed in layers, how many layers
should a 40 cm thick Aggregate Base
Course is placed?
Ans: Three (3)
91. How long does a vibrator be inserted in a
concrete mix?
Answer: not to exceed 15 seconds at
50 – 60 cm interval
92. Sample submitted for test should have a
tag bearing the name of the project, the
quantity represented, kind of sample,
original source, who sampled and who
submitted it, the date sampled and date
submitted and etc. What is the common
name of that tag for you as Materials
Engineer?
Ans: Sample Card
93. The ME should always be alert of his
schedule with regards to the number of
days of a quality test that takes place.
Since not all construction materials can
be tested just for a day or even a week
so, what is the lead time should he
consider for a quality test of a cement
sample?
Ans: One (1) month
94. CBR Sample for test has been
compacted but it should be soaked for
how many days before testing?
Ans: Four (4)
95. If sieve analysis and plasticity test are
used for Soil Classification, what test that
its result be used in field density test?
 Ans: Compaction Test or Moisture
Density Relation Test

96. Heavy rains occur the night before prior

to your scheduled field density test, are
you going to pursue your schedule?
Why?

Ans: No, because the moisture

content is high and can affect the
result

97. Checking the gradation of composite

aggregates and asphalt content of
asphalt mix can be done by what test?

Ans: Extraction Test

98. In soil and sub – surface explorations for

flood control design of foundation
condition, a soil sample was taken for
field and laboratory tests. The test
required for soil was taken, except

Ans: specific gravity, abrasion, water

content, Atterberg Limits, gradation,
compaction, relative density

99. Structure crossing above such covered

underground drainage conduit shall be
laid at least _____ above the top of the
conduit.

Ans: 1.0 m, 0.5 m, 1.5 m, 2.0 m

100. Class of stones for riprap ranging from 30

kgs to a maximum of 70 kgs with at least
50% of the stones weighing more than 50
kgs.

Ans: Class B