Basic Civil Engineering Questions and Answers - Manufacture of Brick

1. How many types of the brick earth are there?
a) 3
b) 5
c) 2
d) 6

Answer: a
Explanation: The three types are loamy, mild or sandy clay; marls, chalky or calcareous clay and plastic, strong or pure clay.

2. Loamy, mild or sandy clay has __________ percentage of alkali?
a) 5%
b) 1%
c) 4%
d) 0%

Answer: d
Explanation: It does not contain any alkali contents. It contains 5% of organics matter, 1% of lime, magnesia and oxides of iron, 66% of silica and 27% of alumina.

3. Which one of the below is the first step in the preparation of brick earth process?
a) Digging
b) Site selection
c) Cleaning
d) Unsoiling

Answer: d
Explanation: Site selection is the step in the manufacturing of brick process. The first step, in order for preparation for brick earth is unsoiling. It involves scraping off top layer, about 150-250mm deep.

4.Why is the process of weathering performed?
a) To remove organic matter
b) To prepare for next process
c) To improve plasticity
d) To dry clay

Answer: c
Explanation: Weathering is a process of softening dug out clay by adding little water and then exposing it to the atmosphere. Then it is heated and left for few weeks to undergo weathering.

5. The process of kneading brick earth is called:
a) Pugging
b) Blending
c) Ramming
d) Tamping

Answer: a
Explanation: Pugging or tempering is done by adding water to brick earth and kneading until a homogenous mass and required plasticity is attained.

6. Which one of the following is not a part of pug mill?
a) Vertical shaft
b) Hub
c) Cutting blades
d) Timber base

Answer: b
Explanation: Hub is a part of Kaplan turbine. Pub mill is where pugging is carried out. It consists of a conical iron tub, cutting blades, vertical shaft, horizontal arm, long wooden arm and timber base.

7. How many methods of moulding brick earth are there?
a) 3
b) 5
c) 2
d) 4

Answer: c
Explanation: There are two methods of carrying out moulding of brick earth. These are hand moulding and machine moulding.

8. The meaning of slop moulded bricks is:
a) Sand sprinkled inside mould
b) Insufficiently moulded bricks
c) Brittle and slimy bricks
d) Mould dipped in water

Answer: d
Explanation: To avoid clay from sticking on the mould, either sand is sprinkled (sand moulded bricks) or mould is dipped in water (slop moulded bricks).

9. Plastic clay method of machine moulding results in pressed bricks.
a) True
b) False

Answer: b
Explanation: In plastic clay method, clay in the plastic state is employed. It comes out of a rectangular opening in the form of a clay bar. As it comes out, it is cut into to strips by wire, and hence called wire bricks. Pressed bricks are obtained from dry clay method.

10. Which is the most commonly employed drying method in India?
a) Hot floor drier
b) Tunnel drier
c) Natural drying
d) Blow drying

Answer: c
Explanation: Natural drying employs workers and it is more economical in India than using artificial driers. Hot floor drier and tunnel drier are types of artificial drying method.