Construction Materials Questions and Answers - Design Considerations

1. A curtain wall carries ___________
a) Only vertical loads
b) Only lateral loads
c) Both vertical and lateral loads
d) Their own weight only

Answer: b
Explanation: A curtain wall is defined as that type of wall which carries no vertical loads but is subjected to lateral loads. Hence, a curtain wall is also known as a self-supporting wall.

2. A cavity wall is a wall that consists of _________ leaves.
a) Only one leaf
b) Two
c) Four
d) Zero

Answer: b
Explanation: A cavity wall is that type of load-bearing wall which consists of two leaves. These leaves are made up of structural units and are separated by a cavity which is why these are called cavity walls.

3. A faced wall is that type of load-bearing wall in which facing and backing are made of the same material.
a) True
b) False

Answer: b
Explanation: A faced wall is a load-bearing wall. In a faced wall, the facing and the backing are made of two different materials.

4. In which of the following types of load-bearing walls, the facing is attached to the backing but not bonded?
a) Faced wall
b) Cavity wall
c) Veneered wall
d) Panel wall

Answer: c
Explanation: In a veneered wall, the facing is attached to the backing but not bonded. In a faced wall, the facing and the backing are bonded together. A cavity wall is the one that consists of two leaves. A panel is a non-load bearing wall.

5. In a cavity wall, the space between the leaves should be filled with a material which is not __________
a) Waterproof
b) Load-bearing
c) Non-load bearing
d) Insulating

Answer: b
Explanation: In a cavity wall, the space between the leaves or the cavity should be filled with a material that is highly insulating, waterproof and non-load bearing. This is done in order to increase the effectivity of the wall.

6. Which of the following is not a type of load coming on the wall structures?
a) Dead load
b) Black load
c) Live load
d) Earthquake load

Answer: b
Explanation: Load-bearing walls are subjected to various types of loads. Loads coming on a structure are of the types – live loads, dead loads, snow loads, wind loads and earthquake loads.

7.Which of the following reasons is not responsible for setting up stresses in a wall?
a) Its own weight
b) Weight of superimposed loads
c) Cement
d) Lateral pressure

Answer: c
Explanation: Stresses are set up in walls by its own weight, by the weight of superimposed loads and by lateral pressure. The resistance to these stresses determines the strength of a wall. More the resistance more is the strength.

8. Live loads and dead loads act in a horizontal direction.
a) True
b) False

Answer: b
Explanation: A building may be subjected to various types of loads like live loads, dead loads, snow loads, wind loads and earthquake loads. Live loads and dead loads act in a vertical direction.

9. In a masonry wall, the strength of the mortar should be __________ that of the masonry unit.
a) Lesser than
b) Greater than
c) Equal to
d) Greater than or equal to

Answer: a
Explanation: The strength of a masonry wall depends on the mortar strength and the strength of masonry units. While keeping the design considerations of a wall in your mind, it must be noted that the strength of the mortar should be lesser than that of the masonry unit.

10. Weak mortar has __________
a) Only lime
b) Only cement
c) More cement and less lime
d) More lime and less cement

Answer: d
Explanation: Mortar consists of both lime and cement. The strength of the mortar determines the strength of a wall. Weak mortar has more of lime and less of cement.