UPSC IES/ESE (Engineering Services) Geotechnical, Structural and Transportation Engineering Syllabus

Geotechnical, Structural and Transportation Engineering syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Geotechnical, Structural and Transportation Engineering in UPSC IES/ESE (Engineering Services), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering

   4 topics

   • Index properties and classification of soils
   • Permeability, seepage and effective stress
   • Consolidation, compaction and shear strength
   • Bearing capacity, foundations and earth pressure
     • Shallow and deep foundations
     • Retaining walls and slope stability
2. 2

   Structural Analysis

   4 topics

   • Determinate and indeterminate structures
   • Analysis of trusses, beams and frames
   • Slope deflection, moment distribution and influence lines
   • Matrix methods and rolling loads
3. 3

   Design of Reinforced and Steel Structures

   4 topics

   • Working stress and limit state design of RCC
   • Design of beams, slabs, columns and footings
   • Design of steel members and connections
     • Tension and compression members
     • Bolted and welded connections
   • Prestressed concrete fundamentals
4. 4

   Construction Materials and Concrete Technology

   4 topics

   • Cement, aggregates and admixtures
   • Concrete mix design and properties
   • Testing of construction materials
   • Construction practices and quality control
5. 5

   Transportation Engineering

   4 topics

   • Highway geometric design and pavement design
     • Flexible and rigid pavements
     • Traffic engineering and intersections
   • Railway engineering and track components
   • Airport and harbour engineering basics
   • Highway materials and bituminous mixes
6. 6

   Surveying and Water Resources Engineering

   4 topics

   • Levelling, theodolite and tacheometric surveying
   • Modern surveying using GPS and total station
   • Hydrology, irrigation and canal design
   • Hydraulic structures and water management

Geotechnical, Structural and Transportation Engineering flashcards for UPSC IES/ESE (Engineering Services)

20 of 57 cards from the Geotechnical, Structural and Transportation Engineering deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. Define void ratio ($e$), porosity ($n$), and the relationship between them.

   Void ratio $e=\frac{V_v}{V_s}$ (volume of voids to volume of solids); porosity $n=\frac{V_v}{V}$ (voids to total volume). They are related by $e=\frac{n}{1-n}$ and $n=\frac{e}{1+e}$.

2. State the fundamental three-phase relationship linking specific gravity $G$, void ratio $e$, water content $w$, and degree of saturation $S$.

   $$S\,e = w\,G$$ For a fully saturated soil ($S=1$), this reduces to $e=wG$.

3. Give the expressions for dry unit weight $\gamma_d$, saturated unit weight $\gamma_{sat}$, and submerged unit weight $\gamma'$ in terms of $G$, $e$, and $\gamma_w$.

   $$\gamma_d=\frac{G\gamma_w}{1+e},\quad \gamma_{sat}=\frac{(G+e)\gamma_w}{1+e},\quad \gamma'=\gamma_{sat}-\gamma_w=\frac{(G-1)\gamma_w}{1+e}$$

4. Define the Atterberg consistency limits: liquid limit (LL), plastic limit (PL), and shrinkage limit (SL).

   LL = water content at the boundary between liquid and plastic states (25 blows in Casagrande device). PL = water content at boundary between plastic and semi-solid states (thread crumbles at 3 mm). SL = water content below which further moisture loss causes no volume change.

5. Define Plasticity Index (PI), Liquidity Index (LI), and Consistency Index (CI).

   $PI = LL - PL$. $LI=\frac{w-PL}{PI}=\frac{w-PL}{LL-PL}$. $CI=\frac{LL-w}{PI}=\frac{LL-w}{LL-PL}$. ($LI+CI=1$.)

6. In the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS), what do the symbols $C_u$ and $C_c$ represent, and what are the well-graded criteria for gravels and sands?

   $C_u=\frac{D_{60}}{D_{10}}$ (uniformity coefficient), $C_c=\frac{D_{30}^{2}}{D_{10}\times D_{60}}$ (coefficient of curvature). Well-graded gravel: $C_u>4$ and $1\le C_c\le 3$. Well-graded sand: $C_u>6$ and $1\le C_c\le 3$.

7. State Darcy's law for flow through soils and define the coefficient of permeability $k$.

   $$q = k\,i\,A$$ where $q$ = discharge, $i=\frac{h}{L}$ = hydraulic gradient, $A$ = cross-sectional area, and $k$ = coefficient of permeability (units of velocity, m/s), the discharge velocity at unit hydraulic gradient.

8. Give the formula for the equivalent permeability of stratified soil for flow parallel and perpendicular to the bedding planes.

   Flow parallel (horizontal): $k_x=\frac{\sum k_i H_i}{\sum H_i}$. Flow perpendicular (vertical): $k_z=\frac{\sum H_i}{\sum \frac{H_i}{k_i}}$. Parallel flow always gives the larger equivalent $k$.

9. State Terzaghi's principle of effective stress and the basic equation.

   $$\sigma = \sigma' + u$$ Total stress $\sigma$ equals effective (intergranular) stress $\sigma'$ plus pore water pressure $u$. Effective stress controls shear strength, compressibility and volume change of soil.

10. Define the critical hydraulic gradient and the condition for quicksand (boiling).

    Critical hydraulic gradient $i_c=\frac{\gamma'}{\gamma_w}=\frac{G-1}{1+e}$. Quicksand (boiling) occurs when the upward seepage gradient equals $i_c$, making effective stress zero ($\sigma'=0$); typically $i_c\approx 1$.

11. In a flow net, give the formula for seepage discharge and define field shape.

    $$q = k\,H\,\frac{N_f}{N_d}$$ where $H$ = total head loss, $N_f$ = number of flow channels, $N_d$ = number of equipotential drops. In a properly drawn flow net, flow and equipotential lines intersect at right angles forming curvilinear squares.

12. State Terzaghi's one-dimensional consolidation: the coefficient of consolidation $c_v$ and the time factor $T_v$.

    $$c_v=\frac{k}{m_v\gamma_w}=\frac{k(1+e)}{a_v\gamma_w},\qquad T_v=\frac{c_v\,t}{d^{2}}$$ where $m_v$ = coefficient of volume change, $a_v$ = coefficient of compressibility, $d$ = longest drainage path.

13. Give the consolidation settlement formula for a normally consolidated clay using the compression index $C_c$.

    $$\Delta H=\frac{C_c\,H}{1+e_0}\,\log_{10}\!\left(\frac{\sigma_0'+\Delta\sigma}{\sigma_0'}\right)$$ where $C_c$ = compression index, $H$ = layer thickness, $e_0$ = initial void ratio, $\sigma_0'$ = initial effective stress.

14. What are the time factor values $T_v$ for 50% and 90% degree of consolidation?

    For $U=50\%$, $T_v=0.197$ (often taken $\approx 0.196$). For $U=90\%$, $T_v=0.848$. For $U<60\%$: $T_v=\frac{\pi}{4}U^{2}$.

15. Define the compaction parameters Optimum Moisture Content (OMC) and Maximum Dry Density (MDD), and compare Standard vs Modified Proctor.

    OMC = water content giving the maximum dry density for a given compactive effort; MDD = that peak dry density. Modified Proctor applies greater compactive energy than Standard Proctor, giving a HIGHER MDD at a LOWER OMC.

16. State the Mohr–Coulomb shear strength equation for soil in terms of effective stress.

    $$\tau_f = c' + \sigma'\tan\phi'$$ where $\tau_f$ = shear strength, $c'$ = effective cohesion, $\sigma'$ = effective normal stress on failure plane, $\phi'$ = effective angle of internal friction.

17. Give the relationship between major and minor principal effective stresses at failure (Mohr–Coulomb), and the failure plane angle.

    $$\sigma_1'=\sigma_3'\tan^{2}\!\left(45^\circ+\frac{\phi'}{2}\right)+2c'\tan\!\left(45^\circ+\frac{\phi'}{2}\right)$$ The failure plane is inclined at $\theta=45^\circ+\frac{\phi'}{2}$ to the major principal plane.

18. Compare UU, CU, and CD triaxial tests by drainage conditions.

    UU (Unconsolidated-Undrained): no drainage in either stage; gives total-stress $\phi=0$ for saturated clay. CU (Consolidated-Undrained): drained consolidation, undrained shear (pore pressure measured for effective params). CD (Consolidated-Drained): drainage allowed throughout; gives effective strength parameters directly.

19. State Terzaghi's general bearing capacity equation for a strip footing.

    $$q_u = cN_c + qN_q + \tfrac{1}{2}\gamma B N_\gamma$$ where $c$ = cohesion, $q=\gamma D_f$ = surcharge at footing level, $B$ = footing width, $\gamma$ = unit weight, and $N_c, N_q, N_\gamma$ = bearing capacity factors (functions of $\phi$).

20. Define net ultimate bearing capacity and net safe bearing capacity.

    Net ultimate bearing capacity $q_{nu}=q_u-\gamma D_f$ (gross ultimate minus overburden). Net safe bearing capacity $q_{ns}=\frac{q_{nu}}{F}$, where $F$ is the factor of safety (commonly 3). Gross safe $q_s=q_{ns}+\gamma D_f$.

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