RCC Design (IS 456) MCQ for GATE Civil Engineering
813 Questions5 Difficulty Levels20-25% in GATEFree Practice
RCC Design is the single most important topic in GATE Civil Engineering, carrying 8-12 marks every year. It covers the design of reinforced concrete beams, slabs, columns, and footings using the limit state method as per IS 456:2000. Understanding the stress block parameters (0.36fck for average stress, 0.42xu for depth), neutral axis limits, and minimum reinforcement requirements is essential. The 2016 revision of IS 13920 introduced stricter seismic detailing provisions that are increasingly tested in GATE — particularly the special confining reinforcement formula and strong-column-weak-beam criterion.
Difficulty Levels
L1 · Foundation · 275 Qs
L2 · Understanding · 127 Qs
L3 · Application · 253 Qs
L4 · Analysis · 134 Qs
L5 · GATE Ready · 4 Qs
Key Topics Covered
Singly & doubly reinforced beams
One-way & two-way slabs
Short & slender columns
Shear design (Table 19, 20)
Development length & lap splicing
Deflection control (L/d ratios)
Nominal cover (Table 16)
Seismic detailing (IS 13920)
Key Formulas
Mu = 0.36 fck·b·xu(d − 0.42xu)
Ast = (0.5fck/fy)[1 − √(1 − 4.6Mu/fck·b·d²)]·b·d
Ld = φ·σs/(4·τbd)
Pu = 0.4fck·Ac + 0.67fy·Asc
τv = Vu/(b·d)
GATE Exam Tip: Focus on Table 5 (exposure/grade), Table 16 (cover), Table 19 (shear strength), and the flexure formula. GATE often gives a beam section and asks for Ast — practice this calculation until it's automatic. For seismic detailing, know the stirrup spacing rule: min(d/4, 8φ, 24φhoop, 300mm) in the plastic hinge zone.
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Q1 · Level 1 · SE-RCC-1011
The workability of concrete is found to be inversely related to which parameter?
Q2 · Level 1 · SE-RCC-1378
A higher modular ratio between steel and concrete signifies:
Q3 · Level 1 · SE-RCC-1100
A column that fails due to buckling is categorized as a long column. Conversely, a column that fails by direct compression and crushing is termed a:
Q4 · Level 2 · SE-RCC-1119
Reinforcement along the side faces of a beam is required when the depth of the web exceeds:
Q5 · Level 2 · SE-RCC-1104
The design analysis for reinforced concrete cantilever beams relies on determining the resultant forces at which critical location?
Q6 · Level 2 · SE-RCC-1221
A beam section designed for balanced conditions is achieved when the maximum stresses developed in the constituent materials reach their:
Q7 · Level 3 · SE-RCC-1202
A pile of length 'L' carries a uniformly distributed load of 'W' per meter. If it is supported at the center and at points 0.15L from each end, what is the maximum hogging moment experienced?
Q8 · Level 3 · SE-RCC-1467
Assertion A: The load factor applied to live forces exceeds that for dead loads. Reason R: Live loads exhibit greater unpredictability compared to dead loads. Choose your answer based on the following coding.
Q9 · Level 3 · SE-RCC-1228
What is the minimum duration for which lime concrete in foundations must be kept saturated without the placement of overlying masonry?
Q10 · Level 3 · SE-RCC-1144
An axially loaded RCC column with a 30 cm diameter and six 12 mm diameter bars symmetrically placed along its circumference carries a load of 40,000 kg. Calculate the stress developed in the column.
Q11 · Level 3 · SE-RCC-1493
For a 200 mm thick load-bearing wall spanning 5 m between perpendicular walls and having a clear height of 3.8 m between floor slabs, what is its slenderness ratio?
Q12 · Level 4 · SE-RCC-1227
Which of the following elements critically affect the compressive strength of concrete?
Q13 · Level 4 · SE-RCC-1357
How does the average permissible bond stress for plain bars in tension compare to that for plain bars in compression?
Q14 · Level 4 · SE-RCC-1209
Consider a combined footing supporting two columns spaced 'l' meters apart, with an overall length 'L'. If the overhang on the left of the exterior column is 'x', and the distance of the centroid of column loads from an arbitrary reference is 'x-bar', what is the overhang 'y' on the right side of the exterior column to achieve a uniform pressure distribution?
Q15 · Level 4 · SE-RCC-1460
What is the typical distribution of shear stress across the cross-section of a reinforced concrete member?
Q16 · Level 5 · SE-RCC-0056
A beam-column joint in Zone IV has beams framing into only 3 faces. The column is 300 x 450 mm. As per IS 13920:2016, what is the maximum hoop spacing in the joint region, and what is the required Ash for the confining reinforcement using 8 mm hoops at the governing spacing?
Q17 · Level 5 · SE-RCC-0060
Design a complete beam section: A simply supported beam 300 x 700 mm (d = 650 mm, d' = 50 mm) spans 7 m in a Zone IV building. M25, Fe500. Factored loads: Mu = 380 kN-m, Vu = 180 kN at d from support. Determine: (i) whether singly/doubly reinforced, (ii) Ast required, (iii) stirrup spacing in the plastic hinge zone per IS 13920, and (iv) check shear adequacy.
Q18 · Level 5 · SE-RCC-0058
A seismic beam (300 x 600 mm, d = 560 mm) in Zone IV has top steel = 4-20 mm and bottom steel = 3-20 mm at the face of a column. Check if IS 13920 Clause 6.2 requirements for positive-to-negative steel ratio are satisfied.
Q19 · Level 5 · SE-RCC-0055
A beam section 300 x 650 mm (d = 600 mm, d' = 50 mm) with M25 and Fe500 is subjected to Mu = 400 kN-m. Calculate: (i) Mu,lim, (ii) whether doubly reinforced is needed, and (iii) if yes, the compression steel Asc required.