Highway Engineering MCQ for GATE Civil Engineering
636 Questions5 Difficulty Levels10-12% in GATEFree Practice
Transportation Engineering (Highway + Traffic) carries 8-12 marks in GATE CE. Highway engineering covers geometric design, pavement design, and highway materials. Traffic engineering covers flow models, signal design, and intersection analysis. IRC codes (IRC 37 for flexible pavements, IRC 58 for rigid pavements) are the primary references.
Difficulty Levels
L1 · Foundation · 329 Qs
L2 · Understanding · 69 Qs
L3 · Application · 145 Qs
L4 · Analysis · 89 Qs
L5 · GATE Ready · 1 Qs
Key Topics Covered
Sight distances (SSD, OSD, ISD)
Horizontal curves & superelevation
Vertical curves (summit, valley)
Flexible pavement design (CBR/IRC 37)
Rigid pavement (Westergaard, IRC 58)
Marshall stability test
Traffic flow models (Greenshields)
Key Formulas
SSD = 0.278Vt + V²/(254f)
e + f = V²/(gR) (superelevation)
L = NS²/(2H) (summit curve)
Co = (1.5L+5)/(1−Σyi) (Webster's)
GATE Exam Tip: SSD calculation is tested almost every year — know the formula with reaction time and braking distance. For pavement design, understand the CBR method for flexible and Westergaard's equations for rigid. Traffic signal problems using Webster's formula are scoring.
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Q1 · Level 1 · TE-HWY-1161
When designing valley curves, which geometrical configuration is generally considered most suitable?
Q2 · Level 1 · TE-HWY-1156
Which type of diagram meticulously illustrates all critical physical elements present at an accident scene, including road boundaries, overhead structures, roadside vegetation, and pavement conditions?
Q3 · Level 1 · TE-HWY-1081
During the construction of highway layers, the compaction process using a roller typically commences from:
Q4 · Level 2 · TE-HWY-0006
In Westergaard's analysis for rigid pavement, which loading position produces the maximum flexural stress in the concrete slab?
Q5 · Level 2 · TE-HWY-1077
What is the maximum permissible separation between contraction joints in concrete pavements?
Q6 · Level 2 · TE-HWY-1340
The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test is primarily conducted to assess:
Q7 · Level 3 · TE-HWY-1133
What is the typical permissible range for clay content within a compacted gravel pavement layer?
Q8 · Level 3 · TE-HWY-1047
The formula used to determine the required superelevation, considering friction, is represented by which of the following expressions?
Q9 · Level 3 · TE-HWY-1099
The penetration test is performed on bitumen to ascertain its:
Q10 · Level 3 · TE-HWY-1172
Increasing the rise of lock gates has the following effects: (i) It increases the span of the lock gate. (ii) It augments the transverse stress induced by water pressure on the gate. (iii) It elevates the compressive force acting on the gate. Which of these statements are correct?
Q11 · Level 3 · TE-HWY-1075
For the surface of a bridge deck slab, the most suitable paving material is:
Q12 · Level 4 · TE-HWY-1220
When concreting a tunnel lining, high-pressure injection of grout is typically employed if the surrounding rock formation is characterized by:
Q13 · Level 4 · TE-HWY-1076
The maximum allowable dimension for expansion joints in rigid pavement structures is:
Q14 · Level 4 · TE-HWY-1211
What is the placement of the aggregate layer (base course) within a flexible pavement profile?
Q15 · Level 4 · TE-HWY-1071
When several roadways converge at a single location and one of these routes carries significantly higher traffic, the most appropriate geometric configuration for the intersection is:
Q16 · Level 5 · TE-HWY-0005
In a Marshall stability test for bituminous mix design, the two primary properties determined are: