UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING



SECOND SEMESTER/YEARLY EXAMINATIONS

MAY 2008

PROGRAMME BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering Level 1
MODULE NAME Engineering Materials and Engineering Geology
DATE
Monday
5 May 2008
MODULE CODE CIVE 1002Y(1)
TIME 9:30 12:30 Hours DURATION 3 Hours
NO. OF
QUESTIONS SET
9
NO. OF QUESTIONS
TO BE ATTEMPTED
4

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

There are 3 Sections in this paper: Section A, Section B and Section C.

Section A consists of 3 Questions. Answer ANY TWO (2) Questions from Section
A.

Section B consists of 3 Questions. Answer ANY ONE (1) Question from Section B.

Section C consists of 3 Questions. Answer ANY ONE (1) Question from Section C.


Use separate Answer Books for each Section.




ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING GEOLOGY CIVE 1002Y(1)


SECTION A [40 marks]

Answer ANY TWO (2) Questions from this Section.

Use separate Answer Books for each Section.


Question 1

(a) Using four key chronological events, explain what the theory of plate tectonics is
and how it progressed from a hypothesis to a theory.
[6 marks]

(b) Label the tectonic plates indicated in Figure 1 below and indicate the general
direction of motion using an indicative arrow (example: plate abc ).


Plate 6
Plate 8
Plate 5
Plate 1
Plate 4
Plate 3
Plate 2 Plate 7

Figure 1
[8 marks]

(c) With the help of sketches, describe the engine that drives plate tectonics with
emphasis on the plate recycling process.
[6 marks]


Page 1 of 7

ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING GEOLOGY CIVE 1002Y(1)


Question 2

(a) Differentiate between the formation of granite and basalt emphasising on their
texture and mineralogy.
[4 marks]

(b) Use sketches to describe the formation cycle of the two types of sedimentary rocks.
Highlight the different processes and sedimentary environments involved.
[6 marks]

(c) Briefly describe the build-up of igneous rocks in the formation of Mauritius,
giving examples of visible outcrops/rocks.
[6 marks]

(d) Explain, with the help of a sketch, the factors that cause the six types of
metamorphism.
[4 marks]



Page 2 of 7

ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING GEOLOGY CIVE 1002Y(1)

Question 3

It is proposed to carry out a ground investigation in a relatively flat site located in the
Curepipe region. From a desk study of previous ground investigations in the area and a
site walkover, the following were identified:

1. Presence of a watercourse within the site boundary and hydrophyllic vegetation
across the marshy land of the site;

2. Previous investigations indicate a layer of medium dense to dense sand at depths
varying from about 6m (EH1) to 10m (EH2) overlying a gravel layer of weathered
to moderately weathered basalt at about 13.2m (EH2) to 15m (EH1) depth and
bedrock of fresh basalt at 17.5m depth (EH1 and EH2);

3. Peaty horizons 0.5m thick were noted at 1.5m, 3.2m and 5m depths in both
exploratory holes.

(a) What type(s) of soil would you expect directly underlying the site? Give reasons
for your answer. Which laboratory test would you use to classify this soil?
[3 marks]

(b) Assuming the above soil type overlies the sand and gravel layer, which method(s)
of investigation would be appropriate to obtain a log of the ground to 20m depth?
[5 marks]

(c) Draw typical logs through exploratory holes EH1 and EH2. Highlight the types of
soil samples that can be recovered from each stratum up to 20m depth.
[5 marks]

(d) Briefly describe how the level of groundwater table within the site can be
determined as part of this ground investigation?
[3 marks]

(e) Test on a soil specimen taken at 1.0m depth gave the following data:

Mass of specimen = 235.2g
Mass of oven-dried specimen = 187.5g
Specific gravity of soil particles = 2.68

(i) What would you expect the degree of saturation of the soil sample to be?
[1 mark]

(ii) Calculate the water content and porosity of the soil. [3 marks]

Page 3 of 7

ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING GEOLOGY CIVE 1002Y(1)


SECTION B [30 marks]

Answer ANY ONE (1) Question from this Section.

Use separate Answer Books for each Section.


Question 4

(a) Cementitious materials such as clay, lime, plaster of Paris and Portland cement,
form a paste when mixed with water, which later hardens and sets to a rigid mass.

Explain the physical/chemical mechanism/s involved in the cementitious
behaviour of EACH of the four materials mentioned above. [12 marks]

(b) A ready-mix concrete producer obtains monthly supplies of ordinary Portland
cement, which are stored in a large silo. He notices a decrease in the early strength
of concrete cubes from one cement supply to the next. He suspects the cement to
be the cause, and wants to verify its quality.

Name and describe TWO relevant tests he can carry out to check the cement
quality. [10 marks]

(c) Write notes on:

(i) Setting and hardening

(ii) Sulphate attack [8 marks]


Question 5

(a) Explain, with the help of a flow diagram, the industrial manufacture of straight-
run bitumen from crude petroleum oil. [10 marks]

(b) Describe the following tests and discuss their significance:
(i) Penetration test
(ii) Solubility test
(iii) Spot test [12 marks]

(c) Write notes on:
(i) Air-blowing
(iii) Cut-back bitumen. [8 marks]

Page 4 of 7

ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING GEOLOGY CIVE 1002Y(1)


Question 6

(a) Describe, by giving suitable example, TWO forms of polymerisation. [6 marks]

(b) Differentiate between thermosetting plastics and thermoplastics. [7 marks]

(c) Describe ONE method by which plastics can be:
(i) softened
(ii) hardened.
[8 marks]

(d) Write notes on:
(i) Float glass
(ii) Toughened glass
(iii) Double-glazing
[9 marks]





Page 5 of 7

ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING GEOLOGY CIVE 1002Y(1)


SECTION C [30 marks]

Answer ANY ONE (1) Question from this Section.

Use separate Answer Books for each Section.

Question 7

(a) What do you understand by the term corrosion. [4 marks]

(b) (i) State 3 types of coating that can be used on metals to inhibit corrosion.
[6 marks]

(ii) Explain how they inhibit corrosion. [12 marks]

(c) (i) State one type of stainless steel which is used in corrosive environments.
[2 marks]

(ii) Explain how stainless steels are corrosion resistant. [6 marks]



Question 8

(a) Differentiate between strength, ductility and toughness. [6 marks]

(b) Sketch the stress strain diagram for each of the following:
(i) A non ductile material with no yield point
(ii) A ductile material with yield point
(iii) A ductile material with no marked yield point
[9 marks]

(c) A 50.8 mm gauge length is marked on a rod. It is strained so that the gauge marks
are 57.7 mm apart. Calculate the strain in the specimen.
[5 marks]

(d) A copper wire has a nominal breaking strength of 300 MPa and a reduction of
area of 77 %. Calculate (i) its true tensile strength (ii) the true strain at the point of
fracture.
[2 x 5 marks]

Page 6 of 7

ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING GEOLOGY CIVE 1002Y(1)


Question 9

(a) State the basic requirements for measuring the distances between atomic planes
using the diffraction of X rays.
[10 marks]

(b) Illustrate by means of a labelled sketch the method for performing the test in (a).
[10 marks]

(c) Derive Braggs law. [5 marks]

(d) X rays are diffracted 43.4 by copper . Calculate the wavelength of the X rays for
n = 1. The lattice constant a is 3.615 Angstrom and the diffraction line is for d
111
.
[5 marks]


END OF QUESTION PAPER
/nr

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