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GATE CE · Transportation Engineering

Highway Materials Practice Questions

Generate GATE-level questions on Highway Materials in Transportation Engineering. Focus on core concepts, previous year patterns, and numerical problem-solving techniques.

32 questions · 20 PYQs · 0 AI practice · GATE CE 2027

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Q1GATE 2025MCQ

In the context of testing bitumen, which one of the following statements is FALSE:

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📖 Explanation

(A) The depth of penetration of needle in the standard penetration test is measured in the units of one-tenth of millimeter. This statement is correct. The penetration value is expressed in tenths of a millimeter. (B) Softening point is measured using a ring and ball apparatus. This statement is correct. The softening point test involves a steel ball and a brass ring filled with bitumen. (C) Softening point is measured in the units of time. This statement is false. The softening point is measured in units of temperature, typically in $^\circ \text{C}$ . (D) Ductility is measured in the units of length. This statement is correct. Ductility is usually measured in centimeters or millimeters.

Q2GATE 2025MCQ

Which of the following statements is/are INCORRECT?

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📖 Explanation

(A) INCORRECT: In warm climates, bitumen with a higher softening point is preferred to prevent rutting and bleeding. (B) CORRECT: Viscosity indeed affects mixing and compaction of bituminous mixes. (C) CORRECT: Optimum bitumen content is determined by maintaining 3%-5% air voids. (D) CORRECT: The Solubility Test checks purity by measuring insoluble impurities. Hence, the incorrect statement is (A).

Q3GATE 2024MCQ

Which one of the following statements related to bitumen is FALSE?

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📖 Explanation

Softer grade bitumen has a lower softening point, while harder grade bitumen has a higher softening point. Hence statement $A$ is false.

Q4GATE 2023MSQ

Consider the Marshall method of mix design for bituminous mix. With the increase in bitumen content, which of the following statements is/are TRUE?

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📖 Explanation

For marshall mix design, following graphical results are obtained. $\Rightarrow$ Stability increases initially and then decreases Hence option (A) is INCORRECT $\Rightarrow$ Flow increases monotonically Hence option (B) is CORRECT $\Rightarrow$ Air voids decreases continously Hence option (C) is INCORRECT $\Rightarrow$ VFB increases monotonically Hence option (D) is CORRECT

Explanation Figure 1

Explanation Figure 2

Explanation Figure 3

Explanation Figure 4

Q5GATE 2021MCQ

The softening point of bitumen has the same unit as that of

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📖 Explanation

Softening point is the temperature at which bitumen becomes soft and starts flowing.

Q6GATE 2020MCQ

Group-I gives a list of test methods for evaluating properties of aggregates. Group-II gives the list of properties to be evaluated. The correct match of test methods under Group-I to properties under Group-II, is

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📖 Explanation

Soundness test is done to evaluate resistance against weathering of aggregate. Crushing test is done to evaluate strength of aggregate. Los angles abrasion test is to evaluate hardness of aggregate. Stripping value test is to evaluate ratio of uncovered area observed to the total area of aggregate. The test is conducted to determine the effects of moisture upon the adhesion of binding material.

Q7GATE 2020MCQ

The Los Angeles test for stone aggregates is used to examine

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📖 Explanation

Los Angles abrasion test is carried out to examine the hardness i.e., abrasion resistance property of aggregate

Q8GATE 2019MCQ

Structural failures considered in the mechanistic method of bituminous pavement design are

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📖 Explanation

Currently no explanation available

Q9GATE 2018MCQ

A bitumen sample has been graded as VG30 as per IS : 73-2013. The '30' in the grade means that

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📖 Explanation

Currently no explanation available

Q10GATE 2018MCQ

The initial concavity in the load-penetration curve of a CBR test is NOT due to

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📖 Explanation

Initial concavity in CBR test due to Improper compaction. Soft top layer Inclined plunger

Q11GATE 2017MCQ

The following observations are made while testing aggregate for its suitability in pavement construction: i. Mass of oven-dry aggregate in air = 1000 g ii. Mass of saturated surface-dry aggregate in air = 1025 g iii. Mass of saturated surface-dry aggregate under water = 625 g Based on the above observations, the correct statement is

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📖 Explanation

Bulk specific gravity $=\frac{A}{B-C}$ Apparent specific gravity $=\frac{A}{A-C}$ Where, A= Mass of oven dry aggregate in air B= Mass of Saturated surface dry aggregate in air C= Mass of Saturated surface dry aggregate under water $\therefore$ Bulk specific gravity $=\frac{1000}{1025-625}=\frac{1000}{400}=2.5$ Water absorption $=\frac{1025-1000}{1000} \times 100=2.5 \%$

Q12GATE 2016MCQ

During a forensic investigation of pavement failure, an engineer reconstructed the graphs P, Q, R and S, using partial and damaged old reports. Theoretically plausible correct graphs according to the 'Marshall mixture design output' are

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📖 Explanation

The graph between VFB and Bitumen content is,

Explanation Figure 2

Q13GATE 2015NAT

The penetration value of a bitumen sample tested at 25 $^{\circ}$ C is 80. When this sample is heated to 60 $^{\circ}$ C and tested again, the needle of the penetration test apparatus penetrates the bitumen sample by d mm. The value of d CANNOT be less than _____mm.

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📖 Explanation

Relationship between penetration and temperature is given by,

\begin{array}{l} P=A T+K \\ P=\text { Penetration }\\ A= \text{Temperature susceptibility }\\ K= \text{Constant }\\ \end{array}

With increase in temperature, penetration increases. Hence, we will simply take, $d \nless \frac{80}{10}=8 \mathrm{mm}$

Q14GATE 2015MCQ

In Marshall method of mix design, the coarse aggregate, fine aggregate, fines and bitumen having respective values of specific gravity 2.60, 2.70, 2.65 and 1.01, are mixed in the relative proportions (% by weight) of 55.0, 35.8, 3.7 and 5.5 respectively. The theoretical specific gravity of the mix and the effective specific gravity of the aggregates in the mix respectively are:

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📖 Explanation

Theoretical specific gravity,

\begin{aligned} G_{t} &=\frac{w_{1}+w_{2}+w_{3}+w_{4}}{\frac{w_{1}}{G_{1}}+\frac{W_{2}}{G_{2}}+\frac{W_{3}}{G_{3}}+\frac{W_{4}}{G_{b}}} \\ &=\frac{55+35.8+3.7+5.5}{\frac{55}{2.6}+\frac{35.8}{2.7}+\frac{3.7}{2.65}+\frac{5.5}{1.01}}+ \\ &=2.42 \end{aligned}

Effective specific gravity of aggregates (coarse + fine) is given by,

\begin{aligned} G^{\prime} &=\frac{(55 \times 2.6)+(35.8 \times 2.7)}{55+35.8} \\ &=2.639=2.64 \end{aligned}

Q15GATE 2015MCQ

Match the information related to test on aggregates given in Group-I with that in Group-II.

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📖 Explanation

Currently no explanation available

Q16GATE 2014NAT

In a Marshall sample, the bulk specific gravity of mix and aggregates are 2.324 and 2.546 respectively. The sample includes 5% of bitumen (by total weight of mix) of specific gravity 1.10. The theoretical maximum specific gravity of mix is 2.441. The void filled with bitumen (VFB) in the Marshall sample (in %) is _______

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📖 Explanation

$V_{v}=\frac{G_{t}-G_{m}}{G_{t}} \times 100=\frac{2.441-2.324}{2.441} \times 100$ $=4.79 \%$ Void filled with bitumen,

\begin{array}{l} V_{b}=G_{m} \times \frac{W_{b}(\%)}{G_{b}}=2.324 \times \frac{5}{1.1}=10.56 \%\\ \mathrm{VMA}=V_{v}+V_{b}=4.79+10.56=15.35 \% \\ \therefore \mathrm{VFB}=\frac{V_{b}(\%)}{\mathrm{VMA}} \times 100=\frac{10.56}{15.35} \times 100=68.79 \% \end{array}

Q17GATE 2013MCQ

The percent voids in mineral aggregate (VMA) and percent air voids ( $V_v$ ) in a compacted cylindrical bituminous mix specimen are 15 and 4.5 respectively. The percent voids filled with bitumen (VFB) for this specimen is:

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📖 Explanation

$\mathrm{VFB}=\frac{V_{B}}{V_{V}}=\left(\frac{15-4.5}{15}\right) \times 100 \%=70 \%$

Q18GATE 2012MCQ

Two bitumen samples "X" and "Y" have softening points 45 $^{\circ}$ C and 60 $^{\circ}$ C, respectively. Consider the following statements: I Viscosity of "X" will be higher than that of "Y" at the same temperature. II Penetration value of "X" will be lesser than that of "Y" under standard conditions. The CORRECT option evaluating the above statements is

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📖 Explanation

Since softening point for Y is higher than X $\therefore \quad$ Viscosity of Y is high as compared to X and penetration will be more in X, because it will offer, less resistance to penetrate. $\therefore \quad$ Both statement I & II are false.

Q19GATE 2011MCQ

In Marshall testing of bituminous mixes, as the bitumen content increases the flow value

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📖 Explanation

Currently no explanation available

Q20GATE 2010MCQ

Aggregate impact value indicates the following property of aggregates

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📖 Explanation

Currently no explanation available

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