Topic for final examination

1. Shovel
2. Backhoe
3. Dragline
4. Clamshell
5. Dozers
6. Loaders
7. Pile driving equipment
8. Equipment for Pumping water
9. Trucks
10. Scraper
11. Grader
12. Compressor
13. Cranes
14. Trenching equipment
15. Compaction equipment

1. Explain with an example assuming suitable data how does the output (production) of
mechanically competitive equipment-spread is affected by the output of each machine in the
spread.

2. Write down such five external environmental conditions which may affect the production of
Tower cranes while working in the interior of Addis Ababa, with suitable justifications.

3. Write down three environmental conditions which affect the output of a compressor when it
works at a place such as Addis Ababa.

4. Write down in ten points of your own weaknesses due to which you may commit mistake while
deploying construction equipment on a project and which may adversely affect the output of
that machine.

5. Write down in ten points which you, as a project manager, should monitor the output of
construction equipment on your project almost every day when there is acute thrust to
complete the work within 30 days. The remaining work is worth to complete in 60 days when
there is no thrust.

Man power, maintenance, working hour, equipment

6. What are the major points you, as a project manager should take care during the running and
maintenance of excavating equipment so that its output (production) is not adversely affected.

Scheduling
*7. You are a project manager of an earth dam construction project (Baso Project) which is to be
completed in two years duration. This can be possible if the monthly turnover is achieved worth
9000,000 birr per month. Suggest if you can maintain economy in this case.

8. For efficient loading and dumping or better output, what shape of a truck should be if following
materials are to be transported?

i. wet clay and similar other material.- free of sharp angle &corner

ii. Sand and gravel.-any shape of body

iii. Rock and boulders.- made of tensile strength

9. What should be the minimum time in seconds to attain the maximum dump angle for better
truck- output or production? 72 degree damp angle in 15sec

10. What type of truck should be selected to haul the following materials (with better productivity):

i. Material is free flowing or bulky components

ii. Material is to be dumped in restricted locations or over a ridge of a bank or fill.

iii. Maximum maneuverability in loading and dumping area is required.

Rear dump suitable for rigid frame or articulated

*11. What is the impact on the productivity of an equipment due to unavailability of parts and support
equipment in Ethiopia? The answer you give should be supported by suitable data.

12. How does the productivity of equipment or the fleet of equipment in a construction company is affected by
the inventory management system in Ethiopia?

Lack of good recording life history of equipment distribution,

Lack implementing the safety policy in construction …..

*13. What can be percentage of loss of productivity due to the theft of construction equipment in Ethiopia?
Support your answer with proper reference such newspaper or journal or government data etc.

Delay the construction process & lack of quality

*14. What can be the percentage of loss of productivity in construction activities due to the mala-fide
Vandalism? Case study may is be in Ethiopia.

15. For rapid heavy -pile driving, especially into soils having high frictional resistance, which of the following
hammers should be selected?
I. Heavy hammer head with a low velocity of single-acting hammer or
ii. Light hammer with high velocity of double-acting hammer .

16. Following table gives the details of various single acting steam hammers. Select the an appropriate hammer
for driving a pile (weighing 2300 kg) in medium dense sand for an efficient driving.
17. How does a hanging leader affect accuracy and efficiency of a pile driving? Write at least five points in its
favour.

18. To control pile position and inclination of batter piles quickly and accurately, and ultimately increasing
driving productivity, which of the following leads should be used while driving batter piles:
i. Fixed lead
ii.Swing lead
iii. Hydraulic lead
iv. Templates
19. Write down the factors which may affect the production of a Dragline.
Types of operation, types of surface ground, types of material, swing angle, time, depth of cut,
boom length, boom angle, size and type of bucket, operator skill, physical condition of machine,
dumping height, dumping radius.

20. There is a shallow water pond in a village. Average depth of the pond is about 1.5m and it is filled
with rain water. Which equipment you must use to increase its depth to 5 m as an average?. The
production should be as maximum as possible. Make selection from the following machines:
i. Shovel ii. Hoe iii. Dragline and iv. Clamshell. Justify your selection of equipment.
Dragline equipment is equipment used to excavate below the level of the machine without
interring in to the pile, pond…..

21. The blade load of a dozer is calculated by the following equation:

Blade Load (LCM) = 0.375 H (m).W (m).L(m)
Where H, W, &L are height, width & length of the dozer blade.
You have to show with neat sketches of dozer blade, how to measure H, W &L. If necessary, explain also.
22. Dozer is a earth pushing equipment and its weight is important for its production. Why? Explain.
B/c the productivity is based on the exerted force so weight and force is directly proportional if
the applied force is minimum the production also reduced…..
23. Dozer productivity is affected with the type of its blade. Explain how? , with neat sketches of the
various blades.
W/n the type of the equipment is changed the capacity to cut and to have is also changed this
means the productivity also affected or varies b/c of the blade type.

*24. The dozers are available as Low-centre machine and High-center machine. You have to explain the
ground situations where each machine should be appropriately used for better production.
25. Dozers are available as crawler type and Wheel type dozer. Situations where each of these may be
used without affecting the productivity may be clearly described on a project where you are the project
manager.
Crawler type is better used in short distance, in any terrain, can handle tight soil.
Wheel type is assigned w/r the place have long distance, in loose soil, good for leveling & downhill
works.
26. A dozer gives better productivity if it works in pushing loose earth down the slope. Explain why? with
suitable assumed data and calculations.

*27. For stripping following equipment are frequently used:

i. Dozer and ii. Scraper
Explain the situations where each of these may be economically used.
**28. For ditching, following machines are used:
i. Dozer ii. Scrapper iii. Trenching machine iv. Backhoe v. shovel
Explain the situations where each may be used economically.
29. Loader productivity is affected by the height that the material to be lifted for dumping. Comment.
Type of material
Volume to be handled
Height
Surface area
30. Loader productivity is highly adversely affected if the ground condition is poor such as wet ground.
Why ?
*31. For the safe working of a loader, the operating load should not be more than 35% of static tipping
load in any case. Why?
*32. Can a wheel loader give god productivity if it used in medium to hard material? If not, why?
Not
33. What is fundamental difference between a loader and shovel or backhoe? Loader is moving to load
and damp. Shovel & hoe are not moving
34. What should be the productivity of a loader if its travel distance is less than or more than 35m?
means more or less than the optimum. Justify your answer.
**35. Why the scraper is sometimes pushed by tractor when it has its own operating unit? Does it affect
its productivity?
36. What should be the maximum haul grade to prove a single-powered axle pusher –loaded wheel –
tractor scraper to be economical?
Hauling 5 % for return 12 %
37. What is the most favourable topographical or ground condition for a scraper?
Flat surface
38. What should be the maximum travel distance for a scraper to be economical or for giving optimum
output?
500-3000ft
39. The production of a scraper is governed by the condition of the haul road. Comment.
Site condition, level of the site
Weather condition
40. Economical loading time of a scraper is function of haul road. Give your comments on this
statement.
Haul distance increase their should be economical loading time
41. Discus the adverse situations which can happen during dump time of a scraper and can affect
adversely its production.
42. What arrangements will you will make as project manager if you want the higher productivity from a
scraper?
Root selection for material, travel speed, hauling time, dumping time, cycle time, loading time,
efficiency.
43. Write down the elements where the losses in air pressure may occur when transferring the
compressed air to the tools.
44. What may be the various factors which may adversely affect the output of a trenching machine
when used to dig trench from Textile to AMU.
Job condition, depth and width of trench, class of soil, extent to which ground water is present.
45. Write which equipment is more suitable to dig trench in soils found in Abra Minch, with justification.

46. Which equipment is suitable to make trench in almost sandy and gravelly soils with expected output.
Why? Wheel trenching b/c the max. depth is 9 width 3.6m & it is n
47. What type of arrangement you will make for dewatering on your project site if the ground water
table is close to the ground surface and foundations are to be laid at 2 meter below the ground surface.
The soil is mixed of sand and clay. The arrangement should be economical.
Clay and sand finally
48. Which one will be economical equipment to compact the soil which mostly contains clayey soil? Give
justification
Vibratory compactor
49. In what ground situations vibratory compactor is economical?
The ground is not easily compacted
50. What precautions one should observe while using pneumatic tired rollers economically?
Material selection and safety
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