Steel Structures Design MCQs 2026

Minimum pitch distance between bolts is

1. A 2.5 times nominal bolt diameter (typical IS 800 value) ✓
2. B 0.5 d ✓
3. C 20 d always ✓
4. D zero ✓

Edge distance for bolt hole shall be

1. A per code table based on bolt diameter and edge type (sheared/rolled) ✓
2. B zero always ✓
3. C span length ✓
4. D only 1 mm ✓

Gusset plate in truss connection provides

1. A connection area for member forces at node ✓
2. B only corrosion protection ✓
3. C only floor finish ✓
4. D only concrete form ✓

Purlin in roof steel structure supports

1. A only foundation soil ✓
2. B only RCC slab always ✓
3. C roof sheeting and transfers load to rafters/trusses ✓
4. D only pile cap ✓

Sag rod prevents

1. A only column buckling always ✓
2. B only weld cracking only ✓
3. C lateral sag of purlins or secondary members ✓
4. D only concrete bleeding ✓

Bracing in steel buildings provides

1. A only floor tiles ✓
2. B only paint thickness ✓
3. C stability against lateral loads and buckling of compression members ✓
4. D only zero stiffness ✓

Base plate connects

1. A only roof sheeting ✓
2. B steel column to concrete foundation ✓
3. C only bolt to timber only ✓
4. D only truss chord only ✓

Anchor bolts in base plate resist

1. A only paint ✓
2. B only zero load ✓
3. C shear and uplift through bearing and tension development ✓
4. D only thermal expansion only ✓

Gantry girder supports

1. A only static office load only ✓
2. B only soil nail ✓
3. C moving crane load with impact factor ✓
4. D only water tank buoyancy only ✓

Impact factor for crane loading accounts for

1. A only dead load factor ✓
2. B dynamic effects of moving crane ✓
3. C only zero live load ✓
4. D only temperature ✓

Portal frame action resists lateral load through

1. A frame bending in rafter and columns ✓
2. B only cable only ✓
3. C only truss zero force ✓
4. D only soil arching only ✓

Industrial building crane bracket attaches to

1. A only foundation only ✓
2. B column to support crane runway beam ✓
3. C only roof sheeting ✓
4. D only sag rod only ✓

Purlin design as continuous beam over supports reduces

1. A bending moment compared to simply supported ✓
2. B span to zero ✓
3. C steel grade ✓
4. D bolt diameter ✓

Seismic design of steel frame requires

1. A only elastic WSD without ductility ✓
2. B ductile detailing and capacity design ✓
3. C only zero connections ✓
4. D only gravity ✓

Overstrength factor in seismic steel design ensures

1. A connections yield after member yielding sequence ✓
2. B brittle connection failure first ✓
3. C zero ductility ✓
4. D only concrete crushing ✓

Section classification compact allows

1. A only elastic moment always ✓
2. B zero moment ✓
3. C plastic moment capacity without local buckling before Mp ✓
4. D only slender web always ✓

Steel design serviceability check for vibration uses

1. A natural frequency and damping estimates ✓
2. B only ULS plastic hinge only ✓
3. C only bolt pretension only ✓
4. D only w/c ratio ✓

Girt in wall framing of steel building is

1. A only pile cap ✓
2. B horizontal wall secondary member like purlin for walls ✓
3. C only raft ✓
4. D only truss diagonal only ✓

Batten plates in built-up column are

1. A rigid plates connecting components at intervals ✓
2. B only spiral ties ✓
3. C only RCC stirrups ✓
4. D only timber nails ✓

End conditions affect column effective length K as

1. A K always 2 ✓
2. B K independent of fixity ✓
3. C K zero ✓
4. D K smaller with more rotational/fixity restraint ✓

Beam-column member must be checked for

1. A only axial without moment ✓
2. B only shear in slab ✓
3. C combined axial force and bending (interaction) ✓
4. D only bolt pretension ✓

Laterally unsupported steel beam fails by

1. A only yielding without LTB always ✓
2. B lateral-torsional buckling when moment exceeds Mcr ✓
3. C only bearing at support only ✓
4. D only block shear only ✓

Lateral torsional buckling is resisted by

1. A only increasing fy ✓
2. B top flange bracing and adequate Iy/torsion restraint ✓
3. C only paint ✓
4. D only zero span ✓

Web crippling at bearing stiffener location is

1. A global buckling only ✓
2. B only tension rupture ✓
3. C only bolt bearing only ✓
4. D local crushing of web under concentrated load ✓

Bearing stiffener purpose is to

1. A only aesthetics ✓
2. B only corrosion protection ✓
3. C prevent web crippling and buckling at supports/concentrated loads ✓
4. D only reduce weight always badly ✓

Intermediate transverse stiffener in plate girder prevents

1. A only flange yielding only ✓
2. B web buckling between flanges ✓
3. C only bolt corrosion ✓
4. D only concrete shrinkage ✓

Plate girder is used when

1. A only short spans with light load ✓
2. B only timber roofs ✓
3. C required moment capacity exceeds rolled section capacity ✓
4. D only soil retaining ✓

Flange of plate girder primarily resists

1. A web shear only ✓
2. B only torsion only ✓
3. C only bolt tension ✓
4. D bending axial force couple ✓

Web of plate girder primarily resists

1. A shear force ✓
2. B bending axial couple primarily ✓
3. C only bolt bearing ✓
4. D only paint stress ✓

Shear buckling of web may require

1. A only reduce flange area ✓
2. B stiffeners or thicker web or tension field action ✓
3. C only zero welds ✓
4. D only concrete encasement always ✓

Weld design uses

1. A only bolt grip length only ✓
2. B only concrete w/c ✓
3. C only soil CBR only ✓
4. D throat thickness and permissible/ultimate weld stress ✓

Fillet weld size is specified by

1. A leg length; throat ≈ 0.7 leg for equal leg fillet ✓
2. B only bolt diameter ✓
3. C only bar spacing ✓
4. D only slump ✓

Butt weld in groove provides

1. A only lap always ✓
2. B only friction without filler ✓
3. C full penetration joint for tension/compression transfer ✓
4. D only tack weld always ✓

Bolted bearing type connection transfers shear by

1. A bolt bearing on plate and shear in shank ✓
2. B only friction without slip always ✓
3. C only weld throat ✓
4. D only concrete bond ✓

High strength friction grip (HSFG) bolt relies on

1. A only bearing hole deformation ✓
2. B only weld ✓
3. C friction between plates from bolt tension ✓
4. D only grout ✓

Haunch at rafter-column connection provides

1. A only zero stiffness pin always ✓
2. B only slab thickness ✓
3. C only soil nail ✓
4. D moment resistance and stiffened depth ✓

Camber in steel beam is

1. A downward sag intentionally for service ✓
2. B only bolt length ✓
3. C only weld colour ✓
4. D upward pre-curve to offset dead load deflection ✓

Erection load case in steel structures considers

1. A only finished dead+live only always ✓
2. B only fire ✓
3. C construction stage loads and stability ✓
4. D only corrosion ✓

Pinned base in steel frame allows

1. A full fixity always ✓
2. B rotation with minimal moment transfer ✓
3. C no vertical reaction ✓
4. D only uplift zero always ✓

Column base moment connection may use

1. A only pin without any fixity always ✓
2. B only timber wedge ✓
3. C stiffened base plate and anchor arrangement ✓
4. D only zero anchors ✓

Stitch bolt in lacing/batten system prevents

1. A global buckling only ✓
2. B only paint peeling ✓
3. C components separating locally ✓
4. D only concrete honeycomb ✓

Combined shear and bending in beam web checked per

1. A only axial tension in bolt ✓
2. B von Mises or interaction formula in code ✓
3. C only soil bearing ✓
4. D only slab deflection ✓

Permissible bending stress in WSD steel equals

1. A 0.66 fy or code-specified fraction ✓
2. B fy without reduction ✓
3. C zero ✓
4. D concrete fck ✓

Effective length factor K for column pinned at both ends is

1. A 0.5 ✓
2. B 2.0 ✓
3. C 0.7 ✓
4. D 1.0 ✓

Flexural buckling about minor axis usually governs for

1. A always major axis ✓
2. B only torsion only ✓
3. C only bolt bearing ✓
4. D column with I-section when unrestrained about weak axis ✓

Shear centre of channel section lies

1. A at geometric centre always ✓
2. B at top flange only always ✓
3. C at bolt centre only ✓
4. D outside the web on symmetry side ✓

Compound section two angles back-to-back increases

1. A only zero area ✓
2. B only reduces strength always ✓
3. C torsional and buckling stiffness about centroid ✓
4. D only bolt pitch zero ✓

Slenderness limit for tension member prevents

1. A only plastic hinge ✓
2. B only weld throat failure only ✓
3. C only block shear only ✓
4. D excessive sag and vibration (serviceability) ✓

Weathering steel forms

1. A stable oxide layer reducing further corrosion ✓
2. B permanent rust failure instantly ✓
3. C only galvanic zinc always required ✓
4. D only concrete coating ✓

Corrosion protection for structural steel includes

1. A only bare steel always outdoors ✓
2. B painting, galvanizing or weathering steel ✓
3. C only oil on bolts only ✓
4. D only zero maintenance ✓

Fire protection for steel may use

1. A intumescent paint, encasement or sprinklers ✓
2. B only reduce section always ✓
3. C only zero cover concrete removal ✓
4. D only open flame ✓

Notch toughness measured by

1. A slump test ✓
2. B cube test only ✓
3. C Charpy V-notch impact test ✓
4. D bolt torque only ✓

Fatigue design of steel requires

1. A only static ULS once ✓
2. B only concrete cover ✓
3. C only soil CBR ✓
4. D checking stress range at detail category ✓

Residual stresses in welded sections arise from

1. A only live load ✓
2. B only bolt grade ✓
3. C only zero temperature change ✓
4. D non-uniform cooling after welding/rolling ✓

Weld all-around symbol indicates

1. A only spot weld ✓
2. B only no weld ✓
3. C only groove only one side without symbol meaning ✓
4. D fillet weld continuous around perimeter ✓

Connection design philosophy can be

1. A only welded always mandatory ✓
2. B bearing-type or slip-critical (friction) ✓
3. C only timber nails ✓
4. D only zero bolts ✓

Warping restraint affects

1. A torsional-flexural buckling of open sections ✓
2. B only axial yielding ✓
3. C only bolt pitch ✓
4. D only concrete slump ✓

Torsional constant J for thin-walled open section is

1. A πd⁴/32 always ✓
2. B Iyy only ✓
3. C zero always ✓
4. D sum of b t³/3 for each rectangle (approx) ✓

Shape factor for I-section about major axis is approximately

1. A exactly 1.0 always ✓
2. B 1.12 to 1.15 ✓
3. C 5.0 ✓
4. D 0.5 ✓

Plastic hinge in steel plastic analysis forms when

1. A elastic limit only ✓
2. B zero moment only ✓
3. C only bolt slips ✓
4. D section reaches plastic moment capacity ✓

Deflection limit for steel beams often taken as

1. A span/10 always ✓
2. B zero ✓
3. C span/325 or code-specified for live load ✓
4. D span only ✓

Roof truss bottom chord primarily carries

1. A compression only always ✓
2. B only shear ✓
3. C only torsion ✓
4. D tension under gravity loading ✓

Roof truss top chord primarily carries

1. A tension only ✓
2. B only shear ✓
3. C only bending only always ✓
4. D compression ✓

Lacing in built-up column provides

1. A only tension anchor ✓
2. B shear transfer and maintains spacing between main components ✓
3. C only concrete cover ✓
4. D only paint ✓

Effective slenderness ratio KL/r should be

1. A as large as possible always ✓
2. B zero only ✓
3. C less than code maximum for member type ✓
4. D negative ✓

Compression member buckling uses

1. A Euler curve modified by imperfection factors (LSM) ✓
2. B only Mohr circle ✓
3. C only slab one-way shear ✓
4. D only development length ✓

Lug angle is used to

1. A reduce shear lag in angle tension members ✓
2. B only compression always ✓
3. C only concrete formwork ✓
4. D only soil nail ✓

Block shear failure involves

1. A tension plane and shear plane tearing ✓
2. B only flexural buckling ✓
3. C only concrete crushing ✓
4. D only torsion in shaft ✓

Net area of angle in tension deducts

1. A nothing ever ✓
2. B only paint ✓
3. C only weld leg ✓
4. D bolt hole areas along failure line ✓

Tension member design strength is minimum of

1. A only gross area ✓
2. B gross yielding, net section rupture and block shear ✓
3. C only weld throat ✓
4. D only Euler buckling ✓

Shear lag reduces

1. A effective area in tension connected by bolts at end connection ✓
2. B only compressive buckling only ✓
3. C only weld size only ✓
4. D only concrete bond ✓

Elastic section modulus Ze relates to

1. A only torsion constant ✓
2. B elastic moment capacity before local buckling ✓
3. C only bolt shear ✓
4. D only weld throat only ✓

Plastic section modulus Zp is used in

1. A only elastic WSD always only ✓
2. B plastic/compact section capacity ✓
3. C only concrete shear ✓
4. D only soil bearing ✓

Classification of steel section as plastic/com pact/slender depends on

1. A width-thickness ratios of elements ✓
2. B only length of member ✓
3. C only bolt grade ✓
4. D only concrete grade ✓

Elastic critical stress in column buckling varies with

1. A only paint thickness ✓
2. B only bolt head size ✓
3. C slenderness ratio ✓
4. D only slab thickness ✓

Partial safety factor γm0 for steel material in IS 800 limit state is

1. A 1.50 ✓
2. B 0.5 ✓
3. C 2.5 ✓
4. D 1.10 (typical value) ✓

Limit state design in steel uses

1. A only elastic WSD always ✓
2. B partial safety factors on loads and materials ✓
3. C zero load factors ✓
4. D only concrete γm ✓

Factor of safety in working stress steel design divides

1. A only deflection by span ✓
2. B only bolt area by length ✓
3. C only cover by diameter ✓
4. D yield/ultimate by allowable stress ✓

IS 800 deals with

1. A only RCC ✓
2. B only soil ✓
3. C general construction in steel ✓
4. D only timber ✓