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Practice 1
A structure has a total outside perimeter of 400 ft. The walls are
built with standard Modular bricks. The walls are 12 ft high and the
units are to be laid in a stretcher pattern. There are no openings in
the walls. Using 3% waste factor and standard modular units, the
total number of clay units needed to construct the walls is most
nearly:
a) 32,400
b) 33,375
c) 34,200
d) 34,875

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Solution- Practice 1
The total surface area of the walls is : 400 ft x 12 ft = 4800 ft2
The surface area of one standard Modular unit (nominal dimension, so
mortar joint is included): 8” x 2 2/3” = 21.33 in2
Number of bricks per ft2 = 144 in2/21.33 in2 = 6.75 bricks/ft2
Number of bricks without waste: 4800 x 6.75 = 32,400 bricks
Number of bricks with waste : 32,400 x 1.03 = 33,372 bricks

Answer is b

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Practice 2
A grade beam 4 ft wide x 3 ft deep must be poured around the
perimeter of a building whose plan is shown below. The trench
excavated for the grade beam is in a Type C soil. Excavation is
accomplished by an excavator having a productivity of 15 yd3/hr.
Assume an 8-hour day.
The number of days to complete the excavation activity is most nearly:
a) 8 c) 12
50 ft
b) 10 d) 14 190 ft

60 ft

390 ft 70 ft

Solution Practice 2
Excavation for the beam has a bottom width of 4 ft and 1 ½ : 1 (H:V)
slope since it is a type C soil. Top width of excavation is then:
T = 4 + 2(3x1.5) = 13 ft
4 + 13
Cross section of trench: A = × 3 = 25.5 ft 2
2
Outside perimeter of building:
OP = 2 x (length + width + recess) = 2(460 + 250 + 50) = 1520 ft
Volume of excavation: V = 1520 ft x 25.5 ft2 = 38,760 ft3 = 1435.6 yd3
Excavator daily productivity = 8 x 15 yd3/hr = 120 yd3/day
1435.6
number of days = = 12 days
120

Answer is c

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Practice 3
You found a stack of 20 pieces of 4”x 4” lumber in your yard.
Each piece is 8 ft long. Calculate the amount of lumber in
Board-ft.
a) 143-2/3
b) 153-1/3
c) 183-2/3
d) 213-1/3

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Solution Practice 3
A board foot is a measure of lumber volume equivalent to one square
foot by 1” thick or 144 in3 of lumber. The sawn lumber quantities are
based on nominal dimensions.

Volume of lumber:
( 4 "× 4 " )( 8 '× 12 " )
V = 20 pieces × = 213 . 33 bd − ft
144 in 3

Answer is d

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Practice 4
Calculate the weight of steel (lbs) in the plan view of the building below.
a) 14,235 c) 24,180
b) 18,545 d) 28,470

W18x95 W30x147
35 ft 50 ft

S32x89
S32x89
40 ft

W18x95 W30x147

Solution- practice 4
Find the weights of various beams used:
Two beams : S32x89 each 40 ft long
2 x 40 ft x 89 lbs/ft = 7120 lbs
Two beams : W18x95 each 35 ft long
2 x 35 ft x 95 lbs/ft = 6650 lbs
Two beams: W30x147 each 50 ft long
2 x 50 ft x 147 lbs/ft = 14,700 lbs

Total weight of beams : 7120 + 6650 + 14,700 = 28,470 lbs

Answer is d.

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Practice 5
Head wall of a new 48” storm drain is to be built. How much plywood (in
sheets) is needed for formwork assuming 12% waste. (Assume that
headwall and wingwalls are poured on level ground). Number of sheets:
a) 8
b) 9
c) 10
d) 11 1’ Elevation
view

6’
2’

1’ 1’ Top
6’ view

12’

Solution practice 5
Wingwall: one rectangle and 2 triangles each:
1 
( 2'× 12 ' ) + 2  × 2'× 12 ' = 48 ft 2
2 
For 2 wingwalls total SFCA = 96 ft2
Edge of wingwalls: 2 x 2’ x 1’ = 4 ft2
Middle section:
π
(6'×6' ) − ( 4) 2 = 23.43 ft 2
4
Since we are dealing with 2 faces then:
2(96 + 23.43) + 4 = 243 ft2
Including waste:
243 x 1.12 = 272.0 ft2

Answer is b

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Practice 6
A 12-ft high x 80 ft long x 12-in thick wall is to be constructed using wall
forms that are 12-ft high x 20-ft long on each side.
Labor cost for erecting forms = $4.50/ft2 (new) and $1.50/ft2 (reuse)
Labor cost for removing forms = $1.10/ft2
Cost of concrete (assume 10% waste) = $150/yd3
Cost of reinforcement = $30/yd3
The cost of building the wall is most nearly:
a) $12,800
b) $13,400
c) $14,500
d) $15,200

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Solution Practice 6
Since forms are 12 ft x 20 ft on each side, then one set of forms :
2 x 12 x 20 = 480 ft2 (first use) and 3 sets (3 x 480 = 1440 ft2) re-used.
Volume of concrete including waste:
12 x 80 ft x 1 ft x 1.10 = 1056 ft3 = 39.11 yd3
Cost of erecting the forms = (480 x $4.50/ft2) + (1440 x $1.50/ft2) = $4320
Cost of removing the forms = $1.10 x (480 + 1440) = $2112
Cost of Concrete including waste: $150 x 39.11 = $5866.50
Cost of reinforcement (do not include waste):
(12 x 80 x 1)/27 ft3 x $30/yd3 = $1066.67
Total cost: $13,366

Answer is b
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Practice 7
A contractor needs to borrow 6400 yd3 of select soil to replace unsuitable
subgrade material for a new project. The borrow pit is located 3.4 miles
away with an average round trip travel/loading/dumping time of 40
minutes. The soil has a unit weight of 120 lb/ft3 and the dump trucks
operate on 10-hrs workdays. The minimum number of 10-ton trucks
needed to complete the job within 10 work days is:
a) 4
b) 5
c) 6
d) 7

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Solution Practice 7
Let us calculate truck productivity.
Trucks are 10-ton capacity, therefore in terms of volume capacity:

10 tons × 2000 lb / ton 3 3

Soil volume in one load = V = = 166.66 ft = 6.17 yd
120 lb / ft 3
Since truck cycle = 40 minutes, the number of trips per truck per day:
10 hrs × 60 min
trips / day = = 15 trips
40 min
Therefore truck productivity: 15 trips x 6.17 yd3 = 92.55 yd3/day
Productivity in 10 days: 92.55 x 10 = 925.5 yd3
6400
Number of trucks needed for this job: # trucks = = 6 . 9 trucks
925 . 5
Say 7 trucks Answer is d
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Practice 8
An excavator has a bucket capacity of 3 yd3 and operates 8 hrs in
a workday. The excavator cycle includes excavation, loading,
travel (two-ways) and unloading. The total cycle is 10 minutes.
Efficiencies affecting the operation include:
Site: 88%
Equipment and operator: 68%
The daily excavation production (yd3/day) is most nearly:
a) 86
b) 98
c) 107
d) 127

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Solution Practice 8
Excavation Production rate in an 8-hr day:
Number of cycles in 1 day:
8 hrs × 60 min
= 48 cycles
10 min
Ideal production: 48 x 3 yd3= 144 yd3
Actual production:
144 x 0.88 x 0.68 = 86.2 yd3/day

Answer is a

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