Tunnel Engineering (Practice Test MCQs)

50 Score: 0 Attempted: 0/50

1. The main purpose of constructing tunnels is:
(A) Drainage improvement only
(B) Transportation, water conveyance, and utilities
(C) Mining only
(D) Temporary storage

2. The New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) relies on:
(A) Thick concrete lining only
(B) Strength of surrounding rock mass
(C) Steel girders only
(D) Waterproof membranes

3. Which is the most common method for soft ground tunneling?
(A) Drill and blast
(B) Shield tunneling
(C) Cut-and-cover method
(D) TBM with hard rock cutters

4. In tunneling, “overburden” refers to:
(A) Tunnel lining thickness
(B) Vertical distance between tunnel crown and ground surface
(C) Extra excavation
(D) Load of tunnel lining

5. The heading and bench method is suitable for:
(A) Very small tunnels only
(B) Large tunnels in soft ground
(C) Tunnels with high groundwater table
(D) Temporary shafts

6. The primary lining in tunnels is:
(A) Temporary support during excavation
(B) Final permanent lining
(C) Drainage layer
(D) Reinforced concrete floor

7. Which instrument is commonly used for tunnel alignment control?
(A) Compass
(B) Total station
(C) Barometer
(D) Vernier caliper

8. The term “mucking” in tunneling means:
(A) Blasting
(B) Removal of excavated material
(C) Lining installation
(D) Surveying

9. A Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) is most suitable for:
(A) Short tunnels only
(B) Long tunnels with consistent geology
(C) Temporary drainage works
(D) Alluvial riverbanks only

10. Shotcrete is used in tunnels for:
(A) Excavation
(B) Slope stability
(C) Temporary or permanent support lining
(D) Waterproofing only

11. The purpose of a pilot tunnel is:
(A) Final alignment
(B) Drainage only
(C) Initial exploration and facilitating main tunnel excavation
(D) Ventilation shaft

12. Which gas is most dangerous during tunnel excavation?
(A) Oxygen
(B) Nitrogen
(C) Methane
(D) Carbon dioxide

13. The term “tunnel crown” refers to:
(A) Tunnel floor
(B) Tunnel side wall
(C) Tunnel roof
(D) Tunnel invert

14. Which is a common hazard in tunneling?
(A) Overwatering
(B) Ground settlement and collapse
(C) High altitude sickness
(D) Static electricity

15. Cross passages in tunnels are provided for:
(A) Traffic diversion
(B) Emergency evacuation and maintenance
(C) Water storage
(D) Ventilation only

16. Which tunneling method is best for urban areas with shallow cover?
(A) Drift method
(B) Cut-and-cover method
(C) TBM with blasting
(D) Shaft and gallery method

17. The term “rock bolt” in tunneling refers to:
(A) Explosive charge
(B) Steel rod used for rock stabilization
(C) Concrete anchor
(D) Lining reinforcement

18. Compressed air is used in tunneling to:
(A) Increase temperature
(B) Control water inflow and ground pressure
(C) Ventilate the tunnel
(D) Accelerate lining curing

19. The most common type of tunnel lining is:
(A) Plain brickwork
(B) Reinforced concrete
(C) Steel only
(D) Timber lagging

20. The purpose of a tunnel invert is to:
(A) Support the crown
(B) Carry traffic only
(C) Distribute ground pressure and provide drainage
(D) Reinforce side walls

21. The term “face” in tunneling means:
(A) Entrance of tunnel
(B) End of excavation where work is advancing
(C) Tunnel wall
(D) Top arch lining

22. Ventilation in tunnels is required to:
(A) Reduce humidity only
(B) Maintain air quality and remove dust, fumes, and gases
(C) Heat the tunnel
(D) Maintain water pressure

23. The term “grouting” in tunneling refers to:
(A) Excavation process
(B) Injection of cementitious or chemical materials to seal leaks and stabilize ground
(C) Lining painting
(D) Anchoring bolts

24. The most suitable shape of tunnel in high-pressure zones is:
(A) Rectangular
(B) Circular
(C) Trapezoidal
(D) Elliptical only

25. The top heading and bench method divides the tunnel:
(A) Vertically
(B) Horizontally into two or more levels
(C) Radially
(D) Along a spiral

26. Forepoling is used in tunneling for:
(A) Lighting arrangement
(B) Temporary support of roof in loose ground
(C) Water diversion
(D) Final lining

27. The principal cause of tunnel lining failure is:
(A) Overdesign
(B) Ground movement and water ingress
(C) Lack of ventilation
(D) High temperature

28. Which tunnel is constructed for the passage of water?
(A) Railway tunnel
(B) Road tunnel
(C) Hydro tunnel
(D) Transit tunnel

29. Drainage pipes in tunnel construction are placed:
(A) On the crown
(B) Behind the lining
(C) At the invert
(D) On the side wall only

30. The term “Shaft” in tunneling is:
(A) Horizontal passage
(B) Vertical or inclined access passage
(C) Lining reinforcement
(D) Cross drainage structure

31. Drill and blast method is best suited for:
(A) Hard rock
(B) Loose sand
(C) Soft clay
(D) Water-bearing strata

32. The thickness of permanent tunnel lining is based on:
(A) Contractor’s preference
(B) Rock mass stability and design load
(C) Excavation speed
(D) TBM type

33. The key component in a TBM for soft ground is:
(A) Roller cutter
(B) Earth pressure balance (EPB) shield
(C) Drill rods
(D) Hydraulic hammer

34. Which survey is carried out before tunnel alignment selection?
(A) Hydrographic survey
(B) Reconnaissance and geological survey
(C) Soil compaction survey
(D) Boundary survey

35. The invert level of a tunnel is:
(A) Top lining level
(B) Bottom floor level
(C) Middle section level
(D) Crown arch level

36. Tunnel portals are designed to:
(A) Stop excavation
(B) Provide stable entrance and aesthetic appearance
(C) Increase excavation rate
(D) Improve lining quality

37. Which factor does not influence tunnel ventilation design?
(A) Tunnel length
(B) Type of traffic (road/rail)
(C) Type of explosives used
(D) Shape of lining bolts

38. The term “Drift” in tunneling refers to:
(A) Final lining section
(B) Small temporary tunnel used for exploration or drainage
(C) Air passage
(D) Transport tunnel

39. Rock mass classification systems used in tunnel design include:
(A) IS 456
(B) RMR and Q-system
(C) Mohr-Coulomb equation
(D) Darcy-Weisbach law

40. The cut-and-cover method is not suitable for:
(A) Shallow tunnels
(B) High-traffic urban areas without diversion
(C) Metro construction
(D) Underpasses

41. Waterproofing in tunnels is commonly achieved by:
(A) Only thick lining
(B) Geomembranes and drainage
(C) Blasting and sealing
(D) Increasing tunnel diameter

42. The term “overbreak” in tunneling means:
(A) Less excavation than design
(B) Excess excavation beyond design profile
(C) Lining collapse
(D) High groundwater inflow

43. NATM uses which key monitoring technique?
(A) Seismic monitoring only
(B) Convergence measurement
(C) GPS satellite tracking
(D) Soil compaction meter

44. Which tunneling method is most suitable in water-bearing strata?
(A) Drill and blast
(B) Shield tunneling
(C) Drift method
(D) Heading and bench

45. The main purpose of rock grouting before tunneling is to:
(A) Increase excavation speed
(B) Stabilize weak zones and reduce water ingress
(C) Reduce tunnel diameter
(D) Increase ventilation

46. Tunnel settlement monitoring is important because:
(A) It affects tunnel only
(B) It may damage nearby structures
(C) It measures water flow
(D) It improves excavation speed

47. Twin-bore tunnels are used to:
(A) Carry separate traffic directions
(B) Store explosives
(C) Increase lining thickness
(D) Drain groundwater

48. The most economical tunnel cross-section for railway tunnels is usually:
(A) Circular
(B) Horseshoe
(C) Rectangular
(D) Elliptical

49. Which of the following is a tunnel hazard mitigation measure?
(A) Reduce excavation size without analysis
(B) Pre-support and systematic monitoring
(C) Delay ventilation installation
(D) Reduce lining strength

50. Which international standard is widely used for tunnel fire safety design?
(A) API RP 2A
(B) NFPA 502
(C) Eurocode 7
(D) IS 3370

Tunnel Engineering (Practice Test MCQs)

1. Basic/Foundation Subjects

2. Core Civil Engineering Subjects

3. Advanced/Applied Subjects

4. Management and Planning

5. Environmental & Sustainable Development