GATE Civil Engineering Question Papers

Section 1: Engineering Mathematics

Linear Algebra: Matrix algebra; Systems of linear equations; Eigen values and Eigen vectors.

Calculus: Functions of single variable; Limit, continuity and differentiability; Mean value theorems, local
maxima and minima; Taylor series; Evaluation of definite and indefinite integrals, application of definite integral to obtain area and volume; Partial derivatives; Total derivative; Gradient, Divergence and Curl, Vector identities;
Directional derivatives; Line, Surface and Volume integrals.

Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE): First order (linear and non-linear) equations; higher order linear equations
with constant coefficients; Euler-Cauchy equations; initial and boundary value problems.

Partial Differential Equation (PDE): Fourier series; separation of variables; solutions of one- dimensional
diffusion equation; first and second order one-dimensional wave equation and two-dimensional Laplace
equation.

Probability and Statistics: Sampling theorems; Conditional probability; Descriptive statistics – Mean, median,
mode and standard deviation; Random Variables – Discrete and Continuous, Poisson and Normal Distribution;
Linear regression.

Numerical Methods: Error analysis. Numerical solutions of linear and non-linear algebraic equations; Newton’s
and Lagrange polynomials; numerical differentiation; Integration by trapezoidal and Simpson’s rule; Single and
multi-step methods for first order differential equations.

Section 2: Structural Engineering

Engineering Mechanics: System of forces, free-body diagrams, equilibrium equations; Internal forces in
structures; Frictions and its applications; Centre of mass; Free Vibrations of undamped SDOF system.

Solid Mechanics: Bending moment and shear force in statically determinate beams; Simple stress and strain
relationships; Simple bending theory, flexural and shear stresses, shear centre; Uniform torsion, Transformation
of stress; buckling of column, combined and direct bending stresses.

Structural Analysis: Statically determinate and indeterminate structures by force/ energy methods; Method of
superposition; Analysis of trusses, arches, beams, cables and frames; Displacement methods: Slope deflection
and moment distribution methods; Influence lines; Stiffness and flexibility methods of structural analysis.

Construction Materials and Management: Construction Materials: Structural Steel – Composition, material
properties and behaviour; Concrete – Constituents, mix design, short-term and long-term properties. Construction
Management: Types of construction projects; Project planning and network analysis – PERT and CPM; Cost
estimation.

Concrete Structures: Working stress and Limit state design concepts; Design of beams, slabs, columns; Bond and
development length; Prestressed concrete beams.

Steel Structures: Working stress and Limit state design concepts; Design of tension and compression members,
beams and beam- columns, column bases; Connections – simple and eccentric, beam-column connections, plate
girders and trusses; Concept of plastic analysis – beams and frames.

Section 3: Geotechnical Engineering

Soil Mechanics: Three-phase system and phase relationships, index properties; Unified and Indian standard soil
classification system; Permeability – one dimensional flow, Seepage through soils – two – dimensional flow, flow
nets, uplift pressure, piping, capillarity, seepage force; Principle of effective stress and quicksand condition;
Compaction of soils; One- dimensional consolidation, time rate of consolidation; Shear Strength, Mohr’s circle,
effective and total shear strength parameters, Stress-Strain characteristics of clays and sand; Stress paths.

Foundation Engineering: Sub-surface investigations – Drilling bore holes, sampling, plate load test, standard
penetration and cone penetration tests; Earth pressure theories – Rankine and Coulomb; Stability of slopes –
Finite and infinite slopes, Bishop’s method; Stress distribution in soils – Boussinesq’s theory; Pressure bulbs,
Shallow foundations – Terzaghi’s and Meyerhoff’s bearing capacity theories, effect of water table; Combined
footing and raft foundation; Contact pressure; Settlement analysis in sands and clays; Deep foundations –
dynamic and static formulae, Axial load capacity of piles in sands and clays, pile load test, pile under lateral
loading, pile group efficiency, negative skin friction.

Section 4: Water Resources Engineering

Fluid Mechanics: Properties of fluids, fluid statics; Continuity, momentum and energy equations and their
applications; Potential flow, Laminar and turbulent flow; Flow in pipes, pipe networks; Concept of boundary
layer and its growth; Concept of lift and drag.

Hydraulics: Forces on immersed bodies; Flow measurement in channels and pipes; Dimensional analysis and
hydraulic similitude; Channel Hydraulics – Energy-depth relationships, specific energy, critical flow, hydraulic
jump, uniform flow, gradually varied flow and water surface profiles.

Hydrology: Hydrologic cycle, precipitation, evaporation, evapo-transpiration, watershed, infiltration, unit
hydrographs, hydrograph analysis, reservoir capacity, flood estimation and routing, surface run-off models,
ground water hydrology – steady state well hydraulics and aquifers; Application of Darcy’s Law.

Irrigation: Types of irrigation systems and methods; Crop water requirements – Duty, delta, evapo-transpiration;
Gravity Dams and Spillways; Lined and unlined canals, Design of weirs on permeable foundation; cross drainage
structures.

Section 5: Environmental Engineering

Water and Waste Water Quality and Treatment: Basics of water quality standards – Physical, chemical and
biological parameters; Water quality index; Unit processes and operations; Water requirement; Water
distribution system; Drinking water treatment.
Sewerage system design, quantity of domestic wastewater, primary and secondary treatment. Effluent discharge
standards; Sludge disposal; Reuse of treated sewage for different applications.

Air Pollution: Types of pollutants, their sources and impacts, air pollution control, air quality standards, Air
quality Index and limits.

Municipal Solid Wastes: Characteristics, generation, collection and transportation of solid wastes, engineered
systems for solid waste management (reuse/ recycle, energy recovery, treatment and disposal).

Section 6: Transportation Engineering
Transportation Infrastructure: Geometric design of highways – cross-sectional elements, sight distances,
horizontal and vertical alignments.
Geometric design of railway Track – Speed and Cant.
Concept of airport runway length, calculations and corrections; taxiway and exit taxiway design.

Highway Pavements: Highway materials – desirable properties and tests; Desirable properties of bituminous
paving mixes; Design factors for flexible and rigid pavements; Design of flexible and rigid pavement using IRC
codes.

Traffic Engineering: Traffic studies on flow and speed, peak hour factor, accident study, statistical analysis of
traffic data; Microscopic and macroscopic parameters of traffic flow, fundamental relationships; Traffic signs;
Signal design by Webster’s method; Types of intersections; Highway capacity.

Section 7: Geomatics Engineering

Principles of surveying; Errors and their adjustment; Maps – scale, coordinate system; Distance and angle
measurement – Levelling and trigonometric levelling; Traversing and triangulation survey; Total station;
Horizontal and vertical curves.
Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing – Scale, flying height; Basics of remote sensing and GIS.