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Civil Engineering Construction (Earthwork, Concrete, Foundations, Paving, Rivers & Roads)

Construction · 建設分野 · Written by Tokutei Pass based on the official study texts; not copied verbatim.

Earthwork (Excavation, Embankment, Compaction, and Slope Protection)

Cutting away natural ground is called 'cutting/excavation (kirido)', hauling and piling up soil is called 'embankment/filling (morido)', and an artificial slope created by cutting or filling is called a 'slope face (norimen)'.

In embankment work, to prevent ground settlement, soil is not piled high all at once; instead, it is spread in thin layers of about 20 to 30 cm and compacted after each layer using road rollers.

For backfilling narrow trenches or around structures, rammers or vibratory plate compactors are used, while slope erosion is prevented by vegetation work (hydroseeding) or mortar/concrete spraying.

Earthwork (Excavation, Embankment, Compaction, and Slope Protection)

Key points


  • Cutting natural ground is 'kirido', piling soil is 'morido', and the resulting artificial slope is 'norimen'.

  • Embankment soil is spread in layers of about 20-30 cm and compacted layer by layer with rollers or rammers.

  • To prevent slope weathering and erosion, vegetation work or shotcrete/mortar spraying is performed.
WordMeaning
Cutting & Embankment (Kirido / Morido)
Slope face (Norimen)
Rolling compaction (Ten-atsu / Shimekatame)
Rammer & Vibratory plate compactor

Concrete Work, Reinforcing Bar Work, and Formwork

The consistency (fluidity) of fresh concrete is measured by a 'slump test', and upon delivery to the site, acceptance inspections are performed for slump, air content, temperature, and chloride content.

During placement, the free-fall height is kept within 1.5 m to prevent segregation, internal vibrators are inserted vertically for compaction, and moist curing is carried out after placement.

To prevent rebar corrosion, 'spacers' are installed to maintain the required concrete cover, form release agent is thinly applied inside forms before pouring, and separators resist lateral concrete pressure.

Key points


  • Fresh concrete fluidity is measured by the 'slump test', and slump, air content, temperature, and chloride are checked at delivery.

  • Keep free-fall height at 1.5 m or less and insert vibrators vertically to prevent honeycombing (janka) and cold joints.

  • Place 'spacers' to secure proper concrete cover and strip formwork only after verifying the required concrete strength.
WordMeaning
Slump test
Material segregation (Zairyou bunri)
Spacer & Concrete cover thickness (Kaburi atsusa)
Moist curing (Shitsujun youjou)

Foundation Work, Earth Retaining Shoring, and Soft Ground Countermeasures

In contrast to a 'spread foundation (chokusetsu kiso)' that transfers structural loads directly to a shallow bearing layer, a 'pile foundation (kuigiso)' drives piles down to a deep bearing stratum in soft ground.

In cast-in-place concrete piles (all-casing or earth drill methods), 'slime' (settled mud sediment) accumulating at the bottom of the bored hole is removed before and after lowering the rebar cage.

In deep excavations, 'steel sheet piles (kouyaita)' are driven to prevent soil collapse and groundwater inflow, and are supported firmly by wales (haraokoshi) and struts (kiribari).

Key points


  • Use 'spread foundations' on shallow firm ground and 'pile foundations' when transferring loads to deep bearing strata.

  • Remove bottom sediment ('slime') in cast-in-place pile boreholes thoroughly to prevent loss of bearing capacity.

  • Use steel sheet piles, wales, and struts in earth-retaining shoring, and evacuate immediately if deformation is observed.
WordMeaning
Spread foundation & Pile foundation (Chokusetsu kiso / Kuigiso)
Cast-in-place concrete pile (Bashouchi concrete kui)
Slime removal (Slime shori)
Steel sheet pile & Strut (Kouyaita / Kiribari)

Road Paving, River Works, Tunnels, and Water/Sewer Civil Works

Asphalt pavement consists from bottom to top of 'subgrade -> lower subbase -> upper base course -> binder course -> surface course', with 'prime coat' sprayed on the base course and 'tack coat' between asphalt layers.

After hot-mix asphalt is spread by an asphalt finisher, rolling compaction is performed while hot in the sequence: 'initial rolling (macadam roller) -> secondary rolling (pneumatic tire roller) -> finish rolling (tandem roller)'.

In river works, levees are protected by 'revetment work (gogankou)'; in mountain tunnels using NATM, 'shotcrete, rock bolts, and steel ribs' support the ground; and gravity sewer pipes are laid from downstream to upstream.

Road Paving, River Works, Tunnels, and Water/Sewer Civil Works

Key points


  • Asphalt pavement comprises subgrade, base course, binder course, and surface course, using prime coat on the base and tack coat between asphalt layers.

  • After spreading asphalt mix, compact in order: macadam roller (initial) -> tire roller (secondary) -> tandem roller (finish).

  • NATM uses shotcrete and rock bolts as primary support, and gravity sewer pipes are installed from downstream toward upstream.
WordMeaning
Base course, Binder course & Surface course (Roban / Kisou / Hyousou)
Prime coat & Tack coat
Macadam roller & Pneumatic tire roller
NATM (Rock bolts & Shotcrete)

Civil Engineering Work (Practical)

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Official references