Civil Engineering PE Prep 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A 1-inch diameter A325 bolt in single shear has a nominal shear strength. The AISC nominal shear stress for A325 bolts in a bearing-type connection is approximately:
- 48 ksi (Correct answer)
- 30 ksi
- 60 ksi
- 20 ksi
Correct answer: 48 ksi
AISC Table J3.2 lists Fnv = 48 ksi for A325 bolts in bearing-type connections.
Question 2: The primary purpose of a geotextile filter in a drainage system is to:
- Allow water to pass while retaining soil particles (Correct answer)
- Increase drainage pipe stiffness
- Reduce soil permeability
- Prevent pipe corrosion
Correct answer: Allow water to pass while retaining soil particles
Geotextile filters are designed to be permeable to water yet retain fine soil particles to prevent piping.
Question 3: In the context of the PE exam depth modules, the Civil PE exam is structured with a breadth section followed by:
- A depth section in one of five specialties (Correct answer)
- A second breadth section
- An oral examination
- A laboratory component
Correct answer: A depth section in one of five specialties
The PE Civil exam consists of a morning breadth section and an afternoon depth section in one specialty.
Question 4: Darcy's Law states that the flow rate through a porous medium is proportional to:
- Hydraulic gradient and cross-sectional area (Correct answer)
- Soil unit weight only
- Pore pressure only
- Effective stress and viscosity
Correct answer: Hydraulic gradient and cross-sectional area
Q = kiA, where k = hydraulic conductivity, i = hydraulic gradient, A = cross-sectional area.
Question 5: A traffic engineer observes 300 vehicles passing a point in 5 minutes. The flow rate in vehicles per hour is:
- 3,600 vph (Correct answer)
- 1,500 vph
- 300 vph
- 60 vph
Correct answer: 3,600 vph
Flow = (300 vehicles / 5 min) × 60 min/hr = 3,600 vph.
Question 6: For a reinforced concrete beam, the ACI 318 minimum concrete cover requirement for main reinforcement in a beam not exposed to weather is:
- 1.5 in (Correct answer)
- 3.0 in
- 0.75 in
- 2.0 in
Correct answer: 1.5 in
ACI 318 Table 20.6.1.3 requires 1.5 in of cover for beams and columns not exposed to weather.
Question 7: The consolidation settlement of a clay layer depends primarily on which soil parameter?
- Compression index (Cc) and initial void ratio (e0) (Correct answer)
- Angle of internal friction (φ)
- Hydraulic conductivity (k) alone
- Relative density (Dr)
Correct answer: Compression index (Cc) and initial void ratio (e0)
Primary consolidation settlement uses Sc = [Cc/(1+e0)] × H × log(σ'f/σ'0).
Civil Engineering PE Prep 4
A 1-inch diameter A325 bolt in single shear has a nominal shear strength.
The AISC nominal shear stress for A325 bolts in a bearing-type connection is approximately: