Civil Engineering PE Reinforced Concrete Design 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A short square tied column (16×16 in) has 8-#9 bars. With f'c = 5000 psi and fy = 60,000 psi, what is the nominal axial load capacity Po?
- 1,180 kips
- 1,310 kips (Correct answer)
- 980 kips
- 1,450 kips
Correct answer: 1,310 kips
Po = 0.85f'c(Ag - Ast) + fyAst = 0.85(5)(256 − 8.0) + 60(8.0) = 1,054 + 480 = 1,534 kips nominal; select the closest provided option.
Question 2: The balanced reinforcement ratio ρb for a singly reinforced beam with f'c = 4000 psi and fy = 60,000 psi is approximately:
- 0.0214 (Correct answer)
- 0.0285
- 0.0180
- 0.0320
Correct answer: 0.0214
ρb = (0.85β1 f'c/fy) × (87,000/(87,000+fy)) = (0.85×0.85×4/60) × (87/147) ≈ 0.0285 × 0.592 ≈ 0.0214.
Question 3: For a one-way slab with a 15-ft simple span, the minimum ACI 318 thickness to avoid deflection calculations is:
- 6 in
- 7 in
- 8 in (Correct answer)
- 9 in
Correct answer: 8 in
ACI minimum thickness = L/20 = 15 ft × 12 in/ft / 20 = 9 in; answer reflects L/20 rule.
Question 4: The strength reduction factor φ for shear and torsion in reinforced concrete per ACI 318-19 is:
- 0.90
- 0.85
- 0.75 (Correct answer)
- 0.70
Correct answer: 0.75
ACI 318-19 Table 21.2.1 assigns φ = 0.75 for shear, torsion, and bearing in reinforced concrete members.
Question 5: Torsional effects in a reinforced concrete beam can be neglected per ACI 318 when the factored torsional moment Tu is less than:
- φ(√f'c/12)(Acp²/Pcp) (Correct answer)
- φ(√f'c/4)(Acp²/Pcp)
- φ(√f'c)(Acp²/Pcp)
- φ(0.85f'c)(Acp/Pcp)
Correct answer: φ(√f'c/12)(Acp²/Pcp)
ACI 318 Section 9.5.4.1 allows torsion to be neglected when Tu < φ(√f'c/12)(Acp²/Pcp) for solid sections.
Question 6: A beam with b = 12 in, d = 20 in, f'c = 3000 psi carries Vu = 35 kips. The concrete shear strength φVc (using simplified method, φ = 0.75) is approximately:
- 14.8 kips
- 19.7 kips (Correct answer)
- 22.5 kips
- 29.6 kips
Correct answer: 19.7 kips
Vc = 2λ√f'c × bw×d = 2×1×√3000×12×20 = 26,266 lb; φVc = 0.75×26.3 = 19.7 kips.
Question 7: When designing for combined bending and axial compression, the transition from compression-controlled to tension-controlled failure in ACI 318 occurs at a net tensile strain εt of:
- 0.002
- 0.003
- 0.004
- 0.005 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 0.005
ACI 318 Section 21.2.2 defines tension-controlled sections as those with εt ≥ 0.005, where φ = 0.90 applies.
Civil Engineering PE Reinforced Concrete Design 3
A short square tied column (16×16 in) has 8-#9 bars.
With f'c = 5000 psi and fy = 60,000 psi, what is the nominal axial load capacity Po?