Civil Engineering Theory of Structure Flashcards
7 cards from real Civil Engineering PE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Civil Engineering Theory of Structure flashcards as text
A fixed-end beam of length L carries a uniformly distributed load w. What is the magnitude of the fixed-end moment at each support?
Answer: wL²/12
For a fixed-end beam with UDL, the fixed-end moments at each support equal wL²/12.
The Muller-Breslau principle is used to construct:
Answer: Influence lines
The Muller-Breslau principle states that the influence line for a function equals the deflected shape of the structure when the restraint corresponding to that function is removed.
In a two-force member, forces must be:
Answer: Equal, opposite, and collinear
A two-force member is in equilibrium only when the two forces are equal in magnitude, opposite in direction, and act along the same line of action.
What is the degree of static indeterminacy of a propped cantilever beam?
Answer: 1
A propped cantilever has 4 reactions (3 at fixed end + 1 at prop) and 3 equilibrium equations, giving degree of indeterminacy = 1.
The stiffness matrix for a beam element relates:
Answer: Nodal forces and moments to nodal displacements and rotations
The beam stiffness matrix [K] maps the vector of nodal displacements and rotations to the corresponding nodal forces and moments via {F} = [K]{d}.
For a simply supported beam, the maximum deflection due to a central point load P occurs at:
Answer: Midspan
By symmetry and the condition dv/dx = 0, the maximum deflection of a simply supported beam under a central point load occurs at midspan.
The carry-over factor in the moment distribution method for a far-end fixed member is:
Answer: 1/2
For a prismatic member with the far end fixed, the carry-over factor is 1/2, meaning half the distributed moment is transferred to the far end.