NCEES Structural Engineering

Question 1

According to NCEES PE Structural exam standards, what is the primary purpose of a moment-resisting frame in a building structure?

Accepted Answer

To resist lateral loads through bending in beams and columns

Answer

To carry only vertical gravity loads

Answer

To provide thermal insulation to the structure

Answer

To distribute wind loads to the foundation via diagonal bracing only

Question 2

In the NCEES PE Structural exam, a simply supported beam with a uniformly distributed load w over span L has a maximum bending moment of:

Accepted Answer

wL²/8

Answer

wL²/4

Answer

wL²/2

Answer

wL/4

Question 3

Which LRFD load combination from ASCE 7 is typically governing for dead plus live load design per NCEES standards?

Accepted Answer

1.2D + 1.6L

Answer

1.0D + 1.0L

Answer

0.9D + 1.0W

Answer

1.4D

Question 4

On the NCEES PE Structural exam, the effective length factor K for a column that is fixed at the base and pinned at the top (sway prevented) is closest to:

Accepted Answer

0.7

Answer

2.0

Answer

0.5

Answer

1.0

Question 5

In reinforced concrete design tested on the NCEES PE exam, the Whitney stress block depth factor β₁ for concrete with f'c = 4,000 psi is:

Accepted Answer

0.85

Answer

0.65

Answer

0.75

Answer

0.90

Question 6

Which failure mode is associated with a steel beam that has an inadequate lateral bracing interval, as assessed in NCEES structural exams?

Accepted Answer

Lateral-torsional buckling

Answer

Web crippling

Answer

Flexural shear failure

Answer

Bearing failure