NCEES Civil Engineering PE Exam

Question 1

The AASHTO flexible pavement design method uses which primary design parameter to characterize pavement structural capacity?

Accepted Answer

Structural number (SN) based on equivalent single axle loads (ESALs)

Answer

Resilient modulus (Mr) of the subgrade only

Answer

California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of the base course

Answer

Pavement condition index (PCI)

Question 2

In traffic engineering, the Peak Hour Factor (PHF) is calculated as:

Accepted Answer

Peak hour volume divided by four times the peak 15-minute volume

Answer

Total daily volume divided by the peak hour volume

Answer

Peak 15-minute volume multiplied by four

Answer

Peak hour volume divided by the average hourly volume

Question 3

Stopping Sight Distance (SSD) on a highway is composed of which two distance components?

Accepted Answer

Perception-reaction distance and braking distance

Answer

Reaction distance and curve length

Answer

Passing distance and maneuver distance

Answer

Vertical curve length and horizontal clearance

Question 4

Using the arc definition, what is the degree of curve for a horizontal curve with a radius of 1,500 ft?

Accepted Answer

3.82°

Answer

1.91°

Answer

2.86°

Answer

5.73°

Question 5

According to the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM), Level of Service (LOS) for a basic freeway segment is primarily defined by:

Accepted Answer

Density in passenger cars per mile per lane (pc/mi/ln)

Answer

Volume-to-capacity (v/c) ratio

Answer

Average travel speed only

Answer

Number of lane changes per mile

Question 6

The Marshall mix design method evaluates asphalt concrete using which two primary measured parameters?

Accepted Answer

Marshall stability and flow

Answer

Resilient modulus and creep compliance

Answer

Hveem stability value and air voids

Answer

Dynamic modulus and phase angle

Question 7

Superelevation runoff on a horizontal curve is defined as the length of roadway required to transition the outside lane cross slope from:

Accepted Answer

Flat (0%) to full superelevation

Answer

Normal crown to full superelevation

Answer

Full superelevation back to normal crown

Answer

Adverse cross-slope to flat (0%)