LEARN CIVIL ENGINEERING – PE SAMPLE EXAM-STRUCTURE

Q.1 The beam ABC shown in the figure is simply supported at A and B
and has an overhang from B to C. The loads consist of a horizontal force
F1 = 400 lb acting at the end of the vertical arm and a vertical force
F2=900 lb acting at the end of the overhang.

(Note: Disregard the widths of the beam and vertical arm and use
centerline dimensions when making calculations.)

F1 = 400 lb

F 2= 900 lb
1.0 FT

A B
C

4.0 FT 1.0 FT

The Max shear-force and Max bending-moment diagrams

Respectively are?
(A) 900 lb-ft, 150 lb
(B) 900 lb, - 900lb-ft
(C) 400 lb, 900lb-ft
(D) 125lb, 900lb-ft

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 LEARN CIVIL ENGINEERING – PE SAMPLE EXAM-STRUCTURE

Solution
Find the reaction forces, RA and RB
M/A = 0 counter clockwise + and positive upward force +
40 x 1 – 900 x 5 = 4 RB
RB = -4100/4 = -1025 = 1025lb
RA = 125 lb

The arm force will be transferred as a 400 lb-ft moment acting on left
end of point A as shown below.

M=400 lb-ft 900 lb

A B
C

125lb 1025 lb

Vshear (lb)
Step 1: 0 – 125 = -125 lb

Step 2: -125 + 1025 = 900 lb

Step 3: 900 – 900 = 0 lb

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 LEARN CIVIL ENGINEERING – PE SAMPLE EXAM-STRUCTURE

900 lb
M Moment (lb-ft)
0
Step 1: DO NOT FORGET 400 lb-ft arm moment on point A

Step 2: -400 + (-125*4) =- - 900

125lb-ft
lb
Step 3: Area of rectangle = 900 x 1 =900 lb-ft

400 lb-ft -900 lb-ft

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 LEARN CIVIL ENGINEERING – PE SAMPLE EXAM-STRUCTURE

Q.2 The four steel beam sections shown are fabricated from ½ inch and
6 inch plates.

1-What is the highest and lowest moment of inertia about the x-axis
for the shapes shown above?
A-71 in4 and 18.1 in4
B-72.5 in4 and 18.1 in4
C-74 in4 and 20.4 in4
D-72.5 in4 and 20.4 in4

2- Which of the shown cross sections will provide the highest flexural
rigidity about the x-axis?
1-A
2-A&C
3-B
4-D

A) B)

X X X X

C) D)

X X X X

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 LEARN CIVIL ENGINEERING – PE SAMPLE EXAM-STRUCTURE

Solution:

Start by solving the moment of inertia for each section and make sure to set your
reference for each section. In my case my reference for all sections will be the
bottom of the flange.
I will demonstrate some variables in this example which I will use for the rest of
the section for illustration purposes.
Y= half the distance of the web and flange
b= width of the web/flange
h=height of the web/flange
x1= centroid of the section
d= x1 – Y
A= Area of the web/flange

Section A

Centroid
h= height X X
Y2=half section distance
6/2 = 3 inch

Reference at bottom flange

Y1= flange half b= width
distance, 0.5/2 = 0.25
inch
b 1 = 6 inch h 1 = 0.5 inch Y1 = 0.25 inch
b 2 = 0.5 inch h 2 = 6 inch Y2 = 3 inch
A1 = b 1 x h 1 = 3 in2
A2 = b 1 x h 1 = 3 in2

Centroid , Y = (A1 Y1 + A2 Y2 ) / (A1 + A2 ) = 1.625 inch

I1 = 1/12 b 1( h 1 )3 = 0.063 in2

A1d2 = A1 (Y- Y1) 2 =5.672 in2
A2d2 = A2 (Y- Y2) 2 = 5.672 in2

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 LEARN CIVIL ENGINEERING – PE SAMPLE EXAM-STRUCTURE

I2 = 1/12 b 2( h 2 )3 = 9 in2
Ix = 1/12 b 1( h 1 )3 + A1d2 + 1/12 b 2( h 2 )3+ A2 (Y- Y2) 2
Ix = I1 + I2 = 20.406 in2

Section B
b 1 = 6 inch h 1 = 0.5 inch Y1 = 0.25 inch
b 2 = 0.5 inch h 2 = 6 inch Y2 = 3.5 inch
A1 = b 1 x h 1 = 3 in2
A2 = b 1 x h 1 = 3 in2

Centroid Y = (A1 Y1 + A2 Y2 ) / (A1 + A2 ) = 1.875 inch

I1 = 1/12 b 1( h 1 )3 = 0.063 in2

I2 = 1/12 b 2( h 2 )3 = 9 in2
A1d2 = A(Y- Y1) 2 =7.922 in2
A2d2 = A(Y- Y2) 2 = 7.922 in2

Ix = 1/12 b 1( h 1 )3 + A1d2 + 1/12 b 2( h 2 )3+ A2 (Y- Y2) 2

Ix = I1 + I2 = 24.91 in2

Section C
b 1 = 6 inch h 1 = 0.5 inch Y1 = 3 inch
b 2 = 0.5 inch h 2 = 6 inch Y2 = 3 inch
b 3 = 0.5 inch h 3 = 6 inch Y3 = 3 inch

A1 = b 1 x h 1 = 3 in2
A2 = b 1 x h 2 = 3 in2
A3 = b 1 x h 3 = 3 in2
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 LEARN CIVIL ENGINEERING – PE SAMPLE EXAM-STRUCTURE

Centroid ,Y = (A1 Y1 + A2 Y2 ) / (A1 + A2 ) = 3 inch

Hint: since the Y1 and Y are the same, Ad2 = 0 that will leave us with I.
I1 = 1/12 b 1( h 1 )3 = 0.063 in2
I2 = 1/12 b 2( h 2 )3 = 9 in2
I3 = 1/12 b 2( h 3 )3 = 9 in2

A1d2 = A(Y- Y1) 2 = 0 in2

A2d2 = A(Y- Y2) 2 = 0 in2
A3d2 = A(Y- Y3) 2 = 0 in2

Ix = 1/12 b 1( h 1 )3 + A1d2 + 1/12 b 2( h 2 )3+ A2 (Y- Y2) 2 +

1/12 b 3( h 3 )3+ A3 (Y- Y3) 2

I x= I1 + I2 + I3 = 18.06 in2

Section D
b 1 = 6 inch h 1 = 0.5 inch Y1 = 0.25inch
b 2 = 0.5 inch h 2 = 6 inch Y2 = 3.5 inch
b 3 = 6 inch h 3 = 0.5 inch Y3 = 6.75 inch

A1 = b 1 x h 1 = 3 in2
A2 = b 1 x h 2 = 3 in2
A3 = b 1 x h 3 = 3 in2

Centroid, Y = (A1 Y1 + A2 Y2 ) / (A1 + A2 ) = 3.5 inch

I1 = 1/12 b 1( h 1 )3 = 0.063 in2

I2 = 1/12 b 2( h 2 )3 = 9 in2
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 LEARN CIVIL ENGINEERING – PE SAMPLE EXAM-STRUCTURE

I3 = 1/12 b 2( h 3 )3 = 0.063 in2

A1d2 = A(Y- Y1) 2 = 31.69 in2

A2d2 = A(Y- Y2) 2 = 0 in2
A3d2 = A(Y- Y3) 2 = 31.69 in2

Ix = 1/12 b 1( h 1 )3 + A1d2 + 1/12 b 2( h 2 )3+ A2 (Y- Y2) 2 +

1/12 b 3( h 3 )3+ A3 (Y- Y3) 2

Ix = I1 + I2 + I3 = 72.5 in2 highest rigidity

1-What is the highest and lowest elastic section modulus about the x-axis for
the shapes shown above?

Section D of 72.5 in4 has the highest rigidity and

Section C of 18.1 in4 has the lowest rigidity

The answer is C

2-Which of the shown cross sections will provide the highest flexural rigidity
about the x-axis?

Since Section D has the highest moment of 72.5 in4 inertia , hence, highest flexural
rigidity therefore the answer is 4.

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 LEARN CIVIL ENGINEERING – PE SAMPLE EXAM-STRUCTURE

Q.3 The beam shown below is subjected to a force equal to 5 kips at

the tip of the beam, where E=29500ksi and I=300in4
Find: Maximum Deflection @ mid span?
5kips

B
A C
25 FT

Given: A cantilever beam with a 5 kips service concentrated load @ the

tip of the beam as shown above. The length of beam is 25 ft. while
E=29000ksi and I=300in4
Find: (a) Maximum Deflection due to the concentrated load in INCH?
(b) Where does the maximum deflection occur?

(A)7 inch, Point B

(B)5 inch and point C

(C)6 inch and point C

(D) 5 inch and point A

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 LEARN CIVIL ENGINEERING – PE SAMPLE EXAM-STRUCTURE

Solution

(a) ∆max = =

=0.424FT x12 = 5.01 inch

(b)Maximum deflection occurs at tip of the beam at point C.

Answer is B

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 LEARN CIVIL ENGINEERING – PE SAMPLE EXAM-STRUCTURE

Q.4 The concrete beam below used to support the loading as shown in
the figure below.

FIND the:
1. Maximum factored applied moment, Mmax.
2. Usable moment capacity of the beam, Mu, and determine IF
it is acceptable based on Mmax.
3. beam is acceptable based on ρmax.

Wu = 3000 PLF (included beam weight)

20 FT

(A) 150 K-in, 1800 k-in, Not acceptable

(B) 150K-ft,1800k-in, Acceptable
(C) 150k-ft,180k-ft,Acceptable
(D) 150k-ft,1800k-ft, Acceptable

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 LEARN CIVIL ENGINEERING – PE SAMPLE EXAM-STRUCTURE

Solution (ANSWER IS C)
Step 1 – Determine maximum factored applied moment, Mmax:
Mw =

Mmax = 150 KIP-FT

Step 2 - Determine the usable moment capacity of the beam, Mu:

Mu = 0.9 Asfy d (1- ( 0.59 ( act / f’c )) where act= 0.0108 (example 1)

= 0.9(2.4 in2)(60 ksi)(18.44”)(1- (0.59(0.0108 x 60 ksi)/4KSI))

=2161 K-in = 180 k-ft

Since Mu = 180 > Mmax = 150 --------- beam acceptable

Step 3 – Determine if the beam is acceptable based on ρmax:

ρmax = maximum allowable ratio of tension steel reinforcement per ACI 318
= 0.75ρbal

ρbal = balanced ratio of tension steel reinforcement

= )( ) where fy= PSI

β1 = 0.85 , f’c =4000 psi

= )( )

= 0.0285
ρmax = 0.75(0.0285)
ρmax = 0.0214 > ρact = 0.0108 → beam is acceptable

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 LEARN CIVIL ENGINEERING – PE SAMPLE EXAM-STRUCTURE

Q.5 For the rectangular beam cross section below, the moment of inertia is most
nearly?

(A) 13824 inch3

(B) 12000 inch4
(C) 13824 inch4
(D) 15000 inch4

20kips
h=24 inch
20 FT

b=12 inch
Solution:

The moment of inertia for rectangular beam is

I = (1/12) bh3 where b = 12 inch and h = 24 inch
I = (1/12) (12)(24)3
I= 13824 inch4

Answer is C

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 LEARN CIVIL ENGINEERING – PE SAMPLE EXAM-STRUCTURE

Q.6 Construction started on a bridge located in College station,

Pennsylvania in January. Average temperatures based on weather.com
are estimated to be 20-30 degrees Fahrenheit.

Which of the following is TRUE for the Mix design used?

A-Decrease Air content

B-Increase Air content
C-Air content has NO effect
D- No need for a slump test

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 LEARN CIVIL ENGINEERING – PE SAMPLE EXAM-STRUCTURE

Q.7 A 1.5x9.25 cross sectional beam with w= 140 lb/ftsimply

distributed beam as shown below. Given the allowable horizontal shear
stress is 95 psi.
Assume Moment of inertia, I = 98.93 in4
4.625 inch
W=140 lb/ft
Y=2.31 inch

L=11 Ft

1.5 inch
1-What is the maximum horizontal shear stress (σv) on the beam?
(A) 80 lb/in2
(B) 83 lb/in2
(C) 88 lb/in2
(D) 78 lb/in2

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 LEARN CIVIL ENGINEERING – PE SAMPLE EXAM-STRUCTURE

Solution:

Step 1
Draw the shear diagram and calculate the Maximum shear.

770 lbs

770 lbs
F= 0.5(140 LB/FT)(11FT) = 770 lbs

Step 2:

V = 770 LBS
Q=Ay
Where A = 4.625 x 1.5 = 6.94 inch2
Y = 0.5x 4.625 = 2.31 inch2

Q=Ay = 6.94 x 2.31 = 16 in3

σv = = = 83 psi

Answer is B

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LEARN CIVIL ENGINEERING – PE SAMPLE EXAM-STRUCTURE

Q.8 A beam segment in a bridge construction site with the

following loads:

Distributed Dead Load, w = 500 lb/ft @

10 ft
Concentrated Live Load, P1 = 8 kips.
Concentrated Live Load, P2 = 5 kips.

W=500 lb/FT P1=8 kips P2= 5 kips

lb/FT

1- If the dead load factor is 1.2 and the live load factor is 1.6, the
total factored and un-factored load acting on beam,
respectively is?
A-19, 18

B-27, 18

C-26, 19

D-18, 27

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 LEARN CIVIL ENGINEERING – PE SAMPLE EXAM-STRUCTURE

Solution:

Factored loads:
Dead loads = 1.2(500 x 10) =1.2(5000 lb) =1.2x 5 = 6 k
(Don’t Forget 1 kips = 1000lb)
Live loads = 1.6(8+5) = 20.8 = 21 k

Total = 27 k
Un-factored Loads
Dead Loads =5k
Live Loads = 13 k
Total = 18 k

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