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PE Civil Exam 40-Mix Questions & Answers (pdf Format)

For Breath Exam (Morning Session) Set #-3

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Breadth Exam (morning session): This practice exam contains 40 mixed
questions and answers, each set being from all five areas of civil
engineering:

Table Contents:

Page

1.

Construction-8 Q & A

2.

Geotechnical-8 Q & A

11

3.

Structural-8 Q & A

21

4.

Transportation-8 Q & A

25

5.

Water Resources and Environmental-8 Q & A

39

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I. Construction
1.

PROBLEM (Earth Work)

A borrow pit contour elevation has been shown in the figure; it has to be
cut. What is the average volume (yds3) cut from the borrow pit?

.
a.
b.
c.
d.
1.

V=11333 yds3
V=5666 yds3
V=7536 yds3
V=2833 yds3

Solution:

Area of each grid, A=60x60=3600 ft2

V=(1x5+2x7+1x9+2x6+1x5+1x7+3x8+1x9) x [(3600/(4x27)]=2833 yds3
Total Volume of Borrow pit, V=2833 yds3
Correct Answer is (d)

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II.

Geotechnical

9.

PROBLEM (Soil Classification)

A soil sample has the following properties by the Unified Soil Classification System.
LL = 42, PL = 31. What is the soil classification?
a.
b.
c.
d.

9.

CH
MH
ML
CL

Solution: From plasticity Chart, LL=42, PL=31; PI=42-31=11, ML.

Correct Answer is (c)

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III.

STRUCTURAL

19.

PROBLEM (Analysis)
Determine the reaction of YA in the frame as shown in Figure.

a.
b.
c.
d.

19.

-6.25 K
6.25 K
31.25 K
-12.5 K

Solution:
Positive moment is in the clockwise direction
MA=0,
5 x 15 x (15/2) + 25 x15-YD x30=0
YD= 31.25 K
H=0, YD+ YA-25=0,
YA=-31.25+25= -6.25 K

Correct Answer is (a)

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IV.
28.

TRANSPORTATION
PROBLEM (Ascending Grades)
A highway, with traffic normally runs at 60 mph has an inclined section with a 4%
grade, how much can the elevation of the roadway increase before the speed of the
larger vehicles is reduced to 50 mph?
a.
b.
c.
d.

28.

32
50
40
26

ft
ft
ft
ft

Solution
From Graph in the Ascending Grades module, we can see that a 4% grade causes a
reduction in speed of (60 mph-50 mph)=10 mph after 1250 feet.

We can just estimate the elevation increase by multiplying the length of the grade
by the grade.
H= 1250x0.04 = 50 ft.
The elevation of the roadway can only be increased by about 40 feet before heavy
vehicles are reduced to a speed of 50 mph.
Correct Answer is (b)

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V.

WATER RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT

40.

PROBLEM (Water Collection)

A community has a population of 40,000. What would be the storage tank capacity
for fire flow?

a.
b.
c.
d.
40.

1.2
3.6
4.5
2.2

MG
MG
MG
MG

Solution:
P=40,000
The fire flow is calculated as follows:
Fire flow (gpm) =
Where "P" is the population in 1,000's of people. So, for our community with a
population of 40,000, the fire flow would be:

The required storage capacity for fire flow is calculated as follows:

Capacity, Q = Fire flow Duration
Capacity, Q = 6,043 gpm 360 minutes
Capacity, Q = 2,175,480 gal
The storage tank must thus have a fire flow capacity of 2.2 million gallons.
Correct Answer is (d)
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