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PE Civil Exam 40-Mix Questions & Answers (PDF)

For
Breadth Exam (Morning Session)

Questions & Answers Set #1

Prepared by: www.Pe-Exam.org

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Breadth Exam (morning session): This practice exam contains 40

mix questions and answers each set from all five areas of civil
engineering.

Table Contents: Page

1. Construction-8 Q&A 3

2. Geotechnical-8 Q&A 8

3. Structural-8 Q&A 14

4. Transportation-8 Q&A 22

5. Water Resources and Environmental-8 Q&A 29

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Civil Breadth (Morning) Question Set-1

I. Construction

8. PROBLEM (Temporary Structure)

3
As figure a braced cut of foundation excavation is 10 ft deep in clay with unit weight of 122 lb/ft . What is
the design of the total earth force to be temporary supported member per foot the wall?

a. 2700.00 psf
b. 2400.00 psf
c. 2900.00 psf
d. 2500.00 psf

8. Solution:

Total force, F= ½ x 2.5 x 360 + 5 x 360 + ½ x 2.5 x 360 =2700.00 lb/ ft

Correct Answer is (a)

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II. Geotechnical

15. PROBLEM (Retaining wall)

A retaining wall shown in Figure is at rest, what will be the lateral force per unit length of the
wall?

a. 25.1 kN/m
b. 67.84 kN/m
c. 78.44 kN/m
d. 98.3 kN/m

15. Solution:

Φ=28o
γ= 16.0 kN /m3
H= 4m
σ'h= K0σ’v = K0 (q0 + γH), q0 = surcharge load=10.0 kN /m2

Where, σ'h = Effective horizontal pressure

σ’v = Effective vertical pressure
K0= 1-sinΦ=0.53
σ'h =.53 x (10+16 x 4= 39.22 kN /m2

AT REST LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE

Total Lateral Force, Ph= H/ 2 σ'h = .5 x 4 x 39.22=78.44 kN /m

Correct Answer is (c)

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III STRUCTURAL

19. PROBLEM (Loading)

A rafter has loading as figure. Determine the reaction of column RA,

a 450.00 lb
b 425.00 lb
c 413.00 lb
d 400.00 lb

17. Solution:

L=16 ft
Slab dead load =20 x 13/12 =21.67lb/ft2
Live Load = 30.0 lb/ft2
Total Load W==51.67 lb/ft2

Reaction at RA, RA = WL/2=51.67 x 16/2=413.36lb

RA= 413.36 lb

Correct Answer is (c)

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IV. TRANSPORTATION

26. PROBLEM (Sight Distance)

A two lane highway has center line shown in figure, passing near a building located on the inside near the
middle of the curve. The building would be 22 ft from center of the highway. Determine the sight distance
for the driver in inside lane, where each lane is 12 ft wide.

a. 240 ft
b. 200 ft
c. 250 ft
d. 320 ft

26. Solution

BC=450-22=428 ft
AC=450-6=444 ft

Cos∆/2=BC/AC=428/444
∆/2= 15.43
∆= 2 x 15.43= 30.86
D=2 x AC= 2 x 444=888
Arc/ ∆=πD/360
Arc= ∆πD/360= 30.86x 3.14 x 888 / 360= 239.0ft

Sight Distance, S= 239.0 ft

Correct Answer is (a)

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V. WATER RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT

40. PROBLEM (Wastewater collection)

A wastewater treatment plant has an average flow of 12 M-gal/day and a peak to average flow
ratio of 2.5. Determine the total volume of an aerated grit chamber if detention time is 3 min.

a. 8316 ft3
b. 4500 ft3
c. 6127 ft3
d. 5512 ft3

40. Solution:

Qav=12 mgd, Detention time, td = 3 min.

Peak flow/ Qav=2.5

Peak flow, Q=12 x 2.5=30mgd= 30 x 1.54 ft3/sec, 1 mgd=1.54 ft3/sec
Volume of aerated grit chamber, V=Q td =30 x 1.54 x 3 x 60= 8316.00 ft3

Correct Answer is (a)

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