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org all rights reserved- PE Civil Breadth Exam Set #1

Breadth Exam (morning session): This practice exam contains 40 mix questions and answers of all five areas of civil engineering:

Table Contents:

Pages

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Construction-8 Q&A Geotechnical-8 Q&A Structural-8 Q&A Transportation-8 Q&A Water Resources and Environmental-8 Q&A

3 11 19 27 35

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I.
8.

Construction
PROBLEM (Temporary Structure) As shown in the Figure a braced cut of the foundation excavation is 10 ft deep in clay with a unit weight of 122 lb/ft3. When the wall is temporarily supported, what will be the total earth force per foot the wall?

a. b. c. d.

2700.00 #/ft 2400.00 #/ft 2900.00 #/ft 2500.00 #/ft

8.

Solution: Total force, F= x 2.5 x 360 + 5 x 360 + x 2.5 x 360 =2700.00 #/ft Correct Solution is (a)

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II. 15.

Geotechnical
PROBLEM (Retaining Wall) A retaining wall shown in the Figure is at rest. What will be the lateral force per unit length of the wall?

a. b. c. d. 15.

25.1 kN/m 67.84 kN/m 78.44 kN/m 98.3 kN/m

Solution: =28o = 16.0 kN /m3 H= 4m 'h= K0v = K0 (q0 + H),

q0 = surcharge load=10.0 kN /m2

Where, 'h = Effective horizontal pressure v = Effective vertical pressure K0= 1-sin=0.53 'h =.53 x (10+16 x 4)= 39.22 kN /m2 AT REST LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE Total Lateral Force, Ph= H/ 2 'h = .5 x 4 x 39.22=78.44 kN /m Correct Solution is (c)
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III 18.

STRUCTURAL PROBLEM (Loading) A concrete slab is 5 thick as shown in the Figure. The slabs live load is 60 psf and the beam weight is 50 lb/ft. Determine the reaction of column RA where, the Concrete unit weight is 150 lb/ft3.

a b c d

5.90 Kip 7.00 Kip 5.20 Kip 8.50 Kip

17.

Solution: Beam weight=50lb/ft Slab dead load =150 x 5/12 =62.5 lb/ft2 Live Load = 60.0 lb/ft2 Total Load W==122.5 lb/ft2 For 10 ft wide slab W1=122.5 x10 +50=1275.00 lb/ft For 5 ft wide slab W2=122.5 x5 +50= 662.50 lb/ft M=0 Reaction at RA, RA x 18 = 662.5 x 10 x (5 +8)+1275 x 8 x 4 = 126925.00 lb RA= 126925.00/18 = 7051.39= 7.05 Kip Correct Solution is (b)

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IV. 26.

TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM (Sight Distance) A two lane highway has a center line shown in the 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 an inside lane, where each lane is 12 ft wide.

a. b. c. d. 26. Solution:

240 ft 200 ft 250 ft 320 ft

BC=450-22=428 ft AC=450-6=444 ft (For the driver in inside lane) Cos/2=BC/AC=428/444 /2= 15.43 = 2 x 15.43= 30.86 D=2 x AC= 2 x 444=888 Arc/ =D/360 Arc= D/360= 30.86x 3.14 x 888 / 360= 239.0ft, Sight Distance, S= 239.0 ft Correct Solution 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. b. c. d. 8316 ft3 4500 ft3 6127 ft3 5512 ft3

40.

Solution: Qav=12 mgd, Detention time, td = 3 min. Peak flow/ Qav=2.5 Peak flow, Q=12 x 2.5=30 mgd= 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 Solution is (a)

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Copyright 2008-2011 pe-exam.org all rights reserved- PE Civil Breadth Exam Set #1