MAY 2015 
 
  DR. Z’s CORNER 
 
 
 
 
 
Conquering the FE & PE exams 
 
 
 
 
Examples & Applications 
 
 
 
 
 

 Topics covered in this month’s column: 
 

 PE Exam Specifications  
(Water Resources & Environmental) 
 Mathematics (Analytic Geometry, radical Equations) 
 Hydraulics, Fluid Pressure 
 Transportation (Compound Curves) 
 Transportation (Horizontal Curves‐Inaccessible PI) 
 Structural Design (Simple Beams)  
 Statics and Mechanics of Materials 
 Determinate Beams and Frames 
 Indeterminate Beams (Continuous Beams) 
 Geotechnical (Retaining Wall Pressure Diagrams) 
 Technology Usage (Calculator, Casio‐115‐ES‐PLUS) 
 
 PE Civil WATER RESOURCES and 
ENVIRONMENTAL 
 

Afternoon Depth Exam Specifications 
 
Effective April 2015 Examinations 
 

 
     A typical breakdown with approximate number of questions: 
 
 Analysis and Design: 4 questions, 
 Hydraulics–Closed Conduit: 5 questions, 
 Hydraulics–Open Channel: 5 questions, 
 Hydrology: 7 questions, 
 Groundwater and Wells: 3 questions, 
 Wastewater Collection and Treatment: 6 questions, 
 Water Quality: 3 questions, 
 Drinking  Water  Distribution  and  Treatment:  6 
questions, 
 Engineering Economics Analysis: 1 question. 
 
 Problem: (Fluid Pressure) FE
EXAM

4m Oil
Densities
B
Water roil = 850 kg/m3
2m
rwater = 1000 kg/m3
C

3m

The square tank is filled with oil and water as shown in the figure.
Using the listed data answer the following questions:

(1) the fluid pressure ( kN/m2 ) at point B is most nearly

(A) 23
(B) 35
(C) 44
(D) 52

(2) the fluid pressure ( kN/m2 ) at point C is most nearly

(A) 71
(B) 64
(C) 53
(D) 48

(3) the resultant horizontal force (kN) on face ABC is most nearly

(A) 275
(B) 380
(C) 408
(D) 460

(4) the location (m) of the resultant from the bottom is most nearly

(A) 1.8
(B) 2.0
(C) 2.5
(D) 2.8

MCFP-114
ZEYTINCI
SPRING 2015
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ENGINEERING
DOMAIN: MATHEMATICS 
 

EQUATION OF A CIRCLE  
 

(NCEES‐Ref Handbook / Page‐23) 
 

 
 
 
 
  (y – k )
  C ( h, k ) C
(x – h)
 
 
 
  Center: C (h, k) Radius: r
 
Standard form of Equation of a Circle
 
  (x – h) 2 + (y – k) 2 = r 2
 
  r = SQRT (x – h) 2 + (y – k) 2

  Example:
 
 
  Center: C (4, -3)
 
 

MATH‐327 
ZEYTINCI 
FALL 2014 
 FUNDAMENTALS OF ENGINEERING
DOMAIN: MATHEMATICS 
 

CIRCLE EQUATIONS 
 

(NCEES‐Ref Handbook / Page‐23) 
 

 
 
 
 
  (y – k )
  C ( h, k ) C
(x – h)
 
 
 
  Center: C (h, k) Radius: r
 
  Standard form of a Circle Equation: 
  (x – h) 2 + (y – k) 2 = r 2
 
  r = SQRT (x – h) 2 + (y – k) 2
 
Example: 
 
The equation of a circle with center at C (-7, 9) and a radius of 5 is:
 
  (A) (x – 7) 2 + (y – 9) 2 = 5
  (B) (x + 7) 2 + (y – 9) 2 = 5
  (C) (x – 7) 2 + (y + 9) 2 = 25
 
(D) (x + 7) 2 + (y – 9) 2 = 25
 
MATH‐328 
ZEYTINCI 
FALL 2014 
 RADICAL EQUATIONS

(1)     x  3  5 x  11                        x = ?

(2)     x 1 1

(3)     x 1  x  6  5

(4)     y  2  y  4

(5)     2x  3  2  x

(6)     x 1 4x  9

(7)     y 1 5

(8)     x 1  x  4  5

(9)     3 x  3  2  0

(10) y 1  2y  6  2

(11)      x  10  x  10  10

(12) x 1  2x  3   1

MATH‐130 
RADICAL EQ. 
SPRNG 2014
 (13)     x  5  x  2  3

(14)     3  x  2

(15)    3 5 x  17  1  4

(16)    x  4  x 1  3

(17)    x  8  x  2

(18)    8x  1  4 x  15

(19) 6x  6  21  4 x  5

(20) 8  2x  4 x  17  3

Answers:

(1) -2, 1 (2) 4 (3) 3 (4) 5 (5) 1

(6) 2 (7) 16 (8) 5 (9) 11 (10) 3

(11) No sol. (12) -1, 3 (13) -1 (14) 1 (15) 2

(16) 0 (17) No sol. (18) 4 (19) 5 (20) -4

MATH‐130 
RADICAL EQ. 
SPRNG 2014
 STATICS / MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
DETERMINATE BEAMS  
SUPPORT REACTIONS 
     
   

  5k
20 k
 
4 2.0 kips / ft
3
 
A
  B

6 ft 6 ft 6 ft 6 ft
 

 
A determinate beam is loaded as shown. Knowing that A is a 
pin support and B is a roller, answer the following questions: 
 

 
(1)  The horizontal support reaction (kips) at A is most nearly: 
 

  (A)   10.00 
(B)   11.25 
 
(C)   12.00  Ax = ?
  (D)   15.00
 
(2)  The vertical support reaction (kips) at B is most nearly: 
 

(A)      48.55 
(B)      44.00 
(C)      42.30 
By = ?
             (D)     36.00 
(3)  The vertical support reaction (kips) at A is most nearly: 
 

 (A)       8.00 
 (B)       9.00 
             (C)     10.50  Ay = ?
             (D)     12.30

BM‐780 
ZEYTINCI 
FALL 2014 
 STATICS & MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
DETERMINATE FRAMES
SUPPORT REACTIONS

10 kip
1.5 k/ft
E
t FE/PM
k/f EX A
1.5
B

12 ft Roller

A Support A : Pin
Support B : Roller
Pin 9 ft 12 ft 4 ft

A determinate frame is loaded as shown in the figure. Using the

listed support conditions, answer the following questions:

(1) the maginitude of the horizontal support reaction (kips) at the

left support is most nearly, Ax

(A) 13.0
(B) 14.6
(C) 16.4
Ax = ?
(D) 18.0

(2) the magnitude of the vertical support reaction (kips) at the

right support is most nearly, By

(A) 15.2
(B) 20.6 By = ?
(C) 25.5
(D) 38.0

(3) the magnitude of the vertical support reaction (kips) at the

left support is most nearly, Ay

(A) 5.2
(B) 7.0
(C) 9.1 Ay = ?
(D) 12.0

COMPLETE
SOLUTION

FRMC-33
ZEYTINCI
SPRING 2014
////////////////////////////////////
Sara Mousavizadeh
Statics & StructuralDesign Date:
Fall2011

?r"ble*4s
tdi|.dF-'4'L#
tl
{ If
trst,/l Ra=-{l. ll0l
/

/t
\f ,/
Rr=&#a = qk ( ,f /
7e-5'3k/
o,=^!':l'(rri=
p,* $-"t-so{S)'o."
2*=or ,:-Ar: i-{. *E{,,
-i--'\ (=aa'ro\G-1--io^Yn
: ^
(-, / 'l(
v
'r,/
( '' 'isi . : .
D 5.*=0
-,rftu u i -5)+ (qXli)t (rcr)(;5)
_ ar uy .o /t/
4) i"ze-so)(?
16B.V50 "?r*-,f,5*
- J-rnv * Cl,
+lf 6y = J$.Sf}.&t
t/
,r
G €"u=.i t-rofrf u ff*Qat6*(rr)(ra)-ar
- f]*51 t,s5*trr
*Alot?)t &la.?t0+loB*
|Arq * Xt Ay*o
^v-o t//
"116 \'A,= A.4AgtrT
- - "l
)v/
'yJ
J/ /t , ,
r' -./
*tr-*tl.s ,A/
^r l"r

.Ig'1-A-
fr
r
C"tne.e.l<. Ay*t3y =- 6
to+4 \/ ./
,/'
*.3J. 5non
3d -Smcr
. 6,qBg_r-}S.5r& i 3&"5o0
A.l,"

'{f frx=lsk<-.

ilM:lY,tl ffi*\
 MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
BEAM DESIGN

E
FE/PM
EXA
3 kip 6 kip
2.5 kip / ft

A
B Support A : Pin
Support B : Roller

12 ft A36 STEEL
4 ft 4 ft 4 ft

A simply supported beam is made of A36 steel and loaded as shown

in the figure. Knowing that there is no inplane buckling and using the
listed data, answer the following questions:

(1) the magnitude of the maximum bending moment

(k-ft) is most nearly:

(A) 105
(B) 110
+V
(C) 125
M max = ?
(D) 145
+M

(2) Using the new NCEES Reference Manual (V.9.2) the most
economical W-shape is most nearly:

(A) W 10 x 54
(B) W 12 x 40
(C) W 14 x 43 O L U TION
S
FULL
PAGE
HE
(D) W 16 x 40 ON T

NE X T

DSGN-120
ZEYTINCI
FALL 2014
DSGN‐120   
ZEYTINCI 
FALL 2014
  
DSGN‐120 
ZEYTINCI 
FALL 2014
 STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

INDETERMINATE BEAM ANALYSIS

E
FE/PM
15 kips EXA
2 kips / ft

A C
2I B 3I

8 ft 12 ft 20 ft
Support A : Pin
Support B : Roller
MB = -70.24 ft-kips Support C : Roller
-M

An indeterminate beam is loaded as shown in the figure. Knowing

that the bending moment at support B is given as listed, answer the
following questions:

(1) The magnitude of the support reaction at A is most nearly, Ay

(A) 7.27 kips

(B) 4.18 kips
(C) 6.29 kips Ay = ?
(D) 5.49 kips

(2) The magnitude of the support reaction at C is most nearly, Cy

(A) 18.24 kips

(B) 17.38 kips
(C) 16.49 kips Cy = ?
(D) 15.49 kips

(3) The magnitude of the support reaction at B is most nearly, By

(A) 42.52 kips

(B) 33.02 kips
(C) 26.48 kips By = ?
(D) 20.05 kips

COMPLETE
SOLUTION

CBM-852
ZEYTINCI
FALL 2014
 
 
 STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
E
FE/PM
CONTINUOUS BEAM ANALYSIS EXA

1.5 k/ft 20 k 10 k 10 k

A D
A 1.8 I B 2I C 1.5 I

20’ 12’ 12’ 8’ 8’ 8’

Support A : Pin
MB = - 64.49 ft-kips Support B : Roller
Support C : Roller
-M MC = -70.47 ft-kips Support D : Roller

An indeterminate beam is loaded as shown in the figure. Knowing

that the bending moment at supports B and C are given as listed,
answer the following questions:

(1) The magnitude of the support reaction at A is most nearly, Ay

(A) 13.42 kips

(B) 11.78 kips
(C) 10.35 kips Ay = ?
(D) 8.00 kips

(2) The magnitude of the support reaction at B is most nearly, By

(A) 16.90 kips

(B) 20.45 kips
(C) 23.14 kips By = ?
(D) 27.98 kips

(3) The magnitude of the support reaction at B is most nearly, Cy

(A) 25.72 kips

(B) 23.19 kips
(C) 21.16 kips Cy = ?
(D) 15.22 kips

COMPLETE
SOLUTION
CBM-556
ZEYTINCI
FALL 2014
CONTINUOUS BEAMS 

 
 CANTILEVER RETAINING WALLS
PRESSURE DIAGRAMS

W3 W4
NO
SURCHARGE h
H
W2
h
W1 3
O
x2 p = ka g.h
x3
x1 H = 1 ka g.h 2
2
x4

W3 W4 H2
WITH
SURCHARGE h
H1
W2 h
2 h
W1 3
O
x2 p1 = k g.h
a
x3 p2 = k w
a
x1
x4 H1 = 1 ka .g.h 2
2

H2 = ka .w.h

RC-131
ZEYTINCI
FALL 2014
TR
RANSP
PORTA
ATION