Afternoon Section — Full Practice Exam 1

Questions in this quiz (55)

1. A client wants to create a $$2$$-acre parcel by establishing a north-south line $$AB$$ as shown. The bearings from point $$C$$ are $$N75^\circ E$$ to point $$B$$ and $$S65^\circ E$$ to point $$A$$. The length of side $$AB$$ is most nearly:

   • $$300$$
   • $$356$$
   • $$387$$
   • $$487$$

2. Earthwork quantities for a section of roadway indicate a transition from fill to cut. The following areas are scaled from the print cross sections. The total volume of fill required for this section of road is most nearly:

   • $$1430\text{ m}^3$$
   • $$1450\text{ m}^3$$
   • $$1730\text{ m}^3$$
   • $$1780\text{ m}^3$$

3. An undisturbed silt sample has a wet mass of $$112\text{ kg}$$, a dry mass of $$100\text{ kg}$$, and a total volume of $$0.0520\text{ m}^3$$. The specific gravity of the solid particles is $$2.65$$. The void ratio of the soil is most nearly:

   • $$0.24$$
   • $$0.31$$
   • $$0.38$$
   • $$0.52$$

4. The azimuth of a boundary line is $$147^\circ13'46''$$. Its bearing is most nearly:

   • $$S34^\circ46'14''E$$
   • $$S32^\circ46'14''W$$
   • $$S32^\circ46'14''E$$
   • $$N32^\circ46'14''E$$

5. A geotechnical engineer is designing a continuous strip footing for a retaining wall. The footing will be embedded at a depth $$D_f$$ of $$1.0\text{ m}$$ below the ground surface and has a design width $$B$$ of $$1.8\text{ m}$$. The soil has a unit weight of $$19\text{ kN/m}^3$$ and a cohesion of $$20\text{ kPa}$$. The applicable Terzaghi bearing capacity factors are $$N_c=30$$, $$N_q=18$$, and $$N_\gamma=15$$. The ultimate bearing capacity of the soil is most nearly:

   • $$943\text{ kPa}$$
   • $$1,055\text{ kPa}$$
   • $$1,199\text{ kPa}$$
   • $$1,455\text{ kPa}$$

6. A layer of dense sand is completely submerged below the groundwater table. Laboratory testing indicates that the saturated unit weight of the sand is $$20.5\text{ kN/m}^3$$. The effective submerged unit weight of the sand is most nearly:

   • $$9.81\text{ kN/m}^3$$
   • $$10.69\text{ kN/m}^3$$
   • $$20.50\text{ kN/m}^3$$
   • $$30.31\text{ kN/m}^3$$

7. Determine the elevation of point $$Y$$.

   • $$101.00\text{ ft}$$
   • $$102.50\text{ ft}$$
   • $$103.00\text{ ft}$$
   • $$104.50\text{ ft}$$

8. A geotechnical engineer is designing a continuous strip footing that will be constructed directly at the ground surface. The footing has a width of $$4\text{ ft}$$. The underlying soil is cohesionless sand with a unit weight of $$120\text{ pcf}$$. The applicable Terzaghi bearing capacity factors are $$N_c=0$$, $$N_q=20$$, and $$N_\gamma=25$$. The ultimate bearing capacity of the soil is most nearly:

   • $$3,000\text{ psf}$$
   • $$4,800\text{ psf}$$
   • $$6,000\text{ psf}$$
   • $$12,000\text{ psf}$$

9. Given the leveling circuit notes shown, what is the adjusted elevation of temporary benchmark $$TBM1$$?

   • $$319.09\text{ ft}$$
   • $$320.38\text{ ft}$$
   • $$327.19\text{ ft}$$
   • $$327.26\text{ ft}$$

10. A geotechnical engineer conducts a direct shear test on a dry, cohesionless sand sample. The sample has a cross-sectional area of $$20\text{ in}^2$$. At failure, the applied normal load is $$800\text{ lb}$$ and the measured shear stress is $$28\text{ psi}$$. The angle of internal friction for the sand is most nearly:

    • $$25^\circ$$
    • $$31^\circ$$
    • $$35^\circ$$
    • $$45^\circ$$

11. What does the contour pattern shown indicate?

    • ridge
    • hill
    • stream or creek
    • saddle

12. A geotechnical engineer is managing earthwork operations for a highway embankment. The final compacted embankment requires a total volume of $$320,000\text{ yd}^3$$. The compacted soil will have a total moist unit weight of $$126\text{ pcf}$$ at a moisture content of $$20\%$$. The borrow material has an in-situ moist unit weight of $$110\text{ pcf}$$ and an in-situ moisture content of $$10\%$$. Assuming no loss of soil solids during transportation and compaction, the required volume of borrow material is most nearly:

    • $$291,000\text{ yd}^3$$
    • $$320,000\text{ yd}^3$$
    • $$336,000\text{ yd}^3$$
    • $$352,000\text{ yd}^3$$

13. Water is flowing through the open concrete channel. Assume the Manning roughness coefficient for the concrete surface is $$0.013$$. The channel has a V-shaped cross section with a top width of $$2\text{ m}$$ and an included bottom angle of $$60^\circ$$. Determine the minimum channel slope required to sustain a steady discharge of $$3\text{ m}^3/\text{s}$$.

    • $$0.00015$$
    • $$0.00052$$
    • $$0.0015$$
    • $$0.0052$$

14. A soil specimen has a total weight of $$60\text{ lb}$$. After oven drying, the weight drops to $$48\text{ lb}$$. The specific gravity of solids is $$G_s=2.65$$ and the void ratio is $$e=0.80$$. Determine the degree of saturation $$S$$ of the soil.

    • $$65.4\%$$
    • $$72.6\%$$
    • $$82.8\%$$
    • $$90.1\%$$

15. A single source of BOD to a river causes a minimum dissolved oxygen downstream of $$6\text{ mg/L}$$. The initial DO deficit is zero and DO saturation is $$10\text{ mg/L}$$. Which statement is most nearly correct?

    • Without aeration, the deficit will decrease
    • Doubling the BOD load would double the deficit
    • Doubling the BOD load would reduce the DO to $$3\text{ mg/L}$$
    • Doubling the BOD would move the deficit closer to the discharge

16. A soil has particle sizes $$D_{10}=0.15\text{ mm}$$, $$D_{30}=0.36\text{ mm}$$, and $$D_{60}=0.75\text{ mm}$$. Determine the coefficient of uniformity $$C_u$$ and the coefficient of curvature $$C_c$$.

    • $$C_u=0.20,\ C_c=1.15$$
    • $$C_u=5.00,\ C_c=0.87$$
    • $$C_u=5.00,\ C_c=1.15$$
    • $$C_u=2.50,\ C_c=2.40$$

17. A $$24$$-in diameter concrete pipe with $$C=120$$ is $$2000\text{ ft}$$ long and has a head loss of $$10.2\text{ ft}$$. Determine the discharge capacity according to the Hazen-Williams formula.

    • $$17.3\text{ ft}^3/\text{s}$$
    • $$18.4\text{ ft}^3/\text{s}$$
    • $$21.9\text{ ft}^3/\text{s}$$
    • $$24.0\text{ ft}^3/\text{s}$$

18. A sheet pile wall is installed in a homogeneous sand layer to retain water. The soil has a specific gravity of solids $$G_s=2.70$$, a void ratio $$e=0.70$$, and a hydraulic conductivity $$k=8.0\times10^{-4}\text{ cm/s}$$. A flownet analysis indicates that the maximum upward exit hydraulic gradient is $$i_e=0.50$$. The factor of safety against piping is most nearly:

    • $$0.50$$
    • $$1.00$$
    • $$2.00$$
    • $$3.40$$

19. An experiment is done to measure algal growth rate as a function of substrate concentration. At a very high substrate concentration, the growth rate is $$2.1$$ per day. At a substrate concentration of $$4\text{ mg/L}$$, the growth rate is $$1.5$$ per day. What is the saturation constant for the growth of this algae?

    • $$1.6\text{ mg/L}$$
    • $$1.9\text{ mg/L}$$
    • $$2.3\text{ mg/L}$$
    • $$2.9\text{ mg/L}$$

20. A proposed strip footing will induce an additional vertical effective stress of $$30\text{ kPa}$$ at the midpoint of a $$5.0\text{ m}$$ thick clay layer. The initial in-situ effective stress at this depth is $$p_0=100\text{ kPa}$$. Laboratory consolidation testing indicates a preconsolidation pressure $$p_c=160\text{ kPa}$$, an initial void ratio $$e_0=0.80$$, a recompression index $$C_R=0.05$$, and a compression index $$C_C=0.30$$. The primary consolidation settlement of the clay layer is most nearly:

    • $$0.016\text{ m}$$
    • $$0.029\text{ m}$$
    • $$0.067\text{ m}$$
    • $$0.139\text{ m}$$

21. A suppressed rectangular weir rises from the bottom of a reservoir to an elevation of $$42\text{ ft}$$. The water is $$56\text{ ft}$$ deep, and the weir is $$150\text{ ft}$$ long. The flow of water over the spillway is most nearly:

    • 261600

22. A transportation engineer is evaluating traffic flow on a busy freeway lane. Traffic detectors indicate a flow rate of $$1,800$$ vehicles per hour with an average space-mean speed of $$55$$ mph. Determine the average time headway between successive vehicles. The average time headway is most nearly:

    • $$0.50\text{ s}$$
    • $$2.00\text{ s}$$
    • $$20.0\text{ s}$$
    • $$30.6\text{ s}$$

23. A newly constructed reservoir has a storage volume of $$600000$$ acre-ft. Damage to the outlet works will occur due to sedimentation when the reservoir has lost $$40\%$$ of its original storage volume. The reservoir traps $$85\%$$ of the inflow sediment. If the inflow contains $$42000$$ tons/day of sediment at a density of $$100\text{ pcf}$$, determine the approximate number of years until outlet damage occurs.

    • $$22$$
    • $$40$$
    • $$67$$
    • $$120$$

24. A pipeline carrying $$3.0\text{ cfs}$$ of water divides at Point $$A$$ into two pipes and reconnects at Point $$B$$. Pipe $$1$$ has diameter $$10\text{ in}$$, area $$0.545\text{ ft}^2$$, length $$1200\text{ ft}$$, and friction factor $$0.020$$. Pipe $$2$$ has diameter $$20\text{ in}$$, area $$2.18\text{ ft}^2$$, length $$900\text{ ft}$$, and friction factor $$0.028$$. Determine the flow rate in Pipe $$1$$.

    • $$0.4$$
    • $$0.8$$
    • $$1.2$$
    • $$2.1$$

25. A highway design engineer is designing a crest vertical curve connecting an initial uphill grade of $$+3.0\%$$ with a subsequent downhill grade of $$-2.5\%$$. The required stopping sight distance is $$550$$ ft. Using the standard AASHTO criteria for stopping sight distance and assuming $$S\le L$$, determine the minimum required length of the vertical curve. The minimum curve length is most nearly:

    • $$550\text{ ft}$$
    • $$662\text{ ft}$$
    • $$771\text{ ft}$$
    • $$890\text{ ft}$$

26. During a $$365$$-day observation period, a $$5$$-mile section of highway recorded $$12$$ vehicle crashes. The section carries an average daily traffic volume of $$1,200$$ vehicles per day. Determine the crash rate per million vehicle miles. The crash rate is most nearly:

    • $$2.7$$
    • $$5.5$$
    • $$54.8$$
    • $$548$$

27. A soil sample in a permeameter has a length of $$0.5\text{ ft}$$ and a cross-sectional area of $$0.07\text{ ft}^2$$. The water head is $$3.5\text{ ft}$$ upstream and $$0.1\text{ ft}$$ downstream. A flow rate of $$1\text{ ft}^3/\text{day}$$ is observed. Determine the hydraulic conductivity.

    • $$2.4\times10^{-5}\text{ ft/s}$$
    • $$6.1\times10^{-5}\text{ ft/s}$$
    • $$8.2\times10^{-5}\text{ ft/s}$$
    • $$9.3\times10^{-5}\text{ ft/s}$$

28. A roadway incorporates a horizontal curve with a radius of $$1,800$$ ft. If the required stopping sight distance is $$600$$ ft, determine the horizontal sight line offset needed to provide sufficient visibility around the curve. The required offset is most nearly:

    • $$12.5\text{ ft}$$
    • $$24.9\text{ ft}$$
    • $$99.8\text{ ft}$$
    • $$1,775\text{ ft}$$

29. A watershed with a curve number of $$78$$ receives $$6\text{ in}$$ of rainfall during a storm. Determine the runoff depth.

    • $$1.1\text{ in}$$
    • $$2.8\text{ in}$$
    • $$3.6\text{ in}$$
    • $$5.2\text{ in}$$

30. A steel column with a length of $$18\text{ ft}$$ is fixed at both ends. Under ideal conditions, what is the ratio of its Euler buckling capacity to that of a pin-pin column made of the same material, cross-sectional area, and length?

    • $$1$$
    • $$2$$
    • $$4$$
    • $$8$$

31. A transportation engineer is evaluating a section of urban roadway. An aerial survey shows $$12$$ vehicles occupying a $$1,000$$-ft section of roadway. At the same time, traffic measurements indicate an average time headway of $$3.6$$ seconds between successive vehicles. Estimate the macroscopic traffic flow rate in vehicles per hour. The flow rate is most nearly:

    • $$278\text{ veh/hr}$$
    • $$600\text{ veh/hr}$$
    • $$1,000\text{ veh/hr}$$
    • $$1,200\text{ veh/hr}$$

32. A reinforced concrete beam made with normal-weight concrete has an effective depth of $$20\text{ in}$$ and a width of $$14\text{ in}$$. The beam is reinforced with Grade $$60$$ steel bars and has a concrete compressive strength of $$4000\text{ psi}$$. The factored shear force is $$V_u=12\text{ kips}$$, the factored moment is $$M_u=35\text{ ft-kips}$$, and the reinforcement ratio is $$\rho_w=0.018$$. What is most nearly the nominal shear reinforcement capacity required?

    • $$0\text{ kips}$$
    • $$1.5\text{ kips}$$
    • $$3.2\text{ kips}$$
    • $$5.8\text{ kips}$$

33. A highway engineer is designing a crest vertical curve connecting an ascending grade with a descending grade. The curve has the following properties: Approach grade $$g_1=+3.00\%$$ Departure grade $$g_2=-2.00\%$$ Length of curve $$L=1,000$$ ft PVC station $$42+00$$ PVC elevation $$=420.00$$ ft Determine the elevation of the highest point on the vertical curve. The elevation is most nearly:

    • $$426.00\text{ ft}$$
    • $$429.00\text{ ft}$$
    • $$432.00\text{ ft}$$
    • $$438.00\text{ ft}$$

34. A simply supported $$W21\times44$$ beam spans $$24\text{ ft}$$ and carries a uniform dead load of $$0.10\text{ kip/ft}$$ along with two concentrated live loads of $$15\text{ kips}$$ each. The point loads are located at one-third points along the span. The beam is fully braced along its length. Assume $$E=29000\text{ ksi}$$ and $$I=850\text{ in}^4$$. Determine the maximum beam deflection.

    • $$0.55\text{ in}$$
    • $$0.88\text{ in}$$
    • $$1.24\text{ in}$$
    • $$1.78\text{ in}$$

35. A vehicle is traveling on a highway at $$60$$ mph. The driver has a perception-reaction time of $$2.0$$ seconds and decelerates at $$18\text{ ft/s}^2$$ on a $$3\%$$ uphill grade. Determine the stopping sight distance. The stopping sight distance is most nearly:

    • $$176\text{ ft}$$
    • $$292\text{ ft}$$
    • $$380\text{ ft}$$
    • $$521\text{ ft}$$

36. A flexible pavement is designed using the structural number method. The required overall structural number is $$SN=6.2$$. The pavement has the following properties: Asphalt Concrete: coefficient $$=0.44$$, thickness $$=D_1$$ Aggregate Base: coefficient $$=0.16$$, thickness $$=10$$ in Subbase: coefficient $$=0.11$$, thickness $$=8$$ in Assume all drainage coefficients are equal to $$1.0$$. Determine the minimum asphalt concrete thickness required. The thickness is most nearly:

    • $$6.8\text{ in}$$
    • $$8.5\text{ in}$$
    • $$10.2\text{ in}$$
    • $$12.6\text{ in}$$

37. In the truss shown, each joint is connected by pins. The truss has $$6$$ equal panels at $$4\text{ ft}$$ each for a total span of $$24\text{ ft}$$. The maximum truss height at the center joint is $$8\text{ ft}$$. The force in member $$CD$$ is most nearly: (Assume points A, B, C, D are colinear and points D, E, F, G as well)

    • $$66\text{ kips compression}$$
    • $$104\text{ kips compression}$$
    • $$128\text{ kips compression}$$
    • $$160\text{ kips compression}$$

38. The maximum negative shear force that can be developed at point $$D$$ of the beam due to a concentrated moving load of $$3\text{ kips}$$ and a uniform load of $$1.5\text{ kip/ft}$$ is most nearly:

    • $$1.2\text{ kips}$$
    • $$3.6\text{ kips}$$
    • $$6.0\text{ kips}$$
    • $$10.8\text{ kips}$$

39. A crest vertical curve must provide a stopping sight distance of $$500$$ ft. The curve connects an initial grade of $$+2.5\%$$ to a final grade of $$-2.5\%$$. Using standard AASHTO values for driver eye height and object height, determine the minimum required curve length. The length is most nearly:

    • $$417\text{ ft}$$
    • $$500\text{ ft}$$
    • $$579\text{ ft}$$
    • $$720\text{ ft}$$

40. The fixed end moment for a fixed-fixed beam with a uniform load of $$3\text{ kips/ft}$$ over a span of $$18\text{ ft}$$ is most nearly:

    • $$54.0$$
    • $$81.0$$
    • $$121.5$$
    • $$162.0$$

41. What is the following type of model called?

    • A bubble (activity-on-node) network
    • An arrow (activity-on-arrow) network
    • A PERT chart
    • A bar (Gantt) chart

42. Because of a shortage of reusable forms, a geotechnical contractor decides to build a $$250$$ ft long concrete wall in $$25$$ ft segments. Each segment requires the following crews and times: Set forms: $$3$$ carpenters; $$2$$ days Pour concrete: $$3$$ carpenters; $$1$$ day Strip forms: $$4$$ carpenters; $$1$$ day The contractor has budgeted for only three carpenters. Compared to the ideal schedule, most nearly how many additional days will it take to construct the wall if the number of carpenters is leveled to three?

    • $$4\text{ days}$$
    • $$5\text{ days}$$
    • $$6\text{ days}$$
    • $$7\text{ days}$$

43. A horizontal load of $$6000\text{ lb}$$ is applied at joint $$D$$ of the truss shown. The corresponding member force due to this load for each member of the truss is listed in the table. The cross-sectional area of all members is $$6\text{ in}^2$$, and the modulus of elasticity is $$29000\text{ ksi}$$. The horizontal displacement of joint $$D$$ is most nearly:

    • $$0.17\text{ in}$$
    • $$0.36\text{ in}$$
    • $$0.058\text{ in}$$
    • $$1.45\text{ in}$$

44. The moment capacity, $$\phi M_n$$, of the reinforced concrete beam section shown below is required. Given $$\phi=0.9$$, $$f_c'=4\text{ ksi}$$, $$f_y=60\text{ ksi}$$, determine the moment capacity.

    • $$3073\text{ kip-in}$$
    • $$3460\text{ kip-in}$$
    • $$3780\text{ kip-in}$$
    • $$4100\text{ kip-in}$$

45. A construction project manager is reviewing the earned value management (EVM) performance of a structural concrete activity. The activity has a total budget at completion (BAC) of $$\$8,000$$. To date, the actual cost of work performed (ACWP) is $$\$5,000$$, and the budgeted cost of work performed (BCWP) is $$\$4,500$$. Assuming the current cost performance index (CPI) remains constant for the remainder of the activity, the estimated cost at completion (EAC) is most nearly:

    • $$\$8,000$$
    • $$\$8,500$$
    • $$\$8,889$$
    • $$\$9,444$$

46. A reinforced concrete beam is designed using the strength design method. Why is a minimum amount of flexural reinforcement required in the tension zone?

    • To ensure the steel yields before the concrete crushes.
    • To ensure the nominal moment capacity is at least equal to the cracking moment of the concrete section.
    • To reduce the compressive strength requirement of concrete.
    • To eliminate shear reinforcement requirements.

47. In Critical Path Method (CPM) scheduling, Activity Y cannot begin until Activity X has been completed. Which of the following precedence relationships best describes this dependency?

    • Start-to-Start (SS)
    • Finish-to-Finish (FF)
    • Finish-to-Start (FS)
    • Start-to-Finish (SF)

48. A steel column is subjected to an increasing axial compressive load. In column design, the Euler critical load $$P_{cr}$$ represents:

    • The maximum bending moment that the column can resist.
    • The axial compressive load at which the column becomes unstable and buckles.
    • The load that causes yielding of the steel section.
    • The allowable service load used in design.

49. In a Critical Path Method (CPM) project network, an activity has an early start (ES) of $$8$$ days and an estimated duration (D) of $$6$$ days. The early finish (EF) of the activity is most nearly:

    • $$2\text{ days}$$
    • $$6\text{ days}$$
    • $$14\text{ days}$$
    • $$48\text{ days}$$

50. An activity-on-arrow diagram for a project is shown. If the critical path is $$B-E-G-J-K$$, what is most nearly the duration of the project?

    • $$20\text{ days}$$
    • $$21\text{ days}$$
    • $$26\text{ days}$$
    • $$27\text{ days}$$

51. Ethical codes and state legislation forbidding competitive bidding by design engineers are:

    • Enforceable in some states
    • Not enforceable on public (nonfederal) projects
    • Enforceable for projects costing less than $$\$5$$ million
    • Not enforceable

52. Record drawings ("as-builts") of a buried sewer line installation that will be submitted to the client should be certified by the:

    • Contractor
    • Building official
    • Architect
    • Engineer

53. A construction project requires a crane that can lift a load of $$16,000\text{ lbf}$$. The load must be moved $$30$$ ft from the crane's centerline of rotation. All cranes available to the construction firm carry a load of $$450\text{ lbf}$$ from the block, rigging equipment, and cable. Using Table 56.7, how long must the boom be in order to safely perform the work necessary?

    • $$34\text{ ft}$$
    • $$43\text{ ft}$$
    • $$52\text{ ft}$$
    • $$61\text{ ft}$$

54. A normally consolidated $$12$$-ft clay layer is subjected to a surcharge, causing consolidation settlement. The coefficient of consolidation is $$0.20\text{ ft}^2/\text{day}$$. For $$50\%$$ consolidation, use a time factor of $$0.197$$. The clay layer is confined between two highly permeable sand layers. The time required for $$50\%$$ consolidation is most nearly:

    • $$9\text{ days}$$
    • $$35\text{ days}$$
    • $$142\text{ days}$$
    • $$709\text{ days}$$

55. A $$15$$-ft-high retaining wall supports a level backfill consisting of granular soil with an angle of internal friction of $$32^\circ$$ and a unit weight of $$120\text{ pcf}$$. The resultant Rankine active earth force acting on the wall is most nearly:

    • $$2,070\text{ lb/ft}$$
    • $$4,150\text{ lb/ft}$$
    • $$8,300\text{ lb/ft}$$
    • $$13,500\text{ lb/ft}$$