Civil PE Breadth

construction plan

Civil PE Breadth Portion

There has been a few changes to PE Exam for the April 2015 Exam. It is not divided into transportation, structural, geotechnical, water resources, and construction engineering anymore. The new test has most of the same engineering topics.  They are more clearly defined and just separated differently. Below is the new list of topics.

Project Planning

Approximate Number of Questions

4

Means and Method

Approximate Number of Questions

3

Approximate Number of Questions

6

Structural Mechanics

Approximate Number of Questions

6

Hydraulics and Hydrology

  • A. Open-channel flow
  • B. Stormwater collection and drainage (e.g., culvert, stormwater
    inlets, gutter flow, street flow, storm sewer pipes)
  • C. Storm characteristics (e.g., storm frequency, rainfall measurement and distribution
  • D. Runoff analysis (e.g., Rational and SCS/NRCS methods, hydrographic application, runoff time of concentration)
  • E. Detention/retention ponds
  • F. Pressure conduit (e.g., single pipe, force mains, Hazen­‐Williams, Darcy ­‐Weisbach , major and minor losses)
  • G. Energy and/or continuity equation (e.g., Bernoulli)

Approximate Number of Questions

7

Geometrics

  • A. Basic circular curve elements (e.g., middle ordinate, length, chord, radius)
  • B. Basic vertical curve elements
  • C. Traffic volume (e.g., vehicle mix, flow, and speed)

Approximate Number of Questions

3

Materials

  • A. Soil Classification and boring log interpretation
  • B. Soil properties (e.g., strength, permeability, compressibility, phase relationships)
  • C. Concrete (e.g., nonreinforced, reinforced)
  • D. Structural steel
  • E. Material test methods and specification conformance
  • F. Compaction

Approximate Number of Questions

6