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
- A. Quantity Take-Off Methods
- B. Cost Estimating
- C. Project schedules
- D. Activity identification and sequencing
Approximate Number of Questions
4
Means and Method
- A. Construction Loads
- B. Construction methods
- C. Temporary Structures and facilities
Approximate Number of Questions
3
Soil Mechanics
- A. Lateral earth pressure
- B. Soil Consolidation
- C. Effective and Total Stress
- D. Bearing capacity
- E. Foundation Settlement
- F. Slope stability
Approximate Number of Questions
6
Structural Mechanics
- A. Dead and live loads
- B. Trusses
- C. Bending (e.g., moments and stresses)
- D. Shear (e.g., forces and stresses)
- E. Axial (e.g., forces and stresses)
- F. Combined stresses
- G. Deflection
- H. Beams
- I. Columns
- J. Slabs
- K. Footings
- L. Retaining walls
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
Site Development
- A. Excavation and embankment (e.g., cut and fill)
- B. Construction site layout and control
- C. Temporary and permanent soil erosion and sediment control (e.g., construction erosion control and permits, sediment transport, channel/outlet protection)
- D. Impact of construction on adjacent facilities
- E. Safety (e.g., construction, roadside, work zone)
Approximate Number of Questions
5