Civil PE CBT - Breadth and WRE - Terms

Alkalinity and Hardness -Alkalinity (as CaCO3) > Total Hardness -Alkalinity (as CaCO3) < Total Hardness -Carbonate Hardness represented by alkalinity

-Alkalinity (as CaCO3) > Total Hardness Total Hardness = Carbonate Hardness -Alkalinity (as CaCO3) < Total Hardness Total Hardness = Carbonate Hardness + Non-Carbonate Hardness -Carbonate Hardness represented by alkalinity Total Hardness = Alkalinity + Non-Carbonate Hardness

Typical Water Treatment Plant Thresholds for Parameters -Coagulation, Sedimentation and Rapid Sand Filtration -Postchlorination -Salt Water Conversion -Aeration

-Coagulation, Sedimentation and Rapid Sand Filtration (TSS > 100 mg/L) -Postchlorination (Coliform present) -Salt Water Conversion (Chlorides > 500 mg/L) -Aeration (Fe and Mn > 1.0)

Which of the following claims about concrete as a building material is widely accepted to be true 1. Usually made of water, cement, aggregate, and admixtures 2. ASCE establishes design requirements 3. The strength of concrete is evaluated after 28 days 4. Concrete compositions differ depending on their intended functions

1, 3, 4 ASCE design requirements that are established -Utility documentation, utility infrastructure data -Street lighting, Wind tunnel -Building Design Loads, Seismic -Aquifer recharge, etc.

Which of the following excavation scenarios would require the use of temporary earth retaining systems? A. 8' deep cut into sandy soil B. 4' deep cut into clay C. 10' deep cut into stable rock D. 6' deep cut into stable rock

A. 8' deep cut into sandy soil Depth of cut without a temporary earth retaining system is limited to less than 5 feet. Stable rock is a soil that is considered sufficiently safe without support.

A bridge is to be replaced which carries a local road over a highway. A boring log reveals the soil types for the construction of the north east wingwall of the bridge to be sandy soils to a depth of 10-ft and then bedrock 10 ft. and below. The wingwalls are anticipated to be about 10' high. Which of the following is the most appropriate type for the wingwall A. Spread footing B. Micro-pile C. Pile D. Drilled Shaft

A. Spread footing Sandy soils creates a stable bearing condition (no deep foundations needed). If crossing a waterway would need a deep foundation for scour. Micro-piles used over piles in different soil and rock conditions Drilled shaft less load bearing then pile .

A state department of transportation initiates a project to construct a maintenance facility for the housing of snow plows. The footprint of the building falls within state property however there is a need to store materials in an area past the property line of an adjacent privately-owned facility. Which of the following is the most appropriate Rights-of-Way action to complete construction? A. Temporary Easement B. Permanent Easement C. Property Acquistion D. No action required

A. Temporary Easement

Which of the following scenarios is a project deemed profitable when reviewing its progress using the Earned Value Management approach? A. The actual budget is less or equal to the earned value. B. The actual cost exceeds the earned value C. The cost of work performed is less than the cost of work scheduled D. C and A

A. The actual budget is less or equal to the earned value (earned value = value of work completed by given date aka budgeted cost of work)

Which of the following definitions of water hammer is most accurate? A. The impetuous force of water that is abruptly stopped B. Completely backfill the pipe trench C. Using air pressure to test D. Testing under hydrostatic pressure

A. The impetuous force of water that is abruptly stopped

Select the answer that is most correct A. The migration of contaminants in groundwater occurs at the aquifer's pore velocity B. The migration of contaminants in groundwater occurs at the aquifer's effective velocity C. The migration of contaminants in groundwater is independent of the the aquifer's pore velocity and the aquifer's effective velocity D. The migration of contaminants in groundwater occurs at a velocity between the aquifer's pore velocity and the aquifer's effective velocity.

A. The migration of contaminants in groundwater occurs at the aquifer's pore velocity Pore velocity represents the actual velocity of fluid moving through the voids in the soil. The effective velocity represents the theoretical "velocity" that is calculated by manipulating the terms of Darcy's law to arrive at units of length per time (conceptual)

How does friction angle and cohesion affect the shear strength of a soil? A. The presence of cohesion will increase shear strength B. As a friction angle increases shear strength increases C. Cohesion has a greater impact on shear strength than friction angle D. As friction angle decrease, shear strength increase

A. The presence of cohesion will increase shear strength B. As a friction angle increases shear strength increases Cohesion => friction angle => shear

Which of the following may be used to measure the rate of flow in a force main leaving a stormwater pump station? A. Venturi meter B. Disk meter C. Factor of positive displacement D. Calibration meter

A. Venturi meter Disk meter is more commonly used in process piping

Which of the following mix design properties has the greatest impact on the strength of concrete? A. w/c ratio B. Percent coarse aggregate C. Void ratio D. Percent fine aggregate

A. w/c ratio

Active and Passive Lateral Earth Pressure

Active Pressure - Force moving wall away from backfill Passive Pressure - Force moving wall towards backfill

During the construction of a bride replacement project bearing pads are surveyed to verify they are set at the appropriate elevation. The first measurement recorded is 158.5682.' Which of the following is the appropriate recorded measurement with the appropriate level of accuracy? A. 158.658 B. 158.57 C. 158.6 D. 159.0

B. 158.57 For bridge construction the acceptable level of accuracy is 0.01

When creating guidelines for minimum stopping sight distances, the Association of American State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) assumes that the height of a driver's eye and the height of an item above pavement are which of the following in inches? A. 50, 24 B. 42, 24 C. 62, 52 D. 34, 42

B. 42, 24

Select the true statement(s) regarding soil consolidation A. Initial consolidation occurs over a relatively long period of time B. Consolidation involves the gradual extrusion of water from a soil C. Consolidation occurs in both clays and coarse-grained soils D. Consolidation is a volumetric reduction in soil in response to effect stress on the soil

B. Consolidation involves the gradual extrusion of water from a soil D. Consolidation is a volumetric reduction in soil in response to effect stress on the soil Initial consolidation occurs over a relatively short period of time (latter consolidations slower) Consolidation occurs in clays, settlement occurs in sands

Which is the following is controlled by Cathodic protection? A. Interconnections B. Corrosion C. Chlorine residues D. Thrust

B. Corrosion

Which of the following qualities of a simply-supported column is determined by Euler's formula? A. Maximum bending moment B. Critical buckling load C. Shear stress D. None

B. Critical buckling load

A total maximum daily load analysis is to be performed by the state DEEP for a river. All sources need to be identified to complete the analysis. Which of the following can be classified as a Waste Load Allocation (WLA)? A. Leakage identified from a deteriorated industrial septic tank B. Discharge from a local wastewater treatment plant C. Runoff from the farm upstream D. Fuel discharge from the local marina

B. Discharge from a local wastewater treatment plant WLAs are identified as a point source under the Clean Water Act. Source must be an entity that can be identified (i.e. Wastewater Plant discharge) The rest of the answers are non-point source allocations.

In the 1930s, what big concrete technological innovation was achieved to alleviate relief from internal pressure A. Composites based on cements B. Entrainment of air C. Concrete that self-compacts D. Non destructive testing

B. Entrainment of air (admixture more workable, robust through freeze-thaw cycle)

As defined by OSHA, a "competent person" for the purpose of determining the safety of soil excavations is: I. One with the ability to detect conditions which could result in cave-ins, failures in protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, and other hazards including those associated with confined spaces II. One with the authority to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate existing and predicted hazards and to stop work when required III. One with training , experience, and knowledge of soil analysis, use of protective systems, and the OSHA regulations pertaining to excavations IV. One who is either a registered PE or licensed geologist A. II and III B. I, II, and III C. IV only D. All of the above

B. I, II, and III

Which of the following actions would not help to prevent cavitation in pumps? A. Increasing the size of pipe B. Increase the pump speed C. Increasing the size of pump D. Increasing the elevation of the pumped fluid

B. Increase the pump speed Cavitation is the vaporization of water in a pump which causes bubbles to form and decrease pump performance. Increasing pump speeds will cause more air flow in the fluid and therefore increases the chance for cavitation.

Select the most correct statement below regarding ultimate strength design A. Load factors for dead loads are generally higher than load factors for live loads B. Load factors for live loads are generally higher than load factors for dead loads C. Load factors for dead loads are generally equal to load factors for live loads D. Load factors for live loads can be higher or lower than load factors for dead loads

B. Load factors for live loads are generally higher than load factors for dead loads Dead loads are permanent loads, live loads are transient (more uncertainty)

Which of the following is not one of the primary intentions and purpose of the OSHA regulations. A. Any worker (with employer regulated under OSHA) may file a complaint to have OSHA inspect their employer if they believe they are not following OSHA standards or hazardous workplace B. OSHA only applies to construction workers work related to construction C. OSH Act of 1970, which led to the creation of OSHA requires employees to provide their employees with working conditions that are free of known dangers D. OSHA regulates construction worker safety separately from its general industry, maritime and agricultural requirements, and provides construction regulations which can be found in the 29 CFR 1926

B. OSHA only applies to construction workers work related to construction

Which sort of vehicle is suggested by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) for stopping sight distances? A. Bike B. Passenger Vehicle C. Truck D. Train

B. Passenger vehicle

A multi-use trail is to be constructed by crossing under an existing roadway using precast box culvert sections and detouring traffic. Which of the following is an appropriate sequence for the construction activities? A. Close roadway to traffic, place box culvert, backfill, pave road and open to traffic B. Set up detour signalization, Close roadway to traffic, excavate, place box culvert, backfill, pave road and open to traffic C. Set up detour signalization, Close roadway to traffic, excavate, place box culvert, allow for curing time, backfill, pave road and open to traffic D. Set up detour signalization, excavate, Close roadway to traffic, place box culvert, allow for curing time, backfill, pave road and open to traffic

B. Set up detour signalization, Close roadway to traffic, excavate, place box culvert, backfill, pave road and open to traffic

Which of the following better describes when footings should be used? A. Shallow soils are incapable of supporting foundations in a cost-effective manner. B. Shallow soils can sustain foundation loads. C. The foundation loads might be surrounded by deep, competent soils or bedrock. D. None

B. Shallow soils can sustain foundation loads.

Which of the following better defines "maximum bending moment in a beam"? A. Locate the point along the beam that will deflect the most from the normal plane B. The point within the beam when shear forces shift from positive to negative. C. The point at which a beam fails due to bending. D. All of the above

B. The point within the beam when shear forces shift from positive to negative Inflection points

When doing a cost effectiveness study of foundation options, what is the most frequent manner in which the foundation cost is expressed? A. Total cost of foundation system B. Total cost of foundation system/foundation support load C. Total foundation system cost/footprint area of the foundation system D. Total foundation system cost/ volume of foundation system

B. Total cost of foundation system/foundation support load

Which type of sedimentation is most appropriate to describe the physics of settling flocculent in a drinking water treatment plant's sedimentation tanks? A. Type I B. Type II C. Type III D. Type IV

B. Type II Type I - Particle Settling (seperate) Type II - Flocculent Settling Type III - Zone Settling, Hindered Settling Type IV - Compression Settling

Which of the following describes the cut construction approach for earth retaining systems the best? A. Following excavation activities, walls are built from the ground up B. Walls are built from the top down, in tandem with excavation activities C. A and B D. None

B. Walls are built from the top down, in tandem with excavation activities

What is the correct procedure for constructing a dewatering wellpoint system for a construction excavation? 1. Connect the Suction Pumps to a header pipe 2. Insert wellpoints into the ground 3. Use a riser to connect the wellpoints to the header pipe 4. Insert filter material into the annular void A. 1,2,3,4 B. 3,1,2,4 C. 2,4,3,1 D. 1,3,2,4

C. 2,4,3,1

CSRI advises establishing a reinforcing bar (rebar) inspection program for all construction projects that employ reinforcing bars. IN addition to the things stated below, an acceptable rebar inspection checklist should contain which of the following -Construction timetable, Mill test certs and/or bar coating report, material shipping timetable, potential issues, critical tolerances, regular meeting schedule A. Reports from independent testing laboratories B. Approved placement of drawings C. A and B D. None

C. A and B

Which of the following is false regarding hydrology for stormwater runoff? A. The "Horton Model" and "Green-Ampt Method" are methods for estimating ground water infiltration rates B. The Runoff CN is used in determining the approximate amount of direct runoff or groundwater infiltration from a rainfall event C. A detention pond and a retention pond are the same type of runoff basin D. The time of concentration of a watershed is the time needed for water to flow from the most remote point in a watershed to the watershed outlet

C. A detention pond and a retention pond are the same type of runoff basin

The definition of the critical path within a project schedule is: A. A series of activities that determine the latest possible date of completion and the longest path of activities in the network B. A series of activities that determine the earliest date of completion, and the shortest path of activities in the network C. A series of activities that determine the earliest possible date of completion, and the longest path of activities in the network D. A series of activities in which the float is zero

C. A series of activities that determine the earliest possible date of completion, and the longest path of activities in the network

Which of the following appropriately defines a 100-yr design storm? A. A storm that occurs once per year over a span of 100 years B. A storm event with the 100th greatest intensity in a given year C. A storm with an intensity which only occurs once in 100 years D. A storm with an intensity of 100

C. A storm with an intensity which only occurs once in 100 years

What is the primary difference between A36 and A992 (Grade 50) Structural Steel? A. A992 (Grade 50) steel has a higher density than A B. A992 (Grade 50) steel has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than A36 steel C. A992 (Grade 50) steel has a higher tensile strength than A36 steel D. A992 (Grade 50) steel is weathering steel, and A36 steel is not

C. A992 (Grade 50) steel has a higher tensile strength than A36 steel A36 steel has tensile strength of 36

Which of the following equations is used to calculate the factor of safety against overturning of a retaining structure (FSo)? A. FSo = overturning force/resisting moment B. FSo = opposing force/resisting force C. FSo = moment of resistance/moment of overturning D. FSo = resisting force/moment of overturning

C. FSo = moment of resistance/moment of overturning

Which of the statements below is most correct for a project schedule where a critical path exists? A. Total float and free float are equivalent B. Free float is the duration an activity can be delayed without violating a set schedule constraint or extending the project completion date C. Free float is the duration an activity can be delayed without delaying the early start date of immediately shubsequent activities D. Total float is the duration between the early finish date and the late finish date for final activity in the schedule.

C. Free float is the duration an activity can be delayed without delaying the early start date of immediately subsequent activities Total float is the duration an activity can be delayed without violating a set schedule constraint of extending the project completion date

Which of the following is not a method for the protection of steel against corrosion? A. Weathering steel B. Galvanized steel C. High Strength Steel D. Painting systems

C. High strength steel

The time required for runoff to travel from the hydraulically most distant point of a watershed to a point of interest is largely affected by which of the following factos I. Infiltration Rate of Drainage Area II. Slope of Drainage Area III. Land Use of Drainage IV. Rainfall Duration V. Rainfall Intensity A. I, II, IV B. I, II, IV, V C. I, III, V D. III, IV, V

C. I, III, V Generally factors affecting time of concentration include -Slope of Drainage area -Land Use or ground conditions (Runoff Number/CN) -Rainfall Intensity -Size of the drainage area

Select the most effective way to reduce the magnitude of the shear force on a group of identical fasteners due to an applied moment A. Double the number of effective fasteners B. Reduce the applied moment by 20% C. Increase the radius of the fasteners by a factor of 1.5 D. Relocate all existing fasteners closer to the centroid

C. Increase the radius of the fasteners by a factor of 1.5 Refer to force due to applied moment of fasteners equation

Which of the following roadside safety barriers is most appropriate for an object which is 2'-6" perpendicular from the edge of the roadway A. Concrete barrier B. 3 cable guiderail system C. Metal beam rail D. None

C. Metal beam rail (semi-rigid, objects or drop-offs within short distance of road) Concrete barrier - rigid and locations where zero defection needed 3-cable guard rail - flexible, most deflection, used for objects or drop-offs further down the road

In which of the following situations would an open-pit excavation to build a spread footing be prohibited? A. Do not swin in or near open water B. The soil material is sufficiently stable C. The moisture content of the soil varies greatly D. There is no danger of endangering the stability of surrounding structures

C. Moisture content of the soil varies greatly Would need dewatering, shoring, etc.

Which of the following assumptions about concrete compression strength used in reinforced concrete beam design is correct? A. According to ACI, all beams should be constructed by high strength concrete B. The compression strengths of high strength concrete range from 3,000 to 7,000 PSI C. Normal concrete has a compression strength ranging from 3,000 to 7,000 PSI D. None

C. Normal concrete has a compression strength ranging from 3,000 to 7,000 PSI

Given a uniform concrete gutter section, select the best way to reduce the spread during a storm event A. Increase the curb height B. Decrease the curb height C. Polish the concrete D. Shallow the cross slope

C. Polish the concrete Spread is not dependent upon the curb height d, polishing concrete decreases n Shallowing the cross slope (decreasing) will increase the spread and propagate it towards the travel lanes

A bridge with approximately an 80' span is to be replaced in an urban area with high average daily traffic numbers. It has been determined that it is acceptable to detour the road for short period of time to allow for replacement of the bridge which of the following is the most appropriate construction method? A. Cast-In-Place reinforced concrete B. Precast concrete C. Prestressed precast concrete D. Post-tensioned concrete

C. Prestressed precast concrete Cast in place will not cure fast enough with accelerated timeline Precast concrete does not have capacity for the span Post-tensioned concrete is not economical for the span (too short)

Which of the following methods is most often used to permanently control sediment from runoff of excavated areas? A. Silt Fence B. Hay Bales C. Seeding and Turf establishment D. Erosion control fabric

C. Seeding and Turf establishment The other option are only temporary control measures

Which of the following assertions is incorrect when evaluating the surface overflow rates of primary settling tanks in a municipal wastewater treatment plant? A. Sizing should match the amount of solids removal required. B. Sizing is determined by measured flow conditions C. Septic situations should be avoided during periods of low flow D. None.

C. Sizing is determined by measured flow conditions. Surface overflow rate is equal to the settling velocity of the smallest particle basin will remove (i.e. independent of flow) Septic situations occur when the system is overloaded with too much liquid or clogged by solids

Which of the following is false regarding slope stability at a construction site? A. In general, unshored sides of soil should not be steeper than their in-situ angle of repose B. The most probable type of slip-plane for a trench in soft mud with walls sloped at 55 degrees is "Toe Circle" C. Slope failures typically occur in the shape of a sliding rectangle, where the depth of the sliding soil is approximately the same thickness at the top, middle, and toe of the slide D. In general if the forces available within the soil to resist movement are greater than the forces driving movement, the slope is considered stable.

C. Slope failures typically occur in the shape of a sliding rectangle, where the depth of the sliding soil is approximately the same thickness at the top, middle, and toe of the slide Surfaces of sliding for most slope failures have been observed to follow approximately the arc of a circle

Phosphorus removal is an important component of wastewater treatment. Select the answer that is the most correct. A. Soluble phosphorus is generally removed from municipal wastewater through primary sedimentation B. Soluble phosphorus is generally removed from municipal wastewater through filtration. C. Soluble phosphorus is generally removed from municipal wastewater through precipitation reactions. D. Soluble phosphorus is generally removed from municipal wastewater through biological adsorption

C. Soluble phosphorus is generally removed from municipal wastewater through precipitation reactions.

Which of the following is false regarding temporary erosion control at a construction site? A. In general, sand bags should be placed where they can divert and slow water and sediment flow to accumulate into predetermined deposit locations. B. Silt fences, straw bale barriers, and sand bag barriers are all considered temporary erosion control C. Temporary erosion control is mandatory only at construction projects that required below grade and slab-on-grade concrete operations D. The desired objective when developing a temporary erosion control plan is to keep soil at its original location

C. Temporary erosion control is mandatory only at construction projects that required below grade and slab-on-grade concrete operations All projects require temporary erosion control

In relation to the fundamental traffic flow characteristics, density is defined as A. The number of vehicles passing a point in a given time period B. The time between successive vehicles in seconds C. The number of vehicles occupying a unit length of roadway D. The distance between consecutive vehicles in feet

C. The number of vehicles occupying a unit length of roadway

Which of the following defines the time base for a stream hydrograph? A. Time from the base flow until the peak flow B. Time from the peak flow until flow drops below the base flow C. Time that the flow exceeds the base flow D. Time that the flow drops below the base flow

C. Time that the flow exceeds the base flow

Which of the statements about project delivery methods is false? A. The Design-Bid-Build method is the tradition model for the public sector to deliver various infrastructure projects B. A Design build is used when an owner develops conceptual plans, then asks for bids from joint ventures that can include architects, engineers, and/or builders to design and construct the project C. With a Public-Private partnership, the private sector always finances the project until completion D. Integrated Project Delivery strives to include all project participants during each stage of the project to improve efficiency

C. With a Public-Private partnership, the private sector always finances the project until completion

Select all of the following USCS Group Symbol soil types that would be expected to undergo significant primary consolidation? GW GP SP CH CL GM SM Pt

CH and CL Primary consolidation is the gradual consolidation as water leaves voids over time, which is significant in clays

Concrete is strong in compression and weak in tension For a cantilevered beam tension is at the _____________ and compression is at the ______________ For a simple beam tension is at the ____________ and compression is at the ____________

Cantilevered: Top & Bottom Simple beam: Bottom & Top Place reinforcement where concrete is in tension for optimal results

The safety regulations that apply specifically to the construction industry are located in which section of the Code of Federal Regulations A. 1903 B. 1904 C. 1910 D. 1926

D. 1926

The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) is a means of estimating which of the following A. A soil's bearing capacity factors for general shear B. A soil's standard penetration resistance C. A soil's angle of internal friction D. A soil's suitability as a roadway subgrade

D. A soil's suitability as a roadway subgrade

A traversal that connects successive points is based on which of the following sequence of elements? A. Distances and bearings B. Angles and distances C. Azimuths and distances D. All of the above

D. All of the above

Pre- and post construction watershed drainage patterns are routinely analyzed for most proposed land development project to see if significant hydrologic adjustments are envisaged, which would result in which of the following? A. Groundwater recharge changes B. Water regime changes within a specific resource region C. Increase the area's runoff D. All of the above

D. All of the above

Which of the following best defines why critical path management tools are important? A. To guarantee accurate reporting and project benchmarking B. To create easily understood reports or visuals C. Obtaining the information required to analyze the project's cost, progress or performance D. All of the above.

D. All of the above

Which of the following is a common connection type for beams, columns, trusses, and joints? A. Dash B. Roller C. Static D. All of the above

D. All of the above

Which of the following is a potential safety or operation concern connected with a bridge over a freshly repaved roadway that now has a 4-inch vertical clearance than posted? A. Bridge structural collisions B. Multiple vehicle collisions C. Delays in traffic D. All of the above

D. All of the above

Which of the following may be an indicative of water quality concerns within a finished water storage facility while drinking treated water? A. Bad taste B. Smell C. Water temperature D. All of the above

D. All of the above

Which of the following might be a reason for a construction site's failure to meet necessary compaction parameters? A. Heavy equipment B. Soil saturation C. Excessive traffic D. All of the above

D. All of the above

Which of the following items is often included on a building site's Erosion and Sediment Control plan? A. Site plan depicting present and anticipated conditions B. Standard details of each proposed erosion and sediment control best management plan (BMP) C. Inspection and maintenance schedule for BMPs D. All of the aforementioned

D. All of the aforementioned

Choose the answer below that is false: A. The difference between LL and PL is defined as the Plasticity Index (PI) B. When the weight of water equals the weight of dry soil (w = 100%) in a soil sample the LL is 100 C. The plastic limit of a soil sample is attained when a soil sample that is rolled to an 1/8 in in diameter thread begins to crumble. D. Atterberg limit tests can be applied to other construction materials such as cement mixtures and certain asphaltic materials.

D. Atterberg limit tests can be applied to other construction materials such as cement mixtures and certain asphaltic materials. Atterberg tests only apply to soils

Which theory is used to examine active and passive lateral earth pressure on retaining walls? A. Kinetic B. Coulomb C. Rankine D. B and C

D. B and C Rankine: Soil and wall interface frictionless, underestimates Coulomb: Soil and wall interface has friction, overestimates

Which of the following valves is best suited to throttle flow? A. Swing-gate check valve B. Plug valve C. Ball valve D. Butterfly valve

D. Butterfly Valve (used to throttle flow, and features a rotating plate that can be set to any degree between 0 and 90 degrees) Check valve limits flow in one direction Plug and Ball Valves can throttle flow, but are primarily used as shut-off valves

On a building site, which of the following materials is collected and evaluated by an inspector? A. Compilation B. Hydraulic C. Steel reinforcing D. Fresh concrete mix

D. Fresh concrete mix

Which of the following is NOT a concrete admixture A. Air Entraining B. Water reducing C. Corrosion inhibiting D. Shrinkage reduction. E. Organic growth promoting F. Retarding (setting time reduction) G. Accelerating (setting time acceleration)

E. Organic growth promoting Organic material should not be present in concrete. Air entraining reduces strength, but provides properties that perform well in freeze - thaw cycles Water reducing admixtures increase workability of cement Shrinkage reducing admixtures reduce cracking due to shrinkage

Which of the following circumstances causes structural forces? Point Loads, Uniform Loads, Compression, Non-uniformly distributed loads, Tension, Moments

Everything but Tension and Compression since they are structural forces (not causal)

Best shape for flexure and torsional resistance

Flexure - greatest moment of intertia (more mass away from the center, good distribution of area). Ex: beam missing bottom flange has poor distribution of area. Torsional resistance - closed sections are best for resisting torsion, while any open section performs poorly, solid circle is best

Compaction is achieved by applying mechanical effort to a soil which removes excess water and/or air from the soil's voids. Select the characteristic(s) of the soil that would change because of compaction: Reduced porosity Decreased unit weight Reduced compressibility Increased strength Reduced density

Reduced porosity, Reduced compressibility, increased strength Density increases since the volume decreases

Rill Erosion, Splash Erosion, Sheet Erosion, Gully Erosion

Rill Erosion: Concentrated flow that creates small, eroded channels Splash Erosion: Displaced soil particles due to the impact of raindrops Sheet Erosion: A uniform layer of shallow flowing water that moves loose soil particles Gully Erosion: High volume, high concentrated flows that displace large amounts of soil quickly

"If the behavior of a structure is linearly elastic, the forces acting on it may be separated and the structure evaluated for different situations," According to which or the following philosophies. Summing the separate findings yields the final outcome. 1. First Theorem of Castigliano 2. Superposition Principle 3. Clapeyron Equation

Superposition Principle

A storm's recurrence interval is...

The inverse of its annual probability of occurence (i.e. 500-yr storm has a (1/500) = 0.2% chance of occurring in any given year.

What is the superelevation transition of a horizontal curve?

The superelevation transition distance is the distance between the beginning of the transition to superelevation to the point of being fully superelevated which is the combination of the tangent (aka crown) runout and the superelevation runoff

Finding total runoff volume from hydrograph

The total runoff volume can be found from a storm hydrograph by finding the area under the curve. A simple way to calculate the area under the curve is to sum the area of each "rectangle" with heights equal to the flow rate and lengths equal to the time interval given by the hydrograph.

Types of Concrete

Type I - Normal, General Use Type II - Moderate sulfate (areas exposed to groundwater i.e. drainage structures), Cures at a slower rate and produces less heat, gain strength lower rate Type III - High early strength concrete, large amount of heat released and not suitable for mass-type pours, rapid strength gain (precast) Type IV - Low heat of hydration, gains strength slowly and generates a low amount of heat, used for mass-pours such as mat foundations or large retaining walls Type V - High sulfate (ex: highly alkaline soils)

For a stream hydrograph what is the lag time

lag time = centroid of unit rainfall excess (max intensity) to peak of unit hydrograph

Which of the following statements regarding soil consolidation is the most correct? A. An overconsolidated clay's consolidation curve is steeper when overburden pressure exceeds the the preconsolidation pressure. B. A normally consolidated clay's consolidation curve is steeper when overburden pressure exceeds the preconsolidation pressure C. An overconsolidated clay's consolidation cure is less steep when overburden pressure exceeds the preconsolidation pressure D. A normally consolidated clay's consolidation curve is less steep when overburden pressure exceeds the preconsolidation pressure.

A. An overconsolidated clay's consolidation curve is steeper when overburden pressure exceeds the the preconsolidation pressure. An overconsolidated clay is one which has been exposed to a vertical pressure in the past (preconsolidation pressure) A normally consolidated clay is one in which the current overburden pressure is equal to the highest vertical pressure the soil has ever experienced (preconsolidation pressure not relevant to normally consolidated soil) An overconsolidated clay's consolidation curve is steeper when overburden pressure exceeds preconsolidation pressure. The slope of the consolidation curve on a log scale is called the compression index and slope below is called the recompression index. The compression index is typically several times higher than the recompression index.

Which of the statements below regarding a soil's buoyant unit weight is the most correct: A. Buoyant unit weight is less than the soil's saturated unit weight by exactly the unit weight of water B. Buoyant unit weight is the upward force of displaced water above the soil C. Buoyant unit weight is used in the capillary zone directly above the groundwater surface D. Buoyant unit weight equals the saturated unit weight when all voids are completely filled with water

A. Buoyant unit weight is less than the soil's saturated unit weight by exactly the unit weight of water

Which of the following is most often the cause of rebar corrosion? A. Chloride intrusion of concrete B. Freeze-thaw action C. Delayed Ettringite Formation D. High water to cement ratio

A. Chloride intrusion of concrete

A lake in an agricultural area receives runoff from several streams with elevated concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen from cattle feed and fertilizer use. Large algae plumes have been observed in the lake. Which statement is most correct? A. DO in the lake's hypolimnion is likely low. B. DO in the lake's hypolimnion is likely high. C. DO in the lake is independent of phosphorus and nitrogen loading D. There is not enough information to relate DO and phosphorus and nitrogen loading

A. DO in the lake's hypolimnion is likely low. Algae plumes create an anoxic zone.

Earth Embankment A and earth Embankment B are equal, except that Embankment A is constructed of sandy gravels. Embankment B is constructed of silt. Which statement is most correct? A. Embankment A has a higher factor of safety against slope failure, as sandy gravels generally have higher shear strength than silts B. Embankment B has a higher factor of safety against slope failure, as sandy gravels generally have a higher shear strength than silts C. Embankment A has a lower factor of safety against slope failure, as sandy gravels never have higher shear strength than silts D. Embankment B has a lower factor of safety against slope failure, as sandy gravels always have lower shear strength than silts

A. Embankment A has a higher factor of safety against slope failure, as sandy gravels generally have higher shear strength than silts Generally, sand and gravels (non-cohesive soils) have high shear strength (i.e. friction angles ) than silts and clay (cohesive/plastic soil). Two embankments otherwise equal, embankment constructed with the soil with a higher friction angle will have a higher factor of safety.

Which of the following hammers is seldom used for Standard Penetration Tests (SPTs) A. Half-spoon B. Autonomous C. Donut D. Protection

A. Half-spoon

Which of the following is the most common source for pathogens in drinking water resources? A. Human/animal waste B. Industrial discharges C. Commercial discharges D. Stormwater runoff

A. Human/animal waste

Select the answer below that is most correct A. In general storms with shorter durations have higher rainfall intensities than storms with longer durations B. In general storms with longer durations have higher rainfall intensities than storms with shorter durations C. In general storms with longer durations have equal rainfall intensities to storms with shorter durations D. In general, rainfall intensity is independent of storm duration.

A. In general storms with shorter durations have higher rainfall intensities than storms with longer durations

A project is determined to need 14' x 10' box culverts of varying length in 3 different locations. Which of the following is the most appropriate unit of measure for the estimation of box culvert item? A. Linear Feet B. Square Feet C. Each D. Lump Sum

A. Linear Feet Box culvert has consistent area B, not an option Each unit difficult to quantify based on manufacturer's capabilities C, not an option Lump sum is used for general tasks which may be difficult to measure

Temporary construction sediment and erosion control provisions are primarily intended to: A. Protect water quality and prevent streambank erosion B. Prevent slope failures during rain events C. Prevent property damage caused by construction D. Minimize the development of impervious sources

A. Protect water quality and prevent streambank erosion

Which of the following is false regarding soil stress at a construction site? Choose the best answer. A. Effective stress in soils is the difference between the total stress and the pore water pressure B. Above the water table, total and effective stresses are equal C. Below the water table, the pore pressure is a product of the specific weight of water and the height of the water above the point measured D. In dry soil, particles at a point underground experience a total overhead stress (depth underground multiplied by the specific weight of the soil) that is less than the stress at the same point in saturated soil

D. In dry soil, particles at a point underground experience a total overhead stress (depth underground multiplied by the specific weight of the soil) that is less than the stress at the same point in saturated soil Particles underground in dry soil, experience more total overhead stress than particles in saturated soil, because of the buoyancy effects of water Total stress below the surface is decreased by the product of the height of the water table and the specific weight of water This concept is known as the effective stress of the soil, equal to the difference in a soil's total stress and pore water pressure.

Which of the following is false regarding open channel flow? Choose the best answer. A. In general, the most efficient open channel cross section will have a maximized hydraulic radius, and a minimized wetted perimeter B. The usual minimum permissible velocity of an open channel, including closed-conduit pipe networks flowing under the influence of gravity only, is the lowest velocity that prevents sediment deposit C. The liquid sheet Nappe of a rectangular weir decreases in width as it falls if their weir opening and width is less than channel width D. Laminar flow occurs at high Reynolds numbers, and turbulent flow occurs at low reynolds numbers

D. Laminar flow occurs at high Reynolds numbers, and turbulent flow occurs at low reynolds numbers

Consider the USCS. The most essential criteria for distinguishing between low plasticity clays (CL) and high plasticity clays (CH) is: A. Plastic Limit B. Plasticity Index C. Water Content D. Liquid Limit

D. Liquid Limit

A layer of large stones that protects soil from erosion in areas of high or concentrated flow is called: A. Turbidity Barrier B. Gabion C. Buffer Strip D. Rip Rap

D. Rip Rap Turbidity barrier controls sediment contamination from construction sites in bodies of water Gabion is Wirework container filled with broken rock, concrete other materials used in construction of dams, retaining walls, etc Buffer strips are protective zone of natural vegetation that help control air quality, soil quality, and water quality

Which of the following is false concerning project planning? A. The "float" for an activity in a project is equal to the difference between the late start and the early start in a particular activity B. A "dummy" activity is a zero-duration activity used to demonstrate the logical dependence of an activity with respect to other activities C. More than one "critical path" may exists in a project network D. The "critical path is the shortest duration continuous through a project network.

D. The "critical path is the shortest duration continuous through a project network.

Which of the following is a sewer's hydraulic radius? A. The circumference B. Channel edging C. Half of the diameter D. The flow-cross sectional area to wetted perimeter ratio

D. The flow-cross sectional area to wetted perimeter ratio

Which of the following is not an assumption of the Bernoulli energy equation? A. The fluid is incompressible B. There is not fluid friction C. Changes in thermal energy are negligible D. The potential energy is zero

D. The potential energy is zero A, B, C are key assumptions

Charpy V-notch is a test for which property of steel? A. Durability B. Strength C. Ductility D. Toughness

D. Toughness Tensile tests => Yield strength, ultimate strength, stress/strain curve Fatigue tests, Mohr's circle (hardness tests)