Table Of ContentRapid Preparation for the Civil
Fundamentals of Engineering Exam
IEW MANUAL
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• is based on the NCEES FE Reference Handbook (NCEES Handbook)
• provides example questions in true exam format
• provides instructional material for essentially every relevant equation,
figure, and table in the NCEES Handbook
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All views and opinions expressed in this book are those of Michael R. Lindeburg, PE in his individual capacity as the sole author of this book Civil FE exam, following the guidelines described in the "How to Use This
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Where Can I Get an Online
Topics
Practice Exam?
A realistic full-length practice exam is offered by feprep.com. The online Practice ••·····. ······················ .. ··•········ ········· ....
Exam environment at feprep.com accurately simulates the official computer-based
testing (CBT) experience. It uses a graphical user interface that is equivalent to Topic I: Mathematics V
what is used during the actual exam. Important onscreen features include
V
, Topic II: Probability and Statisti~
• side-by-side presentation of questions and reference material suitable for V.
24-in monitors (with resizing option for smaller monitors) Topic Ill: Fluid Mechanics 1-JJw ~J-f.Q U A)ov 6
• a fully searchable set of FE equations, ·tables, and figures equivalent to the Topic IV: H~li):.drnk>gic S stems /
NCEES FE Reference Handbook Topic V: Environmental Engineeering_ V -~ r()..) 0 t J- -
• exam-like navigation (answer, skip, next, previous, flag for review, etc.)
• a timer, to simulate the exam's two sessions and break period Topic VI: Geotechnical Engineering\.,
• a summary of all selected answers to review prior to submitting for grading Topic VII: Statics V
J
In addition, unlike the actual FE exam, the Practice Exam environment at , Topic VIII: Dynamics 3
feprep.com offers ' Topic IX: Mechanics of Materials 5clh.1 Je.{ (lj ocf- 4
q dlv vfl!JjiJ
• the ability to pause the examination for convenience Topic X: Materials 5
• immediate grading Topic XI: Structural Design_ \s f f vJe..dJ fJJ
• reporting of performance by knowledge area l-!d1v l,JU.Ki Ocf-
• access to complete solutions for all problems Topic XII: Transportation and Surveying
Topic XIII: Construction .v , 2 Yl L~-\ .v_,-n~,, "u'/ Qui--
An Actual Screenshot of the FEPrep Exam Simulator
Topic XIV: Computational Tools
Topic XV: Engineering Economics V
Topic XVI: Ethics and Professional Practice
j
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Table of Contents
................... ..... ..... ix Topic VII: Statics
Preface Diagnostic Exam: Statics ............ • • • DE VII-1
Acknowledgments ............. • • • • • • · · · · · xi Systems of Forces and Moments ... .. • . • • • · · · .21-1
22 1
Trusses . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • • • • • • · · · · · · · · · · · -
Codes and References Used to Prepare xiii Pulleys, Cables, and Friction .. _. ..... • • • • • · · .23-1
This Book ...... ·············· ···· ··· Centroids and Moments of Inertia. ..... • • • • • • · 24-1
Indeterminate Statics ................ • • • • • · 25-1
Introduction .................... • • • • · · · · · xv
Topic VIII: Dynamics
Units .................... • • • • • • • · · · · · xxxiii
D~i!a:g:n~o:stti~c .E: x:a :m : :: D: y: n: a:m : i:c :s :. :. :. .: .: .: .: .: :. :- :- :. :D : E: :V :I ;I~I-:1
Topic I: Mathematics ~
Diagnostic Exam: Mathematics ............. DE 1-1 Kinetics of Rotational Motion ......... .. -.... 28-1
Analytic Geometry and Trigonometry .......... 1-1 Energy and Work .......... .. ....... ..... 29-1
Algebra and Linear Algebra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Calculus ................... • . • • • • • • • • • · 3-1 Topic IX: Mechanics of Materials
Differential Equations and Transforms ..... .... 4-1
Diagnostic Exam: Mechanics of Materials ... DE IX-1
Stresses and Strains .......................3 0-1
Topic II: Probability and Statistics
Thermal, Hoop, and Torsional Stress .......... 31-1
Diagnostic Exam: Probability and Statistics .. DE II-1 Beams ... ... ........ ........ .. .. ....... 32-1
Probability and Statistics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1 Columns ... ........ ........... ...... -.. 33-1
Topic Ill: Fluid Mechanics Topic X: Materials
Diagnostic Exam: Fluid Mechanics ....... . DE III-1 Diagnostic Exam: Materials ....... ... ... . DE X-1
Fluid Properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1 Material Properties and Testing ... .... ... .... 34-1
Fluid Statics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1 Engineering Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35-1
Fluid Measurement and Similitude ............ 8-1
Topic XI: Structural Design
Topic IV: Hydraulics and Hydrologic Systems Diagnostic Exam: Structural Design ....... DE Xl-1
Diagnostic Exam: Hydraulics and Hydrologic Structural Design: Materials and Basic Concepts .. 36-1
Systems .......................... DE IV-1 Reinforced Concrete: Beams ... .... .... ......3 7-1
Hydrology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1 Reinforced Concrete: Columns ...... ........ . 38-1
Hydraulics ...... ....................... . 10-1 Reinforced Concrete: Slabs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39-1
Groundwater ....................... ..... 11-1 Reinforced Concrete: Walls ................. 40-1
Reinforced Concrete: Footings ............... 41-1
Topic V: Environmental Engineering Structural Steel: Beams .......... .......... 42-1
Structural Steel: Columns ....... .......... . .43-1
Diagnostic Exam: Environmental Engineering .. DE V-1
Structural Steel: Tension Members ............4 4-1
Water Quality ........................... 12-1
Structural Steel: Beam-Columns .. ............ 45-1
Water Supply Treatment and Distribution ...... 13-1
Structural Steel: Connectors ........ .........4 6-1
Wastewater Collection and Treatment ......... 14-1
Activated Sludge and Sludge Processing ........ 15-1 Topic XII: Transportation and Surveying
Air Quality ............................. 16-1
Diagnostic Exam: Transportation
and Surveying .... ...... ........... DE XII-1
Topic VI: Geotechnlcal Engineering
Transportation Capacity and Planning .. ... ... .47-1
Diagnostic Exam: Geotechnica.l Engineering .. DE VI-1 Plane Surveying ... ...................... .48-1
Soil Properties and Testing ........ .......... 17-1 Geometric Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49-1
Foundations ............................ 18-1 Earthwork .............. ............ .. .. 50-1
Rigid Retaining Walls ..................... 19-1 Pavement Design ....... ... ....... ........ 51-1
Excavations .......................... ... 20-1 Traffic Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........ 52-1
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vili -----
FE CIVIL REVIEW MANUAL
Topic XVI: Ethics and Professional Practice
Topic XIII: Construction
Diagnostic Exam: Ethics and Professional
Diagnostic Exam: Construction ......... DE XIII-1
Construction Management, Scheduling, and Practice ...... · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · DE XVl-1
ProEcsutrimemateinntg a n.d. .P.r.o.je.c.t .D.e .l" i.ve.r.y. M..e.th.o.d.s ........... 5534--11 P~r~o;f1es:~si~on: a:l :P :r :a c: t:i c: e: :. :. :. .: :• :• :• :• :• :• :• :• :• :• :• :, :. .: :. :. .: .: 6~0~.:li Preface
Construction Documents ...................5 5-1
Construction Operations and Management ......5 6-1
Construction Safety ....................... 57-1 Index .................................. I-1
cannot accept the premise that engineers learn and use
Topic XIV: Computational Tools The purpose of this book is to prepare you for the so little engineering while getting their degrees and dur
Diagnostic Exam: Computational Tools ... DE XIV-1 National Council of Examiners for Engineering and ing their first few career years. However, regardless of
Computer Software ....................... 58-1 Surveying (NCEES) fundamentals of engineering (FE) whether you accept the NCEES subset of engineering
exam. fundamentals, one thing is certain: In serving as your
Topic XV: Engineering Economics In 2014, the NCEES adopted revised specifications for sole source of formulas, theory, methods, and data dur
Diagnostic Exam: Engineering Economics ... DE XV-1 the exam. The council also transitioned from a paper ing the exam, the NCEES Handbook severely limits the
Engineering Economics ....................5 9-1 based version of the exam to a computer-based testing types of questions that can be included in the FE exam.
(CBT) version. The FE exam now requires you to sit in
front of a monitor, respond to questions served up by The obsolete paper-based exam required very little
the CBT system, access an electronic reference docu knowledge outside of what was presented in the previous
ment, and perform your scratch calculations on a reus editions of the NCEES Handbook. That NCEES Hand
able notepad. You may also use an on-screen calculator book supported a plug-and-chug exarninee performance
with which you will likely be unfamiliar. The experience within a constrained body of knowledge. Based on the
of taking the FE exam will probably be unlike anything current FE exam specifications and the NCEES Hand
you have ever, or will ever again, experience in your book, the CBT FE exam is even more limited than the
career. Similarly, preparing for the exam will be unlike old paper-based exam. The number (breadth) of knowl
preparing for any other exam. edge areas, the coverage (depth) of knowledge areas, the
number of questions, and the duration of the exam are
The CBT FE exam presented three new challenges to
all significantly reduced. If you are only concerned about
me when I began preparing instructional material for it.
passing and/or "getting it over with" before graduation,
(1) The subjects in the testable body of knowledge are
these reductions are all in your favor. Your only deter
oddly limited and do not represent a complete cross
rents will be the cost of the exam and the inconvenience
section of the traditional engineering fundamentals sub
of finding a time and place to take it.
jects. (2) The NCEES FE Reference Handbook (NCEES
Handbook) is poorly organized, awkwardly formatted, Accepting that "it is what it is," I designed this book to
inconsistent in presentation, and idiomatic in conven guide you through the exam's body of knowledge.
tion. (3) Traditional studying, doing homework while
working toward a degree, and working at your own desk I have several admissions to make: (1) This book con
as a career engineer are poor preparations for the CBT tains nothing magical or illicit. (2) This book, by itself,
exam experience. is only one part of a complete preparation. (3) This book
No existing exam review book overcomes all of these stops well short of being perfect. ·what do l mean by
challenges. But, I wanted you to have something that those admissions?
d°:8. So, in order to prepare you for the CBT FE exam,
First, this book does not contain anything magical. It's
tlus book was designed and written from the ground up.
In many ways, this book is as unconventional as the called a "review" manual, and you might even learn
exam. something new from it. It will save you time in assem
bling review material and questions. However it won't
This book covers all of the knowledge areas listed in the learn the material for you. Merely owning \t is not
NCEES Civil FE exam specifications. For all practical enough. You will have to put in the time to use it.
purpo_ses, this book contains the equivalent of all of the
equations, tables, and figures presented in the NCEES Similarly'. there is nothing clandestine or unethical
Handb?ok, ninth edition (September 2013 revision) that abou~ this book. It does not contain any actual exam
you w~ll need for the Civil FE exam. And, with the questions. It w~ written in a vacuum, based entirely on
exceptions listed in the "Variables" section for better the NCEES CIVIi FE exam specifications. This book is
or wor~, this book duplicates the terms, va;iables, and not based on feedback from actual examinees.
formattmg of the NCEES Handbook equations.
~r~thfully, I expect that many exam questions will be
NC~ES _has selected, what it believes to be, all of the s1m1lar to the questions I have used because NCEES and
e~gi:neermg fundamentals important to an early-career I deve~oped content with the same set of constraints (If
~n~mally-qualified engineer, and has distilled them int~
anythmg, ~CEES i~ even more constrained whe~ it
its smgle reference, the NCEES Handbook. Personally, I
comes to frmge, outlier, eccentric, or original topics.)
PPI • www.ppl2pass.com
X FE CIVIL REVIEW MANUAL
2. This book does no~ c~n~ain ~he NG_EES Handboo~
TOhhemre's is laaw f in(i Vte =nuImRb) era nodf wNayesw ttohna'ts qsueecsotinodn sl aawb ouotf per se. This book IS limited m helpmg you beco
motion (F = ma) can be structured. Any similarity familiar with the ~di?syncratic sequenc~ng, forlll:~
ting, variables, 0IT11ss1ons, and presentation of topics
between questions in this book and questions in the in the NCEES Handbook. The only way to rerned Acknowledgments
exam is easily attributed to the limited number of engi
this is to obtain your own copy of the NCEES Hand.
neering formulas and concepts, the shallowness of the
book (available in printed format from PPI and as
coverage, and the need to keep the entire solution pro
free download from the NCEES website) and use itt
cess (reading, researching, calculating, and responding)
conjunction with your review. n
to less than three minutes for each question.
made corrections. Copy editors Tyler Hayes, Sco~t
Let me gi e an example to put some flesh on the bones. 3. This book does not contain a practice examination Developing a book specific to the computerized Civil FE Marley, Connor Sempek, and Ian A. Walker copy_e di
Alast antyh ec opmrepsestuernet denrogpin eienr ac anp ipaett enset,t wino rokr,d eyro tuo wcaolcuuld t(hmeo cCkB eTx afmor,m saatm, palney e sxaammp, leet ecx.)a. mW iint hp rtihnet eadd vfoernmt aotf euxsuamal h(afrso mbe eann a amutohnour'ms eanntadl ppruobj~eicsth.e rI't~ in~vtaonlvdepdo itnhte) tAelde,x parnodoefrr eAadh,n c, oMrreacntueedl, aCnadr rpeiargoi,n aatnedd . HCiolapryy eFdiltooords
normally have to (1) determine fluid density and viscos is little more than another collection of practice ques. activities of updating and repurposmg existmg content proofread and corrected. Scott's comments were par
ity based on the temperature, (2) convert the mass flow tions. The actual FE exam is taken sitting in front of and writing new content. However, the project was
rate to a volumetric flow rate, (3) determine the pipe a computer using an online reference book, so the made extraordinarily more difficult by two factors: ticularly insightful. Staff interns Nicole Evans, EIT;
Prajesh Gongal, EIT; and Jumphol Somsaad assisted
diameter from the pipe size designation (e.g., pipe sched only way to practice is to sit in front of a computer (1) a new book design, and (2) the publication schedule.
with content selection, problem writing, and calcula
ule), (4 ) calculate the internal pipe area, (5) calculate the while you answer questions. Using an online reference
flow velocity, (6) determine the specific roughness from is very different from the work environment experi Creating a definitive resource to help you prepare for tion checking. Staff interns Jeanette Baker, EIT; Scott
the conduit material, (7) calculate the relative roughness, enced by most engineers, and it will take some get the computerized FE exam was a huge team effort, and Miller, EIT; Alex Valeyev, EIT; and Akira Zamudio,
(8) calculate the Reynolds number, (9) calculate or ting used to. PPI's entire Product Development and Implementation EIT, remapped existing PPI problems to the new
determine the friction factor graphically, (10) determine (PD&I) staff was heavily involved. Along the way, they NCEES Civil FE exam specifications.
t(bfh1leue1ai )dde c qpaluorlisocvsup aleltaeorttn eytp trchleeoesnn sghvueterhaers d iod oflrno ofsspi sttt.,yi anLpngiecdsna glaflitnynhd a,al ldofyldot,h w(ee1vr 2q e)mun c aimnonontoirvtr yeel or,ct s oastemnhsde , Tsnflteahavwifrefldr e cs,f osi gmafuneirdrses dtp f iro(neouatrltt,l y yhe o,v cwelIo n st reoes luwtuobcrs iteptaeqen urtoflereyn c ptt)aui odbenmld isiiitnhti oattn hhc.ea o Ttm ahprIeel ea htPsea vlPyoe!f hitnneae cdehdr inetnocigci sa,l ileoa anmnrsdny stunthseeeawrrit e ussi,knt iivlalilontsyl dv.a eneTdxd he perccuyoib mswleip ospehrrtkieonenfgdec ,si lesoriseno,sg nos ahoullor vcjuueer dssu,g, nmwesneeegeenink t wpPiaaloyst isns.tg aS rcotui,s nctgolo mtsoee rtcsoo ( astlhuecesch ee a nosd uy oto fuo t)fh stehh opeu roslhdcaenps'tse ,lh ewasvshneee ntso sc booenf ttteehnsett
plexity. (SSU viscosity? Diameter in inches? Flow rate in design, editing, typography, and illustrating. Subject after week, and month after month, often into the late PPI content management system, several subject matter
SCFM?) As reasonable and conventional as that solution ~atter exi>erts help immensely with calculation check evening, to publish this book for examinees taking the experts became crash car dummies "for the good of engi
process _is, a_q ~estion of such complexity is beyond the mg. And, beta testing before you see a book helps exam. neering." They pretended to be examinees and worked
upper time limit for an FE exam question. smooth out wrinkles. However, I still manage to muck through all of the content, looking for calculation errors,
up the content. So, I hope you will "let me have it" PPI staff members have had a lot of things to say about references that went nowhere, and logic that was incom
To make it possible to be solved in the time allowed any when you find my mistakes. PPI has established an this book during its development. In reference to you prehensible. These engineers and their knowledge area
efaxcatm, i _qnuosets ?tiro nal l yoo_fu t hsee ei nifso lrimkealtyio tno yboeu mneoerde tloi manitsewde. rI na ecahsayn gweasy tfhora ty orue stuol treedp ofrrto amn eerrrroorr,s ast hwaetl l oatsh teor sr evhiaevwe adnidd, oonthee ro fe txhaem oinfeteens -hbeeainrdg sutnaatewmareen tosf wwahs,a t" TPhPeIy s wtaifllf c(Sotnattriicbsu tainodn sS tarruec: tuCr.a lD Daelesi gBnu);c kJonehrn, CP.h CDr,e pPeEa,u ,S PEhCDB,
qounleyst itohne wreialll bweo grilvde nw etore ysoou k iinn dit!s question statement. If submitted_. Just go to ppi2pass.com/errata. When never know." PE (Dynamics; Mathematics; and Mechanics of Materi
you subnut something, I'll receive it via email. When I However, I want you to know, so I'm going to tell you. als); Joshua T. Frohman, PE (Computational Tools;
~econd, by itself, this book is inadequate. It was never answer it, you'll receive a response. We'll both benefit. Construction; Probability and Statistics; and Transpor
mt~n?ed to . de~n~ the entirety of your preparation Editorial project managers Chelsea Logan, Magnolia tation Engineering); David Hurwitz, PhD (Computa
act1V1ty. While it mtroduces essentially all of the exam Best wishes in your examination experience. Stay in Molcan, and Julia White managed the gargantuan tional Tools; Construction; Probability and Statistics;
kno:wledge areas and content in the NCEES Handb k touch! operation, with considerable support from Sarah and Transportation Engineering); David Johnstone,
an mtr~uction is only an introduction To be t~o ' Hubbard, director of PD&I. Christina Gimlin, senior PhD, PE (Environmental Engineering; Geotechnical
ough reV1ew, this book needs augmentat.ion. a or- Michael R. Lindeburg, PE project manager, cut her teeth on this project. Produc E~~ineering; and Hydraulics and Hydrologic Systems);
tion services manager Cathy Schrott kept the process
By d~ign, this book has three significant inadequacies. moving smoothly and swiftly, despite technical difficul Liliana M. Kandic, PE (Fluid Mechanics; Statics; and
Structur_al Design); Aparna Phadnis, PE (Engineering
1 This book is "only" 724 a . ties that seemed determined to stall the process at every
contain enough of ever thi p 1es long, so it cannot opportunity. Christine Eng, product development man Econonucs; Environmental Engineering; Geotechnical
her of exam 1 . Y ng or everyone. The num ager, arranged for all of the outside subject matter Eng!neering; and Hydraulics and Hydrologic Systems);
The numbe~ efquesti?ns that can fit in it are limited DaV1d To, PE (Dynamics; Fluid Mechanics· Mathe
0 questions needed b · experts that were involved with this book. All of the L.
to come up lo speed in . Y you, personally, content was eventually reviewed for consistency, PPI m~ti_cs; and Mechanics of Materials); and Adam
madequate. For exampt phart1cular subject may be W1lhamson, PE (Fluid Mechanics; Dynamics; and
style, ~nd ~ccuracy by Jennifer Lindeburg King, associ
Y?u have to review in or~~r t~~ ~any questions will ate ed1tor-m-chief. Materials).
divergence, curl, differential ee c~mfortable about
algebra? (Answer· Probabl equations, and linear Though everyone in PD&I has a specialty, this project Consistent with the past 36 years, I continue to thank
~h~ ~ks you will ever own,Y more ~~an are in all pulled everyone from his or her comfort zone. The entire ID)'. w1e, _Elizabe~h, for accepting and participating in a
IS meV1t.able if you want t ~ So, additional exposure staff worked on "building" the chapters of this book from wr_1ter s hfe that 1s full to overflowing. Even though our
every ubject. o adequately prepared in scratch, piecing together existing content with new con children have been out on their own for a long time we
tent. Ever!one learned (with amazing speed) how to seem to have even less time than we had before. As a
grapple with the complexities of XML and MathML corollary to Aristotle's "Nature abhors a vacuum" I
V:hile wrestling misbehaving computer code into submis propose: "Work expands to fill the void." '
sion. Tom Bergstrom, technical illustrator, and Kate
To my gr~ddaughter, Sydney, who had to share her
~ayes, production associate, updated existing illustra
Grumpus wi~h his writing, I say, '1 only worked when
tions and created new ones. They also paginated and
you were taking your naps. And besides, you hog the bed!"
---------
----------
PPI • www.ppl2paas.com
·on to reproduce Thank you, everyone! I'm r~ally proud of what ,
:s;. th pub · - ers. In each case, accomplished. Your efforts will be pleasing to e:xa Y~u Ve
here the m terial has been and effective in preparing them for the Civil FE eIlxllanll~t.
the publishers of the repro
-e any represe.nt-ations or warranties Michael R. Lindeburg , pE Codes and References Used
as to he y of the ma erial nor are they liable for
an: cialna.,"<?S resulting from it use. to Prepare This Book
. ···················•·"······· ... ·-········· ....... ... ··•·
ACI 318). So, it would be logical to conclude that you
This book is based on the NCEES FE Reference Hand
need to be familiar with everything (the limitations,
book (NCEES Handbook), ninth edition (September
surrounding sections, and commentary) in the code
2013 revision). The other documents, codes, and stan
related to that concept. However, that does not seem
dards that were used to prepare this book were the most
to be the case. The NCEES Handbook is a code unto
current available at the time.
itself, arid you won't need to study the parent docu
NCEES does not specifically tie the FE exam to any ments. Nor will you need to know anything pertaining
edition (version) of any code or standard. Rather than to related, adjacent, similar, or parallel code concepts.
make the FE exam subject to the vagaries of such codes For example, although square concrete columns are cov
and standards published by the American Concrete ered in the NCEES Handbook, round columns are not.
Institute (ACI), the American Institute of Steel Con
struction (AISC), the American National Standards Therefore, although methods and content in the NCEES
Institute (ANSI), the American Society of Civil Engi Handbook can be ultimately traced back to some edition
neers (ASCE), the American Society of Heating, Refrig (version) of a relevant code, you don't need to know
erating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), which. You don't need to know whether that content is
the American Society of Mechanical Engineers ( ASME), current, limited in intended application, or relevant.
ASTM International (ASTM), the International Code You only need to use the content.
Council (ICC), and so on, NCEES effectively writes its
own "code," the NCEES Handbook.
Most surely, every standard-or code-dependent concept
(e.g., the design of rectangular, tied concrete columns)
in the NCEES Handbook can be traced back to some
section of some edition of a standard or code (e.g.,
PPI • www.ppl2pass.com
Introduction
• equation with NCEES Handbook formatting
PART 1: A~~~T r._HIS_~ 9.01". ..
• any relevant variations of the equation
This book is intended to guide you through the Civil
Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination body of • any values typically associated with the equation
knowledge and the idiosyncrasies of the National Council
• additional explanation and development
of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (NCEES) FE
Reference Handbook (NCEES Handbook). This book is • worked quantitative example using the NCEES
not intended as a reference book, because you cannot use Handbook equation
it while taking the FE examination. The only reference
you may use is the NCEES Handbook. However, the • footnotes
NCEES Handbook is not intended as a teaching tool, Not all sections contain all of these features. Some fea
nor is it an easy document to use. The NCEES Handbook tures may be omitted if they are not needed. For
was never intended to be something you study or learn example, "g = 9.81 m/s2" would be a typical value asso
from, or to have value as anything other than an exam ciated with the equation W = mg. There would be no
day compilation. Many of its features may distract you typical values associated with the equation P = ma.
because they differ from what you were expecting, were
exposed to, or what you currently use. Much of the information in this book and in the NCEES
Handbook is relevant to more than one knowledge area
To effectively use the NCEES Handbook, you must
or subtopic. For example, equations related to the Sta
become familiar with its features, no matter how odd
tics knowledge area also pertain to the subtopics of
they may seem. FE Civil Review Manual will help you
Structural Analysis. Many Hydraulics and Hydrologic
become familiar with the format, layout, organization,
Systems concepts correlate with Environmental Engi
and odd conventions of the NCEES Handbook. This
neering subtopics. The index will help you locate all
book, which displays the NCEES Handbook material in
information related to any of the topics or subtopics
blue for easy identification, satisfies two important
ne~ds: it is (1) something to learn from, and (2) some you wish to review.
thmg to help you become familiar with the NCEES
Handbook. Content
This book presents equations, figures, tables, and other
Organization
data equivalent to those given in the NCEES Handbook.
Thi~ ~?°k is organized into topics (e.g., "Structural For example, the NCEES Handbook includes tables for
Design ) that correspond to the knowledge areas listed conver_sion factors, material properties, and areas and
by ~CEES in its Civil FE exam specifications. However, cen~r01ds of geometric shapes, so this book provides
unl~ke t~e NCEES Handbook, this book arranges sub eqmvalent tables. Occasionally, a redundant element of
topics ,, mto chapters (e.g., "Reinforced Concrete: the N_CEES Handbook, or some item having no value to
Beams ) ~hat bu_ild logically on one another. Each chap exammees, has been omitted.
ter con,~ams se:t1ons (e.g., "Design of Doubly Reinforced
S~~e elements_, primarily figures and tables, that were
~eams ~ organized around NCEES Handbook equations,
ongmally published by authoritative third parties (and
ut ag~m, the arrangement of those equations is based
for whom reproduction permission has been granted)
on lo~1cal development, not the NCEES Handbook.
have been reprinted exactly as they appear in the
Equations that are presented together in this book
may actually be many pages apart in the NCEES NCEE~ H':1-ndbook. Other elements have been editorially
Handbook. and ~tis~1~ally reformulated, but they remain equiva
lent m ut1hty to the originals.
The ~resentation of each subtopic or related group of
equations uses similar components and follows a specific Colors
sequence. The components of a typical subtopic are:
• general section title Due to the selective nature of topics included in the
NCEES Handbook, coverage of some topics in the
• background and developmental content NCEES Handbook may be incomplete. This book aims
to_ offer more comprehensive coverage and so' /;·ct ~°:s
• equation name (or description) and equation number
tams material that is not covered \n the
PPI • www.ppl2pass.com
xvii
xvi INTRODUCTION
FE CIVIL REVIEW MANUAL
Handbook. This book uses color to differentiate between than the industry-standard w. Because you h PDF version includes search functionality that is similar
what is available to you during the exam, and what is familiar with them, this book reluctantly foll ave to~ Handbook presents them, while presenting the calcula to what you'll have available when taking the computer
supplementary content that makes a topic more inter those conventions. ows all~ tions in a normal and customary typographic manner. based exam. In order to find something using the PDF
esting or easier to understand. Anything that closely search function, your search term will have to match the
This book generally follows the NCEES Handb
parallels or duplicates the NCEES Handbook is printed vention regarding use of italic fonts, even whe ~o~ Co~ Footnotes content exactly (including punctuation).
in blue. Headings that introduce content related to results in ambiguity. For example, as use~ ~ltlg~ J have tried to anticipate the kinds of questions about
oNtHahfnCe edfaEi gdNtEuianrCSbge ElssHe Esaa tSnnth dhda Habtt toaa obinankldr etebres ooq NdotuhkuOa actTiaeto r aneisnrs ee sc atihetmriseeosi nlpeNasnrr,Citl niyaEet leqElpdyuSr aii tntnhHit oeeabn dnsls uda,im beno.f e iogT bkaui lstrua leerisenes., fuNHrlo Caamn:E d vEbAaoSn x? aH kRb a' l1. nes~ d,m eboaocr o~ mtkn·~ , s s1eaosssmtpe reenac tsd te m~"rcu a tsti?.io ooOn,ws cA, c iiRatts ,dir oiersnpo iarpnelsdls yeits,hn ttet1·hsn ige tau aN1 t.sa YO hrEat ti~~~tl, twaahsnoi dsut hlbodefo bodpekrra eawafsnekinrderg det d hyi neom ucNrel aCtashtEsot.e EdFn Soto ioHfo tnana nnotdostewb fsoee oaarkitrnu etgr hue assth eti dona s nitenh ieqtnh usNitesrCs ubtEicootEonokSsr YDmUsoiueauc g htch nayenoo d usui aessgeh Y nodouoisalutdgi crns soteusextdalifycm esinx i antmh tehs iv(saa bnriodoo,u kos ttkhone dore watlseesrdemsgisenm eae rhneotasws).
prin_t~ in black. The black content is background, entJrely and presents all of its variables in ic fo™ Handbook that may confuse, confound, and infuriate in two ways: take them before you begin studying to
epxrteen~snioanrsy toa ntdh eosruyp, paonrtdi ngap pmlicaatetiroianl , ruelxesp latnhaatti oanrse, Tinhgi sa lbl ovoakr imabalienst aaisn ist athliec .p ublishing conven/oiomna °fn s hfoon~L, ywoiuth. iBn atshicea lblyo,d yN CofE tEhSis Hbaonodkb, oaonkd c oannvye m?tcioonnss i_sateren cu1~eesd, dtheetemrm aifnteer w yhoiuch f isnuibshje csttsu dyyoiun gsh toou ldde etemrmphinasei zief, yooru t aakree
oddities and unconventionalities, and occasionally, even
generally missing from the NCEES Handbook. ready to move on.
There are a few important differences between th errors, are pointed out in the footnotes.
the NCEES Handbook and this book e wa)1
Numbering Th diffi · present content If you know the NCEES knowledge areas backward as Make a ~chedule
ese erences are mtentional for the pur f .
tai · 1 ·t d £ pose o mam well as forward, many of the issues pointed out in the
The equations, figures, and tables in the NCEES Hand rung c an Y an ollowing PPI's publication policie;, footnotes will seem obvious. However, if you have only a In order to complete your review of all examination
?ook :i-re unn~mbered. All equations, figures, and tables superficial knowledge of the knowledge areas, the foot subjects, you must develop and adhere to a review
m this ~ook mclude unique numbers provided to help • pressure: The NCf:ES Handbook primarily uses Pl notes will answer many of your questions. The footnotes schedule. If you are not taking a Jive review course
you navigate through the content. ~essure, an atypical engineering convention. T~ are intended to be factual and helpful. (where the order of your preparation is determined by
the lectures), you'll want to prepare your own schedule.
Ynuomu bw~irlsl fainndd maaren y~ erqinutaetdio nins ibn lathciks , bonookt tbhlaute h. aTveh ~~ lwoh adI.\~m ~giw sm_ar yerssee lrauvtseeedds Pcfoh sra op ptaoeswr ste.o r , dmifofemreennttiuamte , iat nfr do max ii.pJ ' Indexed Terms sIft uydoyu swchaendt utloe pteemncpill aoteu ti sa psrcohveidduelde aotn tphaep eenr,d a obf ltahniks
e~uat10ns ~epr~ent mstructional material, often missin
The print version of this book contains an index with Introduction.
~eacn~ b. ooor km. Itne nsmom ree scualstes s,n otht ep rmesaetenrtieadl iwn ast her NCEE.~ • ~velto city: The NCEES Handbook uses v and occasion thousands of terms. The index will help you quickly find The amount of material in each chapter of this book,
tahbes eneitg hint ht heed intiionnth oefd itt"h e NICn EES Ha ndbooPk ,e sbeuntt ~1s G~ker ennut1,_ avt,e f ~irt vferolomc ityG.r eTehki su bposoilko na lwva ysw hUicSn6 jcuosntc wephtas ta ynodu caornet elonot.k ing for, as well as identify related and the number of questions in the corresponding chap
.m s t ruction in deleted coniotenn.t (Tsho·m eb cases , I in c1u < led repodresents_ specific volume in some topics ,( e.~. tber· ter of FE Civil Practice Problems, were designed to fit
tcaoinnt eanllt ,o hf otwhee vdeerl.e) ted NCEES Ha nisd booookk e~igoehst hn oedt ictioonn amb soylunate.r rvu·1c Ssc)o ' si•a t Ynda nGd rPee0k1. ssnoun,' s vr,a twioh. ich repr'e senh PART 2: HOW YOU CAN USE oinnteo cah appratecrti cina le sacchhe dbuoloek. Yeaocuh sdhaoyu. ldT hbeer ea balree t6o2 recvhiaepw
Equation and Variable Names • sIsoppnee cciiffiicc vvoolluumm ee. : TThhies bNoCokE EalSw aHy asn du bs eoso kG ureseeks uvp ,'sa j. THIS BOOK tcpeoarrnsri eoasnnp dob no1do6ikn gdF icaEhg anCpoitsvetirilc sP oerfxa pacrmtaicsce t iicnPe r tophbrilose bmbleosm.o kSs o,i n,a yst ohwue ecnlole meads
This book generally uses the NCE 1:~ fam' ilvia,r aw ictho.n vention that mos t engm. eers wi.l l be ~f ..! ~U ~~II;. A_~T_Ul>.~N_T at least 78 study days. This requires you to treat every
nology and naming conventions Handbook terrni- day the same and work through weekends.
mal, and customary alternativ~ !~:g standard, nor • units: The NCEES H In_ reference to Isaac Asimov's Foundation and Empire
footnotes. For example th NCE n parentheses or generally d andbook and the FE exam tnlogy, you'll soon experience a Seldon crisis. Given all If you'd rather take all the weekends off and otherwise
w"e hnaetr giys ecqoumamtioonn.l"y Tkhn iosw' bno eoa ks BemEoSu lHl.Ia neqdbuoaoti.ko nre faesr st htoe mpoeuannd es~i tmhe asrO s f onarnocdte epmoupnhdass-izfoer cthe. .e " dPioffuenrdens"c e( "blbet"w) ece.an .I tah est fuadcetonrts, (htohwe emxaumch y otium'ree ytaokui nhga, vwe hbaetf yooreu tlheaer neexda mas swt!ilcl k hwaviteh toth eb eognine -cahpapprotexri-mpeart-esltyu d1y1-0d adya ycso nbceefoprte, ytohue
Handbook terminology when ~cknowl:dges the NCEES guishes bet or mass. This book always distin· and yo~ own personality), the behaviors (strategie~ e~am. Use the off days to rest, review, and study ques
but uses the term "BernouUI· emqutar~tiounc"m tgh etrheea feteqru. ation ' mass (Ibm).ween pounds-force (!bf) and pounds- smealfd-ee veidveindte.n t through action) required of you will be tb1e01h:m5 fdr osmch oedthueler ,b yoookus .d Iofn y'ot uh aarvee ptroe stsaekde f otrh eti mdaey osr ogfeft.
Variables Distinction ae t ween Mass and Weight Here are some of those strategies. That will be your choice.
This book makes ever Near the exam date, give yourself a week to take a
Handbook equations ;;~ort to include the NCEES The NCEES Handbo . realistic practice exam, to remedy any weaknesses it
water, ,,,, as _ N ok /Pec~fies the unit weight ol Get the NCEES FE Reference Handbook
NCEES Handbook. Wbi! y as they appear in th 1 9810 exposes, and to recover from the whole ordeal.
represent any quantit . e any symbol can be defin d e ventio.n but t a ke s eve/rmy o·p Thrits bo. ok follows that con· Get a copy of the NCEES Handbook. Use it as you read
ebnogom~se ecrhso iacere o f variail: wmil lanbeyC d8:15es.s<1:, mthilea rN tC EES ;an ~ ~ th ere IS no conce p t of wei. gh~t m utmhet yS It osy pstoeimnt. out that through t~is book. You will want to know the sequence Work Through Everything
there is no co~ccust.omed to. For exam o what most ?f the sections, what data is included, and the approx
NCEES Handb ~pt of weight in the sf1e, although Equation Fonnattlng imate locations of important figures and tables in the NCEES ~as greatly reduced the number of subjects
with units of n~a~n ~denfti nes _W as the symbof~stem, . the NCEES Handbook. You should also know the terminol about which y~u are ~xpected to be knowledgeable and
~mttrho dEu,c iEn,.g, KKEE, . . rWephrieles eenntignign ekeirns eafr e co omr fowretaigbhlet 1:tii:ohnnegs N aaCs EapnEl eSatw hHokarwan adorbdfo osk t n~nigt· eosf cohuatr macatnerys monu lati lseivngell ee qliunae·, otog yd e(wscor~ibdes eaqnuda tpihornass eosr) suusbejde citns ,t hbeec NauCsEe EthSo sHea anrdeb othoek J?eacst sm 1~sd en on oltohnmgegr oap tvioianballe. Spkriepppairnagt iyoonu rs twraetaekgeys.t sYuobu
Handbook uses ;n( : hi~troductory pag: ~~ergy, after terms you will have to look up during the exam. should st:1dy all examination knowledge areas, not just
ntuisastet.ses )s G pfrooerwe kke rion m aestei .c gW ae,w n wie n,r gcstyo t ~IrSTe UpOhrS; ePesdNe ·s nCT Pt EahwneE.na StgNe lrCHy Ecab,oEny nd Sstb eoeoHnm otaN ,:n Cr:da~bEt.ohn EioegS k-r o:~~b ruaybac:lk:tiduiec? ~sa8isnt~-i: 'o gstin .ot t Shissioe tny, i ndlete hqit icuhsaaae ft btti;/ oo;:Con:kns.~ 't dh~i°r~ehe~iescsne eatsbdil noseaogonn.k c d etHh r oseeoqvw fue beramvatrsesea ert ,t ha oeienn mqdn uae oaxtcrtiamuicJorIaalJnyll· f~ot:uekF m_ lN ofgCoc rafEmoteEra, Sta.b nHuT taeh nfqeeduw ~ma otto?ieokern xmi s sooa fra v rtaoheit elhia nebpdrlr eeii xnnbetfo dovt rhtemh risoanirto oipnour ngim nhytaleyoyd.u hTaaenhlrdpee YtneeeOxnurWaom mu:m bgs.e phrte hqcoi~usfae lstbt cy·oih ooaanrkpse taeam·s rn. s dyT ohysuaokr~ui p am rsenetauoasdnt hsyoi nfy gioen.xu p Dshetoroutp disenyeso ettv ooefl i prmyafi s incts hd "tatm hhpgee
I' I' I • Y WJ.11 show you th Handbook. The change in
e equations as the NCBES
PPI • www.ppi2pass.com
