FE Civil Exam Flashcards

Q: How many questions are on the FE Civil exam and how long is it?

The NCEES FE Civil exam has 110 multiple-choice questions. The appointment is about 6 hours, which includes a nondisclosure agreement, an 8-minute tutorial, 5 hours and 20 minutes of actual exam time, and a 25-minute scheduled break you may take when you choose. An on-screen searchable NCEES FE Reference Handbook is the only reference allowed.

Q: What is the FE Civil exam pass rate?

NCEES publishes first-time-taker pass rates around 67% for FE Civil over recent reporting windows. Pass rates for repeat takers are typically lower. NCEES does not release a fixed numeric cut score because results are reported pass/fail using psychometric equating across exam forms.

Q: How much does the FE Civil exam cost?

The NCEES exam fee for FE Civil is $175. State licensing boards may charge separate application or eligibility fees that vary by jurisdiction. Each retake also costs $175 plus any board fees.

Q: Which content areas have the most questions on FE Civil?

FE Civil covers 17 content areas. Structural Engineering and Geotechnical Engineering are the heaviest at 9-14 questions each, followed by Hydraulics & Hydrologic Systems and Transportation Engineering at 8-12 questions each, and Statics and Mathematics & Statistics at 8-12 questions each.

Q: What references can I use during the FE Civil exam?

Only the NCEES FE Reference Handbook is provided as a searchable PDF on-screen. Personal references and notes are not allowed. Only NCEES-approved calculators (Casio FX-115, TI-30X, TI-36X series, HP 33s/35s) may be used. Practicing with the current Handbook PDF is essential preparation.

Question 1

2D Static Equilibrium Equations

Accepted Answer

A planar body is in equilibrium when ΣFx = 0, ΣFy = 0, and ΣM = 0 — three independent equations solving up to three unknown reactions. Statics underpins every structural and geotechnical topic on the FE Civil exam.

Question 2

Truss Determinacy (m + r = 2j)

Accepted Answer

A planar truss is statically determinate when members m plus reactions r equal twice the joints (m + r = 2j). The method of joints then writes two equilibrium equations per pin to solve member forces.

Question 3

Centroid of a Composite Area

Accepted Answer

x̄ = Σ(Aᵢx̄ᵢ)/ΣAᵢ. Locate the centroid before replacing a distributed load with its resultant. Rectangular section I = bh³/12 about its centroid; circular section I = πd⁴/64.

Question 4

Parallel-Axis Theorem

Accepted Answer

Moment of inertia about a parallel axis is I = Ī + Ad², where Ī is the centroidal value and d is the offset distance. A recurring FE Reference Handbook lookup for built-up sections.

Question 5

Impending-Slip Friction

Accepted Answer

On the verge of motion, friction equals the maximum static value F = μₛN, not μₖN. Below impending slip, friction is only as large as equilibrium requires.

Question 6

Constant-Acceleration Kinematics

Accepted Answer

v = v₀ + at, s = s₀ + v₀t + ½at², and v² = v₀² + 2a(s − s₀). Valid only when acceleration is constant. Projectile range on level ground is R = v₀²sin(2θ)/g, maximized at 45°.

Question 7

Newton's Second Law

Accepted Answer

For a particle, ΣF = ma. For rigid-body rotation about the mass center, ΣM = Iα. Draw a dynamic free-body diagram and keep mass units consistent before substituting.

Question 8

Work-Energy vs. Impulse-Momentum

Accepted Answer

Work-energy: net work equals change in kinetic energy, W = ΔKE = ½m(v₂² − v₁²). Linear impulse-momentum: ΣF·Δt = m(v₂ − v₁); momentum is conserved when no external impulse acts.

Question 9

Axial Stress and Deformation

Accepted Answer

Axial normal stress σ = P/A; elastic axial deformation δ = PL/(AE); Hooke's law σ = Eε. These connect external load to stress, strain, and member shortening or elongation.

Question 10

Flexure and Transverse Shear Stress

Accepted Answer

Bending stress σ = Mc/I, maximum at the extreme fiber. Transverse shear stress τ = VQ/(Ib), where Q is the first moment of the area above the cut. Get a moment diagram before applying either.

Question 11

Torsional Shear Stress (Circular Shaft)

Accepted Answer

τ = Tr/J, with J = πd⁴/32 for a solid circular shaft (πr⁴/2). Applies directly to circular sections only; other cross-sections need the handbook's specific relationships.

Question 12

Euler Critical Buckling Load

Accepted Answer

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)². Effective-length factor K: 1.0 pinned-pinned, 0.5 fixed-fixed, 2.0 fixed-free. Buckling controls slender compression members and uses the weak-axis I.

Question 13

Shear and Moment Diagram Relationships

Accepted Answer

The slope of the shear diagram equals the load; the slope of the moment diagram equals the shear (dM/dx = V). Maximum bending moment occurs where shear crosses zero.

Question 14

Concrete Compressive Strength (f′c)

Accepted Answer

Concrete is strong in compression but weak in tension. Design compressive strength f′c is measured on 28-day cylinders per ASTM C39. Concrete behaves brittlely and fails without significant yielding.

Question 15

Structural Steel Grades

Accepted Answer

ASTM A992 (wide-flange) has Fy = 50 ksi, Fu = 65 ksi; ASTM A36 has Fy = 36 ksi. Steel modulus E ≈ 29,000 ksi (200 GPa). Steel is ductile with a defined yield plateau.

Question 16

Standard Material Tests

Accepted Answer

Concrete slump (ASTM C143) measures workability; cylinder compression (ASTM C39) gives f′c; steel tension (ASTM E8) yields Fy and Fu. Knowing the test reference answers many materials items.

Question 17

Hydrostatic Pressure

Accepted Answer

p = γh. For fresh water γ = 9.81 kN/m³ (62.4 lb/ft³), so 5 m of water gives ≈ 49 kPa. Resultant force on a submerged surface uses pressure at the centroid acting at the center of pressure.

Question 18

Continuity Equation

Accepted Answer

For incompressible flow, Q = A₁V₁ = A₂V₂. Halving the diameter quarters the area and quadruples the velocity. The starting point for most pipe and channel-flow problems.

Question 19

Energy (Bernoulli) Equation per Unit Weight

Accepted Answer

p/γ + V²/2g + z + h_pump = (downstream p/γ + V²/2g + z) + h_L. Include pump head and head loss whenever the system has machinery or significant friction.

Question 20

Reynolds Number (Pipe Flow Regime)

Accepted Answer

Re = ρVD/μ = VD/ν. Pipe flow is laminar below Re ≈ 2,100 and turbulent above Re ≈ 4,000. Darcy-Weisbach head loss is h_f = f(L/D)(V²/2g); Hazen-Williams uses empirical coefficient C for water.

Question 21

Manning's Equation (Open Channel)

Accepted Answer

V = (1/n)R^(2/3)S^(1/2) in SI; multiply by 1.486 for US customary units. n is the roughness coefficient and S the channel slope — the core open-channel flow tool.

Question 22

Hydraulic Radius

Accepted Answer

R = A/P, the flow area divided by the wetted perimeter. For a full circular pipe, R = D/4. Used inside Manning's equation and friction-loss calculations.

Question 23

Rational Method (Peak Runoff)

Accepted Answer

Q = CiA. In US units Q is in cfs with rainfall intensity i in in/hr and area A in acres; C is the dimensionless runoff coefficient (higher for impervious surfaces).

Question 24

Darcy's Law (Groundwater)

Accepted Answer

Q = kiA, where k is hydraulic conductivity, i = dh/dL is the hydraulic gradient, and A is the cross-sectional area of flow. Governs seepage and well-flow problems.

Question 25

Critical Flow and Specific Energy

Accepted Answer

Critical flow occurs at Froude number Fr = 1. Specific energy E = y + V²/2g is minimized at the critical depth, the dividing line between subcritical and supercritical flow.

Question 26

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

Accepted Answer

BOD measures the oxygen consumed by microbes degrading organic pollution; higher BOD means more pollution. Dissolved-oxygen saturation in fresh water is ≈ 9 mg/L at 20°C and pH 7.

Question 27

Mass Balance

Accepted Answer

Accumulation = Inflow − Outflow + Generation. At steady state with no reaction, mass in equals mass out. The setup behind most dilution and reactor FE Civil problems.

Question 28

Drinking-Water Treatment Train

Accepted Answer

Conventional sequence under the EPA Safe Drinking Water Act: coagulation → flocculation → sedimentation → filtration → disinfection. Each step removes progressively finer particles and pathogens.

Question 29

EPA Criteria Air Pollutants (NAAQS)

Accepted Answer

The six National Ambient Air Quality Standards pollutants are CO, lead (Pb), NO₂, ozone (O₃), SO₂, and particulate matter (PM₁₀/PM₂.₅).

Question 30

LRFD Gravity Load Combination

Accepted Answer

Basic ASCE 7 Load and Resistance Factor Design combination for typical floor gravity design is 1.2D + 1.6L. LRFD compares factored load to φ·R_n (design strength).

Question 31

ASD vs. LRFD

Accepted Answer

Allowable Strength Design compares service-level demand to nominal strength divided by safety factor Ω. LRFD compares factored loads to φ·R_n. Both target adequate margin against failure by different formats.

Question 32

Simply Supported Beam, Uniform Load

Accepted Answer

For a uniform load w over span L: maximum moment = wL²/8 at midspan and maximum shear = wL/2 at the supports. One of the most-used standard cases on the exam.

Question 33

ACI 318 Reinforced-Concrete Flexure

Accepted Answer

When tension steel yields, nominal moment M_n = A_s·f_y·(d − a/2), with depth of the equivalent stress block a = A_s·f_y / (0.85·f′c·b).

Question 34

Load Types in Structural Design

Accepted Answer

Dead loads (permanent self-weight), live loads (occupancy/use), plus environmental wind, snow, and seismic loads. ASCE 7 governs magnitudes and load combinations.

Question 35

Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)

Accepted Answer

G = gravel, S = sand, M = silt, C = clay, O = organic. Well-graded coarse soils get suffix W, poorly graded get P (e.g., SW, GP). Based on grain size and Atterberg limits.

Question 36

Phase Relationships

Accepted Answer

Void ratio e = V_v/V_s; porosity n = V_v/V_total; degree of saturation S = V_w/V_v. These relate soil volumes of solids, water, and air for weight-volume problems.

Question 37

Effective Stress (Terzaghi)

Accepted Answer

σ′ = σ − u, where σ is total stress and u is pore water pressure. Effective stress controls soil strength and consolidation — pore pressure reduces the stress carried by the soil skeleton.

Question 38

Terzaghi Bearing Capacity

Accepted Answer

Ultimate bearing capacity of a strip footing: q_ult = c·N_c + q·N_q + 0.5·γ·B·N_γ. The N factors depend on the soil friction angle; the three terms are cohesion, surcharge, and footing-width contributions.

Question 39

Rankine Lateral Earth Pressure

Accepted Answer

Active and passive earth pressures use coefficients Ka = tan²(45 − φ/2) and Kp = tan²(45 + φ/2). Active pressure acts when a wall moves away from soil; passive when it pushes into it.

Question 40

Minimum Horizontal Curve Radius

Accepted Answer

R = V² / [15·(e + f)] in US customary units, with V in mph and superelevation e and side-friction factor f as decimals. Sharper curves need more superelevation or lower speed.

Question 41

Stopping Sight Distance (SSD)

Accepted Answer

SSD = 1.47·V·t + V² / [30·(a/32.2 ± G)], where perception-reaction time t is commonly 2.5 s, a is deceleration, and G the grade. Grade lengthens SSD downhill, shortens it uphill.

Question 42

Crest Vertical Curve Length (S < L)

Accepted Answer

For stopping sight distance with sight distance less than curve length, L = A·S² / 2158 (AASHTO design control), where A is the algebraic grade difference in percent.

Question 43

Greenshields Traffic Flow

Accepted Answer

Flow q = k·v (density times speed). Maximum flow q_max occurs at half the jam density and half the free-flow speed. The fundamental relationship of uninterrupted traffic flow.

Question 44

Critical Path Method (CPM) Float

Accepted Answer

Total float = LS − ES = LF − EF. Activities with zero total float lie on the critical path and directly control project duration. Free float = (earliest following ES) − current EF.

Question 45

Earned Value Metrics

Accepted Answer

Cost Variance CV = EV − AC; Schedule Variance SV = EV − PV; SPI = EV/PV; CPI = EV/AC. Values below 1.0 (or negative variances) indicate over budget or behind schedule.

Question 46

OSHA Excavation Protective Systems

Accepted Answer

OSHA 1926 Subpart P requires a protective system — sloping, shoring, or shielding — for excavations 5 ft or deeper unless made entirely in stable rock.

Question 47

Differential Leveling

Accepted Answer

New elevation = known benchmark elevation + backsight (BS) − foresight (FS). The backsight adds to the height of instrument; the foresight subtracts to the new point.

Question 48

Traverse Closure and Precision

Accepted Answer

Linear misclosure = √(ΣLat² + ΣDep²). Precision = misclosure / total traverse length, expressed as a ratio (e.g., 1:10,000). Departure = L·sin(azimuth); Latitude = L·cos(azimuth).

Question 49

Engineering Economics: Interest Factors

Accepted Answer

Single-payment present worth P = F(P/F, i, n) = F/(1+i)ⁿ; capital recovery A = P(A/P, i, n). Draw the cash-flow diagram first; the interest period must match the cash-flow period.

Question 50

Engineer's Paramount Ethical Duty

Accepted Answer

Under the NCEES Model Rules, engineers must hold the public's safety, health, and welfare above duties to clients, employers, and themselves. Engineers may seal only work in their competence and responsible charge.

Free FE Civil Exam Flashcards

Filter by Topic

Jump to Card

About These FE Civil Flashcards

Topics Covered

Frequently Asked Questions

FE Civil

Explore More FE Exam

FE Fundamentals of Engineering

FE Mechanical

FE Chemical

FE Electrical and Computer

FE Environmental

FE Industrial and Systems

More From This Family