Thanks to Sean MacEntee (Flickr)
Principles and Practice of Engineering Structural Engineering Exam Specifications
By the NCEES as of April 2012
Day 1- AM Vertical Forces
Vertical Forces (Gravity/Other) and Incidental Lateral Component of the Structural Engineering BREADTH Exam Specifications
• The 4-hour Vertical Forces (Gravity/Other) and Incidental Lateral breadth examination is offered on Friday morning and focuses on gravity loads. It contains 40 multiple-choice questions.
• The exam uses the US Customary System (USCS) of units.
• The exam is developed with questions that will require a variety of approaches and methodologies,
including design, analysis, and application.
• The knowledge areas specified as examples of kinds of knowledge are not exclusive or exhaustive categories.
• Score results are combined with depth exam results for final score of this component.
I. Analysis of Structures 30%
A. Loads 10%
1. Dead
2. Live
3. Snow, including drifting
4. Moving (e.g., vehicular, pedestrian, crane)
5. Thermal
6. Shrinkage and creep
7. Impact (e.g., vehicular, crane, and elevator)
8. Settlement
9. Ponding
10. Fluid
11. Ice
12. Static earth pressure
13. Hydrostatic
14. Hydraulics (e.g., stream flow, wave action, scour, flood)
B. Methods 20%
1. Statics (e.g., determinate, location of forces and moments, free-body diagrams)
2. Shear and moment diagrams
3. Code coefficients and tables
4. Computer-generated structural analysis techniques
(e.g., modeling, interpreting, and verifying results)
5. Simplified analysis methods (e.g., influence lines, portal frame method/cantilever method)
6. Indeterminate analysis methods (e.g., deflection compatibility)
II. Design and Details of Structures 65%
A. General Structural Considerations 7.5%
1. Material properties and standards
2. Load combinations
3. Serviceability requirements
(a) Deflection (b) Camber (c) Vibration
4. Fatigue(for AASHTO concrete and steel)
5. Bearings
6. Expansion joints
7. Corrosion
B. Structural Systems Integration 2.5%
1. Specifications, quality controls and coordination with
other disciplines
2. Constructability
3. Construction sequencing
4. Strengthening existing systems: reinforcing methods
C. Structural Steel 12.5%
1. Tension members
2. Columns and compression members
3. Base plates
4. Beams
5. Plate girders—straight
6. Plate girders—curved
7. Trusses
8. Beam-columns
9. Connections—welded
10. Connections—bolted
11. Moment connections
12. Weld design
13. Composite steel design
14. Relief angle (e.g., masonry support angle, facade
support angle)
15. Bridge piers
16. Bridge cross-frame diaphragms
D. Light Gage/Cold-Formed Steel 2.5%
1. Framing
2. Connections
3. Web crippling
E. Concrete 12.5%
1. Flexural members (e.g., beams, joists, bridge decks, and slabs)
2. Design for shear
3. Columns and compression members
4. Two-way slab systems
5. Pre-tensioned concrete
6. Post-tensioned concrete
7. Attachment of elements and anchorage to concrete (e.g., inserts, attachment plates, dowels)
8. Bridge piers
9. Crack control
10. Composite design
11. Slab-on-grade
F. Wood 10%
1. Sawn beams
2. Glue-laminated beams
3. Engineered lumber
4. Columns
5. Bearing walls
6. Trusses
7. Bolted, nailed, and screwed connections
G. Masonry 7.5%
1. Flexural members
2. Compression members
3. Bearing walls
4. Detailing (e.g., crack control, deflection, masonry openings)
H. Foundations and Retaining Structures 10%
1. Use of design pressure coefficients (e.g., active, passive,
at rest, bearing, coefficient of friction, cohesion)
2. Selection of foundation systems (e.g., based on geotechnical information, boring logs, settlement, and groundwater table)
3. Overturning, sliding and bearing
4. Combined footings/mat foundations
5. Piles (concrete, steel, timber)
6. Drilled shafts/drilled piers/caissons
7. Gravity walls
8. Anchored walls
9. Cantilever walls
10. Basement walls for buildings
11. Effect of adjacent loads
12. Use of modulus of sub-grade reaction
III. Construction Administration 5%
A. Procedures for Mitigating Nonconforming Work
B. Inspection Methods
Day 1 -PM Vertical Forces
Vertical Forces (Gravity/Other) and Incidental Lateral Component of the Structural Engineering DEPTH Exam Specifications
Effective Beginning with the April 2011 Examination
The 4-hour Vertical Forces (Gravity/Other) and Incidental Lateral depth examination is offered on Friday afternoon. The depth modules of the Structural Engineering exam focus on a single area of practice in structural engineering. Examinees must choose either the BUILDINGS or the BRIDGES module. Examinees must work the same module on both components. That is, if bridges is the module chosen in the Vertical Forces component, then bridges must be the module chosen in the Lateral Forces component. All questions are constructed response (essay).
The exam uses the US Customary System (USCS) of units.
BUILDINGS
The Vertical Forces (Gravity/Other) and Incidental Lateral Structural Engineering depth exam in BUILDINGS covers loads, lateral earth pressures, analysis methods, general structural considerations (element design), structural systems integration (connections), and foundations and retaining structures. This 4-hour module contains one problem from each of the following areas:
• Steel structure
• Concrete structure
• Wood structure
• Masonry structure
All problems are equally weighted. At least one problem includes a multistory building, and at least one problem includes a foundation.
BRIDGES
The Vertical Forces (Gravity/Other) and Incidental Lateral Structural Engineering depth exam in BRIDGES covers gravity loads, superstructures, substructures, and lateral loads other than wind and seismic and may test pedestrian bridge and/or vehicular bridge knowledge. This 4-hour module contains three problems, one from each of the following areas:
• Concrete superstructure (25% of your score)
• Other elements of bridges (e.g., culverts, abutments, retaining walls) (25% of your score)
• Steel superstructure (50% of your score)
Day 2 – AM – Lateral Forces
Lateral Forces (Wind/Earthquake) Component of the Structural Engineering BREADTH Exam Specifications
• The 4-hour Lateral Forces (Wind/Earthquake) breadth examination is offered on Saturday morning and focuses on wind/earthquake loads. It contains 40 multiple-choice questions.
• The exam uses the US Customary System (USCS) of units.
• The exam is developed with questions that will require a variety of approaches and methodologies,
including design, analysis, and application.
• The knowledge areas specified as examples of kinds of knowledge are not exclusive or exhaustive categories.
• Score results are combined with depth exam results for final score of this component.
I. Analysis of Structures 37%
A. Lateral Forces 10%
1. Wind
3. Horizontal seismic
4. Vertical seismic
5. Dynamic earth pressure
B. Lateral Force Distribution 22%
1. Statics (e.g., determinate and indeterminate,
location of forces and moments, free-body
diagrams)
2. Seismic design categories (C and lower)
3. Seismic design categories (D and higher)
4. Seismic static force procedures
5. Seismic dynamic force procedures
6. Configuration of a structural system to resist
effects of horizontal torsional moments
7. Relative rigidity force distribution
8. Horizontal/plan and vertical irregularities
9. Flexible diaphragms
10. Rigid diaphragms
11. Simplified wind
12. Wind analytic procedures
13. Wind components and cladding
14. Main wind force resisting systems
C. Methods 5%
1. Computer-generated structural analysis techniques
(e.g., modeling, interpreting, and verifying results)
2. Simplified analysis methods (e.g., influence lines,
portal frame method/cantilever method) 1
II. Design and Detailing of Structures 60%
A. General Structural Considerations 7.5%
1. Load combinations
2. Serviceability requirements: building drift
3. Anchorage of a structural system to resist uplift
and sliding forces
4. Components, attachments, and cladding
5. Redundancy factors
6. Overstrength
7. Ductility requirements
8. Abutment/pier seat width
B. Structural Systems Integration 5%
1. Structural systems to resist effects of lateral forces
2. Constructability
3. Strengthening existing systems: seismic retrofit
a. Details
b. System compatibility
C. Structural Steel 10%
1. Ordinary moment frames
2. Intermediate moment-resisting frames
3. Special moment-resisting frames
4. Bracing
5. Ordinary concentric braced frames
6. Special concentric braced frames
7. Eccentric braced frames
8. Bridge piers
D. Light Gage/Cold-Formed Steel 2.5%
1. Metal deck diaphragms
2. Light-framed wall systems (e.g., shearwall systems)
E. Concrete 12.5%
1. Ordinary or intermediate shear walls
2. Special shear walls
3. Ordinary or intermediate moment-resisting frames
4. Special moment-resisting frames
5. Diaphragms
6. Reinforcement details (e.g., ductile detailing,
anchorage)
7. Bridge piers
8. Tilt-up construction
F. Wood 7.5%
1. Shear walls
2. Plywood diaphragms (e.g., drag struts, chords)
3. Plywood sub-diaphragms
G. Masonry 7.5%
1. Flexural-compression members
2. Slender walls
3. Ordinary or intermediate shear walls
4. Special shear walls
5. Anchorage for walls (e.g., out-of-plane)
6. Attachment of elements to masonry
H. Foundations and Retaining Structures 7.5%
1. Spread footings
2. Piles (concrete, steel, timber)
3. Drilled shafts/drilled piers/caissons
III. Construction Administration 3%
A. Structural observation
Day 2 – PM – Afternoon (Depth Module)
Lateral Forces (Wind/Earthquake) Component of the Structural Engineering DEPTH Exam Specifications
The 4-hour Lateral Forces (Wind/Earthquake) depth examination is offered on Saturday afternoon. The depth modules of the Structural Engineering exam focus on a single area of practice in structural engineering. Examinees must choose either the BUILDINGS or the BRIDGES module. Examinees must work the same module on both components. That is, if bridges is the module chosen in the Vertical Forces component, then bridges must be the module chosen in the Lateral Forces component. All questions are constructed response (essay).
The exam uses the US Customary System (USCS) of units.
BUILDINGS
The Lateral Forces (Wind/Earthquake) Structural Engineering depth exam in BUILDINGS covers lateral forces, lateral force distribution, analysis methods, general structural considerations (element design), structural systems integration (connections), and foundations and retaining structures. This 4-hour module contains one problem from each of the following areas:
• Steel structure
• Concrete structure
• Wood and/or masonry structure
• General analysis (e.g., existing structures, secondary structures, nonbuilding structures, and/or
computer verification)
All problems are equally weighted.
At least two problems include seismic content at Seismic Design Category D and above. At least one problem includes wind content of at least 110 mph.
Problems may include a multistory building.
Problems may include a foundation.
BRIDGES
The Lateral Forces (Wind/Earthquake) Structural Engineering depth exam in BRIDGES covers gravity loads, superstructures, substructures, and lateral forces and may test pedestrian bridge and/or vehicular bridge knowledge. This 4-hour module contains three problems, one from each of the following areas:
• Columns (25% of your score)
• Footings (25% of your score)
• General analysis (i.e., seismic and/or wind) (50% of your score)
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STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING Design Standards1
Taken from NCEES as of April 2012
These standards apply to the Vertical and Lateral components of the Structural Engineering exam.
AASHTO AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, 5th edition, 2010, American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials, Washington, DC. The 2010 interim is not required.
2009 IBC International Building Code, 2009 edition (without supplements), International Code Council, Falls Church, VA.
ASCE 7-05 Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, 2005, American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston, VA.
ACI 318-08 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete, 2008, American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI.
AISC 13th Steel Construction Manual, 13th edition, American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc., Chicago, IL.
AISC-Seismic Seismic Design Manual, 2nd printing (October 2006) or 3rd printing (March 2008), American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc., Chicago, IL.
AISI North American Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members, 2007 edition, American Iron and Steel Institute, Washington, DC.
NDS-05 National Design Specification for Wood Construction ASD/LRFD, 2005 edition & National Design Specification Supplement, Design Values for Wood Construction, 2005 edition, American Forest & Paper Association, Washington, DC.
NDS-SDPWS Special Design Provisions for Wind and Seismic with Commentary, 2008 edition, American Forest & Paper Association, Washington, DC.
PCI PCI Design Handbook: Precast and Prestressed Concrete, 6th edition, 2004, Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute, Chicago, IL.
ACI 530 Building Code Requirements and Specifications for Masonry Structures (and related commentaries), 2008; The Masonry Society, Boulder, CO; American Concrete Institute, Detroit, MI; and Structural Engineering Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston, VA.
Notes
1. Solutions to exam questions that reference a standard of practice are scored based on this list. Solutions based on other editions or standards will not receive credit. All questions use the US Customary System (USCS) of units.
2. Examinees will use only the Allowable Stress Design (ASD) method, except strength design Section 3.3.5 may be used for walls with out-of-plane loads.
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Additional Reference Materials and Resources Needed for the Civil PE Exam
Design Standards Library
First, gather all of the references that NCEES has specified to be covered on the exam. If you are taking a depth module that cites specific references (such as Structural, Transportation, and the Construction depth modules), you certainly want to gather those materials for your depth module. Also, consider some of the materials for your breadth exam library as well. I have mentioned steel before, and underscore it is an important reference.
Reference Guide
Try to find a good reference guide that covers most of the material. Guides such as the Structural Engineering Reference Manual are a must. There are other publishers, but
Practice Problems
One of the keys to passing the PE Exam is to work a ton of problems. You will need to obtain plenty of practice problems.
Sample Exam
To get a feel for the exam day experience, and also to help you ascertain where you are in your studies, you will need to take a sample exam about half-way to two-thirds of the way through your preparation.
Calculator -
Of course you will need an approved calculator as well.
