PE® Exam Prep 2026 Latest Comprehensive Study Guide with
Practice Questions Professional Engineering Review, Detailed
Solutions, Verified Answers, Success Preparation Workbook
SECTION 1: CIVIL ENGINEERING — STRUCTURAL (Questions 1–15)
1. A simply supported steel beam spans 30 ft and supports a uniformly
distributed load of 2.5 kips/ft (including self-weight). The beam is laterally
braced at the supports only. Using AISC 15th Edition (ASD), what is the
required flexural strength (moment) for this beam?
A) 281.25 ft-kips
B) 168.75 ft-kips
C) 225.00 ft-kips
D) 140.63 ft-kips
2. A reinforced concrete beam has a rectangular cross-section with b = 14 in, d
= 24 in, and is reinforced with 4 #9 bars (As = 4.00 in²). The concrete
compressive strength f'c = 4,000 psi and steel yield strength fy = 60,000 psi.
What is the nominal moment capacity (Mn) of the beam?
A) 420.0 ft-kips
B) 392.4 ft-kips
C) 360.0 ft-kips
D) 450.0 ft-kips
3. A W18×50 steel beam (A992 steel, Fy = 50 ksi) is simply supported over a
span of 25 ft. The beam supports a concentrated load of 40 kips at midspan.
Neglecting self-weight, what is the maximum bending stress in the beam?
A) 20.3 ksi
B) 25.0 ksi
,C) 30.0 ksi
D) 15.6 ksi
4. A column is subjected to an axial load of 200 kips and a moment of 100 ft-
kips. The column has a cross-sectional area of 20 in² and a section modulus of
50 in³. What is the maximum combined stress at the extreme fiber?
A) 14.0 ksi
B) 34.0 ksi
C) 24.0 ksi
D) 44.0 ksi
Rationale:
• A is incorrect: This would be the axial stress only (200/20 = 10 ksi).
• B is correct: The combined stress is calculated as f = P/A ± M/S. P/A =
200/20 = 10 ksi. M/S = (100 × 12) / 50 = 1, = 24 ksi. Maximum
stress = 10 + 24 = 34.0 ksi.
• C is incorrect: 24.0 ksi is the bending stress only.
• D is incorrect: 44.0 ksi would be using an incorrect section modulus.
5. A steel tension member is a ¾-inch thick plate with a width of 8 inches. The
plate has two 7/8-inch diameter bolts in a single line. What is the net area (An)
for tension design?
A) 6.00 in²
B) 4.69 in²
C) 5.25 in²
D) 4.00 in²
6. A reinforced concrete beam has a rectangular cross-section with b = 12 in, d
= 20 in, and is reinforced with 3 #8 bars. The concrete compressive strength
f'c = 3,000 psi and steel yield strength fy = 60,000 psi. What is the design
moment capacity (φMn) of the beam?
,A) 180.0 ft-kips
B) 159.4 ft-kips
C) 200.0 ft-kips
D) 140.0 ft-kips
7. A W14×90 column is 20 ft long and is pinned at both ends. Using A992 steel
(Fy = 50 ksi), what is the design compressive strength (φPn) of the column?
A) 250 kips
B) 405 kips
C) 550 kips
D) 720 kips
Rationale:
• A is incorrect: This would be using an incorrect slenderness calculation.
• B is correct: For a W14×90, A = 26.5 in², rx = 6.14 in, ry = 3.70 in. The
effective length factor K = 1.0 for pinned-pinned. The controlling
slenderness ratio is KL/r = (1.0 × 20 × 12) / 3.70 = .70 = 64.9. Using
AISC column tables, for KL/r ≈ 65 and Fy = 50 ksi, the design compressive
strength φPn ≈ 405 kips.
• C is incorrect: 550 kips would be using a shorter column or larger section.
• D is incorrect: 720 kips would be the squash load (Ag × Fy = 26.5 × 50 =
1,325 kips, reduced).
• Correct Answer: B (405 kips)
8. A simply supported concrete beam spans 20 ft and supports a uniformly
distributed service dead load of 1.5 kips/ft and a service live load of 2.0 kips/ft.
Using LRFD, what is the required factored moment (Mu)?
A) 120.0 ft-kips
B) 187.5 ft-kips
C) 175.0 ft-kips
D) 200.0 ft-kips
, 9. A steel beam is laterally unsupported over a length of 15 ft. The beam is a
W16×40. What is the unbraced length (Lb) for determining the nominal
flexural strength?
A) 5 ft
B) 15 ft
C) 10 ft
D) 20 ft
10. A reinforced concrete column is subjected to an axial load of 500 kips. The
column is 16 in × 16 in with 4 #8 bars (As = 3.16 in²). The concrete strength f'c
= 4,000 psi and steel yield strength fy = 60,000 psi. What is the nominal axial
load capacity (Pn) of the column?
A) 500 kips
B) 764 kips
C) 850 kips
D) 1,000 kips
11. A 30-ft-long steel beam is simply supported and carries a uniformly
distributed load of 3 kips/ft. The beam is a W18×55. What is the maximum
deflection of the beam? (E = 29,000 ksi, I = 890 in⁴)
A) 0.50 in
B) 1.12 in
C) 0.75 in
D) 1.50 in
12. A retaining wall is 20 ft high and supports a soil with a unit weight of 120
pcf and an angle of internal friction of 30°. What is the active earth pressure
(Pa) at the bottom of the wall using Rankine theory?
Practice Questions Professional Engineering Review, Detailed
Solutions, Verified Answers, Success Preparation Workbook
SECTION 1: CIVIL ENGINEERING — STRUCTURAL (Questions 1–15)
1. A simply supported steel beam spans 30 ft and supports a uniformly
distributed load of 2.5 kips/ft (including self-weight). The beam is laterally
braced at the supports only. Using AISC 15th Edition (ASD), what is the
required flexural strength (moment) for this beam?
A) 281.25 ft-kips
B) 168.75 ft-kips
C) 225.00 ft-kips
D) 140.63 ft-kips
2. A reinforced concrete beam has a rectangular cross-section with b = 14 in, d
= 24 in, and is reinforced with 4 #9 bars (As = 4.00 in²). The concrete
compressive strength f'c = 4,000 psi and steel yield strength fy = 60,000 psi.
What is the nominal moment capacity (Mn) of the beam?
A) 420.0 ft-kips
B) 392.4 ft-kips
C) 360.0 ft-kips
D) 450.0 ft-kips
3. A W18×50 steel beam (A992 steel, Fy = 50 ksi) is simply supported over a
span of 25 ft. The beam supports a concentrated load of 40 kips at midspan.
Neglecting self-weight, what is the maximum bending stress in the beam?
A) 20.3 ksi
B) 25.0 ksi
,C) 30.0 ksi
D) 15.6 ksi
4. A column is subjected to an axial load of 200 kips and a moment of 100 ft-
kips. The column has a cross-sectional area of 20 in² and a section modulus of
50 in³. What is the maximum combined stress at the extreme fiber?
A) 14.0 ksi
B) 34.0 ksi
C) 24.0 ksi
D) 44.0 ksi
Rationale:
• A is incorrect: This would be the axial stress only (200/20 = 10 ksi).
• B is correct: The combined stress is calculated as f = P/A ± M/S. P/A =
200/20 = 10 ksi. M/S = (100 × 12) / 50 = 1, = 24 ksi. Maximum
stress = 10 + 24 = 34.0 ksi.
• C is incorrect: 24.0 ksi is the bending stress only.
• D is incorrect: 44.0 ksi would be using an incorrect section modulus.
5. A steel tension member is a ¾-inch thick plate with a width of 8 inches. The
plate has two 7/8-inch diameter bolts in a single line. What is the net area (An)
for tension design?
A) 6.00 in²
B) 4.69 in²
C) 5.25 in²
D) 4.00 in²
6. A reinforced concrete beam has a rectangular cross-section with b = 12 in, d
= 20 in, and is reinforced with 3 #8 bars. The concrete compressive strength
f'c = 3,000 psi and steel yield strength fy = 60,000 psi. What is the design
moment capacity (φMn) of the beam?
,A) 180.0 ft-kips
B) 159.4 ft-kips
C) 200.0 ft-kips
D) 140.0 ft-kips
7. A W14×90 column is 20 ft long and is pinned at both ends. Using A992 steel
(Fy = 50 ksi), what is the design compressive strength (φPn) of the column?
A) 250 kips
B) 405 kips
C) 550 kips
D) 720 kips
Rationale:
• A is incorrect: This would be using an incorrect slenderness calculation.
• B is correct: For a W14×90, A = 26.5 in², rx = 6.14 in, ry = 3.70 in. The
effective length factor K = 1.0 for pinned-pinned. The controlling
slenderness ratio is KL/r = (1.0 × 20 × 12) / 3.70 = .70 = 64.9. Using
AISC column tables, for KL/r ≈ 65 and Fy = 50 ksi, the design compressive
strength φPn ≈ 405 kips.
• C is incorrect: 550 kips would be using a shorter column or larger section.
• D is incorrect: 720 kips would be the squash load (Ag × Fy = 26.5 × 50 =
1,325 kips, reduced).
• Correct Answer: B (405 kips)
8. A simply supported concrete beam spans 20 ft and supports a uniformly
distributed service dead load of 1.5 kips/ft and a service live load of 2.0 kips/ft.
Using LRFD, what is the required factored moment (Mu)?
A) 120.0 ft-kips
B) 187.5 ft-kips
C) 175.0 ft-kips
D) 200.0 ft-kips
, 9. A steel beam is laterally unsupported over a length of 15 ft. The beam is a
W16×40. What is the unbraced length (Lb) for determining the nominal
flexural strength?
A) 5 ft
B) 15 ft
C) 10 ft
D) 20 ft
10. A reinforced concrete column is subjected to an axial load of 500 kips. The
column is 16 in × 16 in with 4 #8 bars (As = 3.16 in²). The concrete strength f'c
= 4,000 psi and steel yield strength fy = 60,000 psi. What is the nominal axial
load capacity (Pn) of the column?
A) 500 kips
B) 764 kips
C) 850 kips
D) 1,000 kips
11. A 30-ft-long steel beam is simply supported and carries a uniformly
distributed load of 3 kips/ft. The beam is a W18×55. What is the maximum
deflection of the beam? (E = 29,000 ksi, I = 890 in⁴)
A) 0.50 in
B) 1.12 in
C) 0.75 in
D) 1.50 in
12. A retaining wall is 20 ft high and supports a soil with a unit weight of 120
pcf and an angle of internal friction of 30°. What is the active earth pressure
(Pa) at the bottom of the wall using Rankine theory?
