FE Civil Reinforced Concrete Practice
Test 2027 Edition | Updated 2026–27
Questions, Correct Answers & Detailed
Rationales
Question 1
A singly reinforced rectangular concrete beam has a width of 300 mm, effective
depth of 500 mm, concrete compressive strength fc′=28f'_c=28 MPa, and steel
yield strength fy=420f_y=420 MPa. If the tensile reinforcement area is 2,400 mm²,
what is the nominal moment capacity using the rectangular stress-block
approximation with β1=0.85\beta_1=0.85?
A. 380 kN·m
B. 405 kN·m
C. 426 kN·m
D. 462 kN·m
Answer: C. 426 kN·m
,Rationale: The equivalent compression block depth is
a=Asfy/(0.85fc′b)≈158.0a=A_sf_y/(0.85f'_cb)\approx158.0 mm. Thus
Mn=Asfy(d−a/2)≈426M_n=A_sf_y(d-a/2)\approx426 kN·m.
Question 2
For a rectangular reinforced concrete beam, the nominal flexural strength is
governed by the internal couple between the tensile steel force and the concrete
compression resultant. Which expression correctly represents the nominal
moment?
A. Mn=Asfy(d+a/2)M_n=A_sf_y(d+a/2)
B. Mn=Asfy(d−a/2)M_n=A_sf_y(d-a/2)
C. Mn=0.85fc′bd2M_n=0.85f'_cbd^2
D. Mn=Asfy(d−a)M_n=A_sf_y(d-a)
Answer: B. Mn=Asfy(d−a/2)M_n=A_sf_y(d-a/2)
Rationale: The concrete compression resultant acts at the centroid of the
equivalent rectangular compression block, located a/2a/2 from the compression
face. The lever arm is therefore d−a/2d-a/2.
Question 3
A reinforced concrete beam is tension-controlled under a strain-based design
approach. Which condition most directly characterizes this behavior at nominal
strength?
A. Concrete tensile strain reaches 0.003 before steel yields
B. Tensile reinforcement has a sufficiently large tensile strain at nominal strength
C. Compression reinforcement always controls the section
D. Neutral-axis depth is equal to the effective depth
,Answer: B. Tensile reinforcement has a sufficiently large tensile strain at
nominal strength
Rationale: A tension-controlled section develops substantial tensile strain in the
longitudinal reinforcement before concrete crushing, providing significant
ductility and warning before failure.
Question 4
A beam has b=250b=250 mm, d=450d=450 mm, fc′=35f'_c=35 MPa, and
fy=500f_y=500 MPa. If As=1,800A_s=1,800 mm², what is the approximate
equivalent stress-block depth?
A. 86 mm
B. 121 mm
C. 152 mm
D. 180 mm
Answer: B. 121 mm
Rationale: Using a=Asfy/(0.85fc′b)a=A_sf_y/(0.85f'_cb),
a=(1800)(500)/(0.85)(35)(250)≈121a=(1800)(500)/(0.85)(35)(250)\approx121
mm.
Question 5
Increasing the effective depth of a singly reinforced beam while maintaining the
same tensile reinforcement area generally has what effect on nominal flexural
strength?
A. Decreases it substantially
B. Leaves it unchanged
C. Increases it because the internal lever arm increases
D. Causes immediate compression failure
, Answer: C. Increases it because the internal lever arm increases
Rationale: Moment strength depends on the internal lever arm between tension
and compression resultants. Increasing dd generally increases this lever arm and
therefore increases nominal moment capacity.
Question 6
A reinforced concrete beam contains tensile steel that is significantly below the
balanced reinforcement ratio. Which failure mode is most likely?
A. Brittle concrete crushing before significant steel yielding
B. Ductile tensile yielding followed by concrete crushing
C. Pure shear failure before flexural cracking
D. Buckling of the compression flange
Answer: B. Ductile tensile yielding followed by concrete crushing
Rationale: Under-reinforced sections are designed so that tensile reinforcement
yields before the compression concrete reaches its ultimate strain, producing a
more ductile failure.
Question 7
The balanced reinforcement condition in a reinforced concrete rectangular beam
corresponds approximately to:
A. Simultaneous yielding of compression steel and concrete cracking
B. Simultaneous tensile steel yielding and attainment of limiting concrete
compression strain
C. Zero tensile strain and maximum compression strain
D. Maximum shear stress and maximum flexural stress
Test 2027 Edition | Updated 2026–27
Questions, Correct Answers & Detailed
Rationales
Question 1
A singly reinforced rectangular concrete beam has a width of 300 mm, effective
depth of 500 mm, concrete compressive strength fc′=28f'_c=28 MPa, and steel
yield strength fy=420f_y=420 MPa. If the tensile reinforcement area is 2,400 mm²,
what is the nominal moment capacity using the rectangular stress-block
approximation with β1=0.85\beta_1=0.85?
A. 380 kN·m
B. 405 kN·m
C. 426 kN·m
D. 462 kN·m
Answer: C. 426 kN·m
,Rationale: The equivalent compression block depth is
a=Asfy/(0.85fc′b)≈158.0a=A_sf_y/(0.85f'_cb)\approx158.0 mm. Thus
Mn=Asfy(d−a/2)≈426M_n=A_sf_y(d-a/2)\approx426 kN·m.
Question 2
For a rectangular reinforced concrete beam, the nominal flexural strength is
governed by the internal couple between the tensile steel force and the concrete
compression resultant. Which expression correctly represents the nominal
moment?
A. Mn=Asfy(d+a/2)M_n=A_sf_y(d+a/2)
B. Mn=Asfy(d−a/2)M_n=A_sf_y(d-a/2)
C. Mn=0.85fc′bd2M_n=0.85f'_cbd^2
D. Mn=Asfy(d−a)M_n=A_sf_y(d-a)
Answer: B. Mn=Asfy(d−a/2)M_n=A_sf_y(d-a/2)
Rationale: The concrete compression resultant acts at the centroid of the
equivalent rectangular compression block, located a/2a/2 from the compression
face. The lever arm is therefore d−a/2d-a/2.
Question 3
A reinforced concrete beam is tension-controlled under a strain-based design
approach. Which condition most directly characterizes this behavior at nominal
strength?
A. Concrete tensile strain reaches 0.003 before steel yields
B. Tensile reinforcement has a sufficiently large tensile strain at nominal strength
C. Compression reinforcement always controls the section
D. Neutral-axis depth is equal to the effective depth
,Answer: B. Tensile reinforcement has a sufficiently large tensile strain at
nominal strength
Rationale: A tension-controlled section develops substantial tensile strain in the
longitudinal reinforcement before concrete crushing, providing significant
ductility and warning before failure.
Question 4
A beam has b=250b=250 mm, d=450d=450 mm, fc′=35f'_c=35 MPa, and
fy=500f_y=500 MPa. If As=1,800A_s=1,800 mm², what is the approximate
equivalent stress-block depth?
A. 86 mm
B. 121 mm
C. 152 mm
D. 180 mm
Answer: B. 121 mm
Rationale: Using a=Asfy/(0.85fc′b)a=A_sf_y/(0.85f'_cb),
a=(1800)(500)/(0.85)(35)(250)≈121a=(1800)(500)/(0.85)(35)(250)\approx121
mm.
Question 5
Increasing the effective depth of a singly reinforced beam while maintaining the
same tensile reinforcement area generally has what effect on nominal flexural
strength?
A. Decreases it substantially
B. Leaves it unchanged
C. Increases it because the internal lever arm increases
D. Causes immediate compression failure
, Answer: C. Increases it because the internal lever arm increases
Rationale: Moment strength depends on the internal lever arm between tension
and compression resultants. Increasing dd generally increases this lever arm and
therefore increases nominal moment capacity.
Question 6
A reinforced concrete beam contains tensile steel that is significantly below the
balanced reinforcement ratio. Which failure mode is most likely?
A. Brittle concrete crushing before significant steel yielding
B. Ductile tensile yielding followed by concrete crushing
C. Pure shear failure before flexural cracking
D. Buckling of the compression flange
Answer: B. Ductile tensile yielding followed by concrete crushing
Rationale: Under-reinforced sections are designed so that tensile reinforcement
yields before the compression concrete reaches its ultimate strain, producing a
more ductile failure.
Question 7
The balanced reinforcement condition in a reinforced concrete rectangular beam
corresponds approximately to:
A. Simultaneous yielding of compression steel and concrete cracking
B. Simultaneous tensile steel yielding and attainment of limiting concrete
compression strain
C. Zero tensile strain and maximum compression strain
D. Maximum shear stress and maximum flexural stress
