KENTUCKY PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER (PE) EXAMINATION PRACTICE TEST EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A |LATEST EXAM
UPDATE 2026/2027
Core Domains
Structural Engineering and Mechanics
Geotechnical and Foundation Engineering
Water Resources and Environmental Engineering
Transportation and Geometric Design
Construction Engineering and Project Management
Professional Ethics and Practice
Materials Science and Concrete Design
IntroductionThe purpose of this examination is to evaluate the technical competence, problem-solving
abilities, and professional readiness of engineering candidates seeking licensure. The skills and
knowledge assessed encompass fundamental engineering principles, advanced design methodologies,
and regulatory compliance standards applicable to professional practice. Utilizing a combination of
multiple-choice and complex scenario-based structures, the assessment rigorously tests the candidate's
capacity for analytical reasoning. There is a primary emphasis on real-world application, safety
considerations, and ethical decision-making in complex professional situations, ensuring that only
qualified practitioners advance public welfare, health, and safety.
A reinforced concrete beam has a width of 12 inches and an effective depth of 18 inches. If the
concrete compressive strength is 4,000 psi and the steel yield strength is 60,000 psi, what is the
nominal moment strength of the section assuming a tension-controlled failure with an area of steel
reinforcement of 2.50 square inches?
,A. 195 kip-ft
🟢 B. 218 kip-ft
C. 245 kip-ft
D. 280 kip-ft
🔴 RATIONALE: The nominal moment strength Mn = As fy (d − a/2) where a = As fy /(0.85fc′ b).
Calculating depth of stress block a = (2.50 × 60)/(0.85 × 4 × 12) = 3.68 inches. Then Mn =
2.50 × 60 × (18 − 3.68/2) = 2, 418 kip-in, which converts to 218.2 kip-ft.
A saturated clay soil has a cohesion intercept of 15 kPa and an angle of internal friction of zero
degrees in an undrained triaxial test. What is the shear strength of this soil at a total normal stress
of 100 kPa under consolidated-undrained conditions with pore water pressure measurement of 40
kPa?
A. 15 kPa
B. 35 kPa
🟢 C. 15 kPa
D. 60 kPa
🔴 RATIONALE: In an undrained test of saturated clay, the undrained shear strength is equal to
the cohesion intercept cu and is independent of the total normal stress or pore pressure changes,
remaining at 15 kPa.
A circular storm sewer pipe with a diameter of 36 inches is laid on a slope of 0.005. Using
Manning's roughness coefficient of 0.013, what is the full-flow capacity of the pipe in cubic feet per
second?
A. 52.4 cfs
B. 68.1 cfs
🟢 C. 45.2 cfs
,D. 38.9 cfs
🔴 RATIONALE: Manning's equation Q = (1.486/n)AR2/3 S 1/2 . For D = 3 ft, area A = 7.069 sq
ft, hydraulic radius R = 0.75 ft. Q = (1.486/0.013) × 7.069 × (0.75)2/3 × (0.005)1/2 = 45.2 cfs.
Which of the following fundamental canons in the ASCE Code of Ethics holds the highest priority
for a professional engineer?
A. Perform services only in areas of their competence.
B. Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.
🟢 C. Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.
D. Act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees.
🔴 RATIONALE: The paramount rule in engineering ethics is the protection of public safety, health,
and welfare, superseding all other professional obligations.
A horizontal curve on a rural highway has a radius of 850 feet and a design speed of 60 mph. If the
maximum superelevation rate is 0.08, what is the approximate minimum required superelevation
rate?
🟢 A. 0.052
B. 0.035
C. 0.071
D. 0.080
🔴 RATIONALE: Using AASHTO guidelines relating speed, radius, and maximum superelevation,
the required superelevation for a 60 mph design speed on an 850 ft radius curve evaluates to
approximately 0.052.
A project has an initial investment of 500,000 dollars and generates uniform annual net revenues of
95,000 dollars for 8 years. If the MARR is 8 percent, what is the net present value of the project?
A. 14,200 dollars
, 🟢 B. 44,850 dollars
C. 89,300 dollars
D. 112,050 dollars
🔴 RATIONALE: The present worth of annual revenues is 95, 000 × (P /A, 8 dollars. Subtracting
the initial investment of 500,000 dollars yields an NPV of 45,927 dollars, closest to 44,850 dollars
depending on factor rounding.
In a standard Proctor compaction test, if the moisture content of the soil increases on the dry side
of optimum, what happens to the dry unit weight?
A. Decreases
🟢 B. Increases
C. Remains constant
D. Fluctuates randomly
🔴 RATIONALE: On the dry side of the moisture-unit weight curve, adding water facilitates better
particle lubrication and denser packing, increasing the dry unit weight until optimum moisture is
reached.
A wide-flange steel beam W14x90 is subjected to a maximum bending moment. The plastic section
modulus Zx is 157 cubic inches and the yield stress is 50 ksi. What is the nominal plastic moment
capacity Mp ?
A. 650 kip-ft
B. 720 kip-ft
🟢 C. 654 kip-ft
D. 785 kip-ft
🔴 RATIONALE: The plastic moment capacity Mp = Zx × Fy = 157 in3 × 50 ksi = 7, 850 kip-in
. Dividing by 12 gives 654.17 kip-ft.
AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A |LATEST EXAM
UPDATE 2026/2027
Core Domains
Structural Engineering and Mechanics
Geotechnical and Foundation Engineering
Water Resources and Environmental Engineering
Transportation and Geometric Design
Construction Engineering and Project Management
Professional Ethics and Practice
Materials Science and Concrete Design
IntroductionThe purpose of this examination is to evaluate the technical competence, problem-solving
abilities, and professional readiness of engineering candidates seeking licensure. The skills and
knowledge assessed encompass fundamental engineering principles, advanced design methodologies,
and regulatory compliance standards applicable to professional practice. Utilizing a combination of
multiple-choice and complex scenario-based structures, the assessment rigorously tests the candidate's
capacity for analytical reasoning. There is a primary emphasis on real-world application, safety
considerations, and ethical decision-making in complex professional situations, ensuring that only
qualified practitioners advance public welfare, health, and safety.
A reinforced concrete beam has a width of 12 inches and an effective depth of 18 inches. If the
concrete compressive strength is 4,000 psi and the steel yield strength is 60,000 psi, what is the
nominal moment strength of the section assuming a tension-controlled failure with an area of steel
reinforcement of 2.50 square inches?
,A. 195 kip-ft
🟢 B. 218 kip-ft
C. 245 kip-ft
D. 280 kip-ft
🔴 RATIONALE: The nominal moment strength Mn = As fy (d − a/2) where a = As fy /(0.85fc′ b).
Calculating depth of stress block a = (2.50 × 60)/(0.85 × 4 × 12) = 3.68 inches. Then Mn =
2.50 × 60 × (18 − 3.68/2) = 2, 418 kip-in, which converts to 218.2 kip-ft.
A saturated clay soil has a cohesion intercept of 15 kPa and an angle of internal friction of zero
degrees in an undrained triaxial test. What is the shear strength of this soil at a total normal stress
of 100 kPa under consolidated-undrained conditions with pore water pressure measurement of 40
kPa?
A. 15 kPa
B. 35 kPa
🟢 C. 15 kPa
D. 60 kPa
🔴 RATIONALE: In an undrained test of saturated clay, the undrained shear strength is equal to
the cohesion intercept cu and is independent of the total normal stress or pore pressure changes,
remaining at 15 kPa.
A circular storm sewer pipe with a diameter of 36 inches is laid on a slope of 0.005. Using
Manning's roughness coefficient of 0.013, what is the full-flow capacity of the pipe in cubic feet per
second?
A. 52.4 cfs
B. 68.1 cfs
🟢 C. 45.2 cfs
,D. 38.9 cfs
🔴 RATIONALE: Manning's equation Q = (1.486/n)AR2/3 S 1/2 . For D = 3 ft, area A = 7.069 sq
ft, hydraulic radius R = 0.75 ft. Q = (1.486/0.013) × 7.069 × (0.75)2/3 × (0.005)1/2 = 45.2 cfs.
Which of the following fundamental canons in the ASCE Code of Ethics holds the highest priority
for a professional engineer?
A. Perform services only in areas of their competence.
B. Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.
🟢 C. Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.
D. Act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees.
🔴 RATIONALE: The paramount rule in engineering ethics is the protection of public safety, health,
and welfare, superseding all other professional obligations.
A horizontal curve on a rural highway has a radius of 850 feet and a design speed of 60 mph. If the
maximum superelevation rate is 0.08, what is the approximate minimum required superelevation
rate?
🟢 A. 0.052
B. 0.035
C. 0.071
D. 0.080
🔴 RATIONALE: Using AASHTO guidelines relating speed, radius, and maximum superelevation,
the required superelevation for a 60 mph design speed on an 850 ft radius curve evaluates to
approximately 0.052.
A project has an initial investment of 500,000 dollars and generates uniform annual net revenues of
95,000 dollars for 8 years. If the MARR is 8 percent, what is the net present value of the project?
A. 14,200 dollars
, 🟢 B. 44,850 dollars
C. 89,300 dollars
D. 112,050 dollars
🔴 RATIONALE: The present worth of annual revenues is 95, 000 × (P /A, 8 dollars. Subtracting
the initial investment of 500,000 dollars yields an NPV of 45,927 dollars, closest to 44,850 dollars
depending on factor rounding.
In a standard Proctor compaction test, if the moisture content of the soil increases on the dry side
of optimum, what happens to the dry unit weight?
A. Decreases
🟢 B. Increases
C. Remains constant
D. Fluctuates randomly
🔴 RATIONALE: On the dry side of the moisture-unit weight curve, adding water facilitates better
particle lubrication and denser packing, increasing the dry unit weight until optimum moisture is
reached.
A wide-flange steel beam W14x90 is subjected to a maximum bending moment. The plastic section
modulus Zx is 157 cubic inches and the yield stress is 50 ksi. What is the nominal plastic moment
capacity Mp ?
A. 650 kip-ft
B. 720 kip-ft
🟢 C. 654 kip-ft
D. 785 kip-ft
🔴 RATIONALE: The plastic moment capacity Mp = Zx × Fy = 157 in3 × 50 ksi = 7, 850 kip-in
. Dividing by 12 gives 654.17 kip-ft.
