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Georgia Civil Engineer Examination
Advanced Practice Exam 2026 | 100
Questions & Answers with Detailed
Rationales | Complete Exam Prep &
Study Guide
1. A reinforced concrete beam is designed for flexure with a tension-
controlled section. If the effective depth is increased while all other
parameters remain constant, what is the most direct effect on nominal
flexural capacity?
A. It decreases because the lever arm decreases
B. It remains unchanged
C. It generally increases because the internal lever arm increases
D. It becomes independent of reinforcement
Answer: It generally increases because the internal lever arm increases
Rationale: Increasing effective depth increases the distance between the
compression and tension resultants, increasing the internal moment arm and
therefore the nominal flexural strength, assuming the section remains within
the same behavioral regime.
2. A simply supported beam carries a uniformly distributed load of 12 kN/m
over a 6 m span. What is the maximum bending moment?
,A. 36 kN·m
B. 48 kN·m
C. 54 kN·m
D. 72 kN·m
Answer: 54 kN·m
Rationale: For a simply supported beam with uniform load, Mmax = wL²/8 =
12(6²)/8 = 54 kN·m.
3. In an eccentrically loaded reinforced concrete column, increasing the
eccentricity of the axial load generally causes:
A. Lower bending moment and higher axial efficiency
B. Higher bending moment and greater demand on longitudinal reinforcement
C. No change in column behavior
D. Elimination of second-order effects
Answer: Higher bending moment and greater demand on longitudinal
reinforcement
Rationale: The first-order moment is P·e. Increasing eccentricity therefore
increases flexural demand in addition to the axial load.
4. A steel tension member has a gross area of 2,400 mm² and a yield strength
of 345 MPa. Ignoring connection effects, what is its gross-section yield
capacity?
A. 414 kN
B. 690 kN
C. 828 kN
D. 1,035 kN
Answer: 828 kN
Rationale: Yield capacity is FyAg = 345 × 2,400 = 828,000 N = 828 kN.
, 5. Which condition most directly increases the slenderness ratio of a
compression member?
A. Increasing the member area
B. Increasing the yield strength
C. Increasing the effective length while keeping the radius of gyration constant
D. Increasing the radius of gyration
Answer: Increasing the effective length while keeping the radius of gyration
constant
Rationale: Slenderness is proportional to KL/r. A larger effective length increases
KL/r and generally reduces compression capacity.
6. A steel column is braced against sidesway at both ends. Compared with an
unbraced frame, the effective length factor is generally:
A. Greater
B. Equal to infinity
C. Lower because lateral translation is restrained
D. Unrelated to frame stability
Answer: Lower because lateral translation is restrained
Rationale: Bracing reduces frame sway and generally permits a smaller effective
length factor than an otherwise comparable unbraced condition.
7. In soil mechanics, the effective stress in a saturated soil is primarily equal
to:
A. Total stress plus pore-water pressure
B. Pore-water pressure minus total stress
C. Total stress minus pore-water pressure
D. Total stress multiplied by pore-water pressure
Answer: Total stress minus pore-water pressure
, Rationale: Terzaghi’s effective stress relationship is σ′ = σ − u. Effective stress
controls much of the strength and deformation behavior of saturated soils.
8. A normally consolidated clay deposit experiences a sudden increase in
vertical loading. Immediately after loading under undrained conditions, the
pore-water pressure will generally:
A. Become zero
B. Increase significantly
C. Decrease to atmospheric pressure
D. Equal the total stress in every case
Answer: Increase significantly
Rationale: Under rapid undrained loading, water cannot escape readily, so part
of the applied stress is initially carried as excess pore-water pressure.
9. Which laboratory test is most directly used to determine the shear strength
parameters of soil under controlled drainage conditions?
A. Atterberg limits test
B. Hydrometer test
C. Direct shear or triaxial shear test
D. Specific gravity test
Answer: Direct shear or triaxial shear test
Rationale: Direct shear and triaxial tests directly evaluate shear behavior and
can be used to determine parameters such as cohesion and friction angle.
10.A soil has a liquid limit of 55% and a plastic limit of 25%. What is its
plasticity index?
A. 20%
B. 30%
C. 55%
D. 80%
Georgia Civil Engineer Examination
Advanced Practice Exam 2026 | 100
Questions & Answers with Detailed
Rationales | Complete Exam Prep &
Study Guide
1. A reinforced concrete beam is designed for flexure with a tension-
controlled section. If the effective depth is increased while all other
parameters remain constant, what is the most direct effect on nominal
flexural capacity?
A. It decreases because the lever arm decreases
B. It remains unchanged
C. It generally increases because the internal lever arm increases
D. It becomes independent of reinforcement
Answer: It generally increases because the internal lever arm increases
Rationale: Increasing effective depth increases the distance between the
compression and tension resultants, increasing the internal moment arm and
therefore the nominal flexural strength, assuming the section remains within
the same behavioral regime.
2. A simply supported beam carries a uniformly distributed load of 12 kN/m
over a 6 m span. What is the maximum bending moment?
,A. 36 kN·m
B. 48 kN·m
C. 54 kN·m
D. 72 kN·m
Answer: 54 kN·m
Rationale: For a simply supported beam with uniform load, Mmax = wL²/8 =
12(6²)/8 = 54 kN·m.
3. In an eccentrically loaded reinforced concrete column, increasing the
eccentricity of the axial load generally causes:
A. Lower bending moment and higher axial efficiency
B. Higher bending moment and greater demand on longitudinal reinforcement
C. No change in column behavior
D. Elimination of second-order effects
Answer: Higher bending moment and greater demand on longitudinal
reinforcement
Rationale: The first-order moment is P·e. Increasing eccentricity therefore
increases flexural demand in addition to the axial load.
4. A steel tension member has a gross area of 2,400 mm² and a yield strength
of 345 MPa. Ignoring connection effects, what is its gross-section yield
capacity?
A. 414 kN
B. 690 kN
C. 828 kN
D. 1,035 kN
Answer: 828 kN
Rationale: Yield capacity is FyAg = 345 × 2,400 = 828,000 N = 828 kN.
, 5. Which condition most directly increases the slenderness ratio of a
compression member?
A. Increasing the member area
B. Increasing the yield strength
C. Increasing the effective length while keeping the radius of gyration constant
D. Increasing the radius of gyration
Answer: Increasing the effective length while keeping the radius of gyration
constant
Rationale: Slenderness is proportional to KL/r. A larger effective length increases
KL/r and generally reduces compression capacity.
6. A steel column is braced against sidesway at both ends. Compared with an
unbraced frame, the effective length factor is generally:
A. Greater
B. Equal to infinity
C. Lower because lateral translation is restrained
D. Unrelated to frame stability
Answer: Lower because lateral translation is restrained
Rationale: Bracing reduces frame sway and generally permits a smaller effective
length factor than an otherwise comparable unbraced condition.
7. In soil mechanics, the effective stress in a saturated soil is primarily equal
to:
A. Total stress plus pore-water pressure
B. Pore-water pressure minus total stress
C. Total stress minus pore-water pressure
D. Total stress multiplied by pore-water pressure
Answer: Total stress minus pore-water pressure
, Rationale: Terzaghi’s effective stress relationship is σ′ = σ − u. Effective stress
controls much of the strength and deformation behavior of saturated soils.
8. A normally consolidated clay deposit experiences a sudden increase in
vertical loading. Immediately after loading under undrained conditions, the
pore-water pressure will generally:
A. Become zero
B. Increase significantly
C. Decrease to atmospheric pressure
D. Equal the total stress in every case
Answer: Increase significantly
Rationale: Under rapid undrained loading, water cannot escape readily, so part
of the applied stress is initially carried as excess pore-water pressure.
9. Which laboratory test is most directly used to determine the shear strength
parameters of soil under controlled drainage conditions?
A. Atterberg limits test
B. Hydrometer test
C. Direct shear or triaxial shear test
D. Specific gravity test
Answer: Direct shear or triaxial shear test
Rationale: Direct shear and triaxial tests directly evaluate shear behavior and
can be used to determine parameters such as cohesion and friction angle.
10.A soil has a liquid limit of 55% and a plastic limit of 25%. What is its
plasticity index?
A. 20%
B. 30%
C. 55%
D. 80%
