TEXAS PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER CIVIL
ENGINEERING LICENSING EXAM ACTUAL
2026 VERIFIED QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
COMPREHENSIVE & RATIONALE|INSTANT
DOWNLOAD
1. A civil engineer designing a reinforced concrete beam determines
that the ultimate bending moment is 180 kip-ft. If the nominal
moment capacity of the beam is 240 kip-ft and the strength
reduction factor (φ) is 0.9, what is the design strength of the beam?
A. 180 kip-ft
B. 216 kip-ft
C. 240 kip-ft
D. 267 kip-ft
Answer: B. 216 kip-ft
Rationale: The design strength is calculated as φMn, where φ is the
strength reduction factor and Mn is nominal moment capacity.
Therefore, 0.9 × 240 = 216 kip-ft. The design strength must exceed the
factored demand for adequate structural safety.
2. According to the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and
Land Surveyors, the primary responsibility of a licensed
professional engineer is to:
A. Maximize project profitability
B. Protect public health, safety, and welfare
C. Reduce construction costs
D. Complete projects ahead of schedule
Answer: B. Protect public health, safety, and welfare
1
,Rationale: Engineering licensure exists primarily to protect the public.
Professional engineers must prioritize safety, ethical practice, and
compliance with applicable engineering standards over economic
considerations.
3. A soil sample has a void ratio of 0.75. The relationship between
void ratio (e) and porosity (n) is:
A. n = e/(1+e)
B. n = 1/e
C. n = e(1+e)
D. n = e²/(1+e)
Answer: A. n = e/(1+e)
Rationale: Porosity is the ratio of void volume to total volume. Since
total volume equals solids volume plus void volume, porosity is
calculated as n = e/(1+e). For e = 0.75, n = 0.429 or 42.9%.
4. A highway curve has a radius of 1,000 ft and a design speed of 60
mph. The primary factor controlling the required superelevation is:
A. Pavement thickness
B. Vehicle weight only
C. Centrifugal force
D. Drainage capacity
Answer: C. Centrifugal force
Rationale: Superelevation counteracts centrifugal forces generated
when vehicles travel around horizontal curves. Proper design balances
speed, radius, friction, and roadway banking.
2
,5. In reinforced concrete design, the purpose of steel reinforcement
is primarily to:
A. Increase concrete compressive strength only
B. Resist tensile stresses
C. Eliminate cracking completely
D. Reduce dead load
Answer: B. Resist tensile stresses
Rationale: Concrete performs well under compression but poorly
under tension. Reinforcing steel provides tensile resistance and
improves ductility and structural performance.
6. A water distribution pipe experiences head loss due to friction.
Which equation is commonly used for pressurized water pipe
design?
A. Bernoulli equation
B. Manning equation
C. Hazen-Williams equation
D. Darcy equation only
Answer: C. Hazen-Williams equation
Rationale: The Hazen-Williams equation is widely used in civil
engineering for estimating friction losses in water supply systems. It
relates head loss to pipe diameter, flow rate, length, and roughness
coefficient.
7. A project manager discovers that a contractor has substituted
materials without approval. The engineer should first:
A. Ignore the change if construction continues
B. Approve the substitution verbally
3
, C. Require documentation and review compliance
D. Immediately terminate the contractor
Answer: C. Require documentation and review compliance
Rationale: Engineers must verify that substitutions meet design
requirements, specifications, and safety standards. Proper
documentation protects public safety and professional accountability.
8. The critical path in a construction schedule represents:
A. The cheapest project activities
B. Activities with the most workers
C. The longest sequence of dependent activities
D. Activities requiring permits
Answer: C. The longest sequence of dependent activities
Rationale: The critical path determines the minimum project duration.
Any delay in critical path activities delays the entire project completion
date.
9. The active earth pressure condition occurs when:
A. A retaining wall moves toward the soil
B. Soil is compressed against a wall
C. A wall moves away from retained soil
D. No movement occurs
Answer: C. A wall moves away from retained soil
Rationale: Active earth pressure develops when a retaining structure
yields sufficiently away from the soil mass, allowing lateral stress
reduction.
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ENGINEERING LICENSING EXAM ACTUAL
2026 VERIFIED QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
COMPREHENSIVE & RATIONALE|INSTANT
DOWNLOAD
1. A civil engineer designing a reinforced concrete beam determines
that the ultimate bending moment is 180 kip-ft. If the nominal
moment capacity of the beam is 240 kip-ft and the strength
reduction factor (φ) is 0.9, what is the design strength of the beam?
A. 180 kip-ft
B. 216 kip-ft
C. 240 kip-ft
D. 267 kip-ft
Answer: B. 216 kip-ft
Rationale: The design strength is calculated as φMn, where φ is the
strength reduction factor and Mn is nominal moment capacity.
Therefore, 0.9 × 240 = 216 kip-ft. The design strength must exceed the
factored demand for adequate structural safety.
2. According to the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and
Land Surveyors, the primary responsibility of a licensed
professional engineer is to:
A. Maximize project profitability
B. Protect public health, safety, and welfare
C. Reduce construction costs
D. Complete projects ahead of schedule
Answer: B. Protect public health, safety, and welfare
1
,Rationale: Engineering licensure exists primarily to protect the public.
Professional engineers must prioritize safety, ethical practice, and
compliance with applicable engineering standards over economic
considerations.
3. A soil sample has a void ratio of 0.75. The relationship between
void ratio (e) and porosity (n) is:
A. n = e/(1+e)
B. n = 1/e
C. n = e(1+e)
D. n = e²/(1+e)
Answer: A. n = e/(1+e)
Rationale: Porosity is the ratio of void volume to total volume. Since
total volume equals solids volume plus void volume, porosity is
calculated as n = e/(1+e). For e = 0.75, n = 0.429 or 42.9%.
4. A highway curve has a radius of 1,000 ft and a design speed of 60
mph. The primary factor controlling the required superelevation is:
A. Pavement thickness
B. Vehicle weight only
C. Centrifugal force
D. Drainage capacity
Answer: C. Centrifugal force
Rationale: Superelevation counteracts centrifugal forces generated
when vehicles travel around horizontal curves. Proper design balances
speed, radius, friction, and roadway banking.
2
,5. In reinforced concrete design, the purpose of steel reinforcement
is primarily to:
A. Increase concrete compressive strength only
B. Resist tensile stresses
C. Eliminate cracking completely
D. Reduce dead load
Answer: B. Resist tensile stresses
Rationale: Concrete performs well under compression but poorly
under tension. Reinforcing steel provides tensile resistance and
improves ductility and structural performance.
6. A water distribution pipe experiences head loss due to friction.
Which equation is commonly used for pressurized water pipe
design?
A. Bernoulli equation
B. Manning equation
C. Hazen-Williams equation
D. Darcy equation only
Answer: C. Hazen-Williams equation
Rationale: The Hazen-Williams equation is widely used in civil
engineering for estimating friction losses in water supply systems. It
relates head loss to pipe diameter, flow rate, length, and roughness
coefficient.
7. A project manager discovers that a contractor has substituted
materials without approval. The engineer should first:
A. Ignore the change if construction continues
B. Approve the substitution verbally
3
, C. Require documentation and review compliance
D. Immediately terminate the contractor
Answer: C. Require documentation and review compliance
Rationale: Engineers must verify that substitutions meet design
requirements, specifications, and safety standards. Proper
documentation protects public safety and professional accountability.
8. The critical path in a construction schedule represents:
A. The cheapest project activities
B. Activities with the most workers
C. The longest sequence of dependent activities
D. Activities requiring permits
Answer: C. The longest sequence of dependent activities
Rationale: The critical path determines the minimum project duration.
Any delay in critical path activities delays the entire project completion
date.
9. The active earth pressure condition occurs when:
A. A retaining wall moves toward the soil
B. Soil is compressed against a wall
C. A wall moves away from retained soil
D. No movement occurs
Answer: C. A wall moves away from retained soil
Rationale: Active earth pressure develops when a retaining structure
yields sufficiently away from the soil mass, allowing lateral stress
reduction.
4
