, Question 1
A Texas PE seals a set of structural drawings for a multi-story building. The
contractor later discovers that the design omitted a critical shear reinforcement
detail required by ACI 318. Under TBPELS Board Rules, what is the most
appropriate action for the PE to take upon learning of this omission?
A. Immediately notify the client and contractor, issue a revised sealed
drawing with the corrected detail, and document the correction in the
project file.
B. Take no action because the omission was a minor oversight and the
contractor should have caught it during shop drawing review.
C. Quietly revise the drawing without notifying the client to avoid
liability, and re-seal it with the current date.
D. Report the omission to the TBPELS Board within 30 days and wait for
the Board's directive before making any changes.
Correct Answer: A - Immediately notify the client and contractor,
issue a revised sealed drawing with the corrected detail, and
document the correction in the project file.
RATIONALE
TBPELS Board Rules require a PE to promptly correct errors or
omissions in sealed documents and notify affected parties, maintaining
public safety. Option B neglects professional responsibility; Option C
violates transparency and seal usage rules; Option D is not required
because the PE should act immediately to correct the deficiency while
also notifying the Board only if required by law.
Page 2
, Question 2
A PE licensed in another NCEES jurisdiction with 15 years of experience
applies for licensure by comity in Texas. The applicant's degree is from an
ABET-accredited program, but the applicant has not taken the PE exam in the
last 10 years. According to TBPELS Chapter 133, which condition is most
likely to disqualify the applicant from licensure by comity?
A. The applicant has not completed a Texas-specific ethics exam.
B. The applicant's original licensure was obtained through a non-NCEES
exam.
C. The applicant has not practiced engineering for the past 3 years.
D. The applicant's degree is from an ABET-accredited program.
Correct Answer: B - The applicant's original licensure was
obtained through a non-NCEES exam.
RATIONALE
TBPELS requires that licensure by comity applicants have passed an
NCEES exam or equivalent; a non-NCEES exam may not meet the
standard. Options A, C, and D are not automatic disqualifiers; Texas
does not require a separate ethics exam, and active practice is
generally required but 3 years of inactivity may be waived with
justification.
Question 3
In a geotechnical investigation for a proposed landfill, the engineer must
determine the hydraulic conductivity of a clay liner. Which laboratory test
method is most appropriate to simulate field conditions and provide the most
reliable design parameter?
A. Constant head permeability test on a remolded sample
B. Falling head permeability test on an undisturbed sample
C. Consolidation test with permeability measurement
D. Flexible wall permeameter test with back pressure
Page 3
, Correct Answer: D - Flexible wall permeameter test with back
pressure
RATIONALE
Flexible wall permeameter with back pressure best simulates field
stress conditions and minimizes sidewall leakage, providing accurate
hydraulic conductivity for clay liners. Options A and B are less
representative due to sample disturbance or lack of stress control;
Option C measures consolidation parameters but is not the standard
for permeability of low-permeability liners.
Question 4
A control system for a chemical reactor must maintain temperature within
±0.5°C despite disturbances. The current PID controller uses derivative action
that amplifies high-frequency noise. Which modification best addresses this
without sacrificing steady-state accuracy?
A. Increase the derivative gain and add a low-pass filter.
B. Replace derivative action with a lead-lag compensator.
C. Apply a first-order filter to the derivative term.
D. Reduce the integral gain to decrease oscillation.
Correct Answer: C - Apply a first-order filter to the derivative
term.
RATIONALE
A first-order filter on the derivative term attenuates high-frequency
noise while preserving derivative action at lower frequencies. Option
A would worsen noise; Option B changes control structure
unnecessarily; Option D affects steady-state error and does not
directly address noise.
Page 4
A Texas PE seals a set of structural drawings for a multi-story building. The
contractor later discovers that the design omitted a critical shear reinforcement
detail required by ACI 318. Under TBPELS Board Rules, what is the most
appropriate action for the PE to take upon learning of this omission?
A. Immediately notify the client and contractor, issue a revised sealed
drawing with the corrected detail, and document the correction in the
project file.
B. Take no action because the omission was a minor oversight and the
contractor should have caught it during shop drawing review.
C. Quietly revise the drawing without notifying the client to avoid
liability, and re-seal it with the current date.
D. Report the omission to the TBPELS Board within 30 days and wait for
the Board's directive before making any changes.
Correct Answer: A - Immediately notify the client and contractor,
issue a revised sealed drawing with the corrected detail, and
document the correction in the project file.
RATIONALE
TBPELS Board Rules require a PE to promptly correct errors or
omissions in sealed documents and notify affected parties, maintaining
public safety. Option B neglects professional responsibility; Option C
violates transparency and seal usage rules; Option D is not required
because the PE should act immediately to correct the deficiency while
also notifying the Board only if required by law.
Page 2
, Question 2
A PE licensed in another NCEES jurisdiction with 15 years of experience
applies for licensure by comity in Texas. The applicant's degree is from an
ABET-accredited program, but the applicant has not taken the PE exam in the
last 10 years. According to TBPELS Chapter 133, which condition is most
likely to disqualify the applicant from licensure by comity?
A. The applicant has not completed a Texas-specific ethics exam.
B. The applicant's original licensure was obtained through a non-NCEES
exam.
C. The applicant has not practiced engineering for the past 3 years.
D. The applicant's degree is from an ABET-accredited program.
Correct Answer: B - The applicant's original licensure was
obtained through a non-NCEES exam.
RATIONALE
TBPELS requires that licensure by comity applicants have passed an
NCEES exam or equivalent; a non-NCEES exam may not meet the
standard. Options A, C, and D are not automatic disqualifiers; Texas
does not require a separate ethics exam, and active practice is
generally required but 3 years of inactivity may be waived with
justification.
Question 3
In a geotechnical investigation for a proposed landfill, the engineer must
determine the hydraulic conductivity of a clay liner. Which laboratory test
method is most appropriate to simulate field conditions and provide the most
reliable design parameter?
A. Constant head permeability test on a remolded sample
B. Falling head permeability test on an undisturbed sample
C. Consolidation test with permeability measurement
D. Flexible wall permeameter test with back pressure
Page 3
, Correct Answer: D - Flexible wall permeameter test with back
pressure
RATIONALE
Flexible wall permeameter with back pressure best simulates field
stress conditions and minimizes sidewall leakage, providing accurate
hydraulic conductivity for clay liners. Options A and B are less
representative due to sample disturbance or lack of stress control;
Option C measures consolidation parameters but is not the standard
for permeability of low-permeability liners.
Question 4
A control system for a chemical reactor must maintain temperature within
±0.5°C despite disturbances. The current PID controller uses derivative action
that amplifies high-frequency noise. Which modification best addresses this
without sacrificing steady-state accuracy?
A. Increase the derivative gain and add a low-pass filter.
B. Replace derivative action with a lead-lag compensator.
C. Apply a first-order filter to the derivative term.
D. Reduce the integral gain to decrease oscillation.
Correct Answer: C - Apply a first-order filter to the derivative
term.
RATIONALE
A first-order filter on the derivative term attenuates high-frequency
noise while preserving derivative action at lower frequencies. Option
A would worsen noise; Option B changes control structure
unnecessarily; Option D affects steady-state error and does not
directly address noise.
Page 4
