TEXAS PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER LICENSING
LEVEL IV EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1)
Which of the following units is dimensionally equivalent to stress?
A. N·m⁻²
B. kg·m·s⁻²
C. N·m⁻¹
D. Pa
Rationale: Stress is force per unit area, i.e. N/m², which is equivalent to
Pa.
2)
In a simply supported beam with a uniform distributed load, the
bending moment is zero at:
A. mid-span
B. the supports
C. one quarter-span
D. three quarter-span
Rationale: The bending moment at simple supports (pinned or roller) is
zero because those points are free to rotate.
3)
,For a soil classified as SM under the Unified Soil Classification System
(USCS), the “S” stands for:
A. Sandy
B. Silty
C. Sand
D. Soft
Rationale: In USCS, “SM” denotes a silty sand — “S” = sand, “M” = silt.
4)
Which of the following properties of concrete primarily governs its
resistance to freeze-thaw damage?
A. Compressive strength
B. Permeability / water-cement ratio
C. Tensile strength
D. Slump
Rationale: Lower permeability (or low water-cement ratio) reduces
water ingress and freeze-thaw deterioration.
5)
In a R-C (reinforced concrete) column under eccentric loading, the
controlling design moment is determined considering:
A. Axial load only
B. Axial load plus bending moment from eccentricity
C. Bending moment only
D. Shear and axial loading
Rationale: Eccentric loading introduces a bending moment in addition
to axial force, both must be checked.
6)
,The Coriolis force effect is most significant for which of these fluid flow
scenarios?
A. Flow through a straight pipe
B. Flow over a weir
C. Large-scale atmospheric circulation
D. Flow through a nozzle
Rationale: Coriolis force affects flows over large distances like
atmospheric or oceanic flows, negligible for small-scale flows.
7)
Which factor of safety is most commonly used in limit-state design for
structural steel members under serviceability limit states?
A. 1.0
B. 1.1 – 1.25
C. 1.5
D. 2.0
Rationale: Serviceability limit states usually use lower safety factors
since loads are service loads rather than ultimate loads.
8)
In project management, the critical path is defined as:
A. The shortest path through the network
B. The longest path through the network with zero slack
C. The path with the most activities
D. The path with the highest resource usage
Rationale: Critical path determines project duration; it is the longest-
duration path where any delay will delay the project completion.
9)
, When carrying out a slope stability analysis, which method accounts for
varying pore-water pressure distribution?
A. Limit equilibrium method with dry conditions
B. Simplistic friction-circle method
C. Finite element method (FEM) with pore-pressure modeling
D. Method of slices assuming zero pore pressure
Rationale: FEM allows modeling realistic conditions including pore-
pressure variation for slope stability analysis.
10)
Which of the following describes the phenomenon of “buckling” for a
slender column?
A. Crushing under axial load
B. Sudden lateral deflection under axial load
C. Shear failure
D. Tensile failure
Rationale: Buckling is a stability failure where a slender column deflects
laterally under axial compressive load.
11)
The discharge coefficient 𝐶𝑑 for a sharp-crested weir is typically around:
A. 0.2 – 0.3
B. 0.4 – 0.5
C. 0.6 – 0.65
D. 0.8 – 0.9
Rationale: Empirical data for sharp-crested weirs often yields a
discharge coefficient around 0.6 to 0.65.
12)
LEVEL IV EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1)
Which of the following units is dimensionally equivalent to stress?
A. N·m⁻²
B. kg·m·s⁻²
C. N·m⁻¹
D. Pa
Rationale: Stress is force per unit area, i.e. N/m², which is equivalent to
Pa.
2)
In a simply supported beam with a uniform distributed load, the
bending moment is zero at:
A. mid-span
B. the supports
C. one quarter-span
D. three quarter-span
Rationale: The bending moment at simple supports (pinned or roller) is
zero because those points are free to rotate.
3)
,For a soil classified as SM under the Unified Soil Classification System
(USCS), the “S” stands for:
A. Sandy
B. Silty
C. Sand
D. Soft
Rationale: In USCS, “SM” denotes a silty sand — “S” = sand, “M” = silt.
4)
Which of the following properties of concrete primarily governs its
resistance to freeze-thaw damage?
A. Compressive strength
B. Permeability / water-cement ratio
C. Tensile strength
D. Slump
Rationale: Lower permeability (or low water-cement ratio) reduces
water ingress and freeze-thaw deterioration.
5)
In a R-C (reinforced concrete) column under eccentric loading, the
controlling design moment is determined considering:
A. Axial load only
B. Axial load plus bending moment from eccentricity
C. Bending moment only
D. Shear and axial loading
Rationale: Eccentric loading introduces a bending moment in addition
to axial force, both must be checked.
6)
,The Coriolis force effect is most significant for which of these fluid flow
scenarios?
A. Flow through a straight pipe
B. Flow over a weir
C. Large-scale atmospheric circulation
D. Flow through a nozzle
Rationale: Coriolis force affects flows over large distances like
atmospheric or oceanic flows, negligible for small-scale flows.
7)
Which factor of safety is most commonly used in limit-state design for
structural steel members under serviceability limit states?
A. 1.0
B. 1.1 – 1.25
C. 1.5
D. 2.0
Rationale: Serviceability limit states usually use lower safety factors
since loads are service loads rather than ultimate loads.
8)
In project management, the critical path is defined as:
A. The shortest path through the network
B. The longest path through the network with zero slack
C. The path with the most activities
D. The path with the highest resource usage
Rationale: Critical path determines project duration; it is the longest-
duration path where any delay will delay the project completion.
9)
, When carrying out a slope stability analysis, which method accounts for
varying pore-water pressure distribution?
A. Limit equilibrium method with dry conditions
B. Simplistic friction-circle method
C. Finite element method (FEM) with pore-pressure modeling
D. Method of slices assuming zero pore pressure
Rationale: FEM allows modeling realistic conditions including pore-
pressure variation for slope stability analysis.
10)
Which of the following describes the phenomenon of “buckling” for a
slender column?
A. Crushing under axial load
B. Sudden lateral deflection under axial load
C. Shear failure
D. Tensile failure
Rationale: Buckling is a stability failure where a slender column deflects
laterally under axial compressive load.
11)
The discharge coefficient 𝐶𝑑 for a sharp-crested weir is typically around:
A. 0.2 – 0.3
B. 0.4 – 0.5
C. 0.6 – 0.65
D. 0.8 – 0.9
Rationale: Empirical data for sharp-crested weirs often yields a
discharge coefficient around 0.6 to 0.65.
12)
