Practice Test GeeksASCE - American Society of Civil Engineers Certification Practice Test
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Material Properties Flashcards

7 cards from real ASCE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Material Properties flashcards as text

  1. In which direction is clear wood strongest in tension and compression?

    Answer: Parallel to the grain

    Wood fibers run along the grain, so strength parallel to the grain is much higher than across it.

  2. At roughly what moisture content does wood reach the fiber saturation point, below which shrinkage and strength gain begin?

    Answer: 25–30%

    Below about 25–30% moisture content, the cell walls lose bound water, so the wood shrinks and gets stronger.

  3. What is the approximate modulus of elasticity of structural aluminum alloys?

    Answer: 10,000 ksi

    Aluminum alloys have E ≈ 10,000 ksi, about one-third of steel's value.

  4. What unit weight is commonly assumed for normal-weight reinforced concrete when calculating dead load?

    Answer: 150 pcf

    Normal-weight reinforced concrete is usually taken as 150 pcf, which includes the reinforcement.

  5. What is the approximate unit weight of structural steel?

    Answer: 490 pcf

    Steel weighs about 490 pcf, which is about 3.4 lb per square foot for each inch of plate thickness.

  6. Under the NDS, how does the load duration factor CD for wood change for short-duration loads such as wind or earthquake?

    Answer: It is increased to 1.6

    Wood can carry higher stresses for short periods, so NDS allows CD = 1.6 for wind and seismic loads.

  7. Which are the two accepted ways to verify the specified compressive strength of masonry (f'm)?

    Answer: Unit strength method and prism test method

    TMS 402/602 lets f'm be verified either by tables based on unit and mortar strength or by testing masonry prisms.