Civil Engineering PE Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Civil Engineering PE facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. A fillet weld with a leg size of 3/8 in has an effective throat of approximately: → 0.265 in (0.707 × 3/8)
2. On a freeway with FFS = 70 mph, the speed-flow curve under HCM methodology begins to break down at a flow rate of approximately: → 2,400 pc/h/ln
3. What does a low Geometric Dilution of Precision (GDOP) value indicate in GPS surveying? → Favorable satellite geometry yielding higher positional accuracy
4. The long-term deflection multiplier λΔ for a simply supported beam with no compression reinforcement (ρ' = 0) after 5 years is: → 2.0
5. ASCE 7 seismic site classification (Site Classes A–F) is primarily determined by: → Average shear wave velocity in the upper 30 m (VS30)
6. A pin-jointed truss member is slender and subjected to axial compression. The critical buckling load is governed by: → Euler's formula: Pcr = π²EI/(KL)²
7. A wastewater treatment plant achieves 90% BOD removal. If influent BOD = 250 mg/L, what is the effluent BOD? → 25 mg/L
8. During the Civil PE exam, which reference document is provided to all examinees? → NCEES PE Civil Reference Handbook
9. A 12-inch diameter concrete pipe flows full with Manning's n = 0.013 and slope S = 0.005. The approximate full-flow discharge Q is: → 1.70 cfs
10. In the plastic design method for continuous steel beams, collapse occurs when enough plastic hinges form to create a: → Mechanism (statically unstable structure)
11. Cracking moment Mcr for a rectangular beam section (b = 12 in, h = 24 in, f'c = 4000 psi) is most closely: → 56 ft-kips
12. The shape factor (f = Z/S) for a solid circular cross-section is approximately: → 1.5
13. A simply supported beam with a 20-ft span carries a uniformly distributed load of 2 kip/ft. What is the maximum bending moment? → 100 kip-ft
14. A soil sample has a dry unit weight of 100 pcf and a specific gravity of solids Gs = 2.65. What is the void ratio? → 0.65
15. For a pile group in clay, the block failure mode should be checked when: → Pile spacing is less than 3 pile diameters and the group acts as a single block
16. A six-sided closed traverse has a total angular misclosure of 1°30". Distributing the error equally, what is the correction applied to each interior angle? → 15"
17. The Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) is used in water distribution systems to assess: → The tendency of water to precipitate or dissolve calcium carbonate
18. A fixed-end beam of length L carries a uniformly distributed load w. What is the magnitude of the fixed-end moment at each support? → wL²/12
19. The NRCS Curve Number (CN) method estimates: → Direct runoff depth from storm rainfall depth
20. The warrant for a traffic signal based on MUTCD Warrant 1 (Eight-Hour Vehicular Volume) requires that the minimum vehicular volumes must be met for at least: → 8 hours of an average day
21. In the direct step method for GVF profile computation, the channel reach length Δx between two depth sections is computed as: → Δx = ΔE / (S₀ − S̄f)
22. Which ASTM standard governs the Atterberg Limits test (liquid limit and plastic limit) for soils? → ASTM D4318
23. The momentum function (M) in open channel flow is most useful for analyzing: → Hydraulic jumps and rapidly varied flow
24. For a reinforced concrete beam, the ACI 318 minimum concrete cover requirement for main reinforcement in a beam not exposed to weather is: → 1.5 in
25. The factor of safety against overturning for a retaining wall footing is typically required to be at least: → 2.0
26. In reinforced concrete design per ACI 318, the strength reduction factor (φ) for tension-controlled flexure is: → 0.90
27. For a shallow foundation design, the allowable bearing capacity is determined by considering two primary criteria. What are these two criteria? → Shear failure of the soil and excessive settlement [1]
28. In highway design, the stopping sight distance (SSD) depends on which two primary components? → Brake reaction distance and braking distance
29. A soil sample has a mass of 185 g wet and 155 g after oven drying. What is the water content? → 19.4%
30. Convert the bearing S 45° W to an azimuth. → 225°