Structural Engineering Flashcards

For the NCEES PE Structural exam, the modulus of elasticity for structural steel per AISC is:

Answer: 29,000 ksi

AISC specifies E = 29,000 ksi (approximately 200 GPa) for structural steel.

In NCEES PE Structural practice, shear lag in a bolted tension member is accounted for by applying which reduction factor?

Answer: Reduction factor U

The shear lag factor U reduces the net effective area of a tension member when not all elements are connected.

A continuous beam is more efficient than a simply supported beam of the same span primarily because:

Answer: Negative moments at supports reduce the maximum positive moment

Continuity generates negative moments at supports that reduce midspan positive moment, allowing a shallower or lighter section.

In NCEES structural design, the design tensile strength of a bolt in bearing-type connection per AISC LRFD is φRn, where φ equals:

Answer: 0.75

For bolt tension rupture, AISC LRFD uses φ = 0.75 applied to the nominal tensile strength.

According to ACI 318 as tested on the NCEES PE exam, the minimum flexural steel ratio ρ_min for rectangular beams is approximately:

Answer: 200/fy

ACI 318 requires ρ_min = max(3√f'c/fy, 200/fy) to prevent brittle failure in lightly reinforced beams.

In the NCEES PE Structural exam, which section property is most critical for predicting deflection in a beam?

Answer: Moment of inertia I

Deflection is inversely proportional to EI; the moment of inertia I directly governs bending stiffness.