NCEES Handbook – Quick Reference by Civil PE Practice

Here is a quick reference guide for the NCEES PE Civil Reference Handbook. The information below includes each breadth topic with the corresponding NCEES Handbook sections. These sections contain necessary tables, diagrams, definitions, and equations for completion of the morning breadth problems.

Please note: There will be some engineering concepts that are not covered well (or at all) in the NCEES Handbook. Here is a snippet from the Handbook Introduction (Page iii): “The PE Civil Reference Handbook does not contain all the information required to answer every question on the exam. Theories, conversions, formulas, and definitions that examinees are expected to know have not been included.”

1. Project Planning

A. Quantity take-off methods

• 1.1 Units
• 1.3.7 Mensuration of Areas and Volumes
• 2.2 Estimating Quantities and Costs

B. Cost estimating

• 2.2 Estimating Quantities and Costs

C. Project schedules

• 2.4 Scheduling

D. Activity identification and sequencing

• 2.4 Scheduling

2. Means and Methods

A. Construction loads

• 2.3.1 Crane Stability
• 4.1.7 Moment, Shear, and Deflection Diagrams

B. Construction methods

• 2.3 Construction Operations and Methods

C. Temporary structures and facilities

• None – Get familiar with formwork, scaffolding, shoring and other temporary structures

3. Soil Mechanics

A. Lateral earth pressure

• 3.1 Lateral Earth Pressure

B. Soil consolidation

• 3.2 Consolidation

C. Effective and total stresses

• 3.3 Effective and Total Stresses

D. Bearing capacity

• 3.4 Bearing Capacity

E. Foundation settlement

• 3.2.3 Time Rate of Settlement
• 3.5 Foundation Settlement

F. Slope stability

• 3.6 Slope Stability

4. Structural Mechanics

A. Dead and live loads

• None – Get familiar with the differences between live and dead loads. Also, understand how loads are applied to structures including an understanding of load combinations.

B. Trusses

• 1.5.11 Statically Determinate Truss

C. Bending (e.g., moments and stresses)

• 1.5.4 Moments
• 1.6.7.2 Stresses in Beams
• 4.1.7 Moment, Shear, and Deflection Diagrams

D. Shear (e.g., forces and stresses)

• 1.5.1 Force
• 1.6.2.4 Shear Stress-Strain
• 4.1.7 Moment, Shear, and Deflection Diagrams

E. Axial (e.g., forces and stresses)

• 1.6.1 Uniaxial Stress-Strain
• 1.6.2.1 Engineering Strain
• 1.6.2.6 Uniaxial Loading and Deformation

F. Combined stresses

• 1.6.4.1 Principal Stresses
• 1.6.4.2 Mohr’s Circle – Stress, 2D

G. Deflection

• 4.1.7 Moment, Shear, and Deflection Diagrams

H. Beam

• 1.6.7 Beams
• 4.3.2.2 Beams—Flexure Strength

I. Columns

• 1.6.8 Columns

J. Slabs

• None – Get familiar with the function of slabs including load distribution through a slab.

K. Footings

• 3.4 Bearing Capacity

L. Retaining walls

• 3.1 Lateral Earth Pressure

5. Hydraulics and Hydrology

A. Open-channel flow

• 6.4 Open-Channel Flow
• 6.4.5.4 Flow in Channels

B. Stormwater collection and drainage (e.g., culvert, stormwater inlets, gutter flow, street flow, storm sewer pipes)

• 6.4.10 Stormwater Collection and Drainage

C. Storm characteristics (e.g., storm frequency, rainfall measurement and distribution)

• 6.5.1 Storm/Flood Frequency Probabilities
• 6.5.3 Rainfall Intensity, Duration, and Frequency

D. Runoff analysis (e.g., Rational and SCS/NRCS methods, hydrographic application, runoff time of concentration)

• 6.5.2 Runoff Analysis

E. Detention/retention ponds

• 6.5.9.1 Detention and Retention

F. Pressure conduit (e.g., single pipe, force mains, Hazen-Williams, Darcy-Weisbach, major and minor losses)

• 6.3 Closed Conduit Flow and Pumps
• 6.3.1 Hazen-Williams Equation
• 6.3.2 Darcy-Weisbach Equation (Head Loss)

G. Energy and/or continuity equation (e.g., Bernoulli)

• 6.2.1 Principles of One-Dimensional Fluid Flow

6. Geometrics

A. Basic circular curve elements (e.g., middle ordinate, length, chord, radius)

• 5.2.1 Basic Curve Elements (e.g., Middle Ordinate, Length, Chord, Radius)

B. Basic vertical curve elements

• 5.3 Vertical Design

C. Traffic volume (e.g., vehicle mix, flow, and speed)

• 5.1.1.1 Traffic Flow, Density, Headway, and Speed Relationships

7. Materials

A. Soil classification and boring log interpretation

• 3.7 Soil Classification and Boring Log Interpretation

B. Soil properties (e.g., strength, permeability, compressibility, phase relationships)

• 3.8.2 Atterberg Limits
• 3.8.3 Weight-Volume Relationships
• 3.8.5 Permeability Testing Properties of Soil and Rock

C. Concrete (e.g., nonreinforced, reinforced)

• 2.5.2 Concrete Proportioning and Placement
• 2.5.3 Concrete Maturity and Early Strength Evaluation
• 4.3 Concrete Design

D. Structural steel

• 1.6 Mechanics of Materials
• 4.2 Steel Design

E. Material test methods and specification conformance

• 2.5 Material Quality Control and Production
• 3.8 Material Test Methods

F. Compaction

• 3.9 Compaction: Laboratory and Field Compaction

8. Site Development

A. Excavation and embankment (e.g., cut and fill)

• 2.1.1 Excavation and Embankment
• 2.1.2 Earthwork Volumes
• 2.1.4 Earthwork Balancing and Haul Distances

B. Construction site layout and control

• 2.1.3 Site Layout and Control

C. Temporary and permanent soil erosion and sediment control (e.g., construction erosion control and permits, sediment transport, channel/outlet protection)

• None – understand the differences between soil erosion and sediment control. Also, get familiar with the different applications of each.

D. Impact of construction on adjacent facilities

• 3.1.4 Load Distribution from Surcharge

E. Safety (e.g., construction, roadside, work zone)

• 2.6 Health and Safety
• 3.10 Trench and Excavation Construction Safety