PE Construction case studies
PE Construction · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The PE Civil: Construction is a professional licensure examination for engineers who plan, manage, and inspect heavy and commercial construction. It is one of several civil depth areas, aimed at people who already hold a PE in another civil discipline or who are pursuing licensure while working in construction operations, field engineering, contractor management, or construction project controls. The PE Construction case studies are 5 cases and about 3,400 words.
1Unsupported Vertical Trench Cut in Stiff Clay: Analysis vs. Regulation
A 12 ft deep sanitary sewer trench will be cut through a stiff, fully saturated clay with an undrained shear strength of 800 psf and a total unit weight of 120 pcf. Groundwater is at 15 ft, so the trench bottom is dry.
756 words, about 4 min2Float, Concurrent Weather, and a Time Extension Request
The baseline CPM network for a structural package has two paths. Path 1: A (5 d) → B (10 d) → D (7 d) → F (4 d).
579 words, about 3 min3Undercut of Unidentified Organic Silt: Pricing and Differing Site Condition
The earthwork schedule for a building pad is a unit-price item: 12,000 CY of structural fill measured in compacted place at 18/CY. The geotechnical report showed stiff residual clay from the surface.
655 words, about 3 min4Crane Pick at 60 Ft Radius on Loose Fill
A 90-ton truck crane is planned to set twelve 34,000 lb precast wall panels at a 60 ft radius. The load chart for the planned 110 ft boom shows 32,000 lb at 60 ft.
746 words, about 4 min5Dewatering Discharge Through a Sediment Basin to an Impaired Creek
A 4.2-acre disturbed area drains to a sediment basin with a permanent pool 60 ft × 90 ft and 4 ft of usable storage above the forebay. Design criteria require 3,600 cf of storage per acre disturbed.
664 words, about 3 min