FE Practice Problems
CIVL 3161
1. A 24-ft wide 10-inch thick Portland cement concrete paved road is to be
constructed. The cross-sectioned areas to be excavated at certain sections are
shown below.
Station
3+00
4+00
4+35
5+00
5+65
6+00
7+00
Area (Sq. Ft.)
247
269
322
395
418
293
168
The cubic yards of earth to be excavated between sections 4+35 and 5+65 is most
nearly: (use prismoidal method):
a)
b)
c)
d)
1460
1840
1860
1900
2. You are designing a railroad by-pass for a train speed of 50 mph which requires a
center line of track curve having a 2º00'00'' degree of curvature. The minimum
length of spiral curve to super-elevate the outer rail in the curve to produce no
lateral forces on the rail (i.e. equilibrium) at the design speed is most nearly:
a. 20 feet
b. 70 feet
c. 110 feet
d. 220 feet
3. The design for a section of highway has the following requirements:
Design speed = 50mph
Coefficient of friction = 0.35
Driver Reaction time = 2.0 sec
Driver eye height = 3.5 sec
Object height = 6 inches
Grade = 0%
The total stopping distance for this highway is most nearly:
a.) 100 ft
b.) 210 ft
c.) 240 ft
d.) 385 ft
4. On a vertical alignment a +10% grade meets a -4% grade at Station 30+00. A 1,000
ft vertical curve is placed at the PVI so that the PVC is at station 25+00 and an elevation
of 150.0 ft. The vertical curve elevation at station 28+00 is most nearly:
a.) 173.7 ft
b.) 177.3 ft
c.) 177.9 ft
d.) 182.7 ft