PE Exam: I don't own many codes/reference materials

[LearnerN]

I am planning to take the structural civil PE exam this coming April. My work is in the pipeline industry, and I do very little structural design, but it's the area I'd know the most about of the civil specialties. My company is small and doesn't have any structural engineers or structural codes.

So what in the world is an engineer to do who wants to take the PE, but doesn't want to drop several hundred dollars on code books he'll use once and then likely never use again? I know a few people I could borrow a couple code books from, but not all that I need. I do own ACI, AISC, and ASCE 7.

Any input would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

[LearnerN]

Let me clarify that I own ACI 2008, AISC 13th, and ASCE 7-05. Will these older editions of the codes be sufficient? I'm hoping maybe I could just buy an older edition of the other codes and save a little money if not much has changed with respect to the data that would be needed for questions on the exam.

 

[beej67]

Maybe take the geotech one instead?

Hydrology, Drainage Analysis, Flood Studies, and Complex Stormwater Litigation for Atlanta and the South East -

http://www.campbellcivil.com

 

[LearnerN]

beej67,

How hard is the Geotech exam? Would there be a lot of info to learn that's not covered in the Lindeberg reference manual? My only geotech knowledge is two classes in school, although I did enjoy both.

 

[concretemasonry]

A couple of things I learned through the years of being an engineer and moving around to different areas. -

If you can get examples of earlier tests, that can give you a "feel" for the different types of questions/problems regarding areas and you can see a trend of questions and subjects. This gives you comfort (not hard knowledge) and not be panicked. When I took the CA exams they were available and were for prep info. - These are very valuable even if not for your state because of the need for reciprocity. the seismic emphasis is somewhat geographical.

Regarding the versions of the references to be used, keep in mind that the system is based on:

1. Materials, testing methods and current standards are very slow to change because of the sub-committee/committee system and only voting once a year. - It took me 10 years to become a voting member for ASTM standards because it requires a balanced membership between users, specifiers and interested parties and the voting is individual (no corporate votes) and no not more than one voting member per corporation that has become a problem with buy-outs and mergers.

2. The adoption of these into codes is also a very slow since many other parties other than design engineers have input, such the public groups and the local code administers (fire, structures, etc.). ACI, ASCE, etc. as an enforceable code for engineering and legality.

3. After all this time involved in creating a "current" standard/reference, it is necessary for the individual standards to be published for review and show up in a annual (or so) test for registration.

I was fortunate that I was hired by a person that required me to become registered and active in any group that I felt was necessary, even though I never had to officially sign a plan or design. After working in CA as an EIT and supervising a CA SE (private/NASA/Air Force, Army, Navy and corporate) design work only, it was nice to be able to go back to CA for tests because CA was the "king" of all in structures at that time.

As far as references, keeping current and bringing with you as refernces references will give you ease and confidence. Rushing out and buying a recent/"last minute" reference is not absolutely necessary since the tests cannot be written and approved immediately before they are administered.

Dick


Engineer and international traveler interested in construction techniques, problems and proper design.

 

[cvg]

make absolutely sure you use the correct code. I studied and was fully prepared to take the exam with the 1988 UBC, just to find out that the 1985 UBC was required to be used for the exam. Luckily, I had brought both to the exam, unfortunately I had not spent any time with the old code. They were significantly different. This created a significant amount of anxiety upon opening the test booklet and discovering it, not something I would recommend to anybody.

 

[WinelandV]

Keeping with cvg's comment, the ASCE 7-10 is significantly different from the ASCE 7-05. The wind chapter was broken into 6 chapters. Wind forces were also calibrated to strength level (LF = 1.0 in LRFD design, like EQ's) by changing the wind speed maps. You will want the 7-10 for the PE.

 

[beej67]

I took the water resources one, or whatever the 2004 equivalent was. The only materials I brought were the Big Blue "Reference Manual" that everyone buys, my notes from a refresher course, some completed practice tests, and two college textbooks. I didn't bring the geotech book, but should have. Fit everything in a backpack. You could tell the structural guys in the testing room because they all brought wagon loads of books.

Knew a lot of civil site guys who took the transpo exam even though they had no significant experience in road design. They didn't have a problem. I would guess fully 80% of the information I needed to answer the questions on the exam was somewhere in the big blue reference manual.

http://www.amazon.com/Civil-Engineering-Reference-Manual-Exam/dp/1888577665

Hydrology, Drainage Analysis, Flood Studies, and Complex Stormwater Litigation for Atlanta and the South East -

http://www.campbellcivil.com

 

[Twinkie]

The test outlines and required references have changed significantly from 2004. In the AM you can still get by with the CERM, but the afternoon you'll need whatever is listed. Buy whatever is required for your depth, as indicated on the NCEES outline. Don't buy an older edition of a code or standard, it was updated for a reason. Sell the stuff back after you pass. The money you invest into getting your PE will all be worth it in the end.

 

[BUGGAR]

It costs a fair amount of money to be an engineer. Kinda like being a tradesman where they have to buy their own tools.