STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING (SE) EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS.
1. A simply supported beam of span L carries a uniformly distributed load w. What is
the maximum bending moment?
A. wL²/4
B. wL²/8
C. wL²/12
D. wL²/16
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: For a simply supported beam under UDL, the maximum bending moment
occurs at midspan and equals wL²/8. Other options represent incorrect coefficients.
2. Which failure mode is most critical in slender columns?
A. Yielding
B. Buckling
C. Shear failure
D. Fatigue
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Slender columns fail primarily by buckling before material yielding. Other
modes are more relevant to different structural elements or conditions.
3. The modulus of elasticity (E) represents:
A. Strength of material
B. Stiffness of material
C. Toughness of material
D. Hardness of material
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Modulus of elasticity measures stiffness (stress/strain). Strength refers to
failure stress, not stiffness.
4. In reinforced concrete beams, steel reinforcement is primarily provided to resist:
A. Compression
B. Shear
C. Tension
D. Torsion
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Concrete is weak in tension, so steel reinforcement carries tensile forces.
Compression is mainly handled by concrete.
,5. The effective length of a column depends on:
A. Material strength
B. End support conditions
C. Cross-sectional area
D. Applied load only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: End conditions (fixed, pinned, free) determine effective length and
buckling behavior.
6. Which load is considered a dead load?
A. Wind load
B. Earthquake load
C. Self-weight of structure
D. Live occupancy load
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Dead loads are permanent, such as self-weight. Others are variable or
environmental loads.
7. Shear force at the midpoint of a simply supported beam with UDL is:
A. Maximum
B. Minimum
C. Zero
D. Constant
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Shear force transitions from positive to negative at midspan, hence zero at
that point.
8. In steel design, the factor of safety is applied to:
A. Load only
B. Stress only
C. Both load and material strength
D. Geometry only
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Depending on design philosophy (LRFD/ASD), safety factors apply to
loads and/or resistance.
9. Which structural element primarily resists lateral loads?
A. Beam
B. Column
C. Shear wall
D. Slab
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: Shear walls provide lateral stiffness and resist wind/earthquake forces
effectively.
10. The unit of bending moment is:
A. N
B. N/m
C. Nm
D. m/N
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Bending moment is force × distance, hence Nm.
11. A fixed beam has how many reaction components at each support?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Fixed supports resist vertical, horizontal, and moment reactions.
12. Which method is used for analyzing statically indeterminate structures?
A. Equilibrium equations only
B. Moment distribution method
C. Simple statics
D. Free body diagram only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Indeterminate structures require methods like moment distribution or
stiffness methods.
13. In prestressed concrete, prestressing force is applied to:
A. Increase weight
B. Reduce tensile stresses
C. Increase cracking
D. Reduce compressive strength
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Prestressing introduces compressive stresses to counteract tensile stresses.
14. The critical buckling load is given by Euler’s formula which depends on:
A. Temperature
B. Slenderness ratio
C. Density
, D. Weight
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Euler’s formula shows buckling load depends on slenderness ratio and
stiffness.
15. Which load combination is most critical in seismic design?
A. Dead load only
B. Live load only
C. Dead + Live + Earthquake
D. Wind load only
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Seismic design considers combined effects including dead and live loads.
16. The centroid of a rectangle lies at:
A. Corner
B. Midpoint
C. Edge
D. Random location
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The centroid of a rectangle is at its geometric center.
17. In torsion, circular shafts experience:
A. Normal stress
B. Shear stress
C. Bending stress
D. Compressive stress
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Torsion induces shear stress across the section.
18. Which structural system is most efficient for long spans?
A. Beam
B. Truss
C. Column
D. Slab
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Trusses efficiently carry loads over long spans using axial forces.
19. Poisson’s ratio relates:
A. Stress to strain
B. Lateral strain to axial strain
AND CORRECT ANSWERS.
1. A simply supported beam of span L carries a uniformly distributed load w. What is
the maximum bending moment?
A. wL²/4
B. wL²/8
C. wL²/12
D. wL²/16
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: For a simply supported beam under UDL, the maximum bending moment
occurs at midspan and equals wL²/8. Other options represent incorrect coefficients.
2. Which failure mode is most critical in slender columns?
A. Yielding
B. Buckling
C. Shear failure
D. Fatigue
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Slender columns fail primarily by buckling before material yielding. Other
modes are more relevant to different structural elements or conditions.
3. The modulus of elasticity (E) represents:
A. Strength of material
B. Stiffness of material
C. Toughness of material
D. Hardness of material
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Modulus of elasticity measures stiffness (stress/strain). Strength refers to
failure stress, not stiffness.
4. In reinforced concrete beams, steel reinforcement is primarily provided to resist:
A. Compression
B. Shear
C. Tension
D. Torsion
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Concrete is weak in tension, so steel reinforcement carries tensile forces.
Compression is mainly handled by concrete.
,5. The effective length of a column depends on:
A. Material strength
B. End support conditions
C. Cross-sectional area
D. Applied load only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: End conditions (fixed, pinned, free) determine effective length and
buckling behavior.
6. Which load is considered a dead load?
A. Wind load
B. Earthquake load
C. Self-weight of structure
D. Live occupancy load
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Dead loads are permanent, such as self-weight. Others are variable or
environmental loads.
7. Shear force at the midpoint of a simply supported beam with UDL is:
A. Maximum
B. Minimum
C. Zero
D. Constant
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Shear force transitions from positive to negative at midspan, hence zero at
that point.
8. In steel design, the factor of safety is applied to:
A. Load only
B. Stress only
C. Both load and material strength
D. Geometry only
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Depending on design philosophy (LRFD/ASD), safety factors apply to
loads and/or resistance.
9. Which structural element primarily resists lateral loads?
A. Beam
B. Column
C. Shear wall
D. Slab
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: Shear walls provide lateral stiffness and resist wind/earthquake forces
effectively.
10. The unit of bending moment is:
A. N
B. N/m
C. Nm
D. m/N
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Bending moment is force × distance, hence Nm.
11. A fixed beam has how many reaction components at each support?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Fixed supports resist vertical, horizontal, and moment reactions.
12. Which method is used for analyzing statically indeterminate structures?
A. Equilibrium equations only
B. Moment distribution method
C. Simple statics
D. Free body diagram only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Indeterminate structures require methods like moment distribution or
stiffness methods.
13. In prestressed concrete, prestressing force is applied to:
A. Increase weight
B. Reduce tensile stresses
C. Increase cracking
D. Reduce compressive strength
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Prestressing introduces compressive stresses to counteract tensile stresses.
14. The critical buckling load is given by Euler’s formula which depends on:
A. Temperature
B. Slenderness ratio
C. Density
, D. Weight
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Euler’s formula shows buckling load depends on slenderness ratio and
stiffness.
15. Which load combination is most critical in seismic design?
A. Dead load only
B. Live load only
C. Dead + Live + Earthquake
D. Wind load only
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Seismic design considers combined effects including dead and live loads.
16. The centroid of a rectangle lies at:
A. Corner
B. Midpoint
C. Edge
D. Random location
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The centroid of a rectangle is at its geometric center.
17. In torsion, circular shafts experience:
A. Normal stress
B. Shear stress
C. Bending stress
D. Compressive stress
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Torsion induces shear stress across the section.
18. Which structural system is most efficient for long spans?
A. Beam
B. Truss
C. Column
D. Slab
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Trusses efficiently carry loads over long spans using axial forces.
19. Poisson’s ratio relates:
A. Stress to strain
B. Lateral strain to axial strain
