Principles & Practice of Engineering PE Exam from Udemy

This is a portion of a full course on the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam that I am currently developing. This portion is free and hopefully, you will find it useful. The current lectures only cover truss and beam topics including bending and shear forces and stresses. The topics include truss analysis using the method of joints and method of sections, bending and shear diagrams, equilibrium equations and the corresponding stresses.

I share the fundamentals of solving structural problems as well as some tricks to solve multiple choice questions without actually solving the entire problem. The rest of the lectures on the PE exam will be released at a later date if there are a few people who think they are helpful.

I passed the PE Civil Structural exam in 2018 on my first try while I was working as a structural engineer and doing my Ph.D. I would like to share some of my thoughts on important concepts as well as skills for writing exams. I will continue to make more videos if you find these helpful. If you have any suggestions or would be interested in taking the full course on PE Civil structural exam, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

What's inside

Syllabus

You will learn about truss and beams in this section.

Introduction

4A Dead and live loads

4B Trusses

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Covers truss and beam topics, which are fundamental concepts in structural engineering and essential for the PE Civil Structural exam

Shares tricks to solve multiple choice questions, which can be valuable for time management and efficient problem-solving during the exam

Focuses on bending and shear forces and stresses, which are critical for understanding the behavior of structural elements under load

Covers truss analysis using the method of joints and method of sections, which are standard techniques for determining internal forces in trusses

Includes lectures on dead and live loads, which are essential considerations in structural design to ensure safety and serviceability

Is a portion of a full course that is still under development, so learners should expect that the course is not yet comprehensive

Reviews summary

Pe structural engineering fundamentals

According to students, this course, "Principles & Practice of Engineering PE Exam", offers a highly effective and largely positive exploration of fundamental structural engineering concepts critical for the PE Civil Structural exam. Learners frequently highlight the clear explanations provided for challenging topics such as truss analysis, beam bending moments, shear forces, and material stresses. Many reviewers find the material directly relevant and an invaluable resource for their exam preparation, praising the instructor's expertise and teaching clarity. While overwhelmingly positive regarding the content quality, students consistently note that this offering is a free, partial course covering only a subset of topics, expressing a strong desire for a complete, full course from the same instructor. Despite its limited scope, it's viewed as an excellent foundation for these specific structural areas.

High-quality free content, limited topic scope.

"Great free resource, but I hope the full course comes out soon."

"Excellent content for being free."

"It's just a portion covering specific topics, but very helpful nonetheless."

Helpful tips for solving multiple-choice problems.

"The tricks for multiple-choice were quite helpful."

"Liked the tips on how to approach exam questions."

"Practical advice for the exam format."

Instructor is an expert with PE exam experience.

"The instructor clearly knows his stuff and the PE exam."

"His real-world experience adds value."

"Trust the instructor's guidance for PE prep."

Complex structural concepts explained clearly.

"The instructor does a great job at explaining everything clearly."

"He makes the complex concepts of trusses and beams very understandable."

"His explanations of bending moments and shear were the best I've found."

Highly relevant for PE Civil Structural exam prep.

"This is excellent material for PE exam preparation."

"The topics covered are spot-on for what's on the exam."

"Definitely helped me understand the concepts needed for the PE."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Principles & Practice of Engineering PE Exam with these activities:

Review Statics and Mechanics of Materials

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Reviewing statics and mechanics of materials will help you understand the fundamental principles behind truss and beam analysis, which are heavily emphasized in the PE exam.

Browse courses on Statics

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Review key concepts like equilibrium, stress, and strain.
Work through practice problems from your old textbooks.
Focus on topics related to axial, bending, and shear forces.

Structural Analysis

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Reviewing this book will provide a solid foundation in structural analysis, which is essential for success on the PE exam.

View Mechanics of Materials, eBook, SI Edition on Amazon

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Read the chapters on truss and beam analysis.
Work through the example problems in the book.
Focus on understanding the underlying principles.

Solve Practice Problems on Trusses

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Practicing truss problems will reinforce your understanding of the method of joints and method of sections, improving your speed and accuracy on the PE exam.

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Find a collection of truss problems from various sources.
Solve each problem using both the method of joints and sections.
Compare your solutions to the provided answers.
Analyze your mistakes and learn from them.

Four other activities

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Solve Practice Problems on Beams

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Practicing beam problems will reinforce your understanding of bending and shear diagrams, improving your speed and accuracy on the PE exam.

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Find a collection of beam problems from various sources.
Solve each problem by drawing shear and moment diagrams.
Compare your solutions to the provided answers.
Analyze your mistakes and learn from them.

Civil Engineering Reference Manual for the PE Exam

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Using this reference manual will help you familiarize yourself with the PE exam format and content, improving your chances of success.

View PPI PE Civil Study Guide, 17th Edition eText -... on Amazon

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Read the sections on truss and beam analysis.
Work through the practice problems in the manual.
Focus on understanding the exam format and question types.

Create a Truss and Beam Cheat Sheet

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Creating a cheat sheet will help you consolidate your knowledge of truss and beam analysis, making it easier to recall important formulas and concepts during the PE exam.

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Gather all the important formulas and concepts related to trusses and beams.
Organize the information in a clear and concise manner.
Include diagrams and examples to illustrate key concepts.
Review and refine your cheat sheet regularly.

Participate in a Study Group

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Participating in a study group will allow you to learn from your peers and reinforce your understanding of truss and beam analysis.

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Find a group of students preparing for the PE exam.
Meet regularly to discuss course material and solve practice problems.
Share your knowledge and learn from others.

Career center

Learners who complete Principles & Practice of Engineering PE Exam will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Structural Engineer

A structural engineer designs and analyzes structures to ensure their stability and safety. This course, focusing on truss and beam analysis, directly aligns with the core principles of structural engineering. Understanding how to calculate bending and shear forces, along with stresses, is fundamental for a structural engineer when designing buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure. The course provides practical knowledge of structural problem solving and strategies for efficiently tackling exam questions, elements that are very useful in the day to day work of a structural engineer. The course’s emphasis on clear explanations and problem solving methods make it an ideal resource for aspiring structural engineers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Structural Engineer

Bridge Engineer

Bridge engineers specialize in the design, construction, and maintenance of bridges. This course, with its detailed focus on truss and beam analysis, is directly applicable to the type of work done by a bridge engineer. The course’s coverage of bending and shear forces and stresses is crucial for understanding bridge behavior. The course's coverage of truss analysis may be particularly helpful to a bridge engineer, who often works with this type of structure. The course's emphasis on practical problem-solving and exam strategies are useful for future bridge engineers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Bridge Engineer

Civil Engineer

Civil engineers oversee the design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure projects. This course, focusing on the analysis of trusses and beams, provides a fundamental building block for civil engineering practice. Civil engineers often deal with structural components in buildings, bridges, and other constructions and this course provides a strong focus on the equilibrium equations and the forces and stresses, all needed to be successful in this field. The knowledge gained in this course will be of practical use for a civil engineer. The course's practical approach to structural problem solving and exam strategies will help students who plan to become civil engineers

See salaries and explore the career path for Civil Engineer

Engineering Technician

Engineering technicians assist engineers in various tasks, including design, testing, and construction. This course may be useful to engineering technicians. Understanding structural concepts, such as truss and beam analysis which are covered in this course, may be helpful for an engineering technician. This course may be helpful because it provides practical problem solving skills for structural problems, which are things they might see in the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Engineering Technician

Engineering Consultant

Engineering consultants provide expert advice and guidance on engineering projects. An engineering consultant may find this course helpful. The course focuses on the principles of truss and beam analysis. Such consultants must have knowledge of fundamental structural concepts, which this course provides. This course's emphasis on problem-solving and the fundamentals of structure may be helpful to engineering consultants.

See salaries and explore the career path for Engineering Consultant

Engineering Professor

An engineering professor teaches courses and conducts research in their field of expertise. This course provides background in fundamental structural mechanics which may be helpful for a professor who wants to add a course module or who teaches the subject matter. The course provides important concepts of truss and beam analysis. The course's focus on practical problem solving and exam strategies may offer engineering professors helpful insights into effective pedagogy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Engineering Professor

Project Engineer

Project engineers provide technical support and management for engineering projects. Often times a project engineer will work on site and will see, first hand, how structural elements are assembled, so familiarity with their behavior may be helpful. This course helps project engineers with fundamentals of structural analysis, giving them insights into the structural components of a project. The course's focus on problem solving and practical application may benefit a project engineer who seeks a deeper understanding of civil engineering projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Engineer

Construction Manager

Construction managers plan, coordinate, budget, and supervise construction projects from start to finish. While not directly designing structures, they must have an understanding of structural principles. A construction manager may find the study of truss and beam analysis in this course helpful for understanding the design aspects of a construction project. Understanding structural concepts helps construction managers communicate with engineers and make informed decisions during a project. This course, with its practical approach may be helpful to future construction managers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Construction Manager

Building Inspector

Building inspectors examine structures to ensure they comply with building codes and safety regulations. Although this course is not about code compliance, it does cover fundamental structural concepts. A building inspector may find this course helpful. The course covers truss and beam analysis, which may help the inspector better understand the structural integrity of a building when evaluating its safety. The practical problem-solving strategies covered in the course may be helpful to a building inspector.

See salaries and explore the career path for Building Inspector

Research Engineer

Research engineers conduct studies and develop new technologies. Understanding fundamental structural concepts, like those taught in this course may be helpful for some researchers. This course covers truss and beam analysis as well as bending and shear, topics which may intersect with the work done by a research engineer. The problem solving skills and the fundamentals taught in this course may be helpful to a research engineer.

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Transportation Engineer

Transportation engineers plan, design, and manage transportation systems, like roads and bridges. The course covers the analysis of trusses and beams, which are fundamental elements of many transportation structures. Transportation engineers may find this course helpful. The course’s emphasis on practical problem-solving and its focus on building a foundation in structural analysis may benefit a transportation engineer whose work sometimes involves structural elements.

See salaries and explore the career path for Transportation Engineer

Geotechnical Engineer

Geotechnical engineers analyze soil and rock to assess the safety of a structure. Although this course does not focus on soil or rock mechanics, it introduces concepts that a geotechnical engineer may find useful. This course covers fundamental structural engineering principles, specifically truss and beam analysis, which are concepts that a geotechnical engineer may encounter as part of their work. This course may be useful to a geotechnical engineer. The course's practical approach to structural problem solving may be of some help to a geotechnical engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Geotechnical Engineer

Mechanical Engineer

While mechanical engineers often focus on machinery and systems, they may also encounter structural elements. This course introduces principles related to truss and beam analysis, which may be helpful; and the course may be useful to some mechanical engineers. The course's introduction to bending and shear forces and stresses may give some mechanical engineers a better understanding of the structural aspects of their work. The course may give an engineer who usually works with machines a new perspective on the structural elements of their work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mechanical Engineer

Architect

Architects design buildings and structures, and while this course does not cover architectural design, it does present essential engineering concepts. Architects must understand structural basics, and this course provides an introduction to truss and beam analysis. Although this course does not focus on topics most relevant to architects, it may be helpful. The course focuses on equilibrium equations, bending, and shear stress, which may help architects during the design process, especially as it relates to load bearing members.

See salaries and explore the career path for Architect

Materials Engineer

Materials engineers develop and test materials for various applications. While this course doesn't focus on material properties, its focus on stress and force may be helpful. A materials engineer may find it helpful to have some structural concepts in their back pocket. The course's focus on bending and shear stresses experienced in beams may be helpful for those whose work touches on the structural aspects of material selection. The course's practical approach to problem solving may be helpful to a materials engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Materials Engineer

Principles & Practice of Engineering PE Exam

What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Pe structural engineering fundamentals

Activities

Career center

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