Anthony Fasano, P.E.

FE Exam Review: Environmental Engineering & Water Resources (2022)

October 19, 2022 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article (and video above), we calculate the projected life of a new landfill. This problem type might be found in the Water Resources and Environmental section of the FE Exam and will help you prepare for your FE Exam. This problem was created and solved by Engineer in training, Enrique Ivers, LEED Green Associate.

Question:

A waste management company wishes to calculate the projected life of their new landfill. The landfill is 500m x 200m in plan area and 30m deep. The average daily filling pattern, after compaction of refuse, is expected to be 20 m x 10 m x 4m deep. The daily cover stipulated by local ordinance is 15 cm per day. The company will operate the landfill Monday through Friday, every week in the year, with no holidays. The projected life of the landfill is most nearly:

Solution:

PE Exam Practice Question – Calculating the Source Pressure to Move Water Through a Steel Pipe

October 11, 2022 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article, (and video above), we calculate the source pressure to move water through a 3″ ID steel pipe by using the Darcy-Weisbach equation and the Friction Factor Diagram provided in the PE Handbook. This question forms part of the Hydraulics and Hydrology section of the PE Exam and was created and solved by Engineer in training, Enrique Ivers.

Question:

Water needs to be transferred from a settling basin to a treatment facility. The distance from the basin to the facility is 500 feet, and the facility is at an elevation 25 feet higher than the basin. The specified capacity is 100 gallons per minute with at least 20psig of pressure at the facility.

If a 3-inch ID steel pipe is used, how much pressure needs to be provided at the basin, in psig? The Reynolds number is determined to be 2 x 10^5 and the specific roughness per the pipe manufacturer is 0.0002 ft.

Explanation:

FE Exam Review: Chemical Reactions Section (2022)

October 5, 2022 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article (and video above), to help you prepare for the FE exam, we calculate the concentration of a metal compound Hg²⁺. This problem type may be found in the Chemistry and Biology or Chemical Reactions section of the FE Exam, and was created and solved by Engineer in training, Enrique Ivers, LEED Green Associate.

Question:

The Chloride (Cl^–) concentration in a lake is found to be 2.5 x 10^-2. The HgCl₂ (aq) concentration is found to be 5 x 10^-7M. The following chemical equations and equilibrium constants apply:

The concentration of Hg²⁺ is most nearly:

Solution:

Tips to Negotiate a Higher Salary After Obtaining Your PE License

September 27, 2022 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article (and video above), I provide you with some tips that you can use to negotiate a higher salary after obtaining your PE License to enable you to negotiate the compensation that you deserve. These tips will help you earn more as a professional engineer and I strongly recommend that all professional engineers read this.
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FE Exam Prep: NEW Civil Engineering Soil Sample Problem

September 21, 2022 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article (and video above), we solve another civil engineering soil sample problem designed by Engineer in training, Enrique Ivers, LEED Green Associate, to help you prepare for your FE Exam. You can check out a previous soil problem we did here.

Question:

The specific gravity of a saturated soil sample is 2.75 with a total unit mass of 2500 kg/m³. The dry unit mass is most nearly:

Solution:

Can You Get Approved to Sit for the PE Exam WITHOUT Passing the FE Exam?

September 13, 2022 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article (and video above), I answer a question that I have received from many of our listeners, which is:

“Can I get approved to sit for the PE Exam without passing the FE Exam if I have a number of years of experience working in the engineering field?”
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FE Exam Prep: Civil Engineering Soil Sample

September 7, 2022 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article, (and video above), we solve a civil engineering soil sample problem to give you a better understanding of what you can expect during the FE Exam.

Question:

A soil sample has a total mass of 24g, a volume of 12cm³, an oven-dry mass of 22g, and a specific gravity of 2.4 for the solids.

The void ratio of this soil sample is most nearly:

Solution:

PE Exam Review: Force Analysis (Practice and Solution)

August 30, 2022 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article (and video above), we solve a force analysis problem of a field fabricated floor joist constructed by nailing together two boards, to help you prepare for your PE Exam. This week’s problem was created and solved by Enrique Ivers, an Engineer in Training.

Question:

A field fabricated floor joist is constructed by nailing together two boards as shown in the figure to the right. If the nails are spaced at s = 6”, what is the shear force (lb) in each nail if the section is subjected to a transverse shear force = 1.0 kips?

Explanation:

Calculating Torque Transmitted by a Gear Shaft

August 24, 2022 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article, (and video above), we calculate what torque is transmitted by the shaft of a gear to give you a better understanding of what you can expect during the FE Exam.

Question:

Two meshing spur gears are arranged such that neither gear is turning and both are in equilibrium. A small gear has a radius of 4 cm. The shaft of this small gear carries a torsional moment of 75 N∙m from an external motor. A larger gear has a radius of 20 cm. Assuming a 100% transmission of efficiency, what torque is transmitted by the shaft of the larger gear?

Solution:

How Many Times Can You FAIL and Take the PE Exam?

August 16, 2022 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

I get many questions from listeners asking how many times they can take the PE exam in one year, and in this article (and video above), I provide you with the answer and explain the process of retaking the NCEES PE Exam.

If you’re getting ready for the PE exam or have been struggling to pass it, you may be wondering how many times you are allowed to take it?