In this Pass the FE Exam article (and video above), I take you step by step through a type of problem you’ll likely have to solve during the FE Exam as part of the hydrology/water resources section by calculating the amount of runoff from a commercial site.
This sample problem has been provided to us by PrepFE. PrepFE is one of the most effective FE exam self-study prep services out there and happens to be one of the most affordable too. It is an app that gives you access to countless sample FE problems to bolster your self-study efforts.
You can visit PrepFE here and use the discount code in the description of this video here to receive 10% off and get some great FE practice problems.
Question:
A 20-acre suburban commercial lot has stores and parking lots. The corresponding NRCS curve number is 97. What is most nearly the amount of runoff created after a 2.75″ rain event over the course of 24 hours?
Solution:
Refer to the Hydrology/Water Resources section in the Civil Engineering chapter of the FE Reference Handbook.
Ultimately, we must solve for runoff.
Where:
P = precipitation (inches)
S = maximum basin retention (inches)
Q = runoff (inches), and
CN = curve number
Calculate the unknown S and P.
Calculate the amount of runoff, Q.
Answer:
I hope you found this week’s article helpful. In upcoming videos, I will answer more FE Exam questions and run through more practice problems. We publish videos bi-weekly on our Pass the FE Exam YouTube Channel. Be sure to visit our page here and click the subscribe button as you’ll get expert tips and tricks – to ensure your best success – that you can’t get anywhere else. Believe me, you won’t want to miss a single video.
Lastly, I encourage you to ask questions in the comments of the videos or here on this page and I’ll read and respond to them in future videos. So, if there’s a specific topic you want me to cover or answer, we have you covered.
I’ll see you next week.
Anthony Fasano, P.E.
Engineering Management Institute
Author of Engineer Your Own Success
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