Bridge Problems for the

Structural Engineering (SE) Exam:

Vertical Loads

David Connor, SE, PE

Website: www.davidconnorse.com
Email: davidconnorse@gmail.com

Reference Bridge Code AASHTO LRFD 7th Edition, 2014

VIEW THE ERRATA FOR THIS BOOK AT:

www.davidconnorse.com

PLEASE REPORT ERRORS OR SEND COMMENTS TO:

davidconnorse@gmail.com
Your help in making this publication error free and easy to understand is much appreciated!
Thank you for purchasing this book.

BRIDGE PROBLEMS FOR THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING (SE) EXAM: VERTICAL LOADS
Current Printing of this edition: 1st
th
Reference Bridge Code: AASHTO LRFD 7 Edition, 2014
Copyright 2016 by David Connor, SE, PE
All rights reserved.
No part of the publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author. Contact the
author via e-mail at davidconnorse@gmail.com for inquiries.
This publication shall be used for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional and sound engineering
judgment. The author does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein and shall not be
responsible for any errors, omissions, or damages arising out of use of the information in this publication. It is understood that
the author is not rendering professional engineering services via this publication.
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the National Council of Examiners for
Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) were not involved in producing this publication. Any mention of these, or similar
organizations, within this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the publication, nor the information published
herein.
Any similarity between the problems appearing in this publication and problems published by others or that appear on the
NCEES Structural Engineering (SE) Exam is purely coincidental. The subject matter of the problems was chosen based on what
the author believed what may appear on future SE Exams only.
Printed by CreateSpace, An Amazon.com Company
eStore address: www.CreateSpace.com/6393413
ISBN: 1535055391

Table of Contents
Subject Matter of Each Problem.
About the Author.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-5

Acknowledgements.
Preface.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

i-6

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .i-7

Tips and Recommendations.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-8

- i-15

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-16

- i-28

Summary of AASHTO Changes.

Nomenclature.
Notes.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-4

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-29

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Bridge Problems for the Structural Engineering (SE) Exam: Vertical Loads
40 Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Answer Sheet.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

1
2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Bridge Problems for the Structural Engineering (SE) Exam: Vertical Loads
Solutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Answer Key.

i-33 i-34

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .

Problems #1 through #40.

i-32

- 42

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Problems #1 through #40 Solutions.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45-84

i-3

Subject Matter of Each Problem

Problem #1 Design Moment for Bridge Girder
Problem #2 Design Shear for Bridge Girder
Problem #3 Concrete Deck Live Load Moment
Problem #4 Pier Stream Pressure and Vessel Impact
Problem #5 Superstructure Vessel Impact
Problem #6 Lateral Earth Pressure at Abutment
Problem #7 Anchored Wall Tension
Problem #8 Anchored Wall Bonded Length
Problem #9 MSE Wall Reinforcement
Problem #10 Retaining Wall Forces
Problem #11 Expansion Joints
Problem #12 Braking Force and Moment
Problem #13 Long-Term Concrete Deflection
Problem #14 Concrete Column Axial Resistance and Biaxial Flexure
Problem #15 Support Bearing Resistance
Problem #16 Shear Resistance of Prestressed Girder
Problem #17 Interface Shear Resistance
Problem #18 Prestressed Girder Stresses
Problem #19 Prestressed Girder Losses
Problem #20 Development Length
Problem #21 Concrete Deck Reinforcement Cover
Problem #22 Concrete Piles
Problem #23 Pile Caps
Problem #24 Strut and Tie Method
Problem #25 Steel Fatigue
Problem #26 Steel Piles
Problem #27 Fracture-Critical Member Charpy V-Notch (CVN) Testing
Problem #28 Steel Girder Moment Capacity
Problem #29 Plate Girder Dimensions
Problem #30 Plate Girder Web Shear Capacity
Problem #31 Plate Girder End Bearing Capacity
Problem #32 Composite Girder Headed Studs
Problem #33 Use of Slip Critical Connections
Problem #34 Bolted Connection Shear Resistance
Problem #35 Bolted Connection Slip Resistance
Problem #36 Bolted Splice
Problem #37 Wood Decking
Problem #38 Drilled Shafts
Problem #39 Concrete Relieving Slab
Problem #40 Use of Bearing Type

i-4

Tips and Recommendations

After you have gathered together all of the codes, tab them. Solving problems quickly
is paramount to passing the SE Exam and the use of tabs will help you to quickly find the
code information you need. This process will also help you get familiar with the layout of
the codes and you may even find information in the codes that is useful in your day-today work experience. Again, dont underestimate the time it will take to perform this
task. It took me the better part of 2 weeks to tab my codes. Be selective with your
tabbing. If you overtab, you could have the reverse effect of making it more difficult to
find information quickly. Also, leave a gap without tabs in the middle of the page edges
to make flipping through the pages easier and so that your thumb does not get caught
on the tabbed pages. See the photo below.

This photo shows overtabbing at

the front of the book and correct
tabbing with a gap between the tabs
at the back of the book.

This may sound like common sense and trivial, but the best way to study is to work out
problems step-by-step, by hand. Obviously, this is how you will need to solve the
problems on the exam as well. The reason I mention this is because, many if not all,
structural engineers today depend on the use of spreadsheets and structural
engineering software to perform the sometimes repetitive structural engineering and
analysis tasks. Solving problems by hand will help you to identify the best ways to solve
a problem, where in the code to find the information, and where you may get tripped
up.

i-9

Summary of AASHTO Changes

Section 4.6.3.3 - Beam-Slab Bridges
4.6.3.3.1 General In the commentary, the bullet points dealing with K-frame and X-frame
diaphragms, and live load effects have been removed and are now contained in the new Article
4.3.3.4 Cross-frames and Diaphragms.
4.6.3.3.2 This Article has been renamed Grid and Plate and Eccentric Beam Analyses of
Curved and/or Skewed Steel I-Girder Bridges. This Article describes how to account for steel Igirders that are curved and/or skewed. The warping rigidity of the girders is to be considered in
grid and in plate and eccentric beam methods of structural analysis. Equations for IC
(connectivity index) and IS (skew index) have been introduced and are to be used to determine
if the warping rigidity of the I-girders must be used.
4.6.3.3.3 This Article is now Curved Steel Bridges which was 4.6.3.3.2 in AASHTO 6th edition.
4.6.3.3.4 This is a new Article named Cross-frames and Diaphragms. The Article and
commentary describes modeling and analysis techniques for various types of cross-frames and
diaphragms.
4.9 References Additional references have been added for research that has been
performed since the previous AASHTO Edition.
Section 5 - Concrete Structures:
5.3 Notation Definition for Ecdeck was removed. The definitions for tl and cont were added.
Section 5.5.3 Fatigue Limit State
5.5.3.1 General The verbiage for fully prestressed components in other than segmentally
constructed bridges was modified. The compressive stress for Fatigue I load combination is due
to the sum of the unfactored effective prestress and permanent loads.
5.5.3.2 Reinforcing Bars Equation 5.5.3.2-1 has been modified and the definition for fy has
been added to the section. Fy is not to be taken less than 60 ksi, nor greater than 100 ksi.
5.8.2.5 Minimum Transverse Reinforcement - The minimum amount of transverse
reinforcement for segmental post-tensioned concrete box girder bridges has been modified. Eq.
5.8.2.5-2 has been removed, and the minimum transverse reinforcement is now the equivalent
of (2)-#4 bars, grade 60, per foot of length.
5.8.2.7 Maximum Spacing of Transverse Reinforcement - Additional commentary has been
added regarding the maximum spacing of transverse reinforcement in prestressed girders. It
explains that a spacing limit of 0.6dv may be appropriate, or reducing the transverse bar
reinforcement diameter, and thus reducing the transverse bar spacing.

i-19

Nomenclature
A
Ab
Acv
Ag
Agirder
Aps
As
Asc
Ast
Av
Avf
A1
A2

ADTTSL
AEP
BR
bf
bs
bt
bv
C

c
Cd
CF
Cfu
Ci
CKF
CM
Cv
CV
CVN
C

fatigue detail category constant

2
cross sectional area of bolt (in )
area of concrete section resisting shear
2
transfer (in )
2
gross cross sectional area (in )
2
cross sectional area of girder (in )
cross sectional area of prestressing strands
2
(in )
2
cross sectional area of steel member (in )
2
headed stud cross-sectional area (in )
2
cross sectional area of reinforcement (in )
2
area of shear reinforcement (in )
area of reinforcement for interface shear
2
between concretes of slab and beam (in )
2
load area (in )
area of the lower base of the largest
frustrum of a pyramid contained wholly
within the support and having for its upper
base the loaded area (A1) and having side
2
slopes of 1 vertical to 2 horizontal (in )
average daily truck traffic over design life
single lane (trucks/day)
apparent earth pressure (psf/ksf)
vehicular braking force (kips)
flange width (in.)
composite effective width of concrete deck
(in.)
projecting width of bearing stiffener (in.)
prestress girder web width (in.)
MSE wall reinforcement surface area
geometry factor; ratio of shear buckling
resistance to the shear specified minimum
yield strength
cohesion factor (ksi)
deck factor
size factor
flat use factor
incising factor
format conversion factor = 2.5/
wet-service factor
volume factor
vessel collision force (kips)
Charpy V-Notch
time effect factor

D
DC
DW
DWT
Dp

Dt
d

db
do
dv
E
Ec
Eci
Ect
Ep
EH
EV
F
F*
Fb
Fbo
FCM
Fp
Fu
Fub
Fy
Fyf
Fyw
Fys
fc
fci

i-29

plate girder web depth (in.)

dead load of superstructure and structural
components (kips)
dead load of wearing surface (kips)
dead weight tonnage of ship (tonnes)
distance from top of concrete deck to the
neutral axis of the composite section at the
plastic moment (in.)
total depth of composite section (in.)
diameter; depth; distance from extreme
compression fiber to centroid of tensile
steel (in.)
bar diameter (in.)
web stiffener spacing (in.)
effective shear depth (in.)
modulus of elasticity of steel (ksi)
modulus of elasticity of concrete (ksi)
modulus of elasticity of concrete at transfer
(ksi)
modulus of elasticity of concrete at transfer
or time of load application (ksi)
modulus of elasticity of prestressing
tendons (ksi)
horizontal earth pressure load (psf/ksf)
vertical pressure from dead load of earth fill
(psf/ksf)
strut or tie force
pullout friction factor
adjusted design flexural strength of wood
(ksi)
design flexural strength of wood (ksi)
fracture-critical member
total radial force in concrete deck (kips)
steel tensile strength (ksi)
tensile strength of bolt (ksi)
steel yield strength (ksi)
steel yield strength of flange (ksi)
steel yield strength of web (ksi)
steel yield strength of stiffener (ksi)
28-day compressive strength of concrete
(psi/ksi)
compressive strength of concrete at strand
release (psi/ksi)

BRIDGE PROBLEMS FOR THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING (SE) EXAM: VERTICAL LOADS
Problem #1
VERTICAL PROBLEMS

Refer to the bridge deck section, design data, and assumptions below:

Design Data and Assumptions:

Beam span = 50-0simple span

Total Dead Load of Superstructure (DC) 3.0 kips/ft
Total Dead Load of Wearing Surface (DW) 0.5 kips/ft
HL-93 Design Truck Static Moment 628 kip-ft
HL-93 Design Lane Load Per AASHTO
Ductililty, Redundancy, and Operational Classification factor = 1.0
Bridge Stiffness Factor (Kg/12.0Lts3)0.1 = 1.0
Two design lanes loaded
Permanent loads are distributed equally among the girders
Loads and moments not shown are negligible or do not govern design

The maximum design moment for an interior girder is most nearly:

(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

1200 kip-ft
1440 kip-ft
1730 kip-ft
2100 kip-ft

BRIDGE PROBLEMS FOR THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING (SE) EXAM: VERTICAL LOADS
Problem #30:
A bridge plate girder has the following end bearing condition:

Design Data and Assumptions:

Steel Fy = 50 ksi for all plates and stiffeners.
Web stiffeners meet provisions of AASHTO Section 6.10.11.1.
Web stiffeners are milled to bear against the flanges.
All web stiffener welds are adequate.
Ductililty, Redundancy, and Operational Classification factor = 1.0
The design shear capacity for the web end panel is most nearly:
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

600 kips
670 kips
810 kips
870 kips

32

BRIDGE PROBLEMS FOR THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING (SE) EXAM: VERTICAL LOADS
Problem #2 Correct Answer (D)
This is another fundamental problem necessary for all bridges. Many bridges have shorter end spans and
at shorter spans the design tandem live load governs over the design truck live load. This problem also
tests the concepts of live load dynamic impact allowance, live load distribution to girders, and application
of load combinations.
TIP: Tandem live load will govern for the
Pertinent Sections and Tables
following:
Table 3.4.1-1 - Load Combinations and Load Factors
Moment Simple spans 40 ft or less
Table 3.4.1-2 - Load Factors for Permanent Loads
Shear Simple spans 25 ft or less
Section 3.6.1.2 Design Vehicular Live Load
Table 3.6.2.1-1 Load Allowance, IM
Table 4.6.2.2.1-1 Common Deck Superstructures
Table 4.6.2.2.3a-1 Distribution of Live Loads for Shear in Interior Beams
Solution
Step 1 Determination of Shears for each loading:
VDC = (3.0 k/ft)*(20 ft) / 2 = 30 k distributed over 5 girders = 6.0 k
VDW=(0.5 k/ft)*(20 ft) / 2 = 5 k distributed over 5 girders = 1.0 k
VLL(LANE)= Shear due to Design Lane Live Load = .64 kips/ft (Section 3.6.1.2.4)
= (.64 k/ft)*(20 ft) / 2 = 6.4 k
VLL(HL-93) = The tandem shear governs over the truck shear. Determine by placing (2)-25 kip loads 4 feet
apart at the end of the span.
VLL(HL-93)= (25k)+(25k)*[(20-4)/20] = 45 k (Note: The shear for the design truck is 41.6 k)
VIM = Dynamic Load Allowance (IM) applied to the static HL-93 live load (Section 3.6.2.1)
= 0.33*(45 k) = 14.9 k (Note: The IM load for the design truck is 13.7 k)
Step 2 Determination of the Live Load Distribution Factor:
Table 4.6.2.2.1-1 - Applicable cross section = (a)
Table 4.6.2.2.3a-1 Given the applicable cross section, range of applicability parameters given in this
table, and design for 2 lanes loaded, the live load distribution factor is the following:
2

0.2 + (S/12) - (S/35)

2
The distribution factor = 0.2 + (7/12)-(7/35) = .743
Step 3 Determination of Design Shear using Table 3.4.1-1 & Table 3.4.1.2:
Strength I Load Combination GovernsVDesign = 1.25*(VDC)+1.5*(VDw)+1.75*(LLDIST)*(VLL(LANE)+VLL(HL-93)+VIM)
VDesign = 1.25*(6.0)+1.5*(1.0)+1.75*(.743)*(66.3) = 95.2 k - Answer: 96 k
Incorrect Answers
(A) 76 kips This answer does not consider HL-93 tandem impact
(B) 84 kips This answer uses the distribution factor for one design land loaded
(C) 89 kips This answer uses the truck live load versus the tandem live load.
(D) 96 kips This is the correct answer.

46

BRIDGE PROBLEMS FOR THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING (SE) EXAM: VERTICAL LOADS

This problem tests on determining the axial

TIP: Compare the answer to this question to the
capacity of end bearing stiffeners at bearing of
shear capacity determined in the previous
a plate girder. The test taker has to first
question. Plate girders tend to be very deep and
determine the correct effective column section
have relatively thin webs, therefore buckling of the
per AASHTO Section 6.10.11.2 and then
web in axial compression can occur at end bearing
determine the axial capacity per AASHTO
locations before the shear capacity of the web end
Section 6.9.2.1.
panel is reached.
Pertinent Sections and Tables
Section 6.10.11.2 Bearing Stiffeners
Section 6.10.11.2.4 Axial Resistance of Bearing Stiffeners, Parts a and b
Section 6.9.2.1 & 6.9.4 Axial Compression
Section 6.5.4.2 Resistance Factors
Solution
Step 1 Check to see that the projecting width of the bearing stiffener satisfies eq. 6.10.11.2.2-1:
The projecting width bt must satisfy the following:
}[ 0.48za N

4L(

= 4.33

Our stiffeners project out just under 4, thus bt is OK.

Step 2 Determine effective column section and column section properties:
The effective column section is defined in AASHTO Section 6.10.11.2.4b. The end bearing stiffeners are 4
from the end of the girder, thus only that portion of the web is considered. 9tw = 5-5/8 is considered on
the other side of the stiffeners. The effective column section is illustrated here:

The pertinent section properties for this effective column section about the web axis are as follows:
2
4
I = 16.2 in
r = 1.33
Ag = 9.02 in
Step 3 Determine the design axial capacity of the bearing stiffeners/effective column section:
Per AASHTO Section 6.10.11.2.4a the axial resistance is determined by taking the effective length of the
column section as .75D = .75*(48 in) = 36 in. The nominal axial capacity for non-composite members may
be determined per AASHTO Section 6.9.2.1 & 6.9.4.
2
Po = QFyAg = (1.0)(50 ksi)(9.02in ) = 451 kips (Q = 1.0 for bearing stiffeners typical)
2
2
2
Pe = {( E)/[(36/1.33) ]}*(9.02 in ) = 3520 kips (AASHTO Eq. 6.9.4.1.2-1)
(451/3520)
Pe/Po = 7.8 thus Pn is per AASHTO Eq. 6.9.4.1.1-1 Pn = [0.658
]*(451 kips) = 427 kips
Design Axial Capacity = Pr = cPn = (0.9)*(427 kips) = Answer: 385 kips (c = 0.9 per section 6.5.4.2)
Incorrect Answers
(A) 133 kips - This answer would have been determined if the web was not considered as part of the
effective column section.
(B) 370 kips - This answer would have been determined if KL was taken as 48.
(C) 385 kips - This is the correct answer.
(D) 426 kips - This answer would have been determined if the effective column section was
considered as 9tw at both sides of the stiffeners, instead of 4 toward the end of the girder.

75

VERTICAL SOLUTIONS

Problem #31 Correct Answer (C)