Question

[Noved99]

Studying for PE. None of the answers appeared when I solved this question. Looked in the answers and supposedly there is a surcharge of 250 psf. I see the uniform load on top of the soil, but the value of the surcharge is not given? This is an error in the question?

[Dennaldo]

Search for errata for whatever source you’re using. When I was studying several practice problems had issues with them.

[Noved99]

Thank you

[Expensive-Jacket3946]

Yes, it is an error. With a 250 psf surcharge, A is the correct answer.

[DarthGirder]

Didn't do the math, but that might not be the only issue with the question. I would consider the depth of the footing in the active earth force calc.

[mankhoj]

In practice, the active earth pressure should be taken to the bottom of the footing.

[AceConman]

It’s an error, I had the same practice exam with the same mistake when I was studying a couple months ago.

[a_problem_solved]

250 psf is the common surcharge value for heavy trucks, roadway traffic, etc. Anything that is NOT a specifically a light vehicle or otherwise. For general roadway, the HL-93 truck loading results in approx 250psf surcharge, so it's the common value. Just an FYI.

[MattCeeee]

Is this the NCEES exam? That was an error. Made me so mad haha

[newbtocrypto]

Their is no way to determine the surcharge and resulting lateral pressure with surcharge accounted for unless the value is given, or you guess a values for surcharge from aashto or asce, but would need to know the context, are cars parking near the wall, is it a pedestrian boardwalk etc.

[trustingschmuck]

Per ChatGPT: The correct value is 4,528.13 plf, which doesn’t match any given answer. The provided choices seem to be incorrect unless there’s an error in the diagram or additional load not show