Civil Engineering Professional Engineer Practice Exam 2025 - Free PE Practice Questions and Study Guide

The Hardy Cross method is specifically designed for analyzing flow in water supply networks, particularly for solving the distribution of flow and pressure in a piping system with multiple interconnected pipes. This iterative technique allows engineers to account for pressure losses and flow redistribution in a network, facilitating the design and optimization of water distribution systems.

This method uses an iterative approach where flow corrections are applied to each pipe in the system until a balanced state is achieved, making it particularly effective for complex networks where simple analytical methods may not be applicable. By employing the Hardy Cross method, engineers can identify how changes in one part of the network influence the overall flow, which is crucial for ensuring adequate water supply and pressure consistency throughout the system.

Other options, such as stress analysis in beams, calculating structural loads, and designing roadway systems, pertain to different areas of civil engineering and do not utilize the Hardy Cross method in their analysis. Each of those areas employs various distinct methodologies and principles tailored to their specific requirements, unlike the flow analysis focus of the Hardy Cross method.