Examples to Solve

in the course TMHL03

Mechanics of Light Weight Structures

Chapter

In-plane loaded plates in Cartesian

coordinates
1.1
A rectangular plate is fixed at a rigid wall and it is carrying a triangularly distributed total load Q in accordance to the figure below. Define the boundary
conditions along all four edges. Plane stress conditions can be assumed. The
length of the plate is L, the height H and the thickness t.
y
Q

H
x

1.2
A rectangular plate of length L, height H and thickness t is loaded by a bending
moment. Show that the stresses in the plate can be derived from an Airys stress
function
(y) =

2M 3
y
tH 3

(1.1)

Check that both the boundary conditions and bi-harmonic differential equation
are fulfilled.

1. In-plane loaded plates in Cartesian coordinates

y

H/2
x

H/2

L/2

L/2

1.3
A rectangular plate of length L, height H and thickness t is loaded in accordance
to the figure below. Determine the unknown constants A2 to D3 used in the
Airys stress function (x, y) below so all boundary conditions are fulfilled.
(x, y) = 2 (x, y) + 3 (x, y)

(1.2)

where
2 (x, y) =

A2 2
C2 2
x + B2 xy +
y
2
2

(1.3)

3 (x, y) =

A3 3 B3 2
C3 2 D3 3
x +
x y+
xy +
y
6
2
2
6

(1.4)

qy

qy
x

1.4
A rectangular plate is fixed at a rigid wall and it is carrying a shear stress 0
along its upper boundary. Determine the unknown constant C used in the Airys
stress function (x, y) below.
(x, y) = C(axy xy 2 xy 3 /a + by 2 + by 3 /a)

(1.5)

Hint: Focus on how to at least fulfill the bending stress situation along the left
vertical boundary from an equilibrium point of view.
y

0
a
x
a

1.5
A rectangular plate is loaded in accordance to the figure below. Determine the
unknown constants C and D used in the Airys stress function (x, y) below so
that the bending stress is approximated as good as possible. The thickness of
the plate is t.
(x, y) = Cy 2 /2 + Dy 3 /6

(1.6)

P
H

x
H

1. In-plane loaded plates in Cartesian coordinates

1.7
A triangular plate is exposed to a linearly increasing pressure shown in the figure
below. The pressure is q0 at x = a. A proper choice of an Airys stress function
(x, y) is given below. The thickness of the plate is t.
(x, y) = Ax3 + Bx2 y + Cxy 2 + Dy 3

(1.7)

Determine the constants A to D and calculate the stresses along the fixed boundary. The results can be compared to a FE-analysis.

x
q(x)
a

Chapter

In-plane loaded plates in polar

coordinates
1.12
A thin arc-shaped plate, shown in the figure below, is loaded by a bending moment M . Plane stress conditions can be assumed. Calculate the stresses! A
polar coordinate system is most conveniently used. The thickness of the plate is
t. The stress function (r) to be used is
(r) = a0 ln r + b0 r2 + c0 r2 ln r

r
M

2. In-plane loaded plates in polar coordinates

1.13
An infinite plate is exposed to a uniform tensile stress 0 i the x-direction. In
the plate there is a hole with a radius a. Calculate the stresses, especially close
to the hole and compare it to the stress level 0 ! A polar coordinate system is
most conveniently used.
y

2a

1.16
A semi-infinite plate is exposed to a concentrated force P acting perpendicular
to the boundary as shown i the figure below. The force P is distributed as a
uniform line load across the thickness t. Calculate the stresses.
P

1.17
A semi-infinite plate is exposed to a concentrated force P acting parallel to the
boundary as shown i the figure below. The force P is distributed as a uniform
line load across the thickness t. Calculate the stresses. Study especially the
maximum shear stress.
P

1.18
A sector of an infinite plate with an opening angle is exposed to a concentrated
force P acting perpendicular to the symmetry line through the material as shown
in the figure below. The force P is distributed as a uniform line load across the
thickness t. Calculate the stresses.

10

2. In-plane loaded plates in polar coordinates

Chapter

Plates in Cartesian coordinates

2.1
A rectangular plate is fixed at rigid walls along its shortest edges. The shortest
edges has a length a which is much smaller than the longest edge of length b.
The thickness t is much smaller than a. That is b a t.A uniform pressure
p is applied on the entire plate. Calculate the largest displacement in the plate.
The Youngs modulus E and the Poissons ratio are known entities.
p

t
x

2.2
A rectangular plate is simply supported along all its edges. A uniform pressure
p is applied to the entire plate. Calculate the displacement w(x, y) in the zdirection. The Youngs modulus E and the Poissons ratio are known entities.

11

12

3. Plates in Cartesian coordinates

z
p

t
x
y

a
x

2.3
Calculate the maximum stresses in the center of the plate from example 2.2.

2.5
A rectangular plate is simply supported along all its edges. The geometry is the
same as in example 2.2. In this case the loading is a concentrated point load
P acting in the center of the plate. Calculate the displacement in the center of
the plate under the load. The Youngs modulus E and the Poissons ratio are
known entities.

Chapter

Plates in polar coordinates

2.6
A circular plate of radius a is simply supported along the outer edge. A uniform
pressure p is applied on the plate. Calculate the displacement w(r), the maximum
value of w(r), the stresses and the slope at the edge. The Youngs modulus E
and the Poissons ratio are known entities.

z
p

t
r
a

2.7
A circular plate of radius a is simply supported along the outer edge. A linearly
varying pressure p(r) is applied. Calculate the largest displacement w(r), the
stresses and the slope at the edge. The Youngs modulus E and the Poissons
ratio are known entities.

p(r)

p0
t
r
a

13

14

4. Plates in polar coordinates

2.8
A circular plate of radius a is clamped along the outer edge. A linearly varying
pressure p(r) is applied. Calculate the largest displacement w(r). The Youngs
modulus E and the Poissons ratio are known entities.

p0

p(r)
t
r
a

2.9
A circular plate of radius a is clamped along the outer edge. A constant pressure p
is applied. Calculate the largest displacement w(r). The Youngs modulus E and
the Poissons ratio are known entities. Hint: Use superposition of handbook
formulas.

z
p

t
r
a

2.10
A circular plate of radius a is simply supported along the outer edge. A uniform
pressure p is applied on the entire plate. In the center of the plate there is a
support on a distance . Select the distance so that this support in the center
will carry half of the total load.

z
p

r
a

Chapter

Axi-symmetric shells
3.1
An axi-symmetric shell has a radius of curvature R = 2a in the vertical plane
and a radius a in the horizontal bottom plane. The structure is exposed to a
vertical concentrated load P along the symmetry line. Calculate the membrane
stresses at the bottom plane. The thickness of the shell is t.
P

R=2a
z
r
a

15

16

5. Axi-symmetric shells

3.2
A infinite conical section has a top angle 2 and the thickness of the shell is t.
The density is . Calculate the membrane stresses in the cone on a distance s
from the top due to the dead load.

s
2
z
r

3.3
A spherical roof has a radius R, an opening angle and the thickness of the shell
is t. The density of the roof is . Calculate the membrane stresses in the roof
due to the dead load.

r
R

17

3.4
A thin half spherical shell has a radius R and the thickness t. The shell is filled
by a liquid having the density . Calculate the largest membrane stresses in the
shell due to the load from the liquid. The support do not generate any bending
stresses.

R
r

3.5
A infinite cone has the opening angle and the thickness t. The cone is filled by
a liquid having the density to the height h,. Calculate the membrane stresses
in the cone due to the load from the liquid. The support do not generate any
bending stresses.

z
h

18

5. Axi-symmetric shells

Chapter

Circular cylindrical shells

3.6
A long pipe (L a) has very stiff gables and it is loaded by an internal pressure
p. Calculate the radial displacement w and the bending stresses as function z.
The thickness of the pipe is t. The Youngs modulus E and the Poissons ratio
are known entities.

L
z

t
r

3.7
A short pipe has very stiff gables and it is loaded by an internal pressure p.
Calculate the radial displacement w and the bending stresses as function z. The
thickness of the pipe is t (t a). The Youngs modulus E and the Poissons
ratio are known entities.

L/2

L/2

t
r

19

20

6. Circular cylindrical shells

3.10
An infinite pipe (L a) is loaded by force T0 per unit length around the circumferential of the pipe. Calculate the radial displacement w(z). The thickness
of the pipe is t (t a). The Youngs modulus E and the Poissons ratio are
known entities.

a
t
T0
r

3.12
A cylindrical oil tank has a radius R = 15.m and a height H = 20.m. Which wall
thickness t is required if the axial bending stress must not exceed 200.N/mm2 .
The density of the oil is = 800.kg/m3 .

z
t

H
p(z)
r

6.1. Answers:

6.1

21

Answers:

1.1
Boundary conditions are:
x=0

u(0, y) = v(0, y) = 0

x=L

x (L, y) = xy (L, y) = 0
y = 2Qx/tL2 , xy = 0

y = H/2
y = H/2

y = 0, xy = 0

1.2
x (x, y) =

2 (x, y)
12M
=
y
2
y
tH 3

y (x, y) =

2 (x, y)
=0
x2

2 (x, y)
=0
xy
Z H/2
x tydy =
12M y 2 /H 3 dy = M

xy (x, y) =
Z

H/2

H/2

H/2

1.3
Boundary conditions are:
y = H/2
x = 0, L

y = p, xy = 0
x = qy, xy = 0

(x, y) = px2 /2 + qy 3 /6

1.4
C = 0 /4a

1.5
C = P/2tH
D = 3P/2tH 2

1.7
A = q0 /6a,

B = 0,

x = q0 (2y/a 1)
xy = q0 y/a

C = q0 /2a,

D = q0 /3a

22

6. Circular cylindrical shells

1.12
4M a2 b2 b
r
a
( 2 ln + b2 ln + a2 ln )
ct r
a
b
r
4M
a2 b2 b
r
a
(r) =
( 2 ln + b2 ln + a2 ln + b2 a2 )
ct
r
a
b
r
r = 0
r (r) =

where
b
c = (b2 a2 )2 4a2 b2 (ln )2
a

1.13
a2
a2
a4
0
(1 2 + (1 4 2 + 3 4 ) cos 2)
2
r
r
r
0
a2
a4
(r) =
(1 + 2 (1 + 3 4 ) cos 2)
2
r
r
a2
0
a4
r = (1 + 2 2 3 4 ) sin 2
2
r
r
If r = a we have
r (r) =

max (r) = 0 (1 2 cos 2) = 30

That is, the stress concentration factor is equal to 3!

1.16
2P
sin
rt
(r, ) = r (r, ) = 0
r (r, ) =

1.17
max (r, ) = |

r
2P
|=
| cos |
2
rt

1.18
r =

2P sin
rt sin

2.1
wmax =

pb4
384D

2.2
At a general position in the plate the displacement is defined by

16p X X
mx
ny
1
w(x, y) = 6
sin
sin
2 + ( n )2 )2
D m=1 n=1 mn(( m
)
a
b
a
b

where m and n are odd integer numbers

6.1. Answers:

23

2.3
In the center of the plate at x = a/2 and y = b/2, we have
xmax =

n 2
2
12Mx t
96p X X (( m
n
m
a ) + ( b ) )
=
sin
m 2
n 2 2 sin
3
4
2
t
2
t m=1 n=1 mn(( a ) + ( b ) )
2
2

ymax =

2
12My t
96p X X (( nb )2 + ( m
n
m
a) )
=
sin
m 2
n 2 2 sin
3
4
2
t
2
t m=1 n=1 mn(( a ) + ( b ) )
2
2

xy = 0
where m and n are odd integer numbers

2.5
At a general position in the plate the displacement is
w(x, y) =

n
ny
48(1 2 )P X X sin m
mx
2 sin 2
sin
sin
2 + ( n )2 )2
4 Eabt3 m=1 n=1 (( m
)
a
b
a
b

where m and n are odd integer numbers

2.6
At a general position in the circular plate the displacement is

pa2 (3 + ) 2
a2
r4
2
w(r) =
(a r )
+ 2
32D (1 + )
2
2a
and in the center, we have
w(r = 0) = wmax =

pa4 (5 + )
64D (1 + )

The stresses are

r (r, z) =

12z
Mr (r);
t3

(r, z) =

12z
M (r);
t3

where the moments are

(3 + )p 2
(a r2 )
16
p
M (r) =
((3 + )a2 (1 + 3)r2 )
16
The slope (r) is for small rotations

dw(r)
pa2 2r3
(3 + )
(r) =
=
2r
dr
32D a2
(1 + )
Mr (r) =

(r = a) =

pa3
1
8D (1 + )

2.7
wmax =

p0 a4 (6 + )
150D (1 + )

r = 0

24

6. Circular cylindrical shells

2.8
wmax =

43p0 a4
4800D

wmax =

pa4
64D

2.9

2.10
The support should be pushed the distance
pa4
64D
above the undeformed position!
=

3.1
The in-plane stress resultants N (r) and N (r) are
N (r) =

P
;
2r

N (r) =

P
4r

3.2
The stresses are
(s) = g

1
s
2 cos

(s) = g

sin2
s
cos

3.3
The stresses are
() = gR
() = gR

1
(1 + cos )

(sin2 cos )
(1 + cos )

3.4
The maximum stress is found in bottom
max =

gR2
2t

3.6
The outward radial displacement of the wall w(x) are
w(x) = (1

pa2
)
(1 expnx (sin nx + cos nx))
2 Et

and thus the bending moment Mx (x) is

Mx (x) = (1

2pa2 n2 D
)
expnx (sin nx cos nx)
2
Et

6.1. Answers:

25

3.7
3.10
The outward radial displacement of the wall w(x) is
w(x) =

T0
expnx (cos nx + sin nx)
8n3 D

where
n4 =

3(1 2 )
;
a2 t2

D=

Et3
12(1 2 )

3.12
The thickness t of the wall has to be at least 22. mm.