Tutorial Problems

1. Show that the elasticity tensor Cijkl for an isotropic material can be written as

Cijkl = (ik jl + il jk ) + ij kl

2. The four bar truss shown below is subjected to a vertical load P at its central joint.
Assuming that all four bars are identical, determine the internal forces in the bars.

45 45

45 45

(i) Is the problem statically determinate?. Why?.

(ii) List the equilibrium, compatibility, boundary conditions and constitutive equations
for the system.
(iii) Solve for the internal reactions in the bars.

3. Determine the compressive stiffness (axial stress per unit axial strain) of a prismatic bar
of rectangular cross-section constrained from expanding laterally by rigid boundaries as
shown in figure. The material has Youngs modulus E and Poissons ratio .

P P

4. A circular disk of unit thickness is subjected to radial tractions t along its circumference
as shown in figure. Given that the material is isotropic (Youngs modulus E and Poissons
ratio ) and state of stress and deformation are homogeneous in the plate,
e2

2r e1

(i) Construct the stress tensor for the given loading.

(ii) Use generalized Hookes law to calculate the strain tensor.
(iii) Determine the change in radius and thickness of the plate.