1.

Determine which values of principal stresses and principal directions of the given stress matrix are
correct

5 3 −3
σ = | 3 0 2 | (MPa)
−3 2 0
1 0 1 1
a) λ = 3; ∅ = [−√10] b) λ = 2; ∅ = [1] c) λ = −4; ∅ = [0] d) λ = 7; ∅ = [−1]
1 1 1 1

Solution: b)

The principal stresses are the eigenvalues of the stress matrix

5−λ 3 −3
| 3 −λ 2| = 0
−3 2 0−λ

Solving the determinant

(5 − λ)[(−λ)(−λ) − 4] – 3[−3λ + 6] − 3[6 − (−3)(−λ)] = 0

leads to a cubic function

λ3 − 5λ2 − 22λ + 56 = 0

Its roots or principal stresses in MPa are

λ1 = −4 ; λ2 = 2 ; λ3 = 7

2
Principal direction associated with the first eigenvalue λ1 = −4 → ∅ = [−3]
1
3
0
Principal directions for λ2 = 2 → ∅ = [1]
2
1
3
Principal directions for λ3 = 7 → ∅ =[ 1 ]
3
−1
2. The “standard body” of the figure has the following properties.

E2
E1 E1 = 200 MN/m2
s s E2 = 100 MN/m2
h η = 500 MN · s/m2

A constant stress σ = 1 MN/m2 is applied for 25 s long and then suddenly released.

Which of the plots below reflects the body’s total strain, ε = ε1 + ε2 , as a function of time?

a) b)

c) d)
Solution: c)

The instantaneous strain is

σ 1
ε0 = = = 5 · 10−3
E1 200
The strain at t = ∞ is
1 1
ε∞ = σ ( + ) = 15 · 10−3
E1 E2
The Kelvin-Voigt component of the standard body is

σ E 1 t
− 2t
ε2 = (1 − e η ) = (1 − e− 5 )
E2 100

For t < 25 s the total strain is

1 t
ε(t) = 5 · 10−3 + (1 − e− 5 )
100
Solution a) is incorrect because it is linear

Solution d) is incorrect because it hasn’t the asymptotic value ε∞

For t = 25 s
1
ε2 (25) = (1 − e−5 ) = 9.93 · 10−3
100
So that the total strain is

ε− (25) = (5 + 9.93) · 10−3

If the applied stress is released the spring E1 recovers instantaneously the ε0 strain, and we can se the
jump to the value

ε+ (25) = 9.93 · 10−3

The Kelvin-Voigt part recovers this value in 25 s, so that

ε(50) = 0
Solution b) is incorrect because it doesn’t meet this condition
3. A constant load F = 150 kN is applied in the structure center node of the figure with the followings
bar properties.

Bar I: Elastic
EI = 200 MN/m2
AI = 0.04 m2
LI = 1 m

L L Bar II: Viscoelastic

Standard linear solid
EII2
F EII1
s s
hII
I II
Elastic bar Visco-elastic bar
EII1 = 200 MN/m2
EII2 = 100 MN/m2
ηII = 500 MN · s/m2
AII = 0.08 m2
LII =1m

Determine bar I force increment between t = 0+ (once the load is applied) and t = ∞.

a) 40 kN b) 50 kN c) 60 kN d) 90 kN

Solution: a)

For t = 0+

The dashpot in the standard solid blocks the movement and the behavior becomes as a spring EII1

The load is distributed between the two bars and the stiffness are:

EI A I EII1 AII
KI = y K II = = 2 · KI
LI LII

The equilibrium at the intermediate node is:

F = NI − NII ; N > 0 tension

The compatibility condition relates the node displacement with the bar strains or elongations:

u = ∆LI = −∆LII ; ∆L > 0 elongation

So that, the central node displacement is

F
F = K I ∆LI + K II ∆LII = (K I + K II ) u = 3 · K I · u → u=
3 · KI

And the member forces are:

1 2
NI = F; NII = − F
3 3

For t = ∞

The dashpot in the standard solid doesn’t work because stress rate is zero and the behavior becomes as
a spring in series EII1 and EII2 .

The equivalent modulus is:

EII1 · EII2 EI · 0.5 EI 1

EII = = = EI
EII1 + EII2 EI + 0.5 EI 3

And repeating the same process

EI A I EII AII 2
KI = y K II = = KI
LI LII 3

5 3F
F = K I ∆LI + K II ∆LII = (K I + K II ) u = K I · u → u=
3 5 KI

Then, the member forces are:

3 2
NI = F; NII = − F
5 5

Consequently, the requested force increment is:

3 1 4
∆NI = F − F = F = 40 kN
5 3 15
4. The hinged structure (truss) from the figure is incrementally loaded with two antisymmetric point
loads P. Once the first group of bars yields, the load increases until a second group of bars reaches
the elastic limit (yield stress). At that moment the structure is unloaded.
Assuming all bars are the same (same cross-section and same plastic material with yield stress sy ,
kinematic linear hardening and tangent modulus Et = E/4).
P 2 P

6 5

1 3
L
4 7

Determine the residual strain in the first group of yielded bars generated by the previous loading
case.
σy √2 σy √2 σy σy
a) 3(√2 − 1) E
b) c) (1 − )E d) 4 √2 E
2 E 2

Solution: a)

Using the antisymmetric conditions with the equilibrium equations the problem is statically determinate
and the internal forces are evaluated:

P N2 = 0 P
N
=
6

-
P

2
2

P
=
5
N

N1 = P N3 = - P
P

N
2

=
=

-
4
N

2
P

P P

2P 2P
Depending on the member forces, we can classify the bars into three groups:

 Group I: bars 4, 5, 6 and 7 with a force √2 P. Tension in bars 4 and 5 and compression in bars 6
and 7.
 Group II: bars 1 and 3 with a force P in tension and compression, respectively
 Group III: bar 2 unloaded

These force distribution remains in the requested process.

1st step: P1 → Group I yields

2 σ
N1I = σ y A = 2 P1  P1 = σ y A  ε1I = y
2 E
2 2 σy
N1II = P1 = σ y A  ε1II =
2 2 E

2nd step: P2 = P1 + P2 → Group II yields

 2
N 2II = σ y A = P 2  ΔP 2 = 1-  σ y A
 2 
 2 σy
N 2I = 2 ΔP 2 = 2 1-  
 σ y A= 2-1 σ y A  Δε I  4
2
 E
2-1
 2 
 2  2  σy
N 2II = ΔP 2 = 1-  σ y A  Δε II  1-
2

 2   2 E

3rd step: P3 = P2 + P3 = 0; P3 = −P2 → Unloading process

ΔP3 = - P 2  - σ y A
σy
N 3I = 2 ΔP3 = - 2 σ y A  Δε 3I  - 2
E
σy
N 2II = ΔP3 = - σ y A  Δε 2II  -
E

Finally the total strain is obtained adding the previous results

σy σy

ε 3I = ε1I + Δε I2 + Δε 3I = 1+4 2-4- 2 E =3  E
2-1

 2 2  σy
ε 3II = ε1II + Δε II2 + Δε 3II =  +1- -1 =0
 2 2  E
The following plot shows the group I behavior when the member works in tension (like bars 4 and 5).

sI

2
2 σy

1
sy E/4

E E
3

σy eI
ε1I =
E

σy
ε 3I = 3  2-1 E
σy

ε 2I  4 2-3 E
5. The behavior of a concrete specimen under compression can be modelled using the constitutive law
coupling elastic behavior with the damage rule.

Normalized
s
stress Ee R
1
tic
e las
ar
su Lin
e

Ee R

0
1 e Normalized
eR strain

where E = 30 GPa
σ ε ε s+1 S=2
= [1 − ( ) ]
E εR εR εR εR = 0.35%

The specimen is subjected to a strain-controlled test with two steps (see figure):
e / eR
 In the first one ε/εR reaches the value 0.65, practically that 0.65
of the maximum stress σu
 In the second, the strain is reduced until the value
0.20
ε/εR = 0.2
1 2

Which of the following sketches represents the final damage?

D D
2 1

2 1

0.20 0.65 1 e/e 0.20 0.65 1 e/e

R R

a) b)
D D

2 1
2 0.65 1 e/e 0.20 0.65 1 e/e
0.20 R R

c) d)
Solution: b)

Equation of damage is

ε s+1
D=( )
εR

So it is a cubic polynomial with horizontal tangent at the origin.

So, solution a) makes no sense.

Solution c) is not valid because the unloading branch is elastic and, although interrupted at ε/εR = 0.2,
damage is constant in unloading.

Finally, d) is plotted under assuming that Damage only starts from σu on what is false because damage
starts from the very beginning.