REVIEW PROBLEMS IN STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

STRENGTH OF MATERIALS – 1
INSTRUCTION: Select the correct answer for each of the following questions. Mark only one
answer for each item by shading the box corresponding to the letter of your choice on the answer
sheet provided. STRICTLY NO ERASURES ALLOWED. Use pencil no. 1 only.

Situation 1: The bowstring has an unstretched length of 850 mm and cross-sectional area of
400 mm2. It is recorded that the stress on the upper segment of the bowstring is 50
MPa. See figure WDRF – 02.

1. Determine the average normal strain in the string.

a. 0.06604 c. 0.06064
b. 0.05717 d. 0.05771

2. Determine the applied pull of the archer on the arrow.

a. 9.4 kN c. 13.3 kN
b. 19.7 kN d. 7.4 kN

3. Determine the tension acting on the lower segment of the string.

a. 9.4 kN c. 13.3 kN
b. 19.7 kN d. 7.4kN

Situation 2: The 250 mm x 700 mm rectangular wood panel is formed by gluing together two
boards along the 30-degree seam. See figure HKAHY 3.
REVIEW PROBLEMS IN STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

4. Determine the normal stress in the glued joint if P = 10 kN.

a. 28.6 kPa c. 42.9 kPa
b. 49.5 kPa d. 24.7 kPa

5. Determine the shear stress in the glued joint if P = 10 kN.

a. 24.7 kPa c. 28.6 kPa
b. 42.9 kPa d. 49.5 kPa

Situation 3: The two pieces of wood are glued together along the plane that is at an angle α
with the longitudinal dimension. Allowable shear stress is 1.468 MPa while for
the allowable normal stress it is 0.456 MPa. Use α = 30°. See figure TDSM 67.01.

6. What should be the dimension w so that the allowable shear stress will not be exceeded?
a. 130 mm c. 90 mm
b. 110 mm d. 150 mm

7. What should be the dimension w so that the allowable normal stress will not be
exceeded?
a. 130 mm c. 90 mm
b. 110 mm d. 150 mm

8. What should be the value of angle α so that the shear stress is maximum?
a. 90° c. 45°
b. 30° d. 60°

Situation 4: A cylindrical steel pressure vessel 400 mm in diameter with a wall thickness of 20
mm is subjected to an internal pressure of 4.5 MPa. Allowable stress is 120 MPa

9. What is the tangential stress in the steel?

a. 40.5 MPa c. 20.3 MPa
b. 21.4 MPa d. 42.8 MPa

10. What is the longitudinal stress in the steel?

a. 40.5 MPa c. 20.3 MPa
REVIEW PROBLEMS IN STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

b. 21.4 MPa d. 42.8 MPa

11. What is the maximum pressure that can be applied?

a. 12.63 MPa c. 13.33 MPa
b. 26.67 MPa d. 25.26 MPa

Situation 5: A water tank 3 m in diameter and 6 m high is made from a steel having a
thickness of 12 mm.

12. When the tank is filled with water, determine the circumferential stress.
a. 5.9 MPa c. 7.3 MPa
b. 3.6 MPa d. 4.1 MPa

13. Determine the longitudinal stress at the bottom of the tank when it is filled with water.
a. 5.9 MPa c. 7.3 MPa
b. 3.6 MPa d. 4.1 MPa

14. If the circumferential stress is limited to 5 MPa, what is the maximum height of water to
which the tank may be filled?
a. 3.98 m c. 4.11 m
b. 5.20 m d. 3.47 m

15. A pressurized circular cylinder has a sealed cover plate fastened with steel bolts. The
pressure p of the gas in the cylinder is 290 psi, the inside diameter D of the cylinder is
10.0 in., and the diameter dB of the bolts is 0.50 in. If the allowable tensile stress in the
bolts is 10,000 psi, find the number n of bolts needed to fasten the cover. See figure
STHQD 45.56.

a. 13 c. 10
b. 11 d. 12

Situation 6: Use G = 83 GPa.

16. What is the minimum diameter of a solid steel shaft that will not twist through more than
3° in a 6-m length when subjected to a torque of 12 kN·m?
a. 106.78 mm c. 113.98 mm
b. 135.54 mm d. 122.46 mm

17. What maximum shearing stress is developed?

REVIEW PROBLEMS IN STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

a. 41.27 MPa c. 50.20 MPa

b. 33.28 MPa d. 24.54 MPa

Situation 7: The two steel shafts each with one end built into a rigid support have flanges
rigidly attached to their free ends. The shafts are to be bolted together at their
flanges. However, initially there is a 6° mismatch in the location of the bolt holes.
Use G = 83 GPa and neglect deformations of the bolts and flanges. See figure
SOMKL – 08.

18. Determine the maximum shearing stress in the 1-m long shaft after the shafts are bolted
together
a. 99.05 MPa c. 43.48 MPa
b. 108.65 MPa d. 165.14 MPa

19. Determine the maximum shearing stress in the 2-m long shaft after the shafts are bolted
together
a. 165.14MPa c. 43.48 MPa
b. 99.05 MPa d. 108.65 MPa

Situation 8: During a stress-strain test, the unit deformation at a stress of 78 MPa was
observed to be 189 x 10-6 and at a stress of 165 MPa, the unit deformation was
observed to be 650 x 10-6.

20. What is the modulus of elasticity?

a. 529.89 GPa c. 188.72 GPa
b. 199.99 GPa d. 431.67 GPa

21. What is the strain corresponding to a stress of 91 MPa

a. 257.89 x 10-6 c. 412.34 x 10-6
-6
b. 339.45 x 10 d. 501.76 x 10-6

22. What is the length of a member that elongates 300 mm when subjected to a stress of 100
MPa
a. 1163.31 m c. 981.76 m
b. 461.54 m d. 1587.30 m

Situation 9: A steel cable is used to lift a load, W.

Given:
REVIEW PROBLEMS IN STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

W (Total load including weight of cable) = 175 kN

Properties of the Steel Cable:
Diameter = 30 mm
Length = 12 m
Modulus of Elasticity = 200 GPa

23. Find the elongation (mm) of the cable as it lifts the load W.
a. 12 c. 20
b. 15 d. 18

24. What is the resulting strain (mm/mm) in the cable as it lifts the load W?
a. 0.00300 c. 0.00207
b. 0.00085 d. 0.00124

25. Due to a very heavy load, the steel cable breaks. The recorded diameter at failure is 27.5
mm. Calculate the ductility (%) of the material.
a. 18 c. 16
b. 24 d. 20

Situation 10: A bronze bar is fastened between a steel bar and an aluminium bar. Axial loads
are applied at the positions indicated. Assume that the assembly is suitably
braced. See figure STGH. 7012.

Material A E
(mm2) (GPa)
Steel 500 200
Bronze 700 83
Aluminum 350 70

26. What is the stress acting on the steel when the overall deformation of the assembly is 4
mm?
a. 69.0 MPa c. 50.3 MPa
b. 25.2 MPa d. 34.5 MPa

27. What is the stress acting on the bronze when the overall deformation of the assembly is 4
mm?
a. 49.3 MPa c. 24.6 MPa
b. 18.0 MPa d. 35.9 MPa
REVIEW PROBLEMS IN STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

28. What is the stress acting on the aluminum when the overall deformation of the assembly
is 4 mm?
a. 147.9 MPa c. 49.3 MPa
b. 35.9 MPa d. 107.8 MPa

Situation 1: The 250 mm x 375 mm concrete post of 3.5 m length is reinforced with a wide
flange section that has an area of 600π mm 2. Ec = 25 GPa and Est = 200 GPa. See
figure SMAT 33.45.

1. Determine the stress in the concrete if the post is subjected to an axial load of 900 kN.
a. 8.42 MPa c. 6.45 MPa
b. 5.99 MPa d. 7.63 MPa

2. Determine the stress in the steel if the post is subjected to an axial load of 900 kN.
a. 81.2 MPa c. 67.3 MPa
b. 71.0 MPa d. 59.4 MPa

3. Determine the decrease in length of the post.

a. 1.56 mm c. 1.78 mm
b. 1.18 mm d. 1.93 mm

Situation 2: The two vertical rods attached to the light rigid bar are identical except for length.
Assume that all the connections are pinned. Before the load W was attached, the
bar was horizontal and the rods were stress-free. See figure TGDF 20.01.

4. Determine the load in the longer rod if W = 8 kN.

a. 5.45 kN c. 2.86 kN
b. 8.57 kN d. 7.27 kN

5. Determine the load in the shorter rod if W = 8 kN

a. 2.86 kN c. 8.57 kN
b. 7.27 kN d. 5.45 kN
REVIEW PROBLEMS IN STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

Situation 3: The rigid bar AB is supported by the steel rod BC of cross-sectional area 500
mm2. Use E = 220 GPa for steel. The inclination of the steel rod is 45° with the
horizontal. Assume pin connection at B. See figure SMT 5.1.

6. Which of the following most nearly gives the stress on the steel rod?
a. 88.21 MPa c. 59.03 MPa
b. 73.54 MPa d. 67.88 MPa

7. Which of the following most nearly gives the vertical displacement of point B?
a. 1.23 mm c. 2.72 mm
b. 2.47 mm d. 1.36 mm

8. Which of the following most nearly gives the reaction at A?

a. 31.91 kN c. 28.84 kN
b. 20.16 kN d. 35.77 kN

9. A steel rod has a square cross section of 10 mm x 10 mm and a length of 2 m. Calculate

the strain energy when a stress of 400 MPa is produced by stretching it. Take E = 200
GPa.
a. 70 J c. 90 J
b. 80 J d. 60 J

Situation 4: A three-story steel column in a building supports roof and floor loads. The story
height H is 10.5 ft, the cross-sectional area A of the column is 15.5 in.2, and the
modulus of elasticity E of the steel is 30 x 106psi. P1 = 40 k and P2 = P3 = 60 k.
See figure DSSGL – 009.

10. Which of the following gives the strain energy of the ground floor column?
a. 5040 in-lb c. 1192 in-lb
b. 3468 in-lb d. 6075 in-lb

11. Which of the following gives the strain energy of the second floor column?
a. 705 in-lb c. 1355 in-lb
REVIEW PROBLEMS IN STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

b. 1572 in-lb d. 982 in-lb

12. Which of the following gives the strain energy of the third floor column?
a. 333 in-lb c. 150 in-lb
b. 467 in-lb d. 217 in-lb

Situation 5: A beam with a length of 20 m is loaded with a uniformly distributed load and a
concentrated load acting 7 meters from the right support. The beam is 300 mm x
600 mm. See figure BBS - 056.

13. Which of the following most nearly gives the maximum horizontal shear stress?
a. 3.83 MPa c. 1.21 MPa
b. 2.99 MPa d. 4.56 MPa

14. Which of the following most nearly gives the maximum bending stress?
a. 127.93 MPa c. 289.01 MPa
b. 117.54 MPa d. 255.87 MPa

15. Which of the following most nearly gives the maximum horizontal shear stress if a
circular section of 500 mm diameter is used?
a. 2.89 MPa c. 3.12 MPa
b. 1.07MPa d. 4.01 MPa

16. Which of the following most nearly gives the maximum bending stress if a circular
section of 500 mm diameter is used?
a. 375.30 MPa c. 233.40 MPa
b. 172.41 MPa d. 187.65 MPa

Situation 6: A shear diagram is given. See figure DRFW 45.06.

17. Which of the following most nearly gives the maximum concentrated load?
a. 40 kN c. 30 kN
b. 45 kN d. 25 kN

18. Which of the following most nearly gives the maximum negative moment?
REVIEW PROBLEMS IN STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

a. 20 kN.m c. 25 kN.m
b. 35 kN.m d. 30 kN.m

19. Which of the following most nearly gives the point of inflection from the right end?
a. 3.25 m c. 2.25 m
b. 5.75 m d. 4.75 m

Situation 7: A steel fabricated section is to be used as a beam. Assume B = 300 mm. See
figure OKS 71.

Properties of each channel:

A = 12,000 mm2
d = 400 mm
bf = 200 mm
x = 40 mm
IX = 50 x 106 mm4
lY = 30 x 106 mm4

20. Determine the moment of inertia about the strong axis.

a. 1700.0 x 106 mm4 c. 1826.4 x 106 mm4
6 4
b. 1539.1 x 10 mm d. 2100.0 x 106 mm4

21. Determine the maximum bending stress if a moment of 300 kN.m is acting along the x-
axis.
a. 61.76 MPa c. 32.85 MPa
b. 35.29 MPa d. 57.49 MPa

22. Determine the maximum bending stress if a moment of 300 kN.m is acting about the x-
axis.
a. 35.29 MPa c. 61.76 MPa
b. 57.49 MPa d. 32.85 MPa

Situation 8: Two steel springs arranged in series as shown in figure HDTWQ 51 supports a
load P. The maximum shearing stress in either spring must not exceed 200 MPa.
Use G = 83 GPa. Consider the spring’s curvature.

Properties Spring Spring

REVIEW PROBLEMS IN STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

1 2
No. of 12 10
turns, n
Wire 25 mm 20 mm
diameter,
d
Mean 100 75 mm
radius, R mm

23. Compute the maximum value of P.

a. 3498.28 N c. 3518.02 N
b. 5221.01 N d. 5182.29 N

24. Compute the total elongation of the assembly.

a. 147.61 mm c. 153.99 mm
b. 144.92 mm d. 150.41 mm

25. Compute the equivalent spring constant.

a. 91.40 N/mm c. 33.65 N/mm
b. 22.72 N/mm d. 88.63 N/mm

Situation 9: A rigid bar is supported by two identical springs. Each spring consists of 20 turns
of 19-mm-diameter wire having a mean diameter of 150 mm. The shearing stress
in the springs is limited to 138 MPa.

26. Determine the maximum force that the springs can be subjected.
a. 2453.30 N c. 1615.22 N
b. 1165.22 N d. 2330.45 N

27. Determine the maximum load W that may be supported.

a. 3329.21 N c. 1664.60 N
b. 1466.60 N d. 3239.21 N