PRIFYSGOL ABERTAWE

SWANSEA UNIVERSITY
School of Engineering

SEMESTER 1 EXAMINATIONS
JANUARY 2008

EG-221
STRUCTURAL MECHANICS 2(a)
LEVEL 2

UNIVERSITY CALCULATORS ONLY

THIS IS AN OPEN BOOK EXAMINATION: class notes and textbooks are

permitted.

Time allowed: 2 hours

Answer any THREE questions (25 marks per
question). If four questions are answered the
best three will be chosen.

Where appropriate E = Young’s modulus

I = second moment of area A = cross sectional area, L = length
w = magnitude of a uniformly distributed load per unit length and P = a point load.

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1. For the frame shown in Figure Q1 the uniformly distributed loads act perpendicular to the
direction of member CD.
(a) Find the reactions [5 marks]
(b) Draw the bending moment diagram, giving values at A, B, C, D
and at the midspan of CD [12 marks]
(c) Find the axial forces in each member. [8 marks]

2m w =20kN/m
20kN B
4m

3m y

x D
A
Figure Q1

3m 3m

2. For the pin-jointed truss shown in Figure Q2, Young’s Modulus for each member is E.
The cross sectional area of member AC is A and the cross sectional area of member BC is
2A. A vertical force of P is applied at joint C. In terms of E, A and P;
(a) Find the vertical displacement of joint C. [9 marks]
(b) Find the horizontal deflection of joint C. [10 marks]
2 2
(c) If E = 200 kN/mm , A = 1000 mm and P  100 kN , find the magnitude of the
displacement of joint C. [6 marks]

C
4m

A B

3m 3m

Figure Q2
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3. The cantilever beam ABC shown in figure Q3a represents a wing of a small plane.
The beam has a uniform value of EI = 100 MNm 2 and is under the action of an
upwards uniformly distributed load of 2 kN/m. Shear and axial deformation can be
neglected.
(a) Using either the moment/area equations or the unit load method, determine the
vertical deflections at C and B. [10 marks]
(b) If the wing is re-designed by adding member BD as shown in figure Q3b, determine
the axial force in member BD that would result from the application of the same
vertical load. Continue to neglect axial and shear deformation. [10 marks]
(c) Determine the decrease in deflection of point C due to the addition of member BD.
[5 marks]
A

A B C 30o B C
2m 4m
D
Figure Q3a Figure Q3b

4. For the statically indeterminate truss shown in figure Q4, the value of EA is the same
for all members and equal to 10 MN.
(a) Determine the horizontal reaction at C when the truss is under the action of a point
load of 20 3 kN applied as shown in figure Q4. [15 marks]
(b) Determine also the axial force in member DE due to the application of this point
load. [5 marks]
(c) Determine the axial force in member AB if this point load is removed but member
BC is subject to a uniform increase in temperature of 30 oC. The coefficient of
thermal expansion of BC is 10-5 oC-1. [5 marks]

2m

D E

60o 60o
A C
B

20 3 kN
Figure Q4
END OF PAPER

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