SOM3601/101/0/2021

Tutorial Letter 101/0/2021

Strength of Materials III (Theory)

SOM3601

Year module

Department of Mechanical and Industrial

Engineering

This tutorial letter contains important information

about your module.

BARCODE
 SOM3601/101/0/2021

CONTENTS
Page

1 INTRODUCTION TO THE MODULE ..................................................................................... 4

1.1 Tutorial matter ....................................................................................................................... 5
2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES THE MODULE....................................................................... 5
2.1 Purpose ................................................................................................................................. 5
2.2 Outcomes .............................................................................................................................. 5
3 LECTURER AND CONTACT DETAILS ................................................................................ 6
3.1 Lecturers ............................................................................................................................... 6
3.2 Department............................................................................................................................ 6
3.3 University............................................................................................................................... 7
4 MODULE RELATED RESOURCES ...................................................................................... 7
4.1 Prescribed books ................................................................................................................... 7
4.2 Recommended books ............................................................................................................ 8
4.3 Electronic Reserves (e-Reserves) ........................................................................................ 8
4.4 Library services and resourcesinformation ............................................................................ 8
5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE MODULE ........................................................ 9
5.1 Contact with fellow students .................................................................................................. 9
5.1.1 Study groups ......................................................................................................................... 9
5.1.2 MyUnisa ................................................................................................................................ 9
6 MODULE SPECIFIC STUDY PLAN .................................................................................... 10
7 MODULE PRACTICAL WORK AND WORK INTEGRATED LEARNING ........................... 10
8 ASSESSMENT .................................................................................................................... 10
8.1 Assessment criteria ............................................................................................................. 10
8.2 Assessment plan ................................................................................................................. 10
8.3 Assignment numbers ........................................................................................................... 11
8.3.1 General assignment numbers .............................................................................................. 11
8.3.2 Unique assignment numbers ............................................................................................... 11
8.3.3 Due dates of assignments ................................................................................................... 12
8.4 Submission of assignments ................................................................................................. 12
8.5 Assignments ........................................................................................................................ 12
9 EXAMINATIONS ................................................................................................................. 12
10 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ................................................................................. 13
11 OTHER ASSESSMENT METHODS .................................................................................... 13
12 ADDENDUM ....................................................................................................................... 13

2
 SOM3601/101/0/2021

13 ANNEXURE ........................................................................................................................ 14
13.1 Assignment 1 ....................................................................................................................... 14
13.2 Assignment 2 ....................................................................................................................... 16

3
 SOM3601/101/0/2021

Dear Student

As part of this tutorial letter, we wish to inform you that Unisa has implemented a
transformation charter based on five pillars and eight dimensions. In response to this charter,
we have also placed curriculum transformation high on the agenda. For your information,
curriculum transformation includes the following pillars: student-centred scholarship, the
pedagogical renewal of teaching and assessment practices, the scholarship of teaching and
learning, and the infusion of African epistemologies and philosophies. These pillars and their
principles will be integrated at both the programme and module levels, as a phased-in
approach. You will notice the implementation thereof in your modules, and we encourage you
to fully embrace these changes during your studies at Unisa.

1 INTRODUCTION TO THE MODULE

We are pleased to welcome you to this module, Strength of Materials III (SOM3601) and hope
that you will find it both interesting and rewarding. We will do our best to make your study of
this module successful. You will be well on your way to success if you start studying early in
the year and resolve to do the assignment(s) properly.

You will receive a number of tutorial letters during the year. A tutorial letter is our way of
communicating with you about teaching, learning and assessment.

This tutorial letter contains important information about the scheme of work, resources and
assignments for this module. We urge you to read it carefully and to keep it at hand when
working through the study material, preparing the assignment(s), preparing for the
examination and addressing questions to your lecturers.

Any further information to help with your studying will be posted on MyUnisa. You will be
informed via e-mail of any extra information regarding this tutorial letter.

Please read Tutorial Letter 301 in combination with this tutorial letter as it gives you an idea
of generally important information when studying at a distance and within a particular College.

In this tutorial letter (101), you will find the assignments and assessment criteria as well as
instructions on the preparation and submission of the assignments. It also provides all the
information you need with regard to the prescribed study material and other resources and
how to obtain them. Please study this information carefully and make sure that you obtain the
prescribed material as soon as possible.

We have also included certain general and administrative information about this module.
Please study this section of the tutorial letter carefully.

Right from the start we would like to point out that you must read all the tutorial letters you
receive during the semester immediately and carefully, as they always contain important and,
sometimes, urgent information.

We hope that you will enjoy this module and wish you all the best!

4
 SOM3601/101/0/2021

1.1 Tutorial matter

Some of this tutorial matter may not be available when you register. Tutorial matter that is not
available when you register will be posted to you as soon as possible, but will also be available
on MyUnisa.

2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES FOR THE MODULE

The purpose of this module is for the learner to acquire the knowledge of how materials,
having different properties, behave when subjected to loads, so that components can be
designed correctly and to determine why components failed during service. Strength of
Materials III consists of the application of simple load systems dealt with in Strength of
Materials II or equivalent, to determine the strain energy stored in components, temperature
effects on components and the determination of the strength of beams subjected to bending
and shear.

2.1 Purpose
2.1.1 Understand temperature stresses and restricted expansions in simple and compound
bars.
2.1.2 Calculate the energy transfer when a force is gradually applied, suddenly applied and
impulsively applied.
2.1.3 Calculate the magnitude of shearing forces and bending moments at any point along
the span of a loaded beam including symmetrically loaded built-in beams.

2.1.4 Calculate the second moment of areas for various standard geometries.

2.1.5 Know the bending formula and calculate the bending moment, bending stresses and
radius curvature.

2.1.6 Calculate horizontal shear stresses in beams, maximum shear stress in rectangular
beams and shear stress in sections of beams

2.2 Outcomes
2.2.1 Ability to include temperature stresses in a general stress analysis where they occur.

2.2.2 Ability to distinguish between stresses due to restraint expansion and change in length.

2.2.3 Ability to distinguish between the above loading conditions and apply the right
formulae.

2.2.4 Ability to handle symmetrically loaded built-in beam problems besides the simply
supported and cantilevered beams.

2.2.5 Ability to distinguish horizontal shear stresses from the other stresses and consider its
influence when selecting beam sections and their sizes.

2.2.6 Ability to select suitable section for a beam

5
 SOM3601/101/0/2021

2.2.7 Ability to include bending stresses in a general stress calculation problem where
bending occurs.

2.2.8 Appreciate the engineering importance of second moment of area and recognize
situations where they are influential.

3 LECTURER AND CONTACT DETAILS

3.1 Lecturer(s)
Your lecturer is: F Masubelele
Building: Florida Campus, GJ Gerwel Building
Office number: C3 - 55
Tel nr : 011 670 9246
Fax nr: 011 471 2142
E-mail : masubft@unisa.ac.za

Availability: Monday to Friday during the period 09H00 to 14h00. Calls will only be
attended to during these times

All queries that are not of a purely administrative nature but are about the content of this
Module should be directed to the lecturer. Please have your study material with you when
you contact the Lecturer.

Email and telephone numbers are included above but if you want to write to the
Lecturer, letters should be sent to:
The Lecturer of SOM3601module
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
c/o Christiaan de Wet and Pioneer Avenue, Florida
Private Bag X6 UNISA
Florida
1710

PLEASE NOTE: Letters to lecturers may not be enclosed with or inserted into
assignments.

3.2 Department
You may contact the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering by post, e-mail,
telephone, or online through myUnisa.

Please refer to the booklet: my Studies @ Unisa that you received with your study material.

Departmental Address:
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Unisa (Florida Campus)
Private Bag X6
Florida
1710
6
 SOM3601/101/0/2021

Phone: 011 471 2963

Use the general E-mail address: dmie@unisa.ac.za
Find our department on the Internet at the online address: http://www.unisa.ac.za

Always state your STUDENT NUMBER and your Module Code SOM3601 in all
correspondence and enquiries to ensure prompt and efficient response from us.

Whenever you contact the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, ensure that
the first thing you mention is your subject code!

3.3 University
If you need to contact the university about matters not related to the content of this module,
please consult the publication My studies @ Unisa, which you received with your study
material. This brochure contains information on how to contact the university (e.g. to whom
you can write for different queries, important telephone and fax numbers, addresses and
details of the times when certain facilities are open).
Always have your student number at hand when you contact the university.
The details are as follows:

Email: study-info@unisa.ac.za
Assignment queries: assign@unisa.ac.za
Examinations: exams@unisa.ac.za
Study material: despatch@unisa.ac.za
Student accounts: finan@unisa.ac.za
Graduation: gaudeamus@unisa.ac.za
Assistance with MyUnisa: myUnisaHelp@unisa.ac.za

4 MODULE RELATED RESOURCES

4.1 Prescribed books

Your prescribed textbooks for this module for this year are:
A. Title: Strength of Materials for Technologists

Author: J G Drotsky
Edition: 4th
Publisher: Heinemann
ISBN: 978-1-77578-242-1

B. Title: Mechanics of Materials

Author: James M. Gere and Barry Goodno

Edition: 8th
Publisher: Cengage Learning
ISBN-13: 978-1-111-57774-2
ISBN-10: 1-111-57774-9

7
 SOM3601/101/0/2021

Please consult the list of official booksellers and their addresses listed in My studies @
Unisa. If you have any difficulty obtaining books from these bookshops, please contact the
Prescribed Books Section at telephone 012 429 4152 or email vospresc@unisa.ac.za.

Please note that UNISA does not provide these textbooks. You can source the textbooks from
your local bookshop or from the internet on the following websites: www.amazon.com or
www.loot.co.za.

Please note that your assignments are based on the learning material contained in the
prescribed textbook, in order to form a guide that will lead you through the course.

4.2 Recommended books

The following are publications that you may consult in order to broaden your knowledge of
Strength of Materials III. A limited number of copies are available in the library.

A. Title: Mechanics of Engineering Materials

Author: BENHAM, CRAWFORD
Edition: 3rd
Publisher: Prentice Hall
ISBN: 0-582-25164-8

B. Title: Introduction to Mechanics of Materials, Volume 1 and 2

Author: E.J. HEARN
Edition: 3rd
Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann
ISBN: 0750632658

4.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves)

All course materials are available on myUnisa https://my.unisa.ac.za under the module
course code, under Materials.

Discussion forums are set up by your lecturer and available for discussions with your peers
https://my.unisa.ac.za

Some additional electronic resources are available from the Library site (via
www.unisa.ac.za).
You may electronically “post or upload your assignments in line with the guidelines explained
in the booklet: My studies @ Unisa.

4.4 Library services and resources information

For brief information, go to www.unisa.ac.za/brochures/studies
8
 SOM3601/101/0/2021

For detailed information, go to the Unisa website at http://www.unisa.ac.za/ and click on

Library.
For research support and services of personal librarians, go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=7102.

The library has compiled a number of library guides:

• finding recommended reading in the print collection and e-reserves –

http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/undergrad
• requesting material – http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request
• postgraduate information services – http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/postgrad
• finding, obtaining and using library resources and tools to assist in doing research –
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/Research_Skills
• how to contact the Library/finding us on social media/frequently asked questions –
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask

5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE MODULE

For information on the various student support systems and services available at Unisa (e.g.
student counselling, tutorial classes, language support), please consult the publication My
studies @ Unisa, which you received with your study material.

5.1 Contact with fellow students

5.1.1 Study groups

It is advisable to have contact with fellow students. One way to do this is to form study groups.
The addresses of students in your area may be obtained from the following department:

Directorate: Student Administration and Registration

PO Box 392
UNISA
0003

5.1.2 MyUnisa

If you have access to a computer that is linked to the internet, you can quickly access
resources and information at the university. The myUnisa learning management system is
Unisia’s online campus that will help you to communicate with your lecturers, with other
students and with the administrative departments of Unisa – all through the computer and the
internet.

To access the myUnisa website, start at the main Unisa website, http://www.unisa.ac.za, and
then click on the “Login to myUnisa” link on the right-hand side of the screen. This should
take you to the myUnisa website. You can also access it directly by typing in
http://my.unisa.ac.za.
9
 SOM3601/101/0/2021

Please consult the publication My studies @ Unisa, which you received with your study
material, for more information on myUnisa.

6 MODULE SPECIFIC STUDY PLAN

Use your my Studies @ Unisa brochure for general time management and planning
skills.
Consistent work is important to the successful study of this module (and all other modules at
UNISA). Queries from earlier chapters must be clarified as soon as possible instead of
“leaving it to the end”. As concepts often cut across subsections, these queries can
accumulate into a large problem if unattended to.

In addition to the prescribed and recommended textbooks, you should look for additional
textbooks. However as some textbooks may contain out-dated information or concepts, it’s
better to search for one in which the latest edition was published not more than 10 years ago.

7 MODULE PRACTICAL WORK AND WORK INTEGRATED

LEARNING

There are no practicals for this module but the theory of this module can be used in
SOMPRA3.

8 ASSESSMENT

8.1 Assessment criteria

Assignments are seen as part of the learning material for this module. As you do the
assignment, study the reading texts, consult other resources, discuss the work with fellow
students or tutors or do research, you are actively engaged in learning. Looking at the
assessment criteria given for each assignment will help you to understand what is required of
you.

8.2 Assessment plan

There are two assignments in this tutorial letter that the students must submit on the published
due dates. In some cases, additional assessment might be available on the myUnisa site for
your module. For students attending tutorial sessions, tutors may also set additional tasks
and give feedback in class.

Your assignments will each receive a percentage mark, as per the table below. These marks
are independent of the exam credit value. In order to qualify for sitting the examinations, you
have to submit both assignments.

You will find your 2 (two) assignments for this subject in Annexure A at the back of this
tutorial letter. Both Assignments are compulsory. Please submit all assignments, duly
completed, to UNISA before the closing dates stated in this section.

10
 SOM3601/101/0/2021

The mark for Strength of Materials III (SOM3601) is calculated as follows:

• The year mark contributes to 20% of final mark and is calculated:
Year mark = (Assignment 1 x 0.5) + (Assignment 2 x 0.5)

• The examination mark contributes to 80% of the final mark.

• The year mark is based on all the assignment marks obtained and their contribution
towards the final year mark are as shown in the table below:

CONTRIBUTION CONTRIBUTION
ASSIGNMENT
TOWARDS YEAR TOWARDS FINAL
NUMBER
MARK SUBJECT MARK
1(Compulsory) 50 % 10 %
2(Compulsory) 50 % 10 %
TOTAL = 100 % = 20%

Example of year mark calculation:

Year mark = [(Assignment 1 x 0.5) + (Assignment 2 x 0.5)] x 0.2 i.e.
o Mark for assignment 1 = 68%
o Mark for assignment 2 = 76%
o Year mark contribution toward the final mark
[(68 x 0.5) + (76 x 0.5)] x 0.2= 14.4 ~14%

Please note: Although students may work together when preparing

assignments, each student must write and submit his or her own individual
assignment. In other words, you must submit your own ideas in your own words,
sometimes interspersing relevant short quotations that are properly referenced. It
is unacceptable for students to submit identical assignments on the basis that they
worked together. That is copying (a form of plagiarism) and none of these
assignments will be marked. Furthermore, you may be penalised or subjected to
disciplinary proceedings by the university.

8.3 Assignment numbers

8.3.1 General assignment numbers
Assignments are numbered consecutively per module, starting from 01

8.3.2 Unique assignment numbers

Assignment Number Unique Number

Assignment 01 841983

Assignment 02 797085

11
 SOM3601/101/0/2021

8.3.3 Assignment due dates

The due dates for the submission of the assignments are:

Assignment 01 28 May 2021

Assignment 02 06 August 2021

Note: The cut-off dates given above are the official, last dates on which a given
assignment may be submitted. Students must rigorously adhere to these dates.
All other dates referring to cut-off submission dates for assignments, as may be
posted on myUnisa or elsewhere, refers to administrative dates as managed by
the Assignment Department and does NOT influence or change the above dates.

8.4 Submission of assignments

Failure to submit assignments on time may render you ineligible to sit for the exams at
the end of the module.

Students may submit written assignments and assignments completed on mark-reading

sheets either by post or Mobile MCQ submission or electronically via myUnisa. Assignments
may not be submitted by fax or e-mail.

For detailed information on assignments, please refer to the my Studies @ Unisa

brochure, which you received with your study package.
To submit an assignment via myUnisa:

• Go to myUnisa.
• Log in with your student number and password.
• Select the module.
• Click on assignments in the menu on the left-hand side of the screen.
• Click on the assignment number you wish to submit.
• Follow the instructions.

8.5 The assignments

Please see annexure A at the back of this document for the assignment questions.

9 EXAMINATIONS
Use your my Studies @ Unisa brochure for general examination guidelines and examination
preparation guidelines.

12
 SOM3601/101/0/2021

DIRECT ALL QUERIES RELATED TO EXAMINATIONS TO THE CALL CENTRE,

ASKING FOR THE EXAMINATION DEPARTMENT.

DO NOT CONTACT YOUR LECTURER WITH ANY EXAMINATION QUERIES.

ENSURE YOU HAVE A VALID EXAMINATION TIME TABLE OR HAVE RECEIVED

OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION OF EXAM ADMISSION WITH A DATE.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION FOR STRENGTH OF MATERIALS III

(SOM3601)

Type of examination Closed book

Examination Duration 3 Hours

Examination Language English

Calculators allowed - Memories of programmable

calculators must be cleared in the presence of the Yes
invigilator prior to start of the examination

Take note: You will be examined on both theory and worked examples.

10 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The general rules listed in my Studies @ Unisa brochure, the recommended learning
material and Library services and resources information.

11 OTHER ASSESSMENT METHODS

No other assessment methods for this module.

12 ADDENDUM

We hope that the information contained in this tutorial letter will help with your studies to
successfully pass the examination.

13
 SOM3601/101/0/2021

13 ANNEXURE

ASSIGNMENT 1
Question 1
A solid steel cylinder is enclosed by a hollow copper cylinder; both cylinders are 250 mm long
at 20 oC. The cross-sectional area of the steel is 30 cm2 and the copper is 80 cm2. A load of
160 kN is applied to the composite column by means of rigid cover plates. Calculate at what
temperature the steel will carry the full load.

[ E st = 200 GPa; Ecu = 80 GPa;  st = 12  10 −6 / C;  cu = 18−6 / C ]

[16]
Question 2
A bolt weighing 2 kg is accidentally dropped down a vertical cast-iron pipe 4 m long. The
lower end of the pipe is closed by means of rigid flange. Calculate:
2.1 The instantaneous stress induced in the pipe if the inside diameter of the pipe is 200
mm and has a wall thickness of 10 mm;
2.2 The instantaneous elongation of the pipe;
2.3 The gradually applied load that would induce the same stress as determined in
question 2.1 above
[ E = 140 GPa ]

[20]
Question 3
A semi-circular area of radius 150 mm has a rectangular cut out of dimensions 50 mm by 100
mm as shown in the Figure 1 below. Calculate the second moment of area about XX.

50 mm

X X
50 mm 50 mm

Figure 1
[16]

14
 SOM3601/101/0/2021

Question 4
4.1 Draw the shear force and bending moment diagrams for the built-in beam shown
below.
4.2 Calculate the point(s) of contra-flexure from the wall.
5 kN
8 kN 8 kN

4 kN/m

1m 1m 2m 2m 1m 1m

Figure 2
[32]
Question 5
A simply supported beam of 3 m has a T-section shown and carries a uniformly distributed
load of 2.8 kN/m over the full span. Calculate the maximum shear stress.

80 mm

15 mm

60 mm

20 mm

[16]

15
 SOM3601/101/0/2021

ASSIGNMENT 2
Question 1
A rectangular brass bar of 120 mm length with a cross sectional area of 200 mm 2 is rigidly
bonded along a side face to a similar steel bar of the same length and cross-sectional area
of 100 mm2 to form a compounded bar of length 120 mm. This bar is then subjected to an
axial compressive load of P kN whereupon the temperature is changed by an amount t oC
until the brass bar carries no load. If the overall change in length of the compound bar is 0.22
mm, calculate the temperature change t and the magnitude of P (𝐸𝑆𝑇 = 200 𝐺𝑃𝑎; 𝐸𝐵𝑅 =
80 𝐺𝑃𝑎; 𝛼𝑆𝑇 = 12 × 10−6 /℃; 𝛼𝐵𝑅 = 18 × 10−6 /℃)
[10]
Question 2
A round steel bar, 20 mm in diameter and 400 mm long, is placed concentrically within a brass
tube which has an outside diameter of 30 mm and thickness 4 mm, also 400 mm long. The
upper end of the vertically placed compound bar is rigidly fixed and a collar is fitted to the
bottom end. The application of a load P results in the compound rod storing a total of 5 J of
energy. Calculate
a. The gradually applied load (5)
b. The suddenly applied load (5)
c. The impact load that falls 100 mm and induces 5 J of energy (5)
d. The instantaneous stresses in both materials
(5)
e. The instantaneous elongation of the compound rod.
(5)
(𝐸𝑆𝑇 = 200 𝐺𝑃𝑎; 𝐸𝐵𝑅 = 100 𝐺𝑃𝑎)

[25]
Question 3
The built-up beam of box section shown in Figure 1 is simply supported over a span of 3 m
and carries a point load of 15 kN at 1m from the end. The plate is attached to the channel
sections by rivets pitched at 100 mm intervals. If the shear stress in the rivets must not exceed
50 MPa, determine a suitable rivet diameter. All dimensions are in mm.
150
[25]

10
150

10
10
30
Figure 1
16
 SOM3601/101/0/2021

Question 4

Two 127 mm × 64 mm steel channel sections are placed back with their backs a distance of
2d apart. If two 200 mm × 15 mm steel plates are welded to the flanges of the channels as
shown in Figure 2, calculate the value of d if 𝐼𝑋 = 𝐼𝑌 , for the built-up section, as well 𝐼𝑋 .

2d

200

Figure 2
[20]
Question 5

A balcony is supported outside a building by timber cantilevers. The width of the balcony is
1.5 m (i.e. the length of the cantilevers) and the total inclusive load carried is 10 kN per square
metre of floor area. If the cantilevers are 80 mm wide and 150 mm deep, calculate their
maximum permissible spacing if the allowable stress is 10 MPa.
[20]

Unisa ©2021

17