PRACTISE PROBLEMS – SET 02

1. A thin-walled cylinder is under the action of a tensile force P of 5 kN as shown. The outside
diameter of the cylinder is 75 mm and the wall thickness is 3 mm. What are the shear and
normal stresses at point A on a section of the cylinder formed by a cutting plane oriented at
𝛼𝛼 = 400 to the cylinder, as shown in the figure? If the angle α is varied, at what value will
the shear stress on the interface of A have its maximum value? What is this shear stress
value, and what is the value of the normal stress on this interface? (Answer: for 𝛼𝛼 = 400 ,
𝜎𝜎 = 4.5 MPa, 𝜏𝜏 = 3.7 MPa)

2. A wooden block (200 mm × 320 mm × 120 mm) is subjected to a compressive load as

shown. If the specification suggests that the shear stress parallel to the grain should not
exceed 5 MPa, the compressive stress perpendicular to the grain should not exceed 15 MPa,
and that the maximum shear stress should not exceed 10 MPa, estimate the maximum axial
force P that can be applied to the block. (277 kN)

3. Lightweight pressure vessels often use glass filaments for resisting tensile forces and use
epoxy resin as a binder. Find the angle of winding α of the filaments when the ends of the
vessel are closed such that the tensile forces in the filaments are equal. (Answer: 54.740)
4. A thin-walled truncated spherical cone of wall thickness t is supported on a horizontal base
as shown. The cone is subjected to internal gas pressure p. Neglecting the weight of the
cone itself, find the membrane stresses (σr, σm) at the level h below the apex. The apex
angle of the cone is 2α, as shown. (Answer: 𝜎𝜎𝑟𝑟 = 𝑝𝑝ℎ tan 𝛼𝛼 /𝑡𝑡 cos 𝛼𝛼, 𝜎𝜎𝑚𝑚 = 𝑝𝑝ℎ tan 𝛼𝛼 /
2𝑡𝑡 cos 𝛼𝛼)

5. Show that if a state of plane stress is to be described in terms of polar coordinates (𝑟𝑟, 𝜃𝜃) and
polar stress components (𝜎𝜎𝑟𝑟 , 𝜎𝜎𝜃𝜃 , 𝜏𝜏𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 ), then the equations of equilibrium are:

𝜕𝜕𝜎𝜎𝑟𝑟 1 𝜕𝜕𝜏𝜏𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 𝜎𝜎𝑟𝑟 − 𝜎𝜎𝜃𝜃

+ + =0
𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝑟𝑟 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝑟𝑟

𝜕𝜕𝜏𝜏𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 1 𝜕𝜕𝜎𝜎𝜃𝜃 𝜏𝜏𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟

+ +2 =0
𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝑟𝑟 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝑟𝑟

Note that the length of the curved boundary on the outer edge of the element is (𝑟𝑟 + Δ𝑟𝑟)Δ𝜃𝜃.
6. Find the body force under which the following stress field satisfy the equilibrium equations.
𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 𝑥𝑥𝑦𝑦 2 𝑦𝑦𝑧𝑧 2
[𝜎𝜎] = � 𝑥𝑥𝑦𝑦 2 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦 2 𝑥𝑥 2 𝑧𝑧 �
𝑦𝑦𝑧𝑧 2 𝑥𝑥 2 𝑧𝑧 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑧𝑧 2

(Answer: 𝑏𝑏𝑥𝑥 = −2(𝑥𝑥 + 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦), 𝑏𝑏𝑦𝑦 = ⋯ , 𝑏𝑏𝑧𝑧 = ⋯)

7. Derive again the stress equilibrium equations for the state of plane stress in terms of polar
coordinates (Prob. (5)), but now by using stress transformation and coordinate
transformation relations.

8. A rectangular plate is made up of two trapezoidal plates glued together as shown. The state
of stress at any point on the joint is: 𝜎𝜎𝑥𝑥 = 100 MPa, 𝜎𝜎𝑦𝑦 = −50 MPa, 𝜏𝜏𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 = −40 MPa.
Using Mohr’s circle determine the inclination 𝛼𝛼 of the joint if it is known that the joint
cannot resist any shear or tensile stress. (Answer: 𝛼𝛼 = 1660 )

α X

9. At a point in a body in plane stress the shear stress on the x-y faces is as sketched. Also, it
is known that the principal stresses at this point are: 𝜎𝜎1 = 20 MN/m2 and 𝜎𝜎2 =
−45 MN/m2 . Complete the stress picture for the x-y faces; that is, calculate 𝜎𝜎𝑥𝑥 and 𝜎𝜎𝑦𝑦 and
show them in proper direction and magnitude in a suitable sketch. (Answer: 𝜎𝜎1 =
13.1 MPa, 𝜎𝜎𝑦𝑦 = ⋯)
10. At point A on an unloaded edge of an elastic body, oriented as shown in the figure below
with respect to the x – y axes, the maximum shearing stress is 3.5 MPa. (a) Find the principal
stresses; and (b) determine the state of stress on an element oriented with its edges parallel
to the x – y axes. Show the results on a sketch of the element at A. (Answer: 𝜎𝜎1 = 7.0 MPa,
𝜎𝜎2 = 0, …)

11. A dam structure (ABCD) is subjected to two different water heads on two sides, as shown
below. Define all stress conditions along the boundaries AB and CD in terms of the stress
components 𝜎𝜎𝑥𝑥 , 𝜎𝜎𝑦𝑦 and𝜏𝜏𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 .

12. The stress tensor at a point in a body is given as:

10 4 −15
[𝜎𝜎] = � 4 0 −5 �
−15 −5 11

Consider a plane that makes equal acute angle with the coordinate axes. Find: (i) the
traction vector, (ii) the component of the traction vector which is normal to the plane, and
(iii) the shearing component of the traction vector.
1 1 9
�⃗ = −
(Answer: (i) 𝑇𝑇 𝚤𝚤̂ − 𝚥𝚥̂ − 𝑘𝑘�, (ii) …, (iii) …)
√3 √3 √3
13. Consider again the stress tensor at a point in a body given in Prob. (12). What is the
maximum tensile normal stress acting on any plane at that point, and what angles does this
plane make with the coordinate axes? What is the maximum compressive normal stress
acting on any plane at that point, and what angles does this plane make with the coordinate
axes? (Answer: Maximum tensile normal stress 𝜎𝜎1 = 27.01, ….)