ME2112 – Strength of Materials Tutorial 4

ME2112: Strength of Materials

Tutorial 4

1. Determine the shear force and bending moment distributions in the following beams and
sketch them out. What are the maximum shear force and bending moment in each case
and where do they occur?

(a)

5 kN 10 kN

0.4 m

0.2 m
20 kN

0.2 m 0.4 m 0.3 m

(b)

3m
5 kN
2 kN/m

1.5 m 4m 1m

Fig. 1

1
ME2112 – Strength of Materials Tutorial 4

2. A T-shaped beam with an overhang is supported and loaded as shown in Fig. 2. Draw
shear force diagram and calculate (a) the shear stress at a point D, 2 m from support A
and 25 mm from the top of the beam; (b) the greatest shearing stress.

3 kN
4 kN/m

A D B C
2m
3m 1m

60 mm

20 mm 25 mm
D
60 mm

20 mm

Fig. 2

3. A cantilever beam with the rectangular cross-section supports a uniformly distributed

load of intensity w as shown in Fig. 3. Draw shear force and bending moment
diagram and determine (a) the largest allowable length L for the beam; (b) the
maximum permissible load w. The allowable normal and shear stresses are
 all  8.4 MPa and  all  1.2 MPa, respectively.

150 mm
A B

L
50 mm

Fig. 3

2
ME2112 – Strength of Materials Tutorial 4

4. Fig. 4 shows a 4 m long uniform beam ABCD, suspended by a pin at the left-hand end
A, and built into a wall at its right-hand end D. It is subjected to an upward point load of
4 kN acting at B, 1 m from the pinned end, and a concentrated clockwise-acting moment
of 6 kNm at mid-span C. The weight of the beam is negligible compared to its loads.

(a) Determine all the reactions at the supports.

(b) Draw the deflected shape of the beam, as well as the bending moment and
shear force distributions. Ensure that these diagrams correspond with one
another.

(c) Determine the location of the maximum deflection.

(d) What is the maximum deflection if the cross-section is a hollow square with
outer horizontal and vertical sides measuring 60mm, and a wall thickness of
10mm, and the beam is made of a material with a Young’s modulus of 210
GPa, a shear modulus of 81 GPa and a Poisson’s ratio of 0.3?

6 kNm

B C D
A

1m 1m 2m
4 kN

Fig. 4