Tutorial 12

Engineering Mechanics (statics) (MEE1EMS)

Principle of virtual work

1. The cylinder is made of two materials such that it has a mass of m and a centre of
gravity at point G. Show that when G lies above the centroid C of the cylinder, the
equilibrium is unstable.

Figure 1
2. Determine the angles θ for equilibrium of the 200-lb cylinder and investigate the
stability of each position. The spring has a stiffness of k=300 lb/ft and an unstretched
length of 0.75 ft.

Figure 2

3. Use the principle of virtual work and potential energy to determine the angles for
equilibrium of the 50-kg cylinder shown in Figure 3. Investigate the stability of each
position. The spring is uncompressed when θ=60° .

Figure 3

1
4. The uniform rod has a weight W. Determine the angle for equilibrium. The spring is
uncompressed when θ = 90°. Neglect the weight of the rollers.

Figure 4