GEG 113 – Engineering Applied Mathematics 1

Suggested/Recommended textbooks:
1. Mechanical engineering principles by J. Bird
and C. Ross
2. Engineering mechanics by EW. Nelson etal.
3. Strength of Materials Shaum’s outline series
by W.A. Nash
GEG 113 – Engineering Applied Mathematics 1
From Fig. 1
Also from Fig. 1
EXAMPLES

Fig. 5 Fig. 6
Fig. 7 Fig. 8
Fig. 9 Fig. 10
EXERCISES

Fig. 11 Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Fig. 15
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Further Examples

Fig. E1
Fig. E2
Further Exercises

Fig. 1 Fig. 2
A beam is a bar that is subject to forces or couples that lie
in a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the bar. The
forces are understood to act perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis.
 Other types of beams are:
(d)

(e)
 (i)

(ii) M  0
Examples:
(1.) For the figure shown, find (a)
force F, (b) the new position of the
23N force when F is decreased to
21N, if equilibrium is to be
maintained
(a)  M A  0  (23)(100)  20F   1280
 20F  2300 960
1340
F   67N
20
 (b)

(2.) Find the values of F1 and F2

Solution:

F v  0  F1  F2  5

M F2  0  (7)(5)  10F1
 F1  3.5 N
 F2  5  3.5  1.5 N
 (3.) Determine the end reactions for the simply
supported beam of Fig. E3, which is subjected to an
anti-clockwise couple of 5 N m applied at mid-span.

Fig. E3

Solution:
Taking moments about B:
Now the reaction RA exerts a clockwise moment about B given by:
RA × 3 m. Additionally, the couple of 5 kN m is anti-clockwise and its
moment is 5 kN m regardless of where it is placed.
RA × 3 m = 5 kN m
RA = 5/3 kN
Resolving forces vertically gives:
Upward forces = downward forces
RA + R B = 0
RA = -RB = -5/3 kN

Bending moment and shear force diagrams

When a beam is subjected to the couples shown in Fig.
below, the beam will suffer flexure due to the bending
moment of magnitude M.

Positive Negative
A beam can fail due to its bending moments being
excessive, and it can also fail due to the shearing forces
being too large.

Example 4: Calculate and sketch the bending moment and shearing

force diagrams for the horizontal beam shown in Fig. E4, which is
simply supported at its ends.

Fig. E4
Clockwise moments about B = anti-clockwise moments about B
i.e. RA ×5 m = 6 kN×2 m = 12 kN m
RA = 12/5= 2.4 kN

Resolving forces vertically gives:

Upward forces = downward forces
i.e. RA + RB = 6 kN
i.e. 2.4 + RB = 6
RB = 6 − 2.4 = 3.6 kN.

As there is a discontinuity at point C in Fig. 4, due to the

concentrated load of 6 kN, it will be necessary to consider the length
of the beam AC separately from the length of the beam CB. The
reason for this is that the equations for bending moment and
shearing force for span AC are different to the equations for the span
CB; this is caused by the concentrated load of 6 kN.
Consider span AC: Bending moment
Consider a section of the beam at a distance x from the left end A,
where the value of x lies between A and C, as shown in Fig. 5.

Thus, the left side of the beam at this section is subjected to a

clockwise moment of magnitude 2.4x and the right side of this section
is subjected to an anti-clockwise moment of 2.4x, as shown by the
lower diagram of Fig.5. As the two moments are of equal magnitude
but of opposite direction, they cause the beam to be subjected to a
bending moment M = 2.4x.
Bending moment = M = +2.4x
Shearing force
Here again, because there is a discontinuity at C, due to the
concentrated load of 6 kN at C, we must consider a section of the
beam at a distance x from the left end A, where x varies between A
and C, as shown in Fig.6.

Fig.6

F = shearing force = +2.4 kN

Consider span CB: Bending moment
At any distance x between C and B, the resultant moment caused by
the forces on the left of x is given by

The effect of this resultant moment on the left of x is shown in the

lower diagram of Fig.7
The effect of the moment of the equations, is to cause the beam to
sag at this point as shown by the lower diagram of Fig.7, i.e. M is
positive between C and B, and

Shearing force: Consider a distance x between C and B (Fig.8).

Fig.8
 It should be noted that at C, there is a discontinuity in the value of the shearing
force, where over an infinitesimal length the shearing force changes from +2.4 kN to
−3.6 kN, from left to right.
Bending moment and shearing force diagrams
The bending moment and shearing force diagrams are simply diagrams representing
the variation of bending moment and shearing force, respectively, along the length of
the beam. In the bending moment and shearing force diagrams, the values of the
bending moments and shearing forces are plotted vertically and the value of x is
plotted horizontally, where x = 0 at the left end of the beam and x = the whole length
of the beam at its right end. In the case of the beam of Fig.4, bending moment
distribution between A and C is given by eq. i.e. M = 2.4x, where the value of x varies
between A and C. At A, x = 0, therefore MA = 2.4 × 0 = 0 and at C, x = 3 m, therefore
MC = 2.4 × 3 = 7.2 kN. Additionally, as the equation M = 2.4x is a straight line, the
bending moment distribution between A and C will be as shown by the left side of
Fig.9(a). Similarly, the expression for the variation of bending moment between C
and B is given by eq. i.e. M = 18−3.6x, where the value of x varies between C and B.
The equation can be seen to be a straight line between C and B. At C, x = 3 m,
therefore MC = 18 − 3.6 × 3 = 18 − 10.8 = 7.2 kN m At B, x = 5 m, therefore MB = 18 −
3.6 × 5 = 18 − 18 = 0 Therefore, plotting of the equation M = 18 − 3.6x between C and
B results in the straight line on the right of Fig.9(a), i.e. the bending moment diagram
for this beam has now been drawn.
 Fig.9 Bending moment and shearing force diagrams
In the case of the beam of Fig.4, the shearing force distribution along
its length from A to C is given by eq. i.e. F = 2.4 kN, i.e. F is constant
between A and C. Thus the shearing force diagram between A and C is
given by the horizontal line shown on the left of C in Fig.9(b). Similarly,
the shearing force distribution to the right of C is given by eq. i.e. F =
−3.6 kN, i.e. F is a constant between C and B, as shown by the
horizontal line to the right of C in Fig.9(b). At the point C, the shearing
force is indeterminate and changes from +2.4 kN to −3.6 kN over an
infinitesimal length.
Exercise:
Determine expressions for the distributions of bending moment and
shearing force for the horizontal beam of Fig.10. Hence, sketch the
bending and shearing force diagrams.
 Analysis of structures and trusses
What to learn are:
• what a pin-jointed truss is

• what a mechanism is

• definition of a tie bar and a strut

• understanding Bow’s notation

• calculation types for the internal forces in a truss

(i) by a graphical method
(ii) by the ‘method of joints’
(iii) by the ‘method of sections
Definition: A truss is a frame where the joints are assumed to be frictionless and
pin-jointed, and that all external loads are applied to the pin joints. In countries
where there is a lot of rain, such structures are used to support the sloping roofs of
the building, as shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 11: Pin-jointed truss

The externally applied loads acting on the pin-jointed trusses are usually due to
snow and self-weight, and also due to wind, as shown in Fig.11. In Fig.11, the snow
and self-weight loads act vertically downwards and the wind loads are usually
assumed to act horizontally. Thus, for structures such as that shown in Fig.11,
where the externally applied loads are assumed to act at the pin-joints, the internal
members of the framework resist the externally applied loads in tension or in
compression.
Members of the framework that resist the externally applied loads in tension are
called ties and members of the framework which resist the externally applied loads
in compression are called struts, as shown in Fig.12.
 Fig. 12

The internal resisting forces in the ties and struts will act in the opposite direction
to the externally applied loads, as shown in Fig.13.

Fig. 13

Typical mechanisms are shown in Fig.14; these are not classified as structures
because they are not firm and can be moved easily under external loads.

Fig. 13: Mechanism

To make the mechanism of Fig.14(a) into a simple statically determinate structure, it
is necessary to add one diagonal member joined to a top joint and an ‘opposite’
bottom joint. (See Fig. 15)
To make the mechanism of Fig.14(b) into a statically determinate structure, it is
necessary to add two members from the top joint to each of the two bottom joints
near the mid-length of the bottom horizontal. (See Fig. 16)

Fig. 15

Fig. 16
 Fig.17

Now, Fig.17 is statically indeterminate because in as much as we can only resolve

vertically and horizontally at the joints A and B, and that we can only obtain four
simultaneous equations. However, as there are five members, each with an unknown
force, you have one unknown force too many. Thus, using the principles of statics
alone, the structure cannot be satisfactorily analysed; such structures are therefore
said to be statically indeterminate.
Graphical method example: Determine the internal forces that occur in the plane pin-
jointed truss of Fig.18, due to the externally applied vertical load of 3 kN.

Solution:

Fig.18
Method of joints (a mathematical method): In this method, all unknown internal
member forces are initially assumed to be in tension. Next, an imaginary cut is made
around a joint that has two or less unknown forces, so that a free body diagram is
obtained for this joint. Next, by resolving forces in respective vertical and horizontal
directions at this joint, the unknown forces can be calculated. To continue the
analysis, another joint is selected with two or less unknowns and the process
repeated, remembering that this may only be possible because some of the unknown
member forces have been previously calculated. By selecting, in turn, other joints
where there are two or less unknown forces, the entire framework can be analyzed. It
must be remembered that if the calculated force in a member is negative, then that
member is in compression. Vice-versa is true for a member in tension. Using our
previous example –
Firstly, assume all unknowns are in tension as shown below
Next, make imaginary cuts around the joints, as shown by the circles in
the Fig. This action will give us three free body diagrams. The first we
consider is around joint (1), because this joint has only two unknown
forces.
 Substituting accordingly,

Consider next joint (2), as it now has two or less unknown forces
The method of sections (a mathematical method): In this method, an imaginary cut
is made through the framework and the equilibrium of this part of the structure is
considered through a free body diagram. No more than three unknown forces can
be determined through any cut section, as only three equilibrium considerations can
be made, namely
(a) resolve forces horizontally
(b) resolve forces vertically
(c) take moments about a convenient point.
Example. Determine the unknown member forces F2, F5 and F6 of the truss of Fig
below, by the method of sections.
Firstly, all members will be assumed to be in tension and an imaginary cut will be
made through the framework.
Substituting

Equating
Substituting further: