University of Twente Reference: ET.

17/TM-5805
Faculty of Engineering Technology
Programs Mechanical Engineering & Industrial Design

COMPONENT : Statics
DATE : 08 November 2017
TIME : 08:45–10:15
TEST

Read these instruction carefully. Failing to follow them will have an immediate effect on the
assessment.

The test contains two exercises. The maximum scores of these exercises equals 25 points. A total of 50 points
can be obtained.

For Mechanical Engineering:

The final mark c is a combination the two tests (each 50 points max) and the ModPro mark.
x
c=
10
where x is the total actual score.

For Industrial Design engineering:

The final mark c is a combination the two tests (each 50 points max) and the group assignment determined
using:
9x
c=1+
125
where x is the total actual score.

Read the questions carefully. More points are assigned to the approach than to the numeric solution; follow the
Systematic Problem Approach with all exercises, write the equations as much as possible as symbolic equations
prior to solving them. FBD’s are assessed based on clarity, completeness and correctness.

• Using a (graphical or non-graphical) calculator is not allowed. Fractures and roots do not have
to be converted to decimal numbers.
• Errors in units are severely punished.
• The test is a ‘closed book’ test.
• Answers (including drawings) in pencil will not be accepted. Hint: you can first draw your figures
with pencil to later redraw them with a pen.
• Using the answer pages is compulsory. Failing to do so will result in subtraction of points.
• Write your name and student number clearly on all papers you hand in. (The course code is
201600100 (ME) and 201300029 (ID), the code ‘ET.17/TM-..’ is a document reference).
• Hand in everything as a single package, folded in University of Twente exam paper and not
as a pile of loose papers. You may remove the clamp.
• Leave the room silently when you are finished.
Exercise 1
Given the rigid beam in figure 1. The distributed load w1 (x), acting on the section A–B, is defined as:
 x 2 x 1
w1 (x) = w0 + w0 + w0
L L 6
A force with magnitude 2w0 L N is acting at point D and a moment with magnitude w0 L2 Nm is acting at point
E, while a distributed load with magnitude w0 N/m acts between C and D. All loads act in the direction as
indicated in the figure.
a. Proof that the magnitude of the resulting force FR and the location xR where the resultant force acts of
the distributed load between A–B exactly equal1 :
2
FR = w0 L ; xR = L
3

b. Determine the formulas for the shear force V (x) and the bending moment M (x) for L ≤ x < 4L. The
reactions in A equal:
5
RA,x = 0 N, RA,y = 0 N, MA = −3 w0 L2 Nm
6
The reaction forces and moment in A act in positive direction defined in the coordinate system displayed
in the figure. Use figure 3 on the answer pages for the FBDs
c. The shear and moment diagrams are given in the figures 4 and 5 for section A–B. Make these diagrams
complete by adding the shear and moment lines for the section of the beam from B to E (L ≤ x < 4L).

y+

θ+
x+

w1 (x)

w0
w0 L2

A B C D E

L L L L

2w0 L

Figure 1: Beam with various loads acting on it.

1 This is comparable to calculating the centre of gravity, chapter 6 in “Statics and Mechanics of Materials” from Hibbeler
Exercise 2
Block A, depicted in figure 2, is pushed against block B by a compression spring (S). The spring can only take
a force (Fk ) parallel to the direction of operation of the spring. Block A is supported by the smooth vertical
wall on the left hand side, while block B is pushed against the smooth horizontal ceiling. The force F is applied
to push block B to the left and thus further compress the spring S.
The coefficient of friction between the blocks equals µ.

B F

Figure 2: Block A is pushed against block B by spring S The vertical wall and horizontal ceiling support the
blocks.

Answer the following questions, assume that the force F is absent:

a. Make FBDs of the blocks. Use figure 6.
b. Which conditions must be checked to verify that the blocks will remain at their position?
Given one exerts a force F on block B as indicated in figure 2:
c. Make FBDs of the blocks. Use figure 7.
d. Proof that the force needed to initiate motion equals:
µ cos θ + sin θ
F = (Fk − Fg,A )
cos θ − µ sin θ
where Fk is the force in the spring, Fg,A the gravitational force of block A, µ the coefficient of friction
and θ the angle of the contact surface between the two blocks.
Name: Student number:

Figure 3: FBDs exercise 1b.

 0
Name:

wL
-1

V (x)
Student number:

-2
0 1 2 3 4
x
L
Figure 4: Shear force V (x).
 Name:

wL2
M(x)
2
Student number:

0 1 2 3 4
x
L
Figure 5: Bending moment M (x).
 Name:
Student number:
Figure 6: FBDs exercise 2a.
 Name:
Student number:
Figure 7: FBDs exercise 2d.
Exercise 1 – 25 points
a. – 5 points
The distributed load w1 (x) must be integrated over its length (x ∈ [0, L]) to calculate the resultant force FR
and the static moment QR must be calculated in addition to determine the location of the point of action xR .:

ZL
FR = w1 (x)dx (1)
x=0
ZL
QR = w1 (x) · xdx (2)
x=0
QR
xR = (3)
FR

Resultant force FR – 2 points

ZL L
1 x3 1 x2
x 1   
 x 2 1 1 1 1 2+3+1
FR = w0 +w0 + w0 dx = w0 2 + w0 + w0 x == + + w0 L = w0 L = w0 L
L L 6 3 L 2 L 6 x=0 3 2 6 6
x=0
(4)

Static moment QR – 2 points

ZL   2 ZL
x x 1  x3 x2 1
QR = w0 + w0 + w0 · xdx = w0 2 + w0 + w0 xdx =
L L 6 L L 6
x=0 x=0
L
1 x4 1 x3
  
1 1 1 1 3+4+1 2
w0 2 + w0 + w0 x2 = + + w0 L2 = w0 L2 = w0 L2 (5)
4 L 3 L 12 x=0 4 3 12 12 3

Point of action xR – 1 point

2
QR w0 L2 2
xR = = 3 = L (6)
FR w0 L 3

b. – 14 points
The beam must be sectioned three times between B and E (2 points):
I. B–C, L ≤ x < 2L
II. C–D, 2L ≤ x < 3L
III. D–E, 3L ≤ x < 4L
Three FBDs must be made, each valid in one section (2 points per FBD). These FBDs are presented in figure 8,
followed by the equations of equilibrium and solution for the shear force V (x) and bending moment M (x) for
each section (1 point per equation). The equations of equilibrium in x direction are omitted, since Ax equals
zero and there are no other forces or force components acting in the x direction. This must be mentioned prior
to omitting this set of equilibrium equations.
 y+

θ+
x+

w1 (x)
M (x)
MA
RA,x N (x)

A B

L V (x)
RA,y

y+

θ+
x+

w1 (x)

w0 M (x)
MA
RA,x N (x)

A B C

L L V (x)
RA,y

y+

θ+
x+

w0
w1 (x)
M (x)
MA
RA,x N (x)

A B C D

L L L V (x)
RA,y
2w0 L

Figure 8: FBD section I (top), section II (middle), section III (bottom).

Section I. The equation of equilibrium read:

X ZL
Fy = 0 : − w1 (x)dx − V (x) = −w0 L − V (x) = 0 (7)
x=0

ZL
 
 
X 5 2 2
M@x = 0 : MA +  w1 (x)dx (x − xR ) + M (x) = −3 w0 L + w0 L x − L + M (x) =

6 3
x=0
 
5 2 1
− 3 + w0 L2 + w0 Lx + M (x) = −4 w0 L2 + w0 Lx + M (x) = 0 (8)
6 3 2

Section II. The equation of equilibrium read:

X ZL
Fy = 0 : − w1 (x)dx − w0 (x − 2L) − V (x) = w0 L − w0 x − V (x) = 0 (9)
x=0

ZL
 
X 1 2
M@x = 0 : MA +  w1 (x)dx (x − xR ) + w0 (x − 2L) + M (x) =
2
x=0
 
5 2 1
− 3 w0 L2 + w0 L x − L + w0 x2 − 4Lx + 4L2 + M (x) =


6 3 2
1 1
− 2 w0 L2 − w0 Lx + w0 x2 + M (x) = 0 (10)
2 2

Section III. The equation of equilibrium read:

X ZL
Fy = 0 : − w1 (x)dx − w0 L + FD − V (x) = −w0 L − w0 L + 2w0 L − V (x) = V (x) = 0 (11)
x=0

ZL
 
 
X 1
M@x = 0 : MA +  w1 (x)dx (x − xR ) + w0 L x − 2 L − FD (x − 3L) + M (x) =

2
x=0
1 1
− 4 w0 L2 + w0 Lx + w0 Lx − 2 w0 L2 − 2w0 Lx + 6w0 L2 + M (x) = −w0 L2 + M (x) = 0 (12)
2 2

Shear force and bending moment The equations for the shear force V (x) and the bending moment M (x)
can be derived directly from the equations (7), (9) and (11) and the eqautions (8), (10) and (12):

−w0 L
 L ≤ x < 2L
V (x) = w0 L − w0 x 2L ≤ x < 3L (13)

0 3L ≤ x < 4L



1 2
4 2 w0 L − w0 Lx
 L ≤ x < 2L
M (x) = − 21 w0 x2 + w0 Lx + 2 12 w0 L2 2L ≤ x < 3L (14)

w0 L2 3L ≤ x < 4L


Always check the units! And check whether the shear force is the spatial derivative of the bending moment:

dM (x)
= V (x) (15)
dx
It is handy to calculate a number of points (x values) to sketch the graph. This is always a dimensionless
number (e.g. a number of times w0 L or w0 L2 for the shear force and bending moment respectively).
 Table 1: Numeric values for the graphs.
x
1 2 2 2 21 3 3 4
L
V (x)
−1 −1 −1 −2 0 0
w0 L
M (x)
3 21 2 21 2 12 1 87 1 1 1
w0 L2

c. – 6 points
The solution is given in figure 9. Pay attention to a correct connection of the line segments and the correct
direction of the line. The quadratic curve in the graph for the bending moment does not need to be exact: a
proper sketch is sufficient, but it must be consistent with the shear force line (and of course with the overall
solution):
• If the shear force is 0, there is an extreme value in the bending moment. Check whether it is a minimum
or a maximum using the next point.
• A positive/negative shear force implies a positive/negative slope of the bending moment.
Each correct line segment represents 1 point.

3
V (x)

M (x)
w0 L

w0 L2
-1

1
-2
0 1 2x 3 4
L
Figure 9: Shear force (red) and bending moment (green) as a function of the relative position on the beam.

Summary of points
Distribution of points (25 points in total):
• Part a of question 5 points
• Each FBD 2 points (3×)
• Each equation for V (x) 1 point (3×)
• Each equation for M (x) 1 point (3×)

• Correct sectioning 2 points

• Each section of V (x)-graph 1 point (3×)
• Each section of M (x)-graph 1 punt (3×)
Exercise 2 – 25 points
a. – 8 points
The FBDs of both blocks are presented in figure 10. Each FBD is granted with a maximum of 4 points.

θ
Fn,AB

Ff,AB
Fn,A

Fg,A

x Fk

Fn,B

B
Ff,AB
Fg,B

Fn,AB

Figure 10: FBDs of block A (top) and block B (bottom).

b. – 5 points
No equilibrium equations are asked here; no solution is asked. This question is only about the approach.
The main condition to check:
Is the maximum allowable friction force (capacity), larger then the force needed to get equilibrium
(requirement )
This condition must in principle be checked for all contact surfaces, but: the horizontal and vertical walls are
given as smooth, so the friction coefficient is zero, and therefore the maximum friction force as well. In the
surface between block A and B, the maximum friction force Ffmax (capacity) is calculated by:
Ffmax = µFn (16)
where µ is the friction coefficient and Fn is the normal force. This equation must be given in the answer.
The condition for no motion is then:
Ffmax = µFn ≥ Ffrequired (17)

where Ffrequired follows from the equilibrium equations. The real friction force will have this magnitude, if the
condition is satisfied.

c. – 4 points
The FBDs of both blocks are presented in figure 11. Each FBD is granted with a maximum of 2 points. Mark
the change in direction of the friction forces and the addition of the force F . These are the items for which
points are granted (or subtracted).

θ
Fn,AB

Ff,AB
Fn,A

Fg,A

x Fk

Fn,B

B F

Ff,AB
Fg,B

Fn,AB

Figure 11: FBDs of block A (left) and block B (right).

d. – 8 points
The equations of equilibrium of block A read:
X
Fx = 0 : Fn,A − Ff,AB cos θ − Fn,AB sin θ = 0 (18)
X
Fy = 0 : Fk − Fg,A + Ff,AB sin θ − Fn,AB cos θ = 0 (19)

The equations of equilibrium of block B read:

X
Fx = 0 : Ff,AB cos θ + Fn,AB sin θ − F = 0 (20)
X
Fy = 0 : − Ff,AB sin θ + Fn,AB cos θ − Fg,B − Fn,B = 0 (21)

Given the blocks are at the point of sliding:

Ff,AB = µFn,AB (22)

Equation (20) gives an expression for the force F , in terms of the normal force Fn,AB :

(µ cos θ + sin θ) Fn,AB = F (23)

Subsequently, equation (19) is used to find an expression for Fn,AB :

1
Fk − Fg,A = (cos θ − µ sin θ) Fn,AB → Fn,AB = (Fk − Fg,A ) (24)
cos θ − µ sin θ

Substituting equation (24) in equation (23) gives:

1 (µ cos θ + sin θ)
F = (µ cos θ + sin θ) (Fk − Fg,A ) = (Fk − Fg,A ) (25)
cos θ − µ sin θ cos θ − µ sin θ
This is equal to what needs to be proven.