B.ENG. (HONS.

) COURSE
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING STREAM
YEAR I – SEMESTER I
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 SESSION OF EXAMINATIONS

MEC1101 – Engineering Mechanics - Statics 28th January, 2023

Time of examination: 08.30 – 11.35hrs

This paper contains FOUR questions. You are to attempt ALL questions.

Stationery: Use of calculators is allowed

1. The horizontal beam with uniform cross-section, and mass m = 20 kg is suspended

at its ends A, and B on the springs. The acting force F of 300 N, is destabilizing
the beam, that must remain in the horizontal position.

Determine the magnitude of the additional force P and its point of application
that would keep the suspended beam in the horizontal position while the total
vertical displacement of the beam is 15 mm downwards.

The stiffness of the spring at A and B is kA = 12.5 kNm-1and kB = 8 kNm-1

respectively as shown in Figure 1.

kA F P kB

A B
1m
x
3m

Figure 1
(20 marks)

Page 1 of 3
2. The system of coupled bodies transfers a uniformly distributed load, q of 3kNm-1, to the
foundation and the four-member assembly.
(a) check the mobility, and static determinacy of the system, then
(b) draw free body diagrams, and
(c) write the respective equations
(d) compute the reaction forces of all constrains, and
(e) determine the magnitude and orientation of the force F that would keep the four-
member assembly in equilibrium.
Force F is acting along the line lf as shown on the diagram.
4m
q

2m
2m

5m
lf

2m

Figure 2
(25 marks)

3. The space truss is supported by a ball-and-socket joints at points A, B, C, and D as shown

in Figure 3. The structure is loaded at G by forces P1, and P2 with magnitudes of 4kN,
and 6kN respectively in the directions shown.
Determine the reaction forces, and the force in each member of the space truss and
state if the members are in tension or compression.

Figure 3
(25 marks)

Page 2 of 3
4. Calculate the force magnitude F, applied to the lever, which keeps the rotating shaft in
equilibrium (moving with uniform velocity). The shaft placed on the V-shaped groove is
loaded by a moment M = 100 Nm and the fixed braking block attached to the lever is
pressing the shaft into the groove. The groove and the braking block are made of steel
with their kinetic frictional coefficient of the materials in contact of  = 0,15.

F
a b a = 200 mm
b = 500 mm
c = 10 mm

c
d = 40 mm
 = 450
M  = 300
d
 = 0,15
M = 100
Nm

 

Figure 4
(30 marks)

Page 3 of 3