WOLKITE UNIVERSITY

College of Engineering and Technology

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Strength of Material I: Worksheet

1. A cantilever beam AB is loaded by a couple M0 at its free end (see figure). The length of the
beam is L 1.5 m and the longitudinal normal strain at the top surface is 0.001. The distance from
the top surface of the beam to the neutral surface is 75 mm. Calculate the radius of curvature r,
the curvature k, and the vertical deflection d at the end of the beam.

2. A railroad tie (or sleeper) is subjected to two rail loads, each of magnitude P 175 kN, acting as
shown in the figure. The reaction q of the ballast is assumed to be uniformly distributed over the
length of the tie, which has cross-sectional dimensions b 300 mm and h 250 mm. Calculate the
maximum bending stress 𝜎𝑚𝑎𝑥 in the tie due to the loads P, assuming the distance L 1500 mm
and the overhang length a 500 mm.

3. A cantilever beam AB, loaded by a uniform load and a concentrated load (see figure), is
constructed of a channel section. Find the maximum tensile stress 𝜎𝑡 and maximum compressive
stress 𝜎𝑐 if the cross section has the dimensions indicated and the moment of inertia about the z
axis (the neutral axis) is I 2.81 in.4 (Note: The uniform load represents the weight of the beam.)

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4. The rod is supported by smooth journal bearings at A and B that only exert vertical reactions
on the shaft. If determine the absolute maximum bending stress in the beam, and sketch the stress
distribution acting over the cross section.

5. A T-section cast iron beam is simply supported on a span of 8m. The beam carries a UDL of
1.5kN/m length on the entire span. Determine the max. Tensile and max. Compressive stresses.

6. The beam is subjected to the linearly varying distributed load. Determine the maximum
deflection of the beam. EI is constant.

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7. A simply supported wood beam of rectangular cross section and span length 1.2 m carries a
concentrated load P at mid span in addition to its own weight (see figure). The cross section has
width 140 mm and height 240 mm. The weight density of the wood is 5.4 kN/m3. Calculate the
maximum permissible value of the load P if (a) the allowable bending stress is 8.5 MPa, and (b)
the allowable shear stress is 0.8 MPa.

8. The beam shown in the figure has a guided support at A and a spring support at B. The guided
support permits vertical movement but no rotation. Derive the equation of the deflection curve
and determine the deflection 𝛿𝐵 at end B due to the uniform load of intensity q. (Note: Use the
second order differential equation of the deflection curve).

9. Derive the equation of the deflection curve for a cantilever beam AB supporting a load P at the
free end (see figure). Also, determine the deflection 𝛿𝐵 and angle of rotation𝜃𝐵 at the free end.
(Note: Use the second-order differential equation of the deflection curve.)

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10. The solid 30-mm-diameter shaft is used to transmit the torques applied to the gears.
Determine the absolute maximum shear stress on the shaft.

11. The steel shaft of a socket wrench has a diameter of 8.0 mm. and a length of 200 mm (see
figure). If the allowable stress in shear is 60 MPa, what is the maximum permissible torque Tmax
that may be exerted with the wrench? Through what angle ∅ (in degrees) will the shaft twist
under the action of the maximum torque? (Assume G =78 GPa and disregard any bending of the
shaft.)

12. Derive the equations of the deflection curve for a simple beam AB with a distributed load of
peak intensity q0 acting over the left-hand half of the span (see figure). Also, determine the
deflection 𝛿𝐶 at the midpoint of the beam. (Note: Use the second-order differential equation of
the deflection curve.)

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