3B3 Mechanics of Solids

Tutorials

Tutorial 1: Axial loading

Uniform loading

Q1

The device shown in the figure consists of a pointer

ABC supported by a spring of stiffness 𝑘 = 800
N/m. The spring is positioned at distance 𝑏 = 150
mm from the pinned end A of the pointer. The
device is adjusted so that when there is no load P,
the pointer reads zero on the angular scale.

If the load 𝑃 = 8 N, at what distance x should the load be placed so that the pointer will read 3° on
the scale?

Q2

The three-bar truss ABC shown in the figure has a span 𝐿 = 3 m

and is constructed of steel pipes having cross-sectional area 𝐴 =
3900 mm2 and modulus of elasticity 𝐸 = 200 GPa. Identical
loads P act both vertically and horizontally at joint C, as shown.

(a) If 𝑃 = 650 kN, what is the horizontal displacement of joint B?

(b) What is the maximum permissible load value Pmax if the

displacement of joint B is limited to 1.5 mm?

Q3

A two-story building has steel columns AB in the first floor and BC

in the second floor, as shown in the figure. The roof load P1 equals
400 kN and the second-floor load P2 equals 720 kN. Each column
has length 𝐿 = 3.75 m. The cross-sectional areas of the first- and
second-floor columns are 11,000 mm2 and 3,900 mm2,
respectively.

(a) Assuming that 𝐸 = 206 GPa, determine the total shortening

𝛿𝐴𝐶 of the two columns due to the combined action of the loads P1
and P2.

(b) How much additional load P0 can be placed at the top of the column (point C) if the total shortening
𝛿𝐴𝐶 is not to exceed 4.0 mm?

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3B3 Mechanics of Solids
Tutorials

Non-uniform loading

Q4

A prismatic bar AB of length L, cross-sectional area A, modulus of elasticity E, and

weight W hangs vertically under its own weight (see figure).

(a) Derive a formula for the downward displacement 𝛿𝐶 of point C, located at

distance h from the lower end of the bar.

(b) What is the elongation 𝛿𝐵 of the entire bar?

(c) What is the ratio 𝛽 of the elongation of the upper half of the bar to the
elongation of the lower half of the bar?

Q5

A long, slender bar in the shape of a right circular cone with length L and base
diameter d hangs vertically under the action of its own weight (see figure). The
weight of the cone is W and the modulus of elasticity of the material is E.

Derive a formula for the increase 𝛿 in the length of the bar due to its own weight.
(Assume that the angle of taper of the cone is small.)

Q6

A bar ABC revolves in a horizontal plane about a vertical

axis at the midpoint C (see figure). The bar, which has
length 2L and cross-sectional area A, revolves at
constant angular speed 𝜔.

Each half of the bar (AC and BC) has weight W1 and supports a weight W2 at its end.

Derive the following formula for the elongation of one-half of the bar (that is, the elongation of either
AC or BC):

𝐿2 𝜔2
𝛿= (𝑊 + 3𝑊2 )
3𝑔𝐸𝐴 1
in which E is the modulus of elasticity of the material of the bar and g is the acceleration of gravity.