bee02286_ch04_158-217.

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SAMPLE PROBLEM 4.1

A fixed crane has a mass of 1000 kg and is used to lift a 2400-kg crate. It
A
2400 kg is held in place by a pin at A and a rocker at B. The center of gravity of
G the crane is located at G. Determine the components of the reactions at A
1.5 m
and B.
B

2m 4m

SOLUTION
Ay Free-Body Diagram. A free-body diagram of the crane is drawn. By mul-
Ax 23.5 kN tiplying the masses of the crane and of the crate by g 5 9.81 m/s2, we obtain
A the corresponding weights, that is, 9810 N or 9.81 kN, and 23 500 N or
1.5 m
23.5 kN. The reaction at pin A is a force of unknown direction; it is repre-
B 9.81 kN sented by its components Ax and Ay. The reaction at the rocker B is per-
B
2m 4m pendicular to the rocker surface; thus, it is horizontal. We assume that Ax,
Ay, and B act in the directions shown.

Determination of B. We express that the sum of the moments of all external

forces about point A is zero. The equation obtained will contain neither Ax
nor Ay, since the moments of Ax and Ay about A are zero. Multiplying the
magnitude of each force by its perpendicular distance from A, we write
1loMA 5 0: 1B(1.5 m) 2 (9.81 kN)(2 m) 2 (23.5 kN)(6 m) 5 0
B 5 1107.1 kN B 5 107.1 kN n ◀
Since the result is positive, the reaction is directed as assumed.

Determination of A x. The magnitude of Ax is determined by expressing

that the sum of the horizontal components of all external forces is zero.
1
n oFx 5 0: Ax 1 B 5 0
Ax 1 107.1 kN 5 0
Ax 5 2107.1 kN A x 5 107.1 kN m ◀

Since the result is negative, the sense of Ax is opposite to that assumed

originally.

Determination of Ay. The sum of the vertical components must also equal
zero.
1hoFy 5 0: Ay 2 9.81 kN 2 23.5 kN 5 0
Ay 5 133.3 kN Ay 5 33.3 kN h ◀

33.3 kN Adding vectorially the components Ax and Ay, we find that the reac-
tion at A is 112.2 kN b17.3°.
107.1 kN 23.5 kN
A Check. The values obtained for the reactions can be checked by recalling
1.5 m that the sum of the moments of all of the external forces about any point
B 9.81 kN must be zero. For example, considering point B, we write
107.1 kN
2m 4m 1loMB 5 2(9.81 kN)(2 m) 2 (23.5 kN)(6 m) 1 (107.1 kN)(1.5 m) 5 0

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P 6 kips 6 kips SAMPLE PROBLEM 4.2

Three loads are applied to a beam as shown. The beam is supported by a
A
B roller at A and by a pin at B. Neglecting the weight of the beam, determine
the reactions at A and B when P 5 15 kips.
6 ft
3 ft 2 ft 2 ft

SOLUTION
15 kips 6 kips 6 kips Free-Body Diagram. A free-body diagram of the beam is drawn. The reac-
tion at A is vertical and is denoted by A. The reaction at B is represented
by components Bx and By. Each component is assumed to act in the direc-
A B Bx tion shown.
A
By Equilibrium Equations. We write the following three equilibrium equa-
6 ft tions and solve for the reactions indicated:
3 ft 2 ft 2 ft
1
n oFx 5 0: Bx 5 0 Bx 5 0 ◀

1loMA 5 0:
2(15 kips)(3 ft) 1 By(9 ft) 2 (6 kips)(11 ft) 2 (6 kips)(13 ft) 5 0
By 5 121.0 kips By 5 21.0 kips h ◀

1loMB 5 0:
2A(9 ft) 1 (15 kips)(6 ft) 2 (6 kips)(2 ft) 2 (6 kips)(4 ft) 5 0
A 5 16.00 kips A 5 6.00 kips h ◀

Check. The results are checked by adding the vertical components of all
of the external forces:

1hoFy 5 16.00 kips 2 15 kips 1 21.0 kips 2 6 kips 2 6 kips 5 0

Remark. In this problem the reactions at both A and B are vertical; how-
ever, these reactions are vertical for different reasons. At A, the beam is
supported by a roller; hence the reaction cannot have any horizontal com-
ponent. At B, the horizontal component of the reaction is zero because it
must satisfy the equilibrium equation oFx 5 0 and because none of the
other forces acting on the beam has a horizontal component.
We could have noticed at first glance that the reaction at B was verti-
cal and dispensed with the horizontal component Bx. This, however, is a bad
practice. In following it, we would run the risk of forgetting the component
Bx when the loading conditions require such a component (i.e., when a
horizontal load is included). Also, the component Bx was found to be zero
by using and solving an equilibrium equation, oFx 5 0. By setting Bx equal
to zero immediately, we might not realize that we actually make use of this
equation and thus might lose track of the number of equations available for
solving the problem.

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24 in. SAMPLE PROBLEM 4.3

A loading car is at rest on a track forming an angle of 25° with the vertical.
The gross weight of the car and its load is 5500 lb, and it is applied at a
25º point 30 in. from the track, halfway between the two axles. The car is held
G by a cable attached 24 in. from the track. Determine the tension in the
cable and the reaction at each pair of wheels.
25 in.
in.
30
25 in.

SOLUTION
T Free-Body Diagram. A free-body diagram of the car is drawn. The reac-
tion at each wheel is perpendicular to the track, and the tension force T is
y parallel to the track. For convenience, we choose the x axis parallel to the
track and the y axis perpendicular to the track. The 5500-lb weight is then
A
resolved into x and y components.
R1
G
2320 lb
6 in. Wx 5 1(5500 lb) cos 25° 5 14980 lb
25 in. 4980 lb
Wy 5 2(5500 lb) sin 25° 5 22320 lb
B
25 in. Equilibrium Equations. We take moments about A to eliminate T and R1
R2 from the computation.
x
1loMA 5 0: 2(2320 lb)(25 in.) 2 (4980 lb)(6 in.) 1 R2(50 in.) 5 0
R2 5 11758 lb R2 5 1758 lb p ◀

Now, taking moments about B to eliminate T and R2 from the computation,

we write

1loMB 5 0: (2320 lb)(25 in.) 2 (4980 lb)(6 in.) 2 R1(50 in.) 5 0

R1 5 1562 lb R1 5 1562 lb p ◀

The value of T is found by writing

4980 lb
q1oFx 5 0: 14980 lb 2 T 5 0
T 5 14980 lb T 5 4980 lb r ◀
y
A The computed values of the reactions are shown in the adjacent sketch.

562 lb G Check. The computations are verified by writing

6 in.
2320 lb
25 in. 4980 lb p1oFy 5 1562 lb 1 1758 lb 2 2320 lb 5 0
B
25 in. The solution could also have been checked by computing moments about
1758 lb any point other than A or B.
x

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D
SAMPLE PROBLEM 4.4
2.25 m
A B
The frame shown supports part of the roof of a small building. Knowing that
C the tension in the cable is 150 kN, determine the reaction at the fixed end E.
3.75 m
20 kN 20 kN 20 kN 20 kN

1.8 m 1.8 m 1.8 m 1.8 m E F

4.5 m SOLUTION
Free-Body Diagram. A free-body diagram of the frame and of the cable BDF
is drawn. The reaction at the fixed end E is represented by the force compo-
nents Ex and Ey and the couple ME. The other forces acting on the free body
are the four 20-kN loads and the 150-kN force exerted at end F of the cable.

D Equilibrium Equations. Noting that DF 5 2(4.5 m) 2 1 (6 m) 2 5 7.5 m,

we write
A B 4.5
C
1
n oFx 5 0: Ex 1 (150 kN) 5 0
7.5
6m
Ex 5 290.0 kN Ex 5 90.0 kN z ◀
20 kN 20 kN 20 kN 20 kN
6
1.8 m 1.8 m 1.8 m 1.8 m E 1hoFy 5 0: Ey 2 4(20 kN) 2 (150 kN) 5 0
Ex
F 7.5
ME Ey 5 1200 kN Ey 5 200 kNx ◀
4.5 m
Ey 150 kN 1loME 5 0: (20 kN)(7.2 m) 1 (20 kN)(5.4 m) 1 (20 kN)(3.6 m)
6
1 (20 kN)(1.8 m) 2 (150 kN)(4.5 m) 1 ME 5 0
7.5
ME 5 1180.0 kN ? m ME 5 180.0 kN ? m l ◀

SAMPLE PROBLEM 4.5

l = 8 in.
A A 400-lb weight is attached at A to the lever shown. The constant of the
q B C spring BC is k 5 250 lb/in., and the spring is unstretched when u 5 0.
k = 250 lb/in.
Determine the position of equilibrium.

O
r = 3 in.
SOLUTION
W = 400 lb
Free-Body Diagram. We draw a free-body diagram of the lever and
cylinder. Denoting by s the deflection of the spring from its undeformed
position, and noting that s 5 ru, we have F 5 ks 5 kru.
Undeformed
position Equilibrium Equation. Summing the moments of W and F about O, we write
l sin q s kr2
A 1loMO 5 0: Wl sin u 2 r(kru) 5 0 sin u 5 u
q Wl
F = ks Substituting the given data, we obtain
r

W
Rx
O
sin u 5
(250 lb/in.)(3 in.) 2
(400 lb)(8 in.)
   sin u 5 0.703 u
u
Ry
Solving by trial and error, we find u50 u 5 80.3˚ ◀

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