Tutorial 1: solutions

G. Catalanotti
School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9
5AH, UK

1. A circular thin steel diaphragm having an effective diameter of

200mm is clamped around its periphery and is subjected to an
uniform gas pressure of 180kPa. Calculate a minimum thickness
for the diaphragm if the deflection at the centre is not exceed
0.5mm. E=208GPa, ν=0.287

undeformed

deformed

Solution
First we find the shear stress Q imposing the equilibrium. For any circular
section of radius r it can be written:
pr
2πrQ = πr2 p =⇒ Q = (1)
2
Now we use the constitutive equation for circular plates (check the sheet for-
mula):   
d 1 d dw Q pr
r = = (2)
dr r dr dr D 2D
that integrated several times yields:

pr2
 
1 d dw
r = + C1 (3)
r dr dr 4D

pr3
 
d dw
∴ r = + C1 r (4)
dr dr 4D
dw pr4 C1 r 2
r = + + C2 (5)
dr 16D 2
 dw pr3 C1 r C2
∴ = + + (6)
dr 16D 2 r
pr4 C1 r 2
w= + + C2 ln r + C3 (7)
64D 4
To determine the integration constants we need to impose the boundary condi-
tions. A quick inspection at the deformed of Figure 1 reveals:
dw
=0 at r=0 (8)
dr
dw
=0 at r=a (9)
dr

w = 0 at r=a (10)
Substituting Equation (8) in Equation (5) yields: C2 = 0. Substituting Equa-
tion (9) in Equation (6) yields:
pa3 C1 a pa2
0= + =⇒ C1 = − (11)
16D 2 8D
Substituting Equation (10) in Equation (7) yields:
pa4 pa2 a2 pa4
0= − + C3 =⇒ C3 = (12)
64D 8D 4 64D
Inserting the constants of integration in the deflection, Equation (7) reads:
pr4 pa2 r2 pa4 p
2
w= − + = a2 − r 2 (13)
64D 8D 4 64D 64D
where:
Eh3
D= (14)
12 (1 − ν 2 )
The maximum value of the displacement occurs at r = 0. Imposing this being
equal to wM ax = 0.5mm yields:
p 4
w|r=0 = wM ax =⇒ a = wM ax (15)
64D
Hence, substituting the value for D


3p 1 − ν 2 4
a = wM ax (16)
16Eh3

! 13
3p 1 − ν 2 4
∴h= a (17)
16EwM ax

! 31
3 · 180 · 103 Pa 1 − 0.2872 4 4
∴h= 100 mm = 3.1mm (18)
16 · 208 · 109 Pa 0.5 mm

2
2. A thin circular plate has an outside radius a. The plate is clamped
around its edge and subjected to a uniform distributed load over
its surface. Find the radius at which: i) the radial bending stress
is 0; ii) the circumferential stress is 0. ν = 0.3

Solution i
The radial stress are null if the radial bending is null. Therefore it is sufficient
to impose Mr = 0 to find the radius at which the radial stresses are zero.
The radial bending reads (please have a look at the formula sheet):
 2 
d w ν dw
Mr = −D + (19)
dr2 r dr

The expression of the displacement for a plate loaded with a constant dis-
tributed load was found previously in Equation (13) and reads:

pr4 pa2 r2 pa4

w= − + (20)
64D 32D 64D
that can be differentiated twice to obtain:
dw pr3 pa2 r
= − (21)
dr 16D 16D

d2 w 3pr2 pa2
= − (22)
dr2 16D 16D
Substituting the first and second derivative (Equations (21) and (22), respec-
tively) in Equation (19), and imposing Mr = 0, yields:

3pr2 pa2 ν pr3 pa2 r

  
∴ −D − + − =0 (23)
16D 16D r 16D 16D

p
3r2 − a2 + r2 ν − a2 ν = 0


=⇒ − (24)
16

=⇒ r2 (3 + ν) − a2 (1 + ν) = 0 (25)

1+ν
∴ r 2 = a2 (26)
3+ν
r r
1+ν 1 + 0.3
=⇒ r = a = a = 0.628a (27)
3+ν 3 + 0.3
Solution ii
In an analogous way, the circumferential stresses are zero when the circum-
ferential bending is zero. Therefore, imposing Mθ = 0 in the formula of the

3
circumferential bending (please, have a look at the formula sheet), we can ob-
tain:

d2 w
 
1 dw
Mθ = −D +ν 2 =0 (28)
r dr dr
Therefore, substituting Equations (21) and (22) in Equation (28), yields:
 2
pa2 3pr2 pa2
 
pr
∴ −D − +ν − =0 (29)
16D 16D 16D 16D

p 2
r − a2 + 3νr2 − νa2 = 0


=⇒ − (30)
16

=⇒ r2 (1 + 3ν) − a2 (1 + ν) = 0 (31)

1+ν
∴ r 2 = a2 (32)
1 + 3ν
r r
1+ν 1 + 0.3
=⇒ r = a = a = 0.827a (33)
1 + 3ν 1 + 3 · 0.3

3. A circular plate (500mm diameter, 2.5mm thick) is clamped around

its edge and is subjected to a concentrated load of 900N at its cen-
tre. Calculate the radial and tangential bending stress at the fixed
edges. ν = 0.29

undeformed

deformed
Solution

4
 First we find the shear stress Q imposing the equilibrium. For any circular
section of radius r it holds:
F
2πrQ = F =⇒ Q = (34)
2πr
Now we use the constitutive equation for circular plates (check the sheet
formula):
  
d 1 d dw Q F
r = = (35)
dr r dr dr D 2πrD
that can be integrated to obtain the displacement, w:
 
1 d dw F
r = ln r + C1 (36)
r dr dr 2πD
 
d dw F
∴ r = r ln r + C1 r (37)
dr dr 2πD

dw F r2 F r2 r2
r = ln r − + C1 + C2 (38)
dr 4πD 8πD 2
dw Fr Fr r C2
∴ = ln r − + C1 + (39)
dr 4πD 8πD 2 r

F r2 r2
w= (ln r − 1) + C1 + C2 ln r + C3 (40)
8πD 4
R
Notice that in the previous integrations, the integral r ln rdr is solved using
the integration by part as:

r2 r
Z Z
r ln rdr = ln r − dr (41)
2 2
The boundary conditions for this loading are:
dw
=0 at r=0 (42)
dr

dw
=0 at r=a (43)
dr

w = 0 at r=a (44)
Substituting Equation (42) in Equation (38) yields: C2 = 0. Substituting
Equation (43) in Equation (39) yields:
   
Fa 1 C1 a F 1
0= ln a − + =⇒ C1 = − ln a − (45)
4πD 2 2 2πD 2

5
 Substituting Equation (44) in Equation (40) yields:

F a2 F a2 F a2
 
1
0= (ln a − 1) − ln a − + C3 =⇒ C3 = (46)
8πD 8πD 2 16πD
therefore:
F r2 F a2
 
1
w= ln r − ln a − + (47)
8πD 2 16πD
The radial and tangential bending stresses are obtained from the expressions
of the moments (see the formula sheet):
 2 
d w ν dw
Mr = −D + (48)
dr2 r dr

d2 w
 
1 dw
Mθ = −D +ν 2 (49)
r dr dr
Differentiating, twice, Equation (47) yields:
dw Fr Fr r
= (ln r − ln a) = ln (50)
dr 4πD 4πD a
d2 w F  r 
2
= ln + 1 (51)
dr 4πD a
Substituting Equations (50) and (51) in (48) and (49) yields:
F h r  ri F h r i
Mr = − ln + 1 + ν ln =− (1 + ν) ln + 1 (52)
4π a a 4π a
F h r r i F h r i
Mθ = − ln + ν ln + ν = − (1 + ν) ln + ν (53)
4π a a 4π a
The bending moment at the clamping edge is obtained substituting r with
a in Equation (52) and (53):
F Fν
Mr |r=a = − Mθ |r=a = − (54)
4π 4π
while the stresses are (see the formula sheet):
12 Mr |r=a z 12F z
σr = ± =± (55)
h3 4πh3
12 Mθ |r=a z 12F νz
σθ = ± 3
=± (56)
h 4πh3
while the maximum value of the stresses, in absolute value, is obtained for
z = h/2:
3F 3 · 900N
σr |M ax = σr |z=h/2 = = 2 = 68.75MPa (57)
2πh2 2π (2.5 · 10−3 mm)
3F nu 3 · 900N · 0.29
σθ |M ax = σθ |z=h/2 = = 2 = 19.94MPa (58)
2πh2 2π (2.5 · 10−3 mm)

6
4. The end plate of a tube is made of 5mm thick steel plate as shown
in figure. If a 30mm diameter rod welded to the end plate is
subjected to a force of 10kN what would be the movement of
the rod? Calculate also the maximum stresses in the end plate.
E=207GPa, ν=0.29

Solution
The analytical solution for this case is exactly the same as the previous problem
but it is valid only for r > a0 = 15mm. Therefore both the Equations (40) and
(39) can be used for the displacement and its first derivative with to respect to
the radius, therefore:
 
dw Fr 1 r C2
= ln r − + C1 + (59)
dr 4πD 2 2 r

F r2 r2
w= (ln r − 1) + C1 + C2 ln r + C3 (60)
8πD 4
Knowing the geometry and the material parameter, the flexural rigidity is found:
3
Eh3 207 · 109 Pa (0.005mm)
D= 2
= = 2.35 · 103 Nm (61)
12 (1 − ν ) 12 (1 − 0.292 )

Supposing the rod rigid with respect to the plate we can suppose that the
welding forbid the rotation to the edge of the plate.

undeformed

deformed

7
 Therefore the deformed is as indicated in Figure 4 and the boundaries con-
ditions read:
dw
= 0 at r = a0 (62)
dr
dw
=0 at r=a (63)
dr

w = 0 at r=a (64)
Substituting Equation (62) in Equation (59) yields:

10 · 103 · 0.0015
 
1 C2
0= ln 0.015 − + 0.0075C1 + (65)
4π · 2.35 · 103 2 0.0015

∴ 0 = −0.0239 + 0.0075C1 + 66.67C2 (66)

while substituting Equation (63) in Equation (59) yields:

10 · 103 · 0.075
 
1 C2
0= ln 0.075 − + 0.0375C1 + (67)
4π · 2.35 · 103 2 0.075

∴ 0 = −0.0785 + 0.0375C1 + 13.33C2 (68)

Solving simultaneously (66) and (68) for C1 and C2 yields:

C1 = 2.049 C2 = 1.28 · 10−4 (69)

Finally substituting Equation (64) in Equation (60) yields:

10 · 103 · 0.0752 2.049 · 0.0752

0= 3
(ln 0.075 − 1)+ +1.28·10−4 ln 0.075+C3 (70)
8π2.35 · 10 4

∴ 0 = −3.42 · 10−3 + 2.88 · 10−3 − 3.32 · −4 + C3 =⇒ C3 = 8.72 · 10−4 (71)

The maximum displacement of the rod is obtained substituting the values C1 ,
C2 , and C3 in Equation (60), and imposing r = a0 = 15mm:

10 · 103 · 0.0152 2.047

wM ax = (ln 0.015 − 1)+ 0.0152 +1.28·10−4 ln 0.015+8.72·10−4
8π · 2.35 · 103 4
(72)

∴ wM ax = −1.98·10−4 +1.15·10−4 −5.38·10−4 +8.72·10−4 = 0.25·10−3 m = 0.25mm

(73)
that represent the maximum movement of the rod.
To calculate the maximum stresses in the plate we need first to calculate the
maximum bedning moments using the formula already used in the Equations (
48) and ( 49) and to do this we need first to calculate the first and the second

8
derivative of the displacement with respect to the radius. Substituting the
costants of integration in ( 59) we obtain:
 
dw Fr 1 r 1.28 · 10−4
= ln r − + 2.049 + (74)
dr 4πD 2 2 r
The maximum stress occurs at r = 0.075m, therefore substituting this value
in the previous equation yields:

10 · 103 · 0.075
  
dw  1 0.075 1.28 · 10−4
= ln 0.075 − + 2.049 + (75)
dr r=0.075 4π2.35 · 103 2 2 0.075

dw 
∴ = −0.079 + 0.077 + 1.71·−3 = 7.1 · 10− 4 (76)
dr r=0.075
We need also to get the second derivative with respect to the radius. Differ-
entiating Equation (74) yields:

d2 w Fr F 2.56 · 10−4
2
= (ln r + 1) − + 1.0245 − (77)
dr 4πD 8πD r2
that, after substituting the relevant parameters, reads:

d2 w  10 · 103 · 0.075 10 · 103


2.56 · 10−4
2
= 3
(ln 0.075 + 1)− 3
+1.0245−
dr r=0.075
 4π2.35 · 10 8π2.35 · 10 0.0752
(78)

d2 w 

∴ = −0.539 − 0.169 + 1.0245 − 0.046 = 0.271 (79)
dr2 r=0.075
Therefore the bending moments can be calculated as:
 2   
d w  ν dw 
Mr |r=0.075 = −D + = −630.0Nm (80)
dr2 r=0.075 r dr r=0.075

d2 w 
   
1 dw 
Mθ |r=0.075 = −D + ν = 207Nm (81)
r dr r=0.075 dr2 r=0.075
Finally, substituting the Equations (80) and ( 81) in the expression for the
stresses (please check the formula sheet), it can be obtained:

12 Mr |r=0.075 h/2 12 · 638.0 · (0.005/2)

σr |M ax = ± =± = ±151.2MPa (82)
h3 0.0053

12 Mθ |r=0.075 h/2 12 · 238.3 · (0.005/2)

σθ |M ax = ± 3
=± = ±46.7MPa (83)
h 0.0053