UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY Dept.

of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Spring Semester 2020 Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Materials

Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

M.S Comprehensive Examination

Analysis

Note:

1. Dimensions, properties and loading are given in consistent units in all problems.
2. All figures are drawn to scale.
3. Calculations should be shown in detail with all intermediate steps.

Formulas
The deformation v-basic force q relation of a homogeneous, prismatic, 2d frame element is:
2 3 0 1 0 1
L "0 L + L 0 0
6 EA 0 0 7
6 7 B 0 L C B wL3 C
6 0 L L 7 B C B C
v = f q + v0 with f = 6 7 v0 = BB C+B C
6 3EI 6EI 7 2 C B 24EI C
4 5 @  L A @ 3 A
L L 0 wL
0 2
6EI 3EI 24EI
where L is the element length, EA the axial sti↵ness, EI the flexural sti↵ness, "0 an initial axial strain,
L0 a lack-of-fit, 0 a uniform curvature field, and w a uniformly distributed transverse load.
The inverse relation between the basic forces q and the element deformations v of a homogeneous,
prismatic, 2d frame element is:
2 3 0 1
EA 0 1 0
0 0
6 L 7 EA "0 + LL0 B
6 4EI 2EI 7 7 B C B wL2 CC
6
q = kv + q0 with k = 6 0 7 q0 = B
@ EI0 C+B
A B 12 C
C
6 L L 7 @ A
4 5 wL2
2EI 4EI EI0
0 12
L L

The symbolic inverse of a 2x2 matrix M is

 
M11 M12 1 1 M22 M12
M= ! M = with det(M ) = M11 M22 M12 M21
M21 M22 det(M ) M21 M11

1
1. Problem (50% weight)

The propped cantilever beam of length 2L in Fig. 1 consists of two segments of equal length L, one of
flexural sti↵ness 2EI and the other of flexural sti↵ness EI connected with a flexural hinge at midspan.
The segment of flexural sti↵ness EI is subjected to a uniformly distributed load w.

2EI EI
L L
Figure 1: Propped cantilever beam with hinge at midspan

You are asked to answer the following questions:

1. Draw the bending moment diagram making sure to record the end moment values for all elements
in the figure after clarifying your sign convention for positive/negative moments.
2. Determine the hinge deformation (rotation) in terms of L, EI and w.

2
2. Problem (50% weight)

The braced frame in Fig. 2 consists of two inextensible frame elements a and b with flexural sti↵ness
EI of 30,000 and a prestressed brace element c with axial sti↵ness EA of 3,000. The initial prestressing
force of the brace is 10. The braced frame is subjected to a uniformly distributed load w = 10.

w
3
2 b

a c 6

1
8
Figure 2: Braced frame under horizontal uniform load w

You are asked to answer the following questions:

1. Draw the bending moment diagram making sure to record the end moment values for all elements
in the figure after clarifying your sign convention for positive/negative moments. Determine the
largest positive and negative moment value in element a.
2. Determine the support reactions and check global equilibrium.
3. Draw the deformed shape of the braced frame under the uniformly distributed load w.

3
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Spring Semester 2019 Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Materials

Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

M.S Comprehensive Examination

Analysis

Note:

1. Dimensions, properties and loading are given in consistent units in all problems.
2. All figures are drawn to scale.
3. Calculations should be shown in detail with all intermediate steps; it is recommended to manipulate
expressions symbolically as far as possible and substitute numbers only at or near the end.

Formulas
The following relation holds between the flexural basic forces q and the flexural deformations v of a
homogeneous, prismatic beam element of length L and flexural stiffness EI:
 
L 2 −1
v = fq with f =
6EI −1 2

The inverse of the flexural flexibility matrix f gives the flexural stiffness matrix k of a homogeneous,
prismatic beam element of length L and flexural stiffness EI:
 
2EI 2 1
k=
L 1 2

The deformations v0 of a homogeneous, prismatic beam element of length L and flexural stiffness EI
under a uniformly distributed load w are

wL3 −1
 
v0 =
24EI 1

The symbolic inverse of a 2x2 matrix M is

   
M11 M12 −1 1 M22 −M12
M= → M = with det(M ) = M11 M22 − M12 M21
M21 M22 det(M ) −M21 M11

1
1. Problem (50% weight)

The computer analysis of the structural model in Fig. 1 under the downward force of 30 units gives the
following values for the basic forces of primary interest, i.e. the end moments of elements a through c
and the axial force in element d:

T
Q = 87.947 54.824 −54.824 22.844 −22.844 0 15.497

Note that the end moments are numbered in sequence starting from the fixed end of element a. The
axial force is listed last.
You are asked to answer the following questions:

1. Draw the bending moment diagram.

2. Determine the axial forces in elements a through c.
3. Determine the support reactions and check global equilibrium.

30

b d 6

a
8 8
Figure 1: Braced frame under vertical nodal force

2
2. Problem (50% weight)

The two span girder with moment release (hinge) in Fig. 2 carries a downward force Pv at the location
of the moment release (hinge). It has uniform flexural stiffness EI.
You are asked to answer the following questions:

1. Determine the vertical translation at the point of load application in terms of Pv and EI.
2. Determine the hinge deformation (rotation) in terms of Pv and EI.

Pv

20 5 10
Figure 2: Two span girder with moment release

3
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Spring Semester 2018 Structural Engineering, Mechanics, and Materials

Name: ..................................................................

Comprehensive Examination
Analysis

Notes:

1. Dimensions, properties and loading are given in consistent units in all problems.

2. All figures are drawn to scale.

3. Calculations should be shown in detail with all intermediate steps; it is recommended to manipulate
expressions symbolically as far as possible and substitute numbers only at or near the end.

1
1. Problem (50% weight)
All elements of the structure in the figure can be assumed inextensible. Under this assumption, there
are six basic forces of primary interest. Assume that the corresponding deformations V1 through V6
are supplied.

3 c 4 d 5

Q4

b 6

Q1
1 a
2
8 8

Figure 1: Structural geometry

Determine the symbolically the compatibility conditions (in terms of the deformations V1 through V6 )
using the basic forces Q1 and Q4 as redundants, where Q1 is the flexural basic force at end i of element
a and Q4 is the flexural basic force at end j of element b.

2
2. Problem (50% weight)
The plastic flexural capacity of elements a through c is 150 units, while the plastic flexural capacity of
element d is 200 units. The axial capacity of the frame elements is very large. The axial capacity of
the brace element e is 50 units. The plastic hinge distribution at incipient collapse is shown in Fig. 2.

50
40 d 5

c e 6

1 a b 3
2
8 8

Figure 2: Structure geometry, and loading, and plastic hinge locations

You are asked the following question:

1. Determine the collapse load factor c of the structure under the given loading.

2. Draw the bending moment distribution at incipient collapse indicating clearly which way the frame
elements bend.