CE-321 Introduction to Structural Mechanics

Chapter I : Unsymmetrical Bending – Exercise Problems

Q1. For the given section below;

a) Calculate the maximum stress due to the applie1d moment.

b) Draw the neutral axis line onto the cross-section.

M = 3 kN.m

θ = 300°

z 400 mm
θ

250 mm
Q2.

a)

A triangular cross-section is given below. Point C is the centroid of the section.

|AB|=|AD|=60 mm.

• Determine the orientation of the principal axes of the section by using Mohr’s circle.

• Draw the principal axes on the cross-section and comment about this orientation.
Can you directly obtain the principal axes without using Mohr’s circle?

• Find the normal stress at the corners A and B for the applied bending moment
M = 10 kNm.
Iy = 3.6x105 mm4
Iz = 3.6x105 mm4
Iyz = 1.8x105 mm4

b)

Try to solve the question for |AB|=60 mm and |AD|=90 mm.

(First, you should obtain the values of Iy, Iz and Iyz for this new section.)

z y
Q3. Point C is the centroid of the given section below.

Moment M on the section is 10 kNm. Thickness of the section is uniform and it is t =10 mm.

a) Determine the normal stress at point A.

b) Draw the neutral axis line onto the cross-section.

60 mm

300 mm

100 mm
Q4. Point C is the centroid of the given V-section below.

Moment M on the section is 10 kNm. Thickness of the section is uniform and it is t =10 mm.

a) Determine the normal stress at point B.

b) Draw the neutral axis line onto the cross-section.

100 mm 100 mm
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“Determinacy - Stability” and “Shear Force - Bending Moment Diagrams”

Exercise Problems

Q1. For the structures given below, determine whether they are stable, statically determinate or
indeterminate. If the structure is unstable, please explain it briefly. If the structure is statically
indeterminate, determine the degree of indeterminacy.

a) b)
internal
hinge

c) d)

e)
Q2. Draw the internal shear force and bending moment diagrams of the given structures
below.

a) Points A, B and E are roller-supported, and point F is pin-supported.

internal
internal
hinge
hinge

b) Point A is pin-supported and point B is roller-supported.

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Chapter III : Cables and Arches – Exercise Problems

Q1. The girder shown in the figure is subjected to the uniform load and it is connected with an
internal hinge at point B.

a) Determine the maximum and minimum tension in the parabolic cable and force in
each of the hangers.
b) Draw the shear force and bending moment diagrams for the girders AB and BC.

hangers

1m 9m

10 m 2 kN/m

10 m 30 m

Q2. Cable shown in the figure has a parabolic shape and supported by two simple trusses.

a) Determine the minimum and maximum tension in the cable and indicate their
locations.
b) Find the internal force developing in the truss member BI. Indicate whether it is in
tension or compression.
Q3. The three-hinged arch is subjected to the
loading shown. Determine the internal moment
in the arch at point D.

Point D y
Q4. The arch structure is subjected to the
loading shown. Determine the support
x
reactions at point A and C, and the internal
4 m 3 kN
axial force, shear force and bending moment 400 N/m
at point D. 4m

Equation of the parabola AB is;

𝑦 = −0.125𝑥 2
8m
5m 3m
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Chapter IV : Shear Flow and Shear Center – Exercise Problems

Q1. In the figure below, the center line of a thin walled open symmetric cross-section is
shown. Determine the shear flow (magnitude at the beginning and end of each branch,
the order of the variation (linear, quadratic etc.) and direction) for this section. The
thickness t is uniform. Do not calculate the moment of inertia of the section. Take it
as I. The external shear force is V acting downward.

Q2. For the section shown in the figure,

a) determine the shear flow (magnitude at the beginning and end of each branch,
the order of the variation (linear, quadratic etc.) and direction). The
thickness t is uniform. Do not calculate the moment of inertia of the section. Take it
as I. The external shear force is V acting downward.

b) determine the location of the shear center.

Q3. Determine the location of e of the shear center,
point O, for the thin-walled member having the circular
cross-section shown.

Q4. For the section shown in the figure,

a) determine the shear flow (magnitude at the beginning

and end of each branch, the order of the variation
(linear, quadratic etc.) and direction). Indicate the
direction of the shear flow. The internal shear force V is
acting upward.

b) determine the location of the shear center.

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Chapter V : Work and Energy Principles - Unit Dummy Load Method

Exercise Problems

Q1. For the given truss structure,

a) determine the vertical displacement at joint D

b) determine the horizontal displacement at joint C

by using the unit dummy load method.

Each member has a cross-sectional area of A=300 mm2 and

E=200 GPa.

Q2. A 100-kN force is applied at joint B of the given truss

structure. It is requested from the design engineer that the
maximum vertical displacement of joint B should be 2 mm A
under the applied loading.

As the design engineer, determine the minimum cross-

sectional area of the member AB to satisfy the requested
200 mm2

condition by using the unit dummy load method.

2.4 m
100 kN
The cross sectional areas of the member AC and member CB
are;
450 mm2
AAC = 200 mm2 B
ACB = 450 mm2 C
1.8 m
For each member, E = 200 GPa.
Q3. The structure shown in the figure is composed of a
frame and a rod.

a) Find the elongation (or shortening) of the bar using the

unit dummy load method.

b) Can you think of a way to check the result (elongation or

shortening of the rod) that you have calculated in part (a). If
yes, please explain briefly and by using this method verify
that your result is correct.

EI=20000 kNm2 for the frame elements and EA=2000000 N

for the rod.

Q4. For the following structure, ABC is a single beam and BD is a truss bar. Under the given
loading on the structure,

a) determine the vertical deflection at point C

b) determine the slope at point A.

E = 2 × 105 MPa (for all the members)

I = 7.5 × 107 mm4 (for the beam)
A = 5000 mm2 (for the truss bar)

by using the unit dummy load method. (Neglect the axial deformation of the beam !)

Beam

Truss bar
Q5. The structure shown in the figure is composed of a beam and a truss structure. The beam and
the truss structure are pin connected at point C. For this structure,

a) determine the vertical deflection at the mid-span of the beam

b) determine the slope at point F of the beam.

by using the unit dummy load method.

(Ebeam=200 GPa , Ibeam=1.8 × 10-3 m4 , Etruss=200 GPa , Atruss=0.01 m2)

Beam

Q6. For the given frame structure below,

a) determine the horizontal displacement at point C

b) determine the slope at point A

by using the unit dummy load method.

(Point A is pin-supported and point B is roller-supported. EI=20000 kNm2)

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Chapter V : Work and Energy Principles - Castigliano’s Second Theorem

Exercise Problems

Q1. For the given truss structure,

a) determine the vertical displacement at joint D

b) determine the horizontal displacement at joint C

by using Castigliano’s Second Theorem.

Each member has a cross-sectional area of A=300 mm2 and

E=200 GPa.

Q2. Determine the vertical deflection at point D of the beam shown in the figure by using
Castigliano’s Second Theorem. There is a pin support at A and a roller support at B.

Notice that the section of the beam is changing at point D and moments of inertia of part AD
and DC are given as below.

IAD = 8 ×107 mm4

IDC = 4 ×107 mm4

Elasticity modulus (E) is constant over the beam length and E = 200 GPa.
 30 kN/m
Q3. Determine the slope at point C of the frame shown in
the figure by using Castigliano’s Second Theorem. The
support A is fixed.
3m 3.6 m
E = 200 GPa
I = 235 × 106 mm4

Q4. The structure shown in the figure is composed of a

frame and a cable. It is requested from the design engineer
that there should be no horizontal displacement at the
roller support B under the applied loading of 30 kN.
internal
As the design engineer; determine the value of the axial hinge
rigidity, EA, of the cable to satisfy the requested condition.
Use Castigliano’s Second Theorem for the solution.

EI=200000 kNm2 for the frame elements. cable

Q5. Determine the horizontal displacement at point A of the given frame structure below. Use
Castigliano’s Second Theorem. E = 200 GPa, I = 500 × 106 mm4.
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Chapter VI: Analysis of Statically Indeterminate Structures by the Force Method

Exercise Problems

Q1. Draw the internal shear force and bending moment diagrams of the beam. EI is constant.

Q2. Roller support B of the beam shown in the figure settles 6 mm. Under the given loadings and the
settlement, draw the internal shear force and bending moment diagrams of the beam. E = 200 GPa,
I = 300 × 106 mm4.

Q3. Draw the internal shear force and bending moment diagrams of the beam. EI is constant.

Notice that this problem is solved in the lecture videos by taking the support reactions at B and C as the
redundant forces. Now, solve this question by taking the moment at the fixed support A and the
support reaction at B as the redundant forces.
Q4. For the structure (a cantilever beam with an
inclined extension supported by a roller at B) shown in
the figure, using force method of analysis and
Castigliano’s theorem,

a) Find all support reactions

b) Draw the internal axial force, shear force and
bending moment diagrams.

EI is uniform along the structure. Consider only

bending deformations in your deflection calculations.

Q5. Determine the internal forces in each member of

the truss shown in the figure. AE is constant.