ASTU School of Civil Engineering and Architecture Department of WRE

Worked Examples on Mechanical property of Materials

1) A steel bar of rectangular cross section, 3cm by 2cm carries an axial load of 30𝑘𝑁.
Estimate the tensile stress.

Solution

The area of a normal cross-section of the bar is

𝐴 = 30 ∗ 20 = 600𝑚𝑚2

The tensile stress is

𝑃 30000
𝜎𝑡 = 𝐴 = = 50 𝑁ൗ𝑚𝑚2 = 50𝑀𝑝𝑎
600

2) A cylindrical block is 30cm long and has a circular cross section 10 cm in diameter. It
carries a total compressive load of 70𝑘𝑁, and under this load it contracts by 0.02cm.
Estimate the average compressive stress over a normal cross section and the
compressive strain.

Solution

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ASTU School of Civil Engineering and Architecture Department of WRE

The area of normal cross section is

𝜋
𝐴 = ሺ100ሻ2 = 7853.9816𝑚𝑚2
4

The average compressive stress over this cross section is

𝑃 70000
𝜎𝑐 = = = 8.92𝑀𝑝𝑎
𝐴 7853.9816

The average compressive strain becomes

∆𝐿 0.02
𝜀𝑐 = = = 6.67 ∗ 10−4 ሺ𝑁𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒ሻ
𝐿𝑜 30

3) Determine the average shear stress existing across either of the planes a-a or b-b. The
force exerted is 30𝑘𝑁 and the diameter of the bolt is 10mm.

Solution

Assuming that the force equally divided between section a-a and b-b, consequently the force
1ൗ ∗ 30𝑘𝑁 = 15𝑘𝑁 exerted on either of these planes on the cross sectional area.
2
𝜋
The shearing area is 𝐴 = 4 ሺ10ሻ2 = 78.6𝑚𝑚2

Thus the average shearing stress across either of sec a-a or b-b will be
𝑃 30000
𝜏 = 2𝐴 = 2∗78.6 = 191𝑀𝑝𝑎

4) The plate is deformed into the dashed shape. If in this deformed shape horizontal lines
on the plate remains horizontal and do not change their length. Determine:
a) The average normal strain along the side AB, and
b) The average shear strain in the plate relative to the x and y axis.

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Solution

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ASTU School of Civil Engineering and Architecture Department of WRE

5) A steel bar 300mm long, 50mm wide and 40mm thick is subjected to a pull of 300kN
in the direction of its length. Determine the change in volume. Take 𝐸 =
2𝑥105 𝑁/𝑚𝑚2 and 𝑣 = 0.25

Solution

Given

Length, L=300mm, width b= 50mm, thickness t = 40mm, pull P=300kN=300x103 𝑁,

E=2𝑥105 𝑁/𝑚𝑚2 & 𝑣 = 0.25

Original volume, V=L*b*t=300x50x40=600000𝑚𝑚3

The longitudinal strain is given by
∆𝐿 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑
=
𝐿 𝐸
But stress in the direction of load
𝑃 𝑃 300𝑥103
𝜎= 𝐴 = 𝑏𝑥𝑡 = = 150𝑁/𝑚𝑚2
50𝑥40
∆𝐿 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑
From =
𝐿 𝐸
150
= 200000

= 0.00075
From the volumetric equation formula
∆𝐿
𝑒= ሺ1 − 2𝑣ሻ
𝐿
= 0.00075ሺ1 − 2 ∗ 0.25ሻ
= 0.0000375
We can obtain the change in volume by
∆𝑉
𝑒=
𝑉
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ASTU School of Civil Engineering and Architecture Department of WRE

∆𝑉
0.000375 =
600000
∆𝑽 = 𝟐𝟐𝟓𝒎𝒎𝟑
6) A rod of 2m long is at a temperature of10℃. Find the expansion of the rod when the
temperature is raised to 80℃. If the expansion is prevented, find the stress induced in
the material of the rod. Take 𝐸 = 1.0𝑥105 𝑁/𝑚𝑚2 and 𝛼 = 0.000012 𝑝𝑒𝑟℃

Solution
Given
Length L=2m=200cm
Initial temperature, T1=10℃ and Final temp, T2=80℃
𝐸 = 1.0𝑥105 𝑁/𝑚𝑚2 and 𝛼 = 0.000012 𝑝𝑒𝑟℃
Raise in temperature
∆𝑇 = 𝑇2 − 𝑇1 = 80℃ − 10℃ = 70℃
The expansion of the rod is given by
𝛿𝑡 = 𝛼∆𝑇𝐿
= 0.000012 ∗ 70 ∗ 200
= 0.168𝑐𝑚
The stress in the material if expansion is prevented is given by
𝜎𝑡 = 𝛼∆𝑇𝐸
= 0.000012 ∗ 70 ∗ 1.0𝑥105
= 84 𝑀𝑃𝑎
7) An aluminum specimen shown has a diameter of 𝑑𝑜 = 25𝑚𝑚 and a gauge length of
𝐿𝑜 = 250𝑚𝑚. If a force of 165 kN elongates the gauge length by 1.2mm, determine
the modulus of elasticity. Also determine by how much the force causes the diameter
of the specimen to contract. Take 𝐺𝐴𝑙 = 25𝐺𝑃𝑎 and 𝜎𝑦 = 440 𝑀𝑃𝑎

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Solution
To find the Modulus of elasticity the average normal stress and strain in the specimen should
be first computed.

𝑃 165ሺ103 ሻ𝑁
𝜎= = = 336.1 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝐴 ሺ𝜋/4ሻሺ0.025𝑚ሻ2

The average normal strain is

𝛿 1.2𝑚𝑚
𝜀= = = 0.00480𝑚𝑚/𝑚𝑚
𝐿 250𝑚𝑚
Since 𝜎 ≤ 𝜎𝑦 the material behaves elastically.
The modulus of elasticity becomes

𝜎 336.1ሺ106 ሻ𝑃𝑎
𝐸𝐴𝑙 = = = 70 𝐺𝑃𝑎
𝜀 0.00480

Contraction of diameter

First let us determine the poisonous ratio

𝐸
𝐺=
2ሺ1 + 𝑣ሻ
70 𝐺𝑃𝑎
25 𝐺𝑃𝑎 =
2ሺ1 + 𝑣ሻ
𝑣 = 0.346
Since 𝜀𝐿𝑜𝑛𝑔 = 0.00480𝑚𝑚/𝑚𝑚
𝜀𝐿𝑎𝑡
𝑣=−
𝜀𝐿𝑜𝑛𝑔
𝜖𝐿𝑎𝑡
0.346 = −
0.00480𝑚𝑚/𝑚𝑚
𝜀𝐿𝑎𝑡 = −0.00166𝑚𝑚/𝑚𝑚

The Contraction of the diameter is therefore

𝛿 ′ = ሺ0.00166ሻሺ25𝑚𝑚ሻ = 0.0415mm
8) A rectangular bar made of steel is 2.8m long and 15 mm thick. The rod is subjected to
an axial tensile load of 40kN. The width of the rod varies uniformly from 75mm at one
end to 30 mm at the other. Find the extension of the rod if 𝐸 = 2𝑥105 𝑁/𝑚𝑚2

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Solution

Axial Load, P = 40kN = 40,000N, b1 = 75 mm, b2 = 30mm and 𝐸 = 2𝑥105 𝑁/𝑚𝑚2

𝑃𝐿 b1
𝑑𝐿 = 𝐸𝑡ሺ𝑏1−b2ሻ log 𝑒 b2

40,000∗2800 75
= 2𝑥105 ∗15ሺ75−30ሻ log 𝑒 ቀ30ቁ

= 0.8296 ∗ 0.9163

= 0.76 𝑚𝑚

9) Find the modulus of elasticity of a rod which tapers uniformly from 30 mm to 15 mm

in a length of 350mm. The rod is subjected to an axial Load of 5.5kN and extension of
the rod is 0.025mm.

Solution

4𝑃𝐿 4𝑃𝐿
From 𝑑𝑙 = 𝜋𝐸.𝐷 , then 𝐸 = 𝜋𝐷
1 𝐷2 1 𝐷2 𝑑𝑙

4𝑥5000𝑥350
=
𝜋𝑥30𝑥15𝑥0.025

= 217865N/𝑚𝑚2 or

E = 2.178𝑥105 𝑁/𝑚𝑚2

10) The composite A-36 steel bar shown is made from two segments AB and BD having a
cross sectional area of 𝐴𝐴𝐵 = 600𝑚𝑚2 and 𝐴𝐵𝐷 = 1200𝑚𝑚2.Determine the vertical
displacement of B relative to C.

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Solution

Internal force
Due to application to the external loadings, the internal axial forces in the regions AB, BC and
CD will all be different. This forces are obtained by applying the method of sections and the
equation of vertical force equilibrium as shown.

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The variation of the axial force is shown below.

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Displacement
Using sign convention the internal tensile forces are positive and the compression forces are
negative, the vertical displacement of A relative to fixed support D is

Since the result is positive, the bar elongates and so the displacement at A is upward therefore
the displacement of c with respect to B is

11) The lattice truss shown in the next slide is subjected to a vertical load of 100kN at its
lower chord.
a) Determine the normal forces of members S1, S2 and S3
b) Carry out the design analysis for diagonal member S2, considering a solid
square cross section 24 mm x 24 mm such as the given safety factor and the
allowable stress
c) Design lower chord member S3 by choosing the appropriate diameter of a solid
circular cross section

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ASTU School of Civil Engineering and Architecture Department of WRE

Solution

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12) A bar of 30 mm diameter is subjected to a pull of 60kN. The measured extension of the
gauge length of 200 mm is 0.1 mm and change in diameter is 0.004mm.Calculate
a) Young's Modulus
b) Poisonous ratio
c) Bulk Modulus

Solution

Given: Diameter of bar = 30mm,

𝜋𝑑2 𝜋ሺ30𝑚𝑚ሻ2
Area of bar, 𝐴 = 4
= 4
= 225𝜋𝑚𝑚2

P= 60kN, Gauge length L = 200mm, Extension, ∆𝐿 = 0.1𝑚𝑚 and change in diameter, ∆𝐷 =

0.004𝑚𝑚

a) Young's modulus
𝑃 60000
Tensile stress,𝜎 = 𝐴 = = 84.84 𝑀𝑃𝑎
225𝜋

∆𝐿 0.1
Long strain,𝜀 = = 200 = 0.0005
𝐿

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ASTU School of Civil Engineering and Architecture Department of WRE

𝜎 84.84
∴𝐸= = = 16.975𝑥104 𝑁/𝑚𝑚2
𝜀 0.0005

b) Poisonous ratio
∆𝐷 −0.04
Lateral strain, 𝜀𝐿𝑎𝑡 = = = −0.000133
𝐷 30

𝜀𝐿𝑎𝑡 ሺ−0.000133ሻ
𝑣=− =− = 0.266
𝜀𝐿𝑜𝑛𝑔 0.0005
c) Bulk modulus
𝐸
𝐾=
3ሺ1 − 2𝑣ሻ

16.975𝑥104 𝑁/𝑚𝑚2
=
3ሺ1 − 2 ∗ 0.266ሻ
= 1.209𝑥105 𝑁/𝑚𝑚2

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