ECAM Engineering

EENG3

Strength of Materials
Tutorials and Solution guide
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 Practice 1: Statics - review
1. Find the forces acting over rods DA, EA & CB that are holding the weightless
beam AB on which the P force is acting.
𝑃 = 200𝑁 ; 𝛼 = 30º ; 𝐿 = 2 𝑚 ; 𝑎 = 1 𝑚

2. Find the forces 𝐸1 and 𝐸2 that equilibrate the system. 𝒒 represents a

distributed load.
𝑞 = 150𝑁/𝑚 ; 𝐿1 = 3 𝑚 ; 𝐿2 = 2 𝑚,

3. A block placed under the head of the claw hammer as shown greatly facilitates
the extraction of the nail. If a 200 𝑁 pull on the handle is required to pull the
nail, calculate the tension T in the nail and the magnitude of the force exerted
by the hammer head on the block. The contacting surfaces at 𝐴 are sufficiently
rough to prevent slipping.

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4. Given the following structure

a. Find the reactions on pin A and roller C.

b. Find the forces on rods BD, CD, CE.

5. Find the weight “Q” that the counterweight must have in order to equilibrate the
drawbridge.

𝑊 = 3000 𝑁 ; 𝑃 = 1000 𝑁 ; 𝐿1 = 10 𝑚 ; 𝐿2 = 𝐿3 = 20 𝑚 ; ℎ = 10 𝑚

6. Calculate the magnitude of the reaction force supported by the pin at B for the
bell crank loaded and supported as shown.

as shown.

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 Practice 1. Solution Instructions
1. Draw the free-body diagram (FBD) of the beam AB.
The forces acting on AB are 𝑃, 𝐹𝐴𝐷 (the force acting by the rod AD on AB), 𝐹𝐴𝐸
and 𝐹𝐵𝐶 .
Use the equilibrium equations to find the solutions:
∑ 𝐹𝑥 = 0 , ∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 0

∑𝑀 = 0
The equation ∑ 𝑀 = 0 can be done around any point and in any arbitrary
direction.
Solutions: ‖𝐹𝐴𝐷 ‖ = 57.7 𝑁, ‖𝐹𝐴𝐸 ‖ = 57.7 𝑁 , ‖𝐹𝐵𝐶 ‖ = 100 𝑁

2. The system is in equilibrium. The equilibrium equations can be used.

The distributed load 𝑞 (in N/m) can be assimilated to a concentrated load 𝐹
such that 𝐹 = 𝑞𝐿2 and 𝐹 is acting on the middle of 𝐿2 . The moment 𝑀𝑞 acted
by 𝑞 on any point can be calculated using 𝐹 (like any other force) or using the
𝑥
integral 𝑀𝑞 = ∫𝑥 2 𝑞 𝑥 𝑑𝑥.
1
Solutions: 𝐸1 = −100 𝑁, 𝐸2 = 400 𝑁

3. Draw the FBD of the hammer, knowing that there is a reaction force at 𝐴
(𝑅𝐴𝑥 , 𝑅𝐴𝑦 ) and that the nail exerts a tension 𝑇 on the hammer head, then solve
the equilibrium equations.

Solutions: ‖𝑅𝐴 ‖ = 755 𝑁, 𝑇 = 800 𝑁. 𝑚

4. a. Draw the FBD of the whole system (so that the internal reactions in DB, EC,
and DC) are not taken into account in the equilibrium equations).
Solve the equilibrium equations.
𝑃𝑎 𝑎
Solutions: 𝑅𝐴 = − 2𝐿 , 𝑅𝐶 = 𝑃 (1 + 2𝐿)
b. Draw the FBD of the beam DF (or AB) and solve the equilibrium equations.
𝑃𝑎 𝑎
Solutions: 𝐹𝐷𝐵 = − , 𝐹𝐷𝐶 = 0, 𝐹𝐸𝐶 = 𝑃 (1 + 𝐿 )
𝐿

5. The FBD of the upper beam leads to 𝑅𝐵 = 0.

Draw the FBD of the whole system and solve the equilibrium equations.
Solution: 𝑄 = 10000 𝑁

6. Draw the FBD of the crank and solve the equilibrium equations (all the units
should be in 𝑚 or in 𝑚𝑚)
Solution: 𝑅𝐵 = 240 𝑁

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 Practice 2: Axial and Torsional loads
Axial loads

1. A cylindrical steel bar is subjected to the forces shown in the picture.

a. Determine the axial force diagram.
b. Find the critical section.
c. Determine the change in length of the bar.

2. Two cylindrical rods, one of steel and the other of brass, are joined at C and
restrained by rigid supports at A and E. For the loading shown and knowing that
𝐸𝑠 = 200 𝐺𝑃𝑎 and 𝐸𝑏 = 105 𝐺𝑃𝑎, determine the reactions at A and E

3. A steel bar, with diameter (𝑑 = 0.1𝑚) and length (𝐿 = 1.2𝑚) is subjected to

an uniform increase of the temperature Δ𝑇 = 450º𝐶. (𝛼𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑙 = 12 ×
1
10−6 º𝐶 ; 𝐸 = 210 𝐺𝑃𝑎 , 𝜈𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑙 = 0.3)
a. Find the stress tensor (𝑥 is in the axial direction).
b. Find the strain tensor.

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Torsion

4. The cylindrical steel shaft shown in the picture is subjected to three different
torsional moments.
a. Draw the torsional moment diagram and find the maximum shear stress
(neglect the effect of stress concentrations)
b. Find the relative rotation between point C and A.
c. Find the principal stresses for the critical section.

5. A shaft consisting of a steel tube of 50-mm outer diameter is to transmit 100 kW of

power while rotating at a frequency of 20 Hz. Determine the tube thickness that
should be used if the shearing stress is not to exceed 60 MPa.

6. The stepped shaft shown is to rotate at 900 rpm as it transmits power from a
turbine to a generator. The steel has an allowable shearing stress of 8 𝑘𝑠𝑖.

a) Determine the maximum power (in horsepower ℎ𝑝) that can be

transmitted.
(1 ℎ𝑝 = 6600 𝑖𝑛. 𝑙𝑏/𝑠)
b) What will be the percent change in the power if the radius of the fillet is
15
increased to 𝑟 = 16 𝑖𝑛.

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Additional Problems
7. Given the following steel structure, find:
a. The distribution of axial loadings.
b. The distribution of normal stresses.
c. The change in length of the structure.

8. What is the maximum axial force that can be applied to the bar shown in the picture if
there must not be any plastic deformation? The notch is exactly a semicircle and the
material is steel ( the yield strength is 𝜎𝑌 = 350𝑀𝑃𝑎). Take a safety factor of 2.
𝐷 = 20𝑚𝑚
𝑟 = 1.25𝑚𝑚
𝑡 = 1.5𝑚𝑚

9. A cylindrical steel shaft (𝐸 = 210𝐺𝑃𝑎, 𝜈 = 0.30) with inner diameter (𝑑𝑖 = 15𝑐𝑚),
external diameter (𝑑𝑒 = 20𝑐𝑚) and length (𝐿 = 10𝑚) is subjected to a torsional
moment.
a. Find the maximum torsional moment if the allowable shear stress is
200MPa
b. Find the rotation of one end with respect to the other in that case.

10. A cylindrical aluminium shaft (𝐸 = 65𝐺𝑃𝑎, 𝜈 = 0.33) with 𝑑𝑖 = 5𝑐𝑚, 𝑑𝑒 = 10𝑐𝑚 and
𝐿 = 5𝑚 is subjected to a torsional moment 𝑇 = 12000𝑁𝑚.
a. Find the rotation of one end with respect to the other.
b. Find the stress and strain tensors in the points A and B.

B
A

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 Practice2. Solution Instructions
1. a. Find the axial force 𝑁 inside each portion of the bar and draw a diagram showing the
variation of this force along 𝑥 (the axial direction).
b. The critical section is the section in which the normal stress is maximum.
𝑁𝑖 𝜎
c. In each portion of the bar, the stress is 𝜎𝑖 = 𝐿𝑖
, the strain is 𝜀𝑖 = 𝐸𝑖. Find the deformation
∆𝐿𝑖 in each portion and do the sum to find the total deformation.
Solution: ∆𝐿𝑡𝑜𝑡 = −2.88 × 10−4 𝑚

2. Draw the FBD of the system ABCDE. Solving the equilibrium equations is not sufficient to find
the two unknowns 𝑅𝐴 and 𝑅𝐸 (hyperstatic system). An additional equation should be
introduced. Use the fact that the beam is embedded at its two ends so ∆𝐿𝑡𝑜𝑡 = 0. Similar to
problems 1 and 2, calculate ∆𝐿𝑡𝑜𝑡 = ∆𝐿𝐴𝐵 + ∆𝐿𝐵𝐶 + ∆𝐿𝐶𝐷 + ∆𝐿𝐷𝐸 . To do that, find the axial
force in each portion as a function of 𝑅𝐴 (or 𝑅𝐸 ) and calculate ∆𝐿 in each portion according to
the corresponding values of 𝐿, 𝐸 and 𝐴.
Solution: 𝑅𝐴 = 62.8 𝑘𝑁 and 𝑅𝐸 = 37.2 𝑘𝑁.

3. a. 𝛼 is the coefficient of thermal expansion: ∆𝐿 = 𝛼𝐿∆𝑇. The strain and stress in the axial
direction can then be calculated.
𝜎 𝜈
b. 𝜀𝑥 = 𝑥 − (𝜎𝑦 + 𝜎𝑧 ), same for the other directions
𝐸 𝐸
1134 0 0 0.0054 0 0
Solutions: 𝜎 = ( 0 0 0) and 𝜀 = ( 0 −0.0016 0 )
0 0 0 0 0 −0.0016

4. a) To draw the torque diagram, draw the free body diagram and find the internal torque in
each portion of the shaft (same principle as the axial force diagram). Calculate the shear stress
in each portion according to the corresponding values of 𝑇, 𝐽 and 𝑅. The shear stress at a point
𝑟 𝜋
is 𝜏 = 𝑇 𝐽 , with 𝐽 being the polar moment 𝐽 = 2 𝑅 4, and 𝑇 being the torque.
𝑇.𝐿
b) The angle of rotation between two points is given as ∆𝜑 = where 𝐿 is the distance
𝐺.𝐽
between the two points and 𝐺 is the shear modulus. ∆𝜑𝐴𝐶 = ∆𝜑𝐴𝐵 + ∆𝜑𝐵𝐶
c) The critical section is the section that has the maximum shear stress. Find the stress tensor
in that section and calculate the principal stresses (eigenvalues).
Solutions: 𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 15.1 𝑀𝑃𝑎, ∆𝜑𝐴𝐶 = 0.0037 𝑟𝑎𝑑, 𝜎1 = 0, 𝜎2 = 15.1, 𝜎3 = −15.1

𝑃
5. The relation between torque, power and frequency is given as 𝑇 = 2𝜋𝑓. Calculate the torque
𝐽
and using the maximum shear stress, find 𝑅 and calculate 𝑅𝑖 and the thickness 𝑡.
𝑜
Solution: 𝑡 = 4.4 𝑚𝑚

6. The stress is in kilo pound/square inch (𝑘𝑠𝑖). The same formulas are used, but the dimensions
should be expressed in inches (𝑖𝑛.), the torque in (𝑘𝑖𝑝. 𝑖𝑛. ), and the power in (𝑖𝑛. 𝑙𝑏/𝑠). The
power can then be expressed in horsepower (ℎ𝑝) knowing that 1ℎ𝑝 = 6600 𝑖𝑛. 𝑙𝑏/𝑠.
a) The maximum stress occurs in the fillet. It can be calculated as 𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑘𝜏𝑁 , with 𝑘 is the
stress concentration factor and 𝜏𝑁 is the nominal shear stress calculated in the small-diameter
shaft.

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 Using the diagram, find 𝑘 and determine the nominal stress in the smaller shaft, then calculate
the torque. Convert 𝑓 into Hz and calculate the transmitted power. b) Find the power for the
new value of 𝑟 and find the percent of variation between the two powers.
Solutions: 𝑃𝑎 = 890 ℎ𝑝, 𝑃𝑏 = 985 ℎ𝑝, percent change = 11%.

7. c. Solution: ∆𝐿 = 1.9 × 10−5 𝑚

8. Use the diagram to find the value of the stress concentration factor 𝑘𝑡 (calculate 𝑑, then use
𝑟/𝑑 and 𝐷/𝑑 to find 𝑘𝑡 ).
The maximum stress 𝜎𝑚𝑎𝑥 occurs near the notch, and it’s related to the nominal stress 𝜎𝑁
𝜎𝑚𝑎𝑥
(normal stress away from the notch) by: 𝑘𝑡 = .
𝜎𝑁
𝑃
The cross-section of the bar is rectangular. The nominal stress is 𝜎𝑁 = .
𝐴
To prevent plastic deformation, the maximum stress 𝜎𝑚𝑎𝑥 in the bar should be less than the
yield strength 𝜎𝑌 . The value of 𝑃 can be found.
The safety factor is 2, so the obtained value of 𝑃 should be divided by 2.
Solution: 𝑃 = 1.767 𝑘𝑁

𝑟 𝜋
9. a) The shear stress at a point is 𝜏 = 𝑇 𝐽 , with 𝐽 being the polar moment 𝐽 = 2 (𝑅𝑜4 − 𝑅𝑖4 ), and 𝑇
being the torque. The maximum shear stress occurs at the outer radius.
𝑇.𝐿
b) The angle of rotation between two points is given as ∆𝜑 = where 𝐿 is the distance
𝐺.𝐽
between the two points and 𝐺 is the shear modulus.
Solutions: 𝑇𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 215000 𝑁. 𝑚, ∆𝜑 = 0.25 𝑟𝑎𝑑

10. b) In the case of shaft torsion, under the assumption that the cross-sections remain
perpendicular to the axial direction and that the radial lines remain straight, 𝜏𝑥𝑟 = 𝜏𝑟𝜃 = 0,
𝑅
and 𝜏𝑥𝜃 = 𝑇. .
𝐽
The shear strain 𝜀𝑥𝜃 can be calculated using the shear modulus 𝐺.
0 0 0 0 0 0
Solutions: ∆𝜑 = 0.27 𝑟𝑎𝑑, 𝜎𝑟𝜃𝑥 = (0 0 65) 𝑀𝑃𝑎 and 𝜀𝑟𝜃𝑥 = (0 0 0.0013)
0 65 0 0 0.0013 0

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 Practice 3: Shear and Moment diagrams
1. Draw the shear force and moment diagrams for the following structures.
𝐹1 = 1000 𝑁 𝐹2 = 2000 𝑁 𝐿 = 10 𝑚

2. 𝑞 = 200 𝑁/𝑚 𝐿 = 10 𝑚

3. 𝐹1 = 1000 𝑁 ; 𝐹2 = 2000 𝑁 ; 𝑞 = 200 𝑁/𝑚 ; 𝐿 = 10 𝑚

4. 𝐹 = 1000 𝑁 ; 𝑀𝑒 = 2000 𝑁𝑚 ; 𝑞 = 200 𝑁/𝑚 ; 𝐿 = 10 𝑚

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Practice 3. Solution Instructions

14
 1.

𝑉(𝑥)

𝑀(𝑥)

2.

𝑉(𝑥)

𝑀(𝑥)

3.

𝑉(𝑥)

𝑀(𝑥)

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 4.

𝑉(𝑥)

𝑀(𝑥)

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 Practice 4: Pure Bending
1. The beam shown in the picture has a rectangular cross-section with 𝑏 = 2𝑐𝑚 and
ℎ = 4𝑐𝑚. The magnitude of the forces applied is 1000N.
c. Draw the shear and moment diagrams and find the maximum normal
stress.
d. How much should we increase the height ℎ of the cross-section if we
need to reduce the maximum normal stress by half?

2. Two vertical forces are applied to a beam of the cross section shown. Determine
the maximum tensile and compressive stresses in portion BC of the beam.

3. The beam shown is made of a nylon for which the

allowable stress is 24 MPa in tension and 30 MPa in
compression. Determine the largest couple M that can be
applied to the beam.

4. A beam is subjected to pure bending. Determine the change in the cross-sectional

area if a solid cylindrical beam with circular cross-section of diameter 𝑑 is replaced
by a tubular beam with inner diameter 𝑑𝑖 and external diameter 𝑑𝑒 , if the two
beams are under the same loading conditions. Which beam is better in terms of
the amount of material used?

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 Practice 4. Solution Instructions

1. a) Draw the FBD of the beam and the shear and moment diagrams. The beam is under lateral
loads so it will bend. The bending will create normal stresses in the axial direction (normal to
the cross-section 𝜎𝑥 ), called bending or flexural stress. The normal stress at a point on the
𝑀𝑦
beam cross-section is calculated as 𝜎𝑥 = 𝐼
, with 𝑥 is the axial
direction, 𝑀 is the moment at the point (the one found in the
moment diagram), the 𝑦 coordinate is the distance from the
point to the neutral axis (the axis passing through the centroid,
where the normal stress and strain is zero), and 𝐼 is the second
𝑏ℎ 3
moment of area of the cross-section (𝐼 = ∫ ∫ 𝑦 2 𝑑𝐴 = ).
12

The maximum stress occurs when 𝑦 is maximum (on the upper or lower edge of the cross-
section) and when 𝑀 is maximum (can be found on the moment diagram). In a rectangular
cross-section, the centroid is located at the center of the rectangle and (𝑦𝑚𝑎𝑥 = ℎ/2), and the
𝑏ℎ 3
second moment of area is 𝐼 = 12
.
6𝐹
Solutions: a) 𝜎𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑏ℎ2 = 187.5 𝑀𝑃𝑎, b) ℎ∗ = ℎ√2

2. Similar to the previous problem, draw the FBD of the beam and the shear and moment
diagrams. To determine the location of the centroid of the cross-section and to determine the
value of the second moment of area 𝐼, divide the cross-section into three portions. Calculate
the area 𝐴𝑖 of each rectangle. Determine the location 𝑦̅𝑖 of the centroid of each portion with
respect to the bottom of the cross-section. The centroid of the cross-section can be found as
∑ 𝑦̅𝑖 𝐴𝑖
𝑦𝑂 =
̅̅̅ ∑ 𝐴𝑖
. The neutral axis (𝑦 = 0) passes through the centroid. Draw the 𝑦-axis from the
centroid downwards. Determine the 𝑦 coordinate of the centroid of each rectangle. The
𝑀𝑦
second moment of area is 𝐼 = ∑ 𝐼𝑖 + 𝑦𝑖2 𝐴𝑖 . The stress is 𝜎𝑥 = 𝐼
. The maximum and minimum
stresses can be found on the bottom and top edges of the cross-section.

𝑦𝑂 = 25 𝑚𝑚, 𝐼 = 512.5 × 10−4 𝑚4, 𝑀 = 1.5 × 108 𝑁. 𝑚 𝜎𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 73.2 𝑀𝑃𝑎 (tension),
Solutions: ̅̅̅
𝜎𝑚𝑖𝑛 = −102.4 𝑀𝑃𝑎 (𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛)

3. Determine 𝑦𝑂 and 𝐼 like the previous problem. Caclulate 𝜎𝑚𝑎𝑥 and 𝜎𝑚𝑖𝑛 as functions of 𝑀.
𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛
Find the value of 𝑀 for which |𝜎𝑚𝑎𝑥 | < 𝜎𝑎𝑙𝑙 and |𝜎𝑚𝑖𝑛 | < 𝜎𝑎𝑙𝑙 . Choose the
smaller value of 𝑀 among the two found.
𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛
Solutions: 𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 118.8 𝑁. 𝑚, 𝑀𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 106.1 𝑁. 𝑚, 𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 106.1 𝑁. 𝑚

𝑠 𝑀𝑅 𝜋𝑅4
4. For the solid circular cross-section, the maximum normal stress is 𝜎𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐼
and 𝐼𝑠 = 4
.
ℎ 𝑀𝑅𝑒 𝜋(𝑅𝑒4 −𝑅𝑖4 )
For the hollow one, 𝜎𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐼
and 𝐼ℎ = 4
. The two beams are subjected to the
same 𝑀. Use these relations to find the ratio between 𝑅 and 𝑅𝑒 , then between 𝐴𝑠 and 𝐴ℎ .

Solutions: 𝐴ℎ /𝐴𝑠 = 0.39

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 Practice 5: Shear stress in beams – Combined loads
1. Given the following steel beam, with rectangular cross-sectional area, find the
maximum load “P” that can be applied.

2. A beam, with the cross-sectional area shown in the picture on the left, is going
be used as simple supported beam with a span of length 𝐿 = 2𝑚. The
allowable flexural and shear stresses are 𝜎𝑎𝑙𝑙 = 150𝑀𝑃𝑎 and 𝜏𝑎𝑙𝑙 = 100𝑀𝑃𝑎.
a. What is the maximum force it can support?

3. Given the steel shaft shown in the picture, find:

a. The inner and external radii of the shaft, if the relation is 𝑟𝑖 /𝑟𝑒 = 0.9
b. The stress tensor at the points A and B shown in the picture,
corresponding to the more critical cross-sectional area.

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 Practice 5. Solution Instructions
1. Draw the shear and moment diagrams and find the maximal shear force 𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 and the maximal
moment 𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥 as functions of 𝑃.
Lateral forces cause the beam to bend and produce normal stress in the x-direction(𝜎𝑥 ) and
shear stress 𝜏𝑥𝑛 in any plane whose normal is perpendicular to 𝑥. For the design to be safe, the
normal stress and the shear stress should be less than the allowable values. Find the maximum
value of 𝜎𝑥 (like in the previous problems) and of 𝜏𝑥𝑛 .

𝑉𝑄
The shear stress is calculated as 𝜏𝑥𝑛 = 𝐼𝑏
, with 𝑉 is the shear force, 𝑄 = ∫ 𝑦𝑑𝐴 is the first
moment of area and 𝑏 is the base of the cross-section. 𝜏𝑥𝑛 is calculated over a line DD. The
portion of the beam below DD should be isolated and 𝑄 is calculated there using the integral
form or using 𝑄 = 𝑦𝑖 𝐴𝑖 , where 𝑦𝑖 is the y-coordinate of the center of the isolated portion and
𝐴𝑖 is its area. The maximum shear is found when DD is the neutral line (passing through the
centroid of the cross-section). Isolate the portion below the center of the cross-section (the
bottom half of the cross-section), find 𝑄, and calculate the maximum shear stress in the beam
𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑄
(𝜏𝑥𝑛 = 𝐼𝑏
). Using 𝜎𝑚𝑎𝑥 and 𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 , find for each one the value of 𝑃 that should be used to
respect the allowable values of 𝜎𝑥 and 𝜏𝑥𝑛 . Finally, select the value of 𝑃 that satisfies the two
requirements.
3𝑃𝐿 𝑏ℎ 2 3𝑃
Solutions: (𝜎𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 2𝑏ℎ2 , 𝑃𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 30000𝑁) and (𝑄 = 8
, 𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 4𝑏ℎ , 𝑃𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 600000𝑁),
𝑃𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 30000𝑁

2. Find 𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 and 𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥 as functions of the applied force 𝐹. Calculate 𝜎𝑚𝑎𝑥 and 𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 and find the
value of 𝑃 that should be used to respect the admissible values of 𝜎𝑥 and 𝜏𝑥𝑛 .
In this problem, the cross-section has a T-shape and is not symmetric around z. So the centroid
should be located, and 𝐼 should be calculated. Divide the T-shape cross-section into two
rectangles (1) and (2). Let 𝑦̅ be the distance from the bottom face upwards. For each of the
two rectangles, find the area 𝐴1 and 𝐴2 , the location of the centroid 𝑦̅1 and 𝑦̅2 , and the second
moment of area 𝐼1 and 𝐼2 .
The location of the centroid O of the whole cross-section can then be calculated as 𝑦̅𝑜 =
𝑦̅1 𝐴1 +𝑦̅2 𝐴2
𝐴1 +𝐴2
. Once O is located, the problem can be solved like the previous problems (the 𝑦-axis
is directed from O downwards).
To calculate 𝐼 for the whole cross-section, the integral from can be used, or the division into
two rectangles can be helpful: 𝐼 = ∑ 𝐼𝑖 + 𝑦𝑖2 𝐴𝑖 = 𝐼1 + 𝑦12 𝐴1 + 𝐼2 + 𝑦22 𝐴2.

20
 In the calculation of 𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 , to find 𝑄, isolate the portion of the cross-section located below the
centroid and calculate 𝑄 = 𝑦𝑐 𝐴𝑐 , where 𝑦𝑐 and 𝐴𝑐 are the center 𝑦-coordinate and the area of
the isolated portion.
Solutions: 𝑦̅𝑂 = 7𝑐𝑚, 𝐼 = 333.33, 𝑄 = 49, 𝑃𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 14286𝑁(from 𝜎) or 272108𝑁 (from 𝜏)

3. a) The beam is under lateral and axial loads and under torsion, so this is a case of a combined
load.
Draw the axial load diagram, the torque diagram, and the shear and moment diagrams. Axial
loading causes normal stress, torsion causes shear stress, while bending causes both
stresses.
Find the maximum normal stress due to the axial load 𝜎𝑥𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑎𝑙 (refer to previous worksheets)
𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔
and the one due to bending 𝜎𝑥 (previous problems), and the shear stress due to torsion
𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔
𝜏𝑥𝜃 (previous worksheets) and the one due to bending 𝜏𝑥𝑛 (previous problems).
𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔
The maximum normal and shear stresses in the beam are 𝜎𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝜎𝑥𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑎𝑙 + 𝜎𝑚𝑎𝑥 and
𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔
𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 +𝜏𝑥𝑛 .
𝜋 𝜋
The second moment of area is 𝐼 = 4 (𝑅𝑒4 − 𝑅𝑖4 ) and the polar moment is 𝐽 = 2 (𝑅𝑒4 − 𝑅𝑖4 )
𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔
For the calculation of 𝜏𝑥𝑛 , isolate the portion of the cross-section located below the
1 271
centroid (the bottom half of the cross-section). For that portion, 𝑄 = (𝑅𝑒3 − 𝑅𝑖3 ) = 𝑅 3.
3 3000 𝑒
Find 𝑅𝑒 knowing that 𝜎𝑚𝑎𝑥 and 𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 should be less than the given allowable values. The select
the value that satisfies the two requirements.
𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔
b) Calculate 𝜎𝑥𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑎𝑙 , 𝜎𝑥 , 𝜏𝑥𝜃 and 𝜏𝑥𝑛 at the points A and B.
𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔
At the point A, 𝑦 = 0 (so 𝜎𝑥 = 0) and 𝑟 = 𝑅𝑒 , and 𝜃 (the radial direction is tangent to
𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔
the circle and perpendicular to 𝑟) is directed towards 𝑦, so 𝜏𝑥𝜃 and 𝜏𝑥𝑦 are in the
same direction and can be added.
𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛
At B, 𝑦 = −𝑅𝑒 (so 𝜎𝑥 ≠ 0) and 𝑟 = 𝑅, and 𝜃 is directed towards – 𝑧, so 𝜏𝑥𝜃 is has
the opposite sign of 𝜏𝑥𝑧 . So, if the stress tensor at B is defined in (xyz) reference frame, the
𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛
value −𝜏𝑥𝜃 is placed as 𝜏𝑥𝑧 .
Solutions: a) 𝑅𝑒 = 3.96 𝑐𝑚 or 𝑅𝑒 = 6.02 𝑐𝑚

𝑁 𝑇𝑅𝑒 𝑃𝑄 𝑁 𝑃𝐿𝑅𝑒 −𝑇𝑅𝑒

−𝐴 𝐽
+ 𝐼𝑏
0 −𝐴 − 𝐼
0 𝐽
𝐴 𝐵
b) 𝜎𝑥𝑦𝑧 = (𝑇𝑅𝑒 + 𝑃𝑄 0 0) and 𝜎𝑥𝑦𝑧 = ( 0 0 0 )
𝐽 𝐼𝑏 −𝑇𝑅𝑒
0 0
0 0 0 𝐽

21
22
 Practice 6: Deflection of beams and Statically Indeterminate
Beams
1. A distributed load 𝑞 = 60𝑁/𝑚 is applied over the length of a steel (𝐸 = 200𝐺𝑃𝑎) beam
length 𝐿 = 2𝑚. Find the equation of the shape of the deflected beam (elastic curve) in the
following two situations:
a. The beam is simply supported
b. The beam is embedded
c. What is the maximum deflection in each case?

2. Find the equation of the shape of the beam (𝐸, 𝐼𝑧𝑧 ) shown in the and the maximum
displacement.

3. Determine the reaction forces in a beam (𝐸, 𝐼𝑧𝑧 ) that is supported in three points and is
under the action of a distributed load, as shown in the image. Suppose the central support
is in 𝐿/2.

4. Determine the reaction force on the roller support for the following beam (𝐸, 𝐼𝑧𝑧 ).

23
 Practice 6. Solution Instructions
1. To find the equation of the deformed beam, the deflection (displacement) 𝛿(𝑥) of the
beam at every point 𝑥 should be calculated, knowing that 𝐸𝐼𝛿′′(𝑥) = 𝑀(𝑥), where 𝑀(𝑥) is
the bending moment at the point. The equation of 𝑀(𝑥) should, thus, be found.
Draw the FBD of the beam. Draw the shear and moment diagrams and find the equations
𝑑𝑉(𝑥) 𝑑𝑀(𝑥)
of 𝑉(𝑥) and 𝑀(𝑥), recalling that −𝑞(𝑥) = and 𝑉(𝑥) = .
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
Then, to find the equation of 𝛿(𝑥), 𝑀(𝑥) should be integrated twice and integration
constants should appear. To find these constants, use the fact that the beam cannot move
at certain points: When the beam is supported at the two ends, 𝛿(0) = 𝛿(𝐿) = 0, as the
beam cannot deflect at 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑥 = 𝐿. Similarly, if the beam is embedded, 𝛿(0) =
𝛿 ′ (0) = 0.
Finally, to find the maximum deflection 𝛿𝑚𝑎𝑥 , like any function, find the point 𝑥 at which
𝛿 ′ (𝑥) = 0 and replace it in the equation of 𝛿(𝑥).
𝑞𝐿 1 𝑞𝑥 4 𝑞𝐿𝑥 3 𝑞𝐿3 𝑥
Solutions: a) 𝑀(𝑥) = 2
− 𝑞𝑥, 𝛿(𝑥) = 𝐸𝐼 (− 4
+ 12
− 24
), 𝛿𝑚𝑎𝑥 = −0.00058 𝑚
𝑞𝐿2 𝑞𝑥 2 1 𝑞𝑥 4 𝑞𝐿𝑥 3 𝑞𝐿 𝑥 2
2
b) 𝑀(𝑥) = − + 𝑞𝐿𝑥 − , , 𝛿(𝑥) = (− + − ), 𝛿𝑚𝑎𝑥 = −0.0056 𝑚
2 2 𝐸𝐼 24 6 4

2. Draw the shear and moment diagram. The equations of 𝑉(𝑥) and 𝑀(𝑥) change in the
different portions of the beam. Three portions should be considered: 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝐿 (1), 𝐿 ≤
𝑥 ≤ 2𝐿 (2) and 2𝐿 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3𝐿 (3). In each one of the three portion, the equations 𝑉𝑖 (𝑥)
and 𝑀𝑖 (𝑥) should be found. Integrating 𝑀𝑖 (𝑥) twice should give the equation of deflection
in each portion. Each integration leads to two integration constants. The objective is to
find the deflection 𝛿1 (𝑥), 𝛿2 (𝑥) and 𝛿3 (𝑥) in the three portions. As the beam is embedded
and because of the continuity at each point, the following boundary conditions should be
used to find the integration constants:
𝛿1 (0) = 𝛿1′ (0) = 0; 𝛿1 (𝐿) = 𝛿2 (𝐿); 𝛿1′(𝐿) = 𝛿2′(𝐿) ; 𝛿2 (2𝐿) = 𝛿3 (2𝐿) and 𝛿2 ′(2𝐿) =
𝛿3 ′(2𝐿)
Solutions:
3𝑞𝐿2 1 𝑞𝐿𝑥 3 3𝑞𝐿2 𝑥 2
0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝐿 : 𝑀1 (𝑥) = − 2
+ 𝑞𝐿𝑥, 𝛿1 (𝑥) = 𝐸𝐼 ( 6 − 4 )
𝑞𝑥 2 1 𝑞𝑥 4 𝑞𝐿𝑥 3 𝑞𝐿3
𝐿 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2𝐿: 𝑀2 (𝑥) = − 2 + 2𝑞𝐿𝑥 − 2𝑞𝐿2 , 𝛿2 (𝑥) = 𝐸𝐼 (− 24 + 3
− 𝑞𝐿2 𝑥 2 + 6
𝑥 −
𝑞𝐿4
24
)
1 7𝑞𝐿3 5𝐿4
2𝐿 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3𝐿: 𝑀3 (𝑥) = 0, 𝛿3 (𝑥) = 𝐸𝐼 (− 6
𝑥 + 8
)
23
𝛿𝑚𝑎𝑥 = − 8
𝑞𝐿4

3. The beam has three supports and, therefore, three reaction forces should be calculated.
Solving the equilibrium equations is not enough to find the three unknowns. The system is
then hyperstatic. To solve the problem, use the fact that the deflection 𝛿(𝑥) at the
supports is zero.
To simplify the problem, a hyperstatic system can be divided into two simple systems (𝐼)

24
 and (𝐼𝐼):
The beam is under three reaction forces at A, B and C and is under the distributed load 𝑞.
In the system (𝐼), the pin at C was removed, while in (𝐼𝐼), the pin was replaced by its
reaction force 𝑅𝐶 (which is an unknown that should be found) and 𝑞 was removed. The
“sum” of these two systems is the hyperstatic system under study.
Find the equation of the deflection 𝛿(𝑥) of each system (𝐼) and (𝐼𝐼), as if they are two
separate problems, similar to the previous one. The deflection 𝛿𝐼 (𝑥) of system (𝐼) was
calculated in problem 1 of the worksheet. Find the deflection 𝛿𝐼𝐼 (𝑥) of system (𝐼𝐼) as a
function of 𝑅𝐶 .
Once the deflections in the two systems are found, use the fact that in the original
𝐿 𝐿 𝐿
hyperstatic system, the deflection at C is zero, so 𝛿 ( ) = 𝛿𝐼 ( ) + 𝛿𝐼𝐼 ( ) = 0.
2 2 2
Solutions:
1 𝑞𝑥 4
𝑞𝐿𝑥 3 𝑞𝐿3 𝑥
System (𝐼): 𝛿𝐼 (𝑥) = 𝐸𝐼 (− 4 12
+ − 24
)
𝐿 𝑅 𝑅𝐶 𝑥 3 𝑅𝐶 𝐿2
System (𝐼𝐼): 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2: 𝑀(𝑥) = − 2𝐶 𝑥, 𝛿(𝑥) = − 12 + 16 𝑥
𝐿 𝑅 𝐿 𝑅 𝑅 𝑥3 𝑅 𝐿𝑥 2 3𝑅𝐶 𝐿2 𝑥 𝑅𝐶 𝐿3
≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝐿: 𝑀(𝑥) = − 𝐶 + 𝐶 𝑥, 𝛿(𝑥) = 𝐶 − 𝐶 + −
2 2 2 12 4 16 48
𝐿 5 𝑅 𝐿3 5𝑞𝐿
Total system: 𝛿𝐶 = 𝛿 ( ) = − 𝑞𝐿4 + 𝐶 , 𝑅𝐶 =
2 348 48 8

4. Follow the same procedure as the previous problem. A similar problem was solved in the
lecture.
5𝑃
Solution: 𝑅 =
16

25