Resit Final Test Mechanics (4RA00)

31 January 2020, 18:00–21:00h

Question 1
The crane structure below consists of twelve horizontal members, fourteen vertical members and
eleven inclined members. Thirteen vertical members and eleven horizontal members have a length
of 3L. Two members (one horizontal and one vertical) have a length of 5L, as indicated in the
figure. The structure is supported by a pinned support at A and a horizontal rolling support at B.
The structure is loaded by a vertical force 4G in point C and by a vertical force 3G in both point
D and E, as depicted in the figure below. Assume that G > 0. The structure is being modelled as
a two-dimensional truss.
5L

2 3 5L
3L

E
1
3G

D C

3L 3G
4G

A B

a. Show that the structure is statically determinate.

b. Find the horizontal and vertical reaction forces HA , VA at point A and the vertical reaction
force VB at point B, expressed in terms of G. Clearly show in the picture the assumed positive
direction of these forces.

c. Find the member forces T1 and T2 in the members 1 and 2, expressed in terms of G. Indicate
whether they are in tension or compression. Use the method of joints.

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d. Find the member force T3 in member 3, expressed in terms of G. Use the method of sections.
Include the free body diagram of the isolated part of structure in your answer.

f. Mark the zero-force members with a 0 in the figure at the start of the question.

Question 2
The structure in the figure below consists of a beam ABCD of length 6 m that has a fixed (built-in)
support in point A. In point B, a member BE is welded to the beam. The beam is loaded by
a distributed force q0 = 50 kN/m in part ABC, a vertical force FD = 120 kN in point D and a
horizontal force FE = 100 kN in point E.

E
FE = 100 kN

2m FD = 120 kN
q0 = 50 kN/m

A B C D

2m 2m 2m

a. Calculate the horizontal and vertical reaction forces HA , VA as well as the reaction moment
MA in point A. Clearly indicate the direction of the reaction forces and moment.

b. Draw the shear force line of beam ABCD. Clearly indicate the values in the points A, B, C
and D. Use the correct sign convention. You may make your own scale.

c. Draw the bending moment line of beam ABCD. Clearly indicate the values in the points A, B,
C and D. Also indicate the magnitude and the position of the local extreme in part AB. Use
the correct sign convention. You may make your own scale.

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Question 3
The beam ABCDE with a length 4` is simply supported in the points A and D. A vertical point
load with magnitude 2q0 ` is applied at point B; a couple with magnitude q0 `2 is applied at point
C and a uniformly distributed load 5q0 is acting on part DE.

2q0 `
4q0
q0 `2

B C E
A D

` ` ` `

a. Calculate using the principle of virtual work the vertical component VA of the reaction force in
point A. Clearly show the sign conventions and the virtual displacement field.

b. Calculate using the principle of virtual work the shear force in point C. Clearly show the sign
conventions and the virtual displacement field.

Question 4
A two-dimensional truss consists of two members AC and BC. Both members have an angle of
60◦ to the horizontal line. The members are pinned to the outside world at the points A and B,
and pinned to each other at point C. The two members have the same length. The structure is
being loaded at C with a force such that the extension of both AC and BC is ∆, with ∆ 6= 0. The
structure is depicted in the figure below.

60◦
u

60◦ C

A
Compute the horizontal displacement u of point C, expressed in terms of ∆.

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Question 5
A homogeneous beam of length L has a fixed (built-in) support on the left end and is loaded with
a clockwise external moment 12 GL on the right end, as depicted in the figure below. The beam
has a weight G.

1
GL
2

The shape of the cross section of the beam is shown in the figure below. The cross section is
symmetric with respect to the vertical axis.

3H 2H 3H

5H

2H

10H

a. Find the maximum bending moment (in absolute value) of the beam, expressed in terms of G
and L.

b. Find the position of the centroid c2 with respect to the baseline of the cross section, expressed
in terms of H.

c. Find the second moment of area I with respect to the centroid of the cross section, expressed
in terms of H.

d. Find the maximum bending stress σmax in the beam (in absolute value), expressed in terms of
G, L and H.

e. Put a cross in the first picture of this question at the point where the maximum bending stress
(in absolute value) occurs.

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Question 6
The horizontal beam ABCDE has a fixed (built-in) support at point A and is supported by a
rolling support at D. The length of all parts AB, BC, CD and DE is L. The modulus of elasticity
is E and the second moment of area of the cross section is I. The beam is loaded by a constant
distributed force 4F/L downward on part AB, a counter-clockwise external moment M at C and
an upward external force F at E. The structure is stress free without loading (M = 0, F = 0).

4F/L F
M

L L L L
A B C D E
a. Isolate the beam structure from the rolling support and introduce a vertical reaction force P at
point D. The positive direction of P is assumed to be upwards. Find the vertical displacement
of point D, expressed in terms of P , M , F , L, E and I.

b. Find the reaction force P , expressed in terms of M , F and L.

Question 7
A torsion shaft ABCD with parts AB, BC and CD having lengths L, 2L and L, respectively, is
fixed (built-in) at point A and loaded with three torsion couples: in point B with value 4T to the
right, in point C with value 6T to the left and at the free end with 3T to the right. The polar
second moments of area of the parts AB, BC and CD are 3J, 2J and J, respectively. The outer
radii of the parts AB, BC and CD are 2R, 3R and R, respectively. The shear modulus of all parts
is G.
4T 6T
3T

L 2L L
A B C D
a. Find the (internal) torsion moments TAB , TBC and TCD in the parts AB, BC and CD, expressed
in terms of T . The positive direction of the internal torsion moments is given in the figure below.

T T

b. Find the angle of rotation θB , θC and θD of the cross sections at the points B, C and D,
respectively, and express them in terms of T , L, G and J. The positive direction of the
rotation of a cross section is given in the figure below.

c. Find the maximum value of the shear stress (in absolute value), expressed in terms of T , R and
J. Specify in which of the three parts the maximum value is located.

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Question 8
The portal depicted in the figure below is modelled as a beam construction and consists of three
vertical beams (AB, CD and DE), one horizontal beam (BC) and two inclined beams (AD and
BD). The dimensions of the portal are indicated in the figure below. The portal is connected to the
world by a fixed (built-in) support at the point A and horizontal rolling support at point E. The
magnitude and direction of the forces acting on the construction at the points B and C are given
in the figure, where F = 100 N. The beam construction is stress-free in the no-load condition. The
beams have a square cross-section with a height and width of 10 mm. The modulus of elasticity is
200 GPa, the Poisson’s ratio is 0.3 and the density of the material is 7850 kg/m3 . The acceleration
of gravity is 9.8 m/s2 . The own weight of the construction can not be neglected. Model the beam
AB with 20 elements, beams BC, BD and AD with 30 elements and beams CD and DE with 10
elements. Use the element type no. 52 in Marc/Mentat.

F F
1.5 m
3F 2F
B C

0.5 m

1m
D

0.5 m

A
E

a. What is the horizontal displacement at point E?

b. What is the rotation at point E?

c. What is the maximum bending stress in the construction?

For the next subquestion, run your simulation as for subquestions a, b and c, however, now
neglect the own weight of the construction. In your analysis consider the beams AD, BC, BD,
CD and DE as perfect pin-ended struts and the beam AB as a column with one end fixed and the
other one free.
d. Which of the beams will be buckling first with a gradual increase of F ? (Hint: use Axial Beam
Force)