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 λc of the structure under the given loading.

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

3
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Spring Semester 2017 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 homogeneous, prismatic simply supported girder in Fig. 1 with flexural stiffness EI is subjected
to a uniform load w over the left half of its span.
You are asked to answer the following questions:

1. Determine the maximum bending moment value in terms of w and L and draw the bending moment
diagram.
2. Determine the vertical translation at midspan in terms of w, L and EI.

L L
Figure 1: Simply supported girder

2
2. Problem (50% weight)
Fig. 2 shows the structural model for a column-girder assembly consisting of the column element a and
the girder element b. Both frame elements can be assumed inextensible with flexural stiffness EI. The
structural model is subjected to a concentrated horizontal force Ph at node 2.
You are asked to answer the following questions:

1. Determine the horizontal translation at the point of load application in terms of Ph , L and EI.
2. Determine the bending moment at the ends of the column in terms of Ph and L and draw the
bending moment diagram for the column-girder assembly.

2 b 3
Ph

a L

L
Figure 2: Structural model for column-girder assembly