University of Cape Town
Department of Civil Engineering
CIV1007S - ENGINEERING MECHANICS
Exam: 20th November 2017
Lecturers: Dr Sebastian Skatulla and Mr Pierre LeRoux
Instructions
Time allowed: 3hrs
Answer all questions
Total marks: 79 = 100%
Closed Book
No programmable calculators are permitted
Show all your working - more marks are awarded for correct reasoning and approach than the final
answer. A correct final answer with incorrect working will receive very few marks.
External Examiner: Date:
Figure 1: Truss subjected to a point force.
1. The truss shown in Fig. 1 has a point force applied at node D. The weight of the truss elements
is neglected.
Determine the support reactions at A and G and also the axial forces in members BD, CD, and
CE of the truss. State clearly if members are in tension or compression.
Illustrate your workings with suitable FBD(s). [8]
3m
y 500 N/m
Mz
A B
x
D
1.5m
3m
1.5m
C E
600 N/m
400 N/m
Figure 2: Frame subjected to UDL and LDL loadings.
2. The frame depicted in Fig. 2 has a pin joint at B and is subjected to a UDL and 2 LDLs.
Calculate the internal normal force, shear force, and moment reactions at sections passing through
point D and point E. [12]
Illustrate your workings with suitable FBD(s).
Figure 3: Steel plate with a circular hole.
3. The steel plate illustrated in Fig. 3 is 20 mm thick and has a density of 7850 kg/m3 .
(a) Determine the position of the center of mass of the plate. [10]
(b) Calculate the reactions at the supports A and B. [4]
Figure 4: Parabolic area.
4. Locate by means of analytical integration the x and y-coordinate of the centroid of the area
shown in Fig. 4. Illustrate your workings with a suitable sketch. [9]
Figure 5: Tank filled with a fluid.
5. (a) The tank illustrated in Fig. 5 is filled with water to a depth of d = 4 m. Determine the
resultant force the water exerts on side A and side B of the tank. Take ρw = 1000 kg m−2 . [3]
(b) If oil instead of water is placed in the tank, to what depth d should it reach so that it creates
the same resultant forces as found under (a)? Take ρoil = 900 kg m−3 . [4]
(c) If the tank is filled with water and its density linearly increases with depth z as ρw (z) =
(1000 + 20z)kg m−3 , show that the pressure distribution is then a non-linear function of
depth (in meters) given by
p(z) = 9.81z + 0.0981z 2 kPa .
Making use of the above pressure distribution function, p(z), determine the resultant force
the water exerts on side A, if the tank is filled with water to a depth of d = 4 m again. [4]
Illustrate your workings with suitable FBD(s).
Figure 6: Simply supported beam.
6. A beam simply supported beam is subjected to UDL and a moment couple as depicted in Fig. 6.
(a) Determine the shear force and bending moment distribution functions, V (x) and Mz (x),
respectively, and compute the relevant values for both. [13]
(b) Draw shear and bending moment diagrams and specify the relevant values for both. [4]
(c) In terms of initial failure of the frame, state the critical values for internal shear and bending
moment reactions which will be used for design purposes and where they occur. [2]
Illustrate your workings with suitable FBD(s).
Figure 2: Cantilevered pipe loaded via two wrenches.
7. The pipe depicted in Fig. 2 is loaded via two wrenches. Take F = {25k} N.
Compute all applicable 3-dimensional force and moment reactions at the fixed support O. [6]