Sample questions

(Mechanics of Solids 3B3)

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Department of Mechanical and

Manufacturing Engineering, Parsons Building, Dublin 2
Sample question – 1 (Plane stress)

Show the orientation of the principal planes and the planes for maximum shear stresses and find
their magnitudes using 𝜎𝑥 , 𝜎𝑦 , and 𝜏𝑥𝑦 for an element having biaxial stress. [8 marks]

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

Sample question – 1 (Plane stress)
Show the orientation of the principal planes and the planes for maximum shear stresses and find
their magnitudes using 𝜎𝑥 , 𝜎𝑦 , and 𝜏𝑥𝑦 for an element having biaxial stress. [8 marks]
Solution:
(1) Biaxial stress [2 marks]

Biaxial stress

σx = σx ; σy = σy ; τxy = 0

(2) Find the orientations [3 marks] Principal planes

2τxy
Substitute σx = σx ; σy = σy ; τxy = 0 into: tan2θp = ⇒ tan2θp = 0 ⇒ θp = 0 & 90°
σx − σy

Orientations for maximum shear stress is 45 ° with the principal planes, so we have:

θs1 = θp1 - 45° = 90° − 45° = 45° θs2 = θp2 - 45° = 0 − 45° = −45°or 135°

Maximum shear stress planes

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Sample question – 1 (Plane stress)

(3) Find the magnitudes of principal stresses and maximum shear stress [3 marks]

Substitute σx = σx ; σy = σy ; τxy = 0; θp = 0 & 90° into transformation equations:

σx + σy σx − σy 2
σx + σy σx − σy
σx1 = + cos2θ + τxy sin2θ ⇒ σ1,2 = ± = σx & σy
2 2 2 2
Principal stresses

Substitute σx = σx ; σy = σy ; τxy = 0; θs = 45 & 135° into transformation equations:

σx − σy σx − σy
τx1 y1 =−
2
sin2θ + τxy cos2θ ⇒ τmax = ±
2
Maximum shear stress

Or use the following equation directly:

σ1 − σ2 σx − σy
τmax = =± Maximum shear stress
2 2

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Sample question – 2 (Hooke’s Law for Plane Stress)

An element in a material is subjected to plane stress. The Young’s modulus for the material is
100 GPa, and the Poisson’s ratio is 0.3. The normal strains are 𝜀𝑥 = 0.003 and 𝜀𝑦 = 0.006. Find
𝜎𝑥 . [8 marks]

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

Sample question – 2 (Hooke’s Law for Plane Stress)
An element in a material is subjected to plane stress. The Young’s modulus for the material is
100 GPa, and the Poisson’s ratio is 0.3. The normal strains are 𝜀𝑥 = 0.003 and 𝜀𝑦 = 0.006. Find
𝜎𝑥 . [8 marks]
Solution:
(1) Hooke’s law for plane stress [3 marks]
σx σy σy σx
εx = −ν Eq. 1 and εy = −ν Eq. 2 Hooke’s law for plane stress in x and y
E E E E

(2) Rearrange to find modified version [3 marks]

σx σy σy σx σx
Eq1 + ν(Eq2) ⇒ εx + νεy = − ν + ν − ν2 ⇒ εx + νεy = 1 − ν2
E E E E E
E
⇒ σx = ε + νεy Modified form of Hooke’s law plane stress
1 − ν2 x

(3) Substitute known values [2 marks]

100G
σx = 0.003 + 0.3 × 0.006 = 527.5MPa Final result
1 − 0.32

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Sample question – 3 (Application of Plane Stress)
A compressed spherical gas tank has an inner diameter of 6m and a wall thickness of 50 mm. The
young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio of the tank material are 210GPa and 0.28, respectively. If the
allowable normal strain at the outer surface is 0.0003, find the maximum permissible pressure of
the gas in the tank (Assume that Hooke’s law is valid) [8 marks]

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

Sample question – 3 (Application of Plane Stress)
A compressed spherical gas tank has an inner diameter of 6m and a wall thickness of 50 mm. The
young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio of the tank material are 210GPa and 0.28, respectively. If the
allowable normal strain at the outer surface is 0.0003, find the maximum permissible pressure of
the gas in the tank (Assume that Hooke’s law is valid) [8 marks]
Solution:

(1) Thin-wall spherical gas tank [3 marks]

1 1
0.05 < ×6 ⇒ thin-wall structure (t < 10 r)
10
pr
For thin-wall spherical vessel: σx = σy = σ = Relation between p and σ in pressure vessel
2t

(2) Hooke’s law for plane stress [2 marks]

σx σy
εx = −ν Eq. 1 Hooke’s law for plane stress, εx is allowable normal strain
E E
(3) Apply known values to Eq. 1 [3 marks]
Result
σx σy σ σ pr pr εx (2tE) 0.0003 × (2 × 0.05 × 210G)
εx = −ν = −ν = −ν ⇒ p= = = 2.92MPa
E E E E 2tE 2tE r(1 − ν) 3(1 − 0.28)

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Sample question – 4 (Application of Plane Stress)
A strain gage is installed in the circumferential direction on the surface of a cylindrical can. The
Young’s modulus for the material is 60GPa, and the Poisson’s ratio is 0.33. The radius-to-
thickness ratio of the can is 200. When the lid of the can is popped open, the strain changes by ε0
=75×10^(-5). Find the internal pressure p in the can. [8 marks]

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

Sample question – 4 (Application of Plane Stress)
A strain gage is installed in the circumferential direction on the surface of a cylindrical can. The
Young’s modulus for the material is 60GPa, and the Poisson’s ratio is 0.33. The radius-to-
thickness ratio of the can is 200. When the lid of the can is popped open, the strain changes by ε0
=75×10^(-5). Find the internal pressure p in the can. [8 marks]
Solution:
(1) Thin-wall spherical gas tank [3 marks]
𝑟
( = 200＞10) ⇒ thin-wall structure
t

pr
For thin-wall cylindrical vessel: σ1 = 2σ2 = 2 ×
2t
Relation between p and σ in the vessel

(2) Hooke’s law for plane stress [2 marks]

σ1 σ2
ε1 = −ν Eq. 1 Hooke’s law for plane stress, ε1 is circumferential strain
E E

(3) Apply known values to Eq. 1 [3 marks]

Result
σ1 σ2 2σ2 σ2 σ2 2 − ν pr 2 − ν 2tEε0
ε0 = −ν = −ν = = ⇒ p= = 2694Pa
E E E E E 2tE r(2 − ν)

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Sample question – 5 (Beam Deflection)
The deflection curve for a simple beam AB is given by the following equation:
q0 x
ν=− 7L4 − 10L2 x 2 + 3x 4
360LEI
Find the load acting on the beam. [8 marks]

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Sample question – 5 (Beam Deflection)
The deflection curve for a simple beam AB is given by the following equation:
q0 x
ν=− 7L4 − 10L2 x 2 + 3x 4
360LEI
Find the load acting on the beam. [8 marks]

Solution:
(1) Differential equation of deflection curve of a beam [3 marks]
d2 𝑣
M = EI 2 Differential equation
dx
(2) Find bending moment M by taking the 2nd derivatives of ν [3 marks]

d2 𝑣 q0 d2 𝑣 q0
2
= − −L2 x + x 3 ⇒ M = EI 2 = − −L2 x + x 3 Bending moment
dx 6LEI dx 6L
(3) Find shear stress V in the beam by taking the derivatives of M [3 marks]
dM q0
V= =− −L2 + 3x 2 Shear stress
dx 6L
(4) Find load q acting on the beam by taking the derivatives of V [2 marks]
dV q 0 𝑥
q=− = Result/load
dx L

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Sample question – 6 (Plane Stress)
A bicycle manufacturing company is concerned about the rigidity of the frame for one its
designs. For the present analysis, the focus is on the diagonal tube A as shown in Figure Q3.
For a stress element on the surface of tube A of the bicycle frame shown at B, the following
conditions are known: σx = 33MPa, τxy = −13MPa. In addition, one of the principal stresses
is σ1 = 44MPa. [20 marks]

a) Find 𝜎𝑦 . [10 marks]

b) Find the directions and magnitudes of the maximum normal stresses. Find also the shear
stresses acting in the direction of the maximum normal stresses. Provide a sketch of these
stresses on an appropriately oriented element. [10 marks]

c) Sketch (approximately to scale) and label σx , 𝜎𝑦 , τxy , σ1 , σ2 on Mohr’s circle for plane
stress for the element shown. [6 marks]

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Sample question – 6 (Plane Stress)
Solution:
(A) Find σy

Known conditions [1 mark]:

σx = 33MPa, τxy = −13MPa, σ1 = 44MPa.

Principal stress equations [2 marks]:

σx + σy σx − σy 2
σ1 = + + τxy 2
2 2

Apply known values into principal stress equations and rearrange, we have [2 marks]

2 2
33 + σy 33 − σy 33 + σy 33 − σy
44 = + + 132 ⇒ 44 − = + 132
2 2 2 2

Square both sides

2 2
33 + σy 33 − σy
44 − = + 132
2 2

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Sample question – 6 (Plane Stress)

2 2
33 + σy 33 − σy
⇒ 44 − − = 132
2 2

33 + σy 33 − σy 33 + σy 33 − σy
⇒ 44 − + 44 − − = 132
2 2 2 2

⇒ 44 − σy 44 − 33 = 132

169
⇒ σy = 44 − = 28.6MPa [3 marks]
11

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Sample question – 6 (Plane Stress)
(B)： Maximum normal stresses are principal stresses [2 marks]

σ1 = 44MPa (Known)

σx + σy = σ1 + σ2 ⇒ σ2 = 33 + 28.6 − 44 = 17.6MPa

Orientations of principal planes [2 marks]

2τxy 1 −13 1 −13

tan2θp = θp1 = tan−1 = tan−1 = −40°(140°)
σx − σy 2 33 − 28.6 2 2.2
2

θp2 = θp1 + 90° = 50°

Shear stresses acting in the direction of the maximum normal stresses [2 marks]

Shear stresses acting on principal planes are 0

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Sample question – 6 (Plane Stress)

Sketch of these stresses on an appropriately oriented element [2 marks]

Correspond principal angles to principal stresses by substituting the principal angles to transformation
equations, find:

σ1 = 44MPa θp1 = 140°

Y
σ2 = 17.6MPa θp2 = 50°
17.6MPa

44MPa

50°
X

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Sample question – 6 (Plane Stress)

(C)： σx −τxy
A (33, 13) 0°

𝝈𝟐 = 𝟏𝟕. 𝟔 C (30.8, 0) 80° 𝝈𝟏 = 𝟒𝟒

O
σ x1

B (28.6, -13) 180°

σy τxy [4 marks]
τx1 y1
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Sample question – 7 (Beam Deflection)
A conifer tree bends in a storm, similar to the picture below. Assuming the tree is
10𝑚 tall, and the wind load is 3k𝑁 and evenly distributed over the tree, the tree trunk
diameter is 20𝑐𝑚 and the tensile strength for the wood is 100𝑀𝑃𝑎, the compressive
strength is 60𝑀𝑃𝑎, and the Young’s Modulus is 8.5𝐺𝑃𝑎

Q(a). Estimate the deflection at the top of

the tree. List your main assumptions

[18 marks]

Q(b). Whether the tree will break or not.

[8 marks]

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Sample question – 7 (Beam Deflection)
Solution:
Q(A) Aassume that wind load is evenly distributed in the trunk; the tree is linearly elastic
material; the trunk is uniform in material properties. The problem can be simplified into:
x
1. Bending moment for a cantilever beam with uniform distributed load (2 marks)
2 3000N
q L−x
M= and q= = 300N/m
2 10m
2. Cross-section of the beam (tree): round shape (1 mark)

πr 4 3.14 × 0.14
I= = = 0.0000785m4
4 4
3. Differential equation of beam deflection for the tree (2 marks)

d2 𝑣 d2 𝑣 q L − x 2
d2 𝑣 q L − x 2
EI 2 = M ⇒ EI 2 = ⇒ =
dx dx 2 dx 2 2EI
y

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Sample question – 7 (Beam Deflection)

4. First integration to obtain the slope of deflection (3 marks)

d𝑣 q L−x 2 q 1
=න dx = L2 x − Lx 2 + x 3 + C1
dx 2EI 2EI 3

5. Use boundary conditions to determine constant C1 (3marks)

d𝑣
when x = 0, = 0; substitute the values, we have C1 = 0
dx

d𝑣 q 1
So = L2 x − Lx 2 + x 3
dx 2EI 3

6. Second integration to obtain the deflection (3 marks)

1
d𝑣 q L2 x + Lx 2 + x 3 q 1 2 2 1 3 1 4
𝑣 x = න dx = න 3 dx = L x − Lx + x + C2
dx 2EI 2EI 2 3 12

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Sample question – 7 (Beam Deflection)

7. Use boundary conditions to determine constant C2 (3 marks)

when x = 0, 𝑣 x = 0; substitute the values, we have C2 = 0

q 1 2 2 1 3 1 4
So 𝑣 x = L x − Lx + x
2EI 2 3 12

8. Find deflection on the top (x=L) (1 mark)

q 1 4 1 4 1 4 qL4
𝑣 x=L = L − L + L =
2EI 2 3 12 8EI

300 × 104
= = 0.56 m
8 × 8.5 × 109 × 0.0000785

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Sample question – 7 (Beam Deflection)

Q(B) Find the maximum bending stress in cross-sections

1. Bending stresses in cross-sections (2 marks)

My
σ=−
I

2. Find maximum bending moment at root (when x=0) (3 marks)

q L−0 2 qL2 300 × 102

M x=0 = = = = 15000 Nm
2 2 2

3. Maximum compressive stress (when y=0.1) (3 marks)

My 15000 × 0.1
σmax =− =− = −19.11 MPa
I 0.0000785

19.11 MP < 60MPa No failure

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