SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Paper code: CC9028

CIVL2201/CIVL9201 STRUCTURAL MECHANICS 2015: FINAL EXAM

Semester 1, 2015
Time Allowed: 3 hours (2 hrs 45 minutes writing + 15 minutes reading time)
(a) This paper contains 3 parts - A, B, & C; and is marked out of 60.

Part A has 2 questions (Q 1 Q 2, 20 marks).

Part B has 2 questions (Q 3 Q 4, 40 marks).

Part C has 1 question (Q 5, 10 marks - which are bonus marks).

(b) All questions may be attempted.

(c) Suitable working, diagrams and explanations are required for each question.
(d) Marks may be deducted for work that is not satisfactorily set out.
(e) Units are important.
(f) Programmable and non-programmable calculators may be used.
(g) Read the questions carefully before answering.
(h) Up to 2 x A4 pieces of paper, hand written on both sides of the paper are permitted (photocopies
or typed notes not permitted).
(i) Each question has an explain type component. It is expected that students should answer these parts
with a short written explanation (one or two paragraphs) plus a diagram. Performing calculations is not
necessarily expected, but using equations might also be useful.

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Part A Fundamental Questions

1) 10 Marks
Consider a horizontal cantilever beam. The left end of the beam is the support, and the right end of the beam is
free.
The total length of the beam is 4 m.
There is a UDL of 5 kN/m acting vertically downwards between the left hand support and the
midspan of the beam.
There is a UDL of 2 kN/m acting vertically downwards between the midspan of the beam and
the free end.
There is a vertically downwards point load of magnitude 20 kN, acting at the free end of the
beam.
The effects of self-weight are negligible compared to the effects of the applied loading. The beam is made from
steel which has an elastic modulus of 200000 MPa.
(a)

Draw the free body diagram of the beam clearly showing the support reactions. Calculate the values
of the support reactions. Show the calculated value of the reactions on your diagram.

(b)

Draw the bending moment diagram (BMD) and shear force diagram (SFD). Clearly indicate the
values of bending moment and shear force at the key points along the beam (midspan and the ends of
the beam), as well as the location and magnitude of maximum hogging and/or sagging moments.

(c)

Explain linear elastic behaviour by specifically referring to your results and observations in Lab
Session 2 on bending of a channel section. Approximately page of text plus diagrams is expected.

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2) 10 Marks

(b)

Calculate the second moment of area (Ix) of the section about the horizontal
centroidal axis.

(c)

Calculate the bending moment about the horizontal axis that will cause first
yield of the section.

(d)

Draw the stress and strain distributions (values required) in the crosssection due to the bending moment calculated in (c) above.

(e)

The lipped stiffeners at the ends of the channels are removed, and the entire
thickness of the channel is slightly increased so that the total area is
unchanged. Without performing substantial calculations, how will Ix and Iy
change (increase, decrease or unchanged)? Explain your answer.

25 mm

Determine the location of the centroid of the section and show this location
on a diagram.

220 mm

(a)

25 mm

Consider the following lipped channel, the dimensions of which are shown in the
diagram. The section is singly-symmetric. The cross section is made from steel which
has a Youngs Modulus of 200000 MPa, and exhibits linear material behaviour up to its
yield stress of 330 MPa.

60 mm
All elements are
3.0 mm thick

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Part B Applied Questions

3) 20 Marks
A 1.5 m tall 165.1 5.0 CHS is built-in at the base and is
experiencing a variety of loads. It experiences 3 applied twisting
moments, each of magnitude 5 kNm at the third points of the
column.
The product catalogue gives the following geometric properties for
this section
A = 2510 mm2
I = 8.07 106 mm4
Z = 97.7 103 mm3
J = 16.1 106 mm4

275 kN (applied later)

5 kNm

5 kNm

5 kNm

(a) Considering the applied torques only, draw the twisting

moment diagram and the (angle of) twist diagram (values
required).

Cross section at
support

An axial tension force of 275 kN is then applied at the end of the column. Consider a point on the outer surface
of the CHS at the base support.
(b) At the point under consideration, determine the following:
i.

Stress due to the torsion. Is this a normal stress or a shear stress?

ii.

Stress due to the axial force. Is this a normal stress or a shear stress?

(c) Draw a diagram that shows the stresses acting on a small square of material at this point, draw the
Mohrs circle, and establish the principal stresses for this point.
(d) Use both Trescas and von Mises yield criteria to establish if the point has yielded, given fy = 300 MPa.
(e) Use this example to explain the difference between a shear stress and a normal stress.

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4) 20 Marks
A builder strengthens a 200 mm 300 mm timber beam by connecting a 10 mm steel plate to the top of the
beam as shown below. The beam acts compositely. It should be assumed that Etimber = 12500 MPa and
Esteel = 200000 MPa. The beam has a total length of 8 m, with a central span of 6 m and an overhang of 1 m at
each end, as shown below. The beam is subjected to a UDL of unknown magnitude w. The maximum bending
stress in either tension or compression the timber can withstand is 15 MPa. The steel is sufficiently strong so
that it can be reasonably assumed that it will not yield before the timber.
a) Transform the steel to timber and calculate the second moment of area of the transformed section.
b) What is the maximum value of w that can be placed on the beam until the timber reaches the
maximum stress it can withstand?
c) Draw the strain and stress distributions due to bending at the cross-section where timber first
reaches its critical stress.
d) The steel plate is replaced by aluminium, which has an elastic modulus of 70000 MPa. How will the
BMD, the location of the neutral axis, and the deflection of the beam change? Explain the
answer.
200
Steel

10

300

1m

6m

1m

Timber

All dimensions
are in mm
Typical Beam Cross-Section

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Part C Advanced Question

This question is designed for students who seek to obtain a mark of Distinction or higher. It is not necessarily
mathematically difficult, but requires more thinking, visualisation, and application than the other questions. The
majority of marks will be awarded for completed questions, and only minor marks will be awarded for partially
answered questions. The marks awarded in this section are bonus marks.
5) 10 Marks
Consider a cantilever of total length L. The beam experiences 3 vertical point loads, each of magnitude P, acting
at L/3, 2L/3 and L along the beam. The beam has a constant cross-section with second moment of area I and
demonstrates linear elastic behaviour with elastic modulus E.
What is the maximum deflection of the beam in terms of P, I, E and L? (Sufficient working to justify your answer
is required)
You may take advantage of the standard case of a cantilever with a single point load at the tip. In class it was
shown that the deflected shape takes the form
v = (Pz2/6EI)(3L-z).

This is the end of the examination paper.