Static Beams

1. (1 point) The deflection curve for a simple beam AB (see figure)

is given by the following equation:

q0 L 4 πx
ν=− 4
sin
π EI L
(a) (1 point) Describe the load acting on the beam.

(b) (1 point) Determine the reactions RA and RB at the

supports.

(c) (1 point) Determine the maximum bending moment

Mmax.
2. (1 point) A cantilever beam with a uniform load (see figure)
has a height h equal to 1/8 of the length L. The beam is a steel
wide-flange section with E = 28 × 106 psi and an allowable
bending stress of 17500 psi in both tension and compression.
Calculate the ratio δ/L of the deflection at the free end to the
length, assuming that the beam carries the maximum allowable
load.

3. (1 point) Derive the equation of the deflection curve for a

cantilever beam AB supporting a load P at the free end (see
figure). Also, determine the deflection δB and angle of rotation
θB at the free end.

4. (1 point) Derive the equations of the deflection curve for a

cantilever beam AB carrying a uniform load of intensity q over
part of the span (see figure). Also, determine the deflection δB
at the end of the beam.

5. (1 point) A cantilever beam AB is subjected to a parabolically

varying load of intensity q = q0 (L2 − x2 )/L2 , where q0 is the
maximum intensity of the load (see figure). Derive the equation
of the deflection curve, and then determine the deflection δB
and angle of rotation θB at the free end. Use the fourth-order
differential equation of the deflection curve (the load equation).

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 Statically Indeterminate Beams
6. (1 point) A fixed-end beam AB of length L supports a uniform
load of intensity q (see figure). Beginning with the second-order
differential equation of the deflection curve (the
bending-moment equation), obtain the reactions, shear forces,
bending moments, slopes, and deflections of the beam.
Construct the shear-force and bending-moment diagrams,
labeling all critical ordinates.
7. (1 point) A fixed-end beam of length L is loaded by a
distributed load in the form of a cosine curve with maximum
intensity q0 at A.
(a) (1 point) Use the fourth-order differential equation of the
deflection curve to solve for reactions at A and B and also
the equation of the deflection curve.

(b) (1 point) Repeat (a) if the distributed load is now

q = q0 (1 − x2 /L2 ).
8. (1 point) A fixed-end beam AB of length L is subjected to a
moment M0 acting at the position shown in the figure.
(a) (1 point) Determine all reactions for this beam.

(b) (1 point) Draw shear-force and bending-moment diagrams

for the special case in which a = b = L/2.

Stresses in Beams

9. (1 point) A cantilever beam AB having rectangular cross

sections with varying width bx and varying height hx is
subjected to a uniform load of intensity q (see figure). If the
width varies linearly with x according to the equation
bx = bB x/L, how should the height hx vary as a function of x in
order to have a fully stressed beam? (Express hx in terms of the
height hB at the fixed end of the beam.)

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10. (1 point) Calculate the maximum shear stress τmax and the
maximum bending stress σmax in a wood beam (see figure)
carrying a uniform load of 22.5 kN/m (which includes the
weight of the beam) if the length is 1.95 m and the cross section
is rectangular with width 150 mm and height 300 mm, and the
beam is
(a) (1 point) simply supported as in the figure part (a)

(b) (1 point) and has a sliding support at right as in the figure

part (b).

11. (1 point) A laminated plastic beam of square cross section is

built up by gluing together three strips, each 10 mm × 30 mm
in cross section (see figure). The beam has a total weight of 3.6
N and is simply supported with span length L = 360 mm.
Considering the weight of the beam (q) calculate the maximum
permissible moment M that may be placed at the right support.
(a) (1 point) If the allowable shear stress in the glued joints is
0.3 MPa.

(b) (1 point) If the allowable bending stress in the plastic is 8

MPa.
12. (1 point) A simply supported composite beam 3 m long carries
a uniformly distributed load of intensity q = 3.0 kN/m (see
figure). The beam is constructed of a wood member, 100 mm
wide by 150 mm deep, reinforced on its lower side by a steel
plate 8 mm thick and 100 mm wide. Find the maximum
bending stresses σw and σs in the wood and steel, respectively,
due to the uniform load if the moduli of elasticity are Ew = 10
GPa for the wood and Es = 210 GPa for the steel.