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ME C85 Midterm 1

This document provides instructions and problems for a midterm exam in an introduction to solid mechanics course. It contains 5 practice problems testing concepts in truss analysis, force equilibrium, friction, and impending motion. Students are instructed to show their work, include diagrams where helpful, and clearly identify their answers. They have 80 minutes to complete the exam using one sheet of notes and working on the provided answer sheets.

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Rodger Pang
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99 views14 pages

ME C85 Midterm 1

This document provides instructions and problems for a midterm exam in an introduction to solid mechanics course. It contains 5 practice problems testing concepts in truss analysis, force equilibrium, friction, and impending motion. Students are instructed to show their work, include diagrams where helpful, and clearly identify their answers. They have 80 minutes to complete the exam using one sheet of notes and working on the provided answer sheets.

Uploaded by

Rodger Pang
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ME

 C85/CE  C30     Midterm  1  

Introduction  to  Solid  Mechanics  


ME  C85/CE  C30  
 
Midterm  Exam  1  
 
Fall,  2013  
 
1. Do  not  open  the  exam  until  you  are  told  to  begin.  
2. Put  your  name  and  SID  on  every  page  of  your  answer  book.  
3. You  may  not  use  a  calculator,  but  you  may  use  a  straightedge  to  help  you  draw  fig-­‐
ures.  
4. You  may  use  one  8-­‐1/2  x  11  sheet  of  notes,  but  not  your  book  or  any  other  notes.  
5. Store  everything  else  out  of  sight.  
6. Turn  off  cell  phones.  
7. There  will  be  no  questions  during  the  exam.  Write  your  concerns  or  alternative  in-­‐
terpretations  in  exam  margins.  
8. Write  all  answers  in  the  answer  book  provided  with  this  exam.    
9. Be  concise  and  write  clearly.    Identify  your  answer  to  a  question  by  putting  a  box  
around  it.  
10. Use  only  the  front  sides  of  the  answer  sheets  for  your  answers.    You  may  use  the  
backs  of  pages  for  “scratch”  paper,  but  if  there  is  work  that  we  should  see,  be  sure  to  
point  that  out  in  the  main  body  of  the  exam.  
11. Time  will  be  strictly  enforced.    At  9:00,  you  must  put  down  your  pencil  or  pen  and  
immediately  turn  in  your  exam.    Failure  to  do  so  may  result  in  loss  of  points.  
 
   

Fall,  2013  
ME  C85/CE  C30     Midterm  1  

Problem 1. (10 Points) Identify all zero force members in the truss shown below. This truss is
supported by a pin at joint A and a roller at joint G.

Problem 2. (25 points) The principle of transmissibility states that two forces acting on a rigid
body are statically equivalent if they have the same magnitude and direction, and are col-
linear (i.e., they act on the body along the same line of action). You will consider the im-
plications of this principle in the context of forces acting on a truss. Shown below is a
truss loaded by a vertical force that acts at either joint B or joint E. While not explicitly
shown, all members are assumed to be connected by ideal pins at the joints.

(a) In the context of determining the reaction forces at points A and C, are the two loads stat-
ically equivalent? Justify your answer.

(b) Determine the force in member BE for each loading case, and from this conclude that the
two cases are not necessarily statically equivalent in the context of the forces in the
members of the truss.

(c) Now consider the forces in members AB, BD and DE, which could be determined using
the method of sections. Draw an appropriate free body diagram for each loading case,
and use them to argue that these member forces (𝐹!" , 𝐹!"   and 𝐹!" ) must be the same for
the two loading cases. You should not attempt to solve for these forces, but it may be
useful to show which equations would be used if the details of the geometry had been
given.

P
D E F D F
E

A B C A B C

Fall,  2013  
ME  C85/CE  C30     Midterm  1  

Problem 3. (25 Points) Shown below are a photograph of a bolt cutter and a simplified dia-
gram of this machine showing the five rigid members (ABC, DCE, BG, FGH and IHE) which
are joined with (ideal) pins at points B, C, E, G and H. These pins can support forces in the hor-
izontal and vertical directions, but offer no resistance to rotation. The cutter works by placing a
bolt between points A and F, and exerting vertical forces of magnitude P on the handles at points
D and I.

Determine the magnitude of the forces acting on the bolt at A and F in terms of the applied force
P and the specified lengths a, b, c, d and e. For full credit, you must draw free body diagrams for
relevant members (you need not draw a FBD for every member) and clearly show which equilib-
rium equations are used for which member.

c  
P  
a   b   d  
A   B   C   D  

E   e  

F   G   H   I  
P  

Problem 4. (20 Points) The structure shown is P


loaded by a force P at the midpoint E of member D F
DF. Because the loading is not at a joint, this
structure cannot be treated as a truss. E

(a) Explain why use of the truss analysis is not


appropriate for member DF, but that all A B C
other members can be treated as if they
were part of a truss.

(b) Show that the forces in members BD and BF are of equal magnitude, but opposite signs
(so that one is in tension and one is in compression).

(c) Draw free body diagrams for member DF and for joint D.

Fall,  2013  
ME  C85/CE  C30     Midterm  1  

Problem 5. (20 Points) A block of weight W, width a and height b rests a  


on an inclined flat surface. The coefficient of static friction between the
block and the surface is 𝜇! . It is found that as the inclination angle 𝜃 in- b  
creases, the block tips over before it slips.

(a) Show that for this “tip before slip” to occur, 𝜇! > 𝑎/𝑏.
𝜃  

(b) Now suppose that the surface is returned to horizontal and


that the coefficient of friction is 𝜇! = 𝑎/𝑏. Let the block 𝑃!   𝑃!  
be acted upon by two horizontal forces as shown. At what
magnitude of force 𝑃! will the block be subject to impending b/2  
motion? At this point, is the block about to slip or about to
tip? Express your answer in terms of a, b and W.

(c) Finally, let the block be acted upon by a single horizontal 𝑃!  


force 𝑃! . Assuming that the coefficient of friction is the same
as in part (b) of this problem, determine the magnitude of b/2  
force 𝑃! that will cause the block be subject to impending
motion? At this point, is the block about to slip or about to
tip?

Fall,  2013  

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