CE272: Structural Analysis

Example Problems - Set 2

1. Determine the forces in members EF, EP and LK, and state if these members are in tension
or compression. Also indicate all zero force members.

2. Determine the force in each member of the complex truss and state if the members are in
tension or compression.
3. Determine the force in each member of the space truss and state if the members are in
tension or compression.

4. The beam is subjected to the uniformly distributed moment m per unit length. Draw the
shear and bending moment diagrams for the beam.
5. Determine the distance a between the supports in terms of the beam’s length L so that the
bending moment is zero at the center of the beam. The intensity of distributed load at the
center is w0. Assume that the two supports are symmetrically placed, i.e. the left support is
at a distance of (L – a)/2 from the left end of the beam, and the right support is at a distance
of (L – a)/2 from the right end of the beam.

6. Draw the shear force and bending moment diagrams for the beam.
7. Draw the shear force and bending moment diagrams for each member of the frame. Assume
the members are pin connected at A, B and C.
Solutions

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Question 4

M a  0; m
m
 m  L  Fb  L  0
 Fb  m
Similarly , Fb= m
Fa= -m
Fa   m

SFD -m
V ( x)   m
L
m
SFD

BMD
M(x)=0
M( x)  mx  mx  0
BMD

Question 5

1 wL
Load   wo  L  o
2 2
1 wL wL
Fa  Fb   o  o
2 2 4
M centre  0
a 1 L  L 1
M centre  Fb       wo        0
2 2 2   2 3
w L  a w L  L 1
 o    o     0
4 2 4  2 3
L
 (a)   0
3
L
a
3
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Question 6
L
wo 2 wL
Total load = area under the curve  2
x dx  o
0
L 3
L
wo
L 2
x 2  xdx
3L
CG  0

wo L 4
3
Ma  0
wo L 3L
   Fb  L
3 4
wL
 Fb  o
4
Similarly ,
wo L
Fa 
12

SFD
wo L  wo 2  x wo L wo 3
SF ( x)   x    x
12  L2  3 12 3L2

SFD

Wo L
12

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

Wo L
4
0.63L
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BMD
wo L w  x
BM ( x )   x   o2 x 3  
12  3L  4
wo  x4 
  Lx  
12  L2 

BMD

0.039 wo L2

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

0.63L

Question 7

A B

C
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Member AB
AZ BZ
Ax  Bx
Az  Bz  25
AX BX
M A  0  Bz  6  15  2  10  4  0
 Bz  11.66kN
Az  25  Bz  13.34kN

Total vertical force=0 BX

Member BC 12kN
MB  0
6
 12  4   C x  C z  
2
C x  8.84kN CZ

1 1
A x   4 6  C x  17.32kN
2 2 CX
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1 SFD

2 BMD