B. Tech.

1st Year (Civil) Solid Mechanics (CE-102)

Fig. 1a Fig. 1b

Q.2 A railroad tie (or sleeper) is subjected to two rail loads, each of magnitude P=175 kN, acting as shown in the
Fig. 2. The reaction q of the ballast is assumed to be uniformly distributed over the length of the tie, which has
cross-sectional dimensions b=300 mm and h=250 mm. Calculate the maximum bending stress max in the tie due to
the loads P, assuming the distance L=1500 mm and the overhang length a = 500 mm. (Answer 7.0 MPa).

Q.3 A small dam of height h=2.0 m is constructed of vertical wood beams AB of thickness t =120 mm, as shown
in the Fig. 3. Consider the beams to be simply supported at the top and bottom. Determine the maximum bending
stress max in the beams, assuming that the weight density of water is  = 9.81 kN/m. (Answer: 2.10 MPa).

Fig. 2 Fig. 3

Q.4 A cantilever beam AB of isosceles trapezoidal cross section has length L = 0.8 m, dimensions b1 = 80 mm, b2 =
90 mm, and height h = 110 mm (see Fig. 4). The beam is made of brass weighing 85 kN/m 3. (a) Determine the
maximum tensile stress t and maximum compressive stress c due to the beam’s own weight. (b) If the width b1 is
doubled, what happens to the stresses? (c) If the height h is doubled, what happens to the stresses? (Answer: (a)
1.514 MPa, 1.456 MPa; (b) 1.381 MPa, 1.666 MPa; (c) 0.757 MPa, 0.728 MPa).

Fig. 4 Fig. 5
Q. 5 A cantilever beam AB with a rectangular cross section has a longitudinal hole drilled throughout its length (see
Fig. 5). The beam supports a load P=600 N. The cross-section is 25 mm wide and 50 mm high, and the hole has a
diameter of 10 mm. Find the bending stresses at the top of the beam, at the top of the hole, and at the bottom of the
beam. Answer: +25.1 MPa, +17.8 MPa, -23.5 MPa).

Q.6 A cantilever beam AB of circular cross section and length L=450 mm supports a load P=400 N acting at the
free end (see Fig. 6). The beam is made of steel with an allowable bending stress of 60 MPa. Determine the
required diameter of the beam dmin, considering the effect of the beam’s own weight. (Answer 31.61 mm).

Fig. 6 Fig. 7

Q.7 A cantilever beam of length L=2 m supports a load P=8.0 kN (see Fig. 7). The beam is made of wood with
cross-sectional dimensions 120mm  120 mm. Calculate the shear stresses due to the load at points located
25 mm, 75 mm, and 100 mm from the top surface of the beam. From these results, plot a graph showing
the distribution of shear stresses from top to bottom of the beam. [Answer: 0.219 MPa, 0.469 MPa, 0.50
MPa]

Q.8 A laminated plastic beam of square cross section is built up by gluing together three strips, each 10 mm 
30 mm in cross section (Fig. 8). 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. (i) If the allowable shear stress in the glued joints is 0.3 MPa. (ii) If
the allowable bending stress in the plastic is 8 MPa. [Answer: 72.2 N-m; 9.01 N-m]

Fig. 8 Fig. 9

Q.9 A simply supported wood beam of rectangular cross section and span length 1.2 m carries a concentrated
load P at midspan in addition to its own weight (see Fig. 9). The cross section has width 140 mm and
height 240 mm. The weight density of the wood is 5.4 kN/m3. Calculate the maximum permissible value of
the load P if (a) the allowable bending stress is 8.5 MPa, and (b) the allowable shear stress is 0.8 MPa.
[Answer: 38.0 kN; 35.6 kN. Shear stress governs: Pallow = 35.6 kN]

Q.10 Two wood box beams (beams A and B) have the same outside dimensions (200 mm  360 mm) and the
same thickness (t = 20 mm) throughout, as shown in the Fig. 10. Both beams are formed by nailing, with
each nail having an allowable shear load of 250 N. The beams are designed for a shear force V = 3.2 kN. (i)
What is the maximum longitudinal spacing SA for the nails in beam A? (ii) What is the maximum
longitudinal spacing SA for the nails in beam B? (iii) Which beam is more efficient in resisting the shear
force? [Answer: 38.0 kN; 35.6 kN. Shear stress governs: Pallow = 35.6 kN]
 Fig. 10 Fig. 11

Q.11 A sign for an automobile service station is supported by two aluminum poles of hollow circular cross
section, as shown in the Fig. 11. The poles are being designed to resist a wind pressure of 3.6 kPa against
the full area of the sign. The dimensions of the poles and sign are h1 = 6.0 m, h2 = 1.5 m, and b = 3.0 m. To
prevent buckling of the walls of the poles, the thickness t is specified as one-tenth the outside diameter d.
(a) Determine the minimum required diameter of the poles based upon an allowable bending stress of 50
MPa in the aluminum. (b) Determine the minimum required diameter based upon an allowable shear stress
of 14 MPa. [Answer: 266 m; 63.7 m. Bending stress governs: d = 266 m]

Q.12 A wood beam ABC with simple supports at A and B and an overhang BC has height h = 300 mm (see Fig.
12). The length of the main span of the beam is L = 3.6 m and the length of the overhang is L/3 = 1.2 m.
The beam supports a concentrated load 3P = 18 kN at the midpoint of the main span and a moment PL/2 =
10.8 kN-m at the free end of the overhang. The wood has weight density  = 5.5 kN/m3. (a) Determine the
required width b of the beam based upon an allowable bending stress of 8.2 MPa. (b) Determine the
required width based upon an allowable shear stress of 0.7 MPa. [Answer: 87.8 mm; 89.1 mm]

Q.13 A bridge girder AB on a simple span of length L = 14 m supports a distributed load of maximum intensity
q at midspan and minimum intensity q/2 at supports A and B that includes the weight of the girder (Fig.
13). The girder is constructed of three plates welded to form the cross section shown. Determine the
maximum permissible load q based upon (a) an allowable bending stress allow = 110 MPa and (b) an
allowable shear stress allow = 50 MPa. [Answer: 184.7 kN/m; 247 kN/m; Bending stress governs:
qmax = 247 kN/m]

Fig. 12 Fig. 13
Q.14 The T-beam shown in the Fig. 14 has cross-sectional dimensions as follows: b = 220 mm, t = 15 mm, h =
300 mm and h1 = 275 mm. The beam is subjected to a shear force V = 60 kN. Determine the maximum
shear stress max in the web of the beam. [Answer: 19.7 MPa]

Fig. 14 Fig. 15

Q.15 A beam of T cross section is formed by nailing together two boards having the dimensions shown in the
Fig. 15. If the total shear force V acting on the cross section is 1500 N and each nail may carry 760 N in
shear, what is the maximum allowable nail spacing s? [Answer: 92.3 mm]